Note re Festival/Tournament Rules season 2012/13 from Robert Gatt, Technical Director

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Last year the MFA Technical Centre issued a booklet named "Festival Rules ", a copy of which was handed to all nurseries of Malta and to the Gozo FC.

The booklet explains clearly all the 17 Laws of the game applied to youth football Tournaments/Festivals. 

During the last football season, the Technical Centre enforced these Laws with the exception of laws 8 --  12 -- 13 -- 16. 
These 4 laws, that apply mainly for ages 6 to 11 years, are about  "start of the game and restarts of play", "free kicks" , "Goal kicks",  and "Back pass to Goalkeeper"( see Law 12 page 11)

Mainly these Laws have been drawn to teach and encourage the outfield players and the young goalkeeper to play the short passing game and to build up the game from the back.

On the 25th July2012 at the Youth FA seminar, I explained to the nurseries' head coaches that as from the coming football season 2012/13, all festivals/tournament must observe all the 17 Laws of the game as described in the "Festival Rules" booklet. 
We therefore invite you to look at the booklet carefully throughout all the 17 Laws of the game and to ask your coaches  to introduce these changes (as Laws 8..12..13..16 ) in their training sessions with the kids so that when the kids play in festivals/tournaments they will already be accustomed to play to these Laws.

The MFA Technical Centre expects that during festivals/tournaments these Festival Rules, as detailed in the booklet, are observed, with the special emphasis to be that fun and development should be over Results.
 
All the 17 Laws 

  • The Organisation (Page 15)
  • The Health and Safety Measures.( Page 16 Important  :- Medical or paramedical staff in attendance )
  • The playing areas are safe and clear from any danger 
  • No trophies or rewards for final placings of teams or for the achievement of individual player.
  • The Permission to organise Youth Football Festivals/Tournaments (Page 15)
Applications to organize festivals/tournaments MUST be submitted on the appropriate FORM XY by mail/email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   to The Grassroots, Youth and Education Department of the MFA Technical Centre at least  30 days prior to the date the festival is due to be played.

I would like to remind you again that it is your responsibility to enforce that movable goalposts are to be securely anchored to the ground during festivals/tournaments and during all training activities.

To facilitate the work of the "referee" or game leader I suggest you prepare a short Check List that you can give to the referee/game leader at least a day before the Tournament/Festival, so that he can be accustomed with the rules of the game.

Please do refer to our Technical Centre if something is not clear, as our exclusive aim is to see the improvement and the  development of the kids both as a footballer and as a man.

I would like to thank you for your co operation and for your dedication that you put into your hard work with the kids, and I would also like to wish you and your nursery a football season 2012/13 full of satisfaction and success in the development of young footballers.