Question Number: 23536

League Specific 6/22/2010

RE: Under 17

Terry Blair of fairbanks, ak usa asks...

In a tournament if a u-16 team is playing in a u-17 bracket, do you still play the 40 min game or do you play the age bracket 45 min game. I know you never make a younge rteam play up but does that apply in tournaments.

Thank you
Terry Blair

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The U16 team will have to play the 45 minute halves, if that is the length of the tournament games. There is a prohibition in youth soccer for older teams to play down, so any team that plays up, plays at that level.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Blair
The referee plays the allotted time set down by the competition organisers for the games in the age category. So if it set as a 45 minute game for an U 17 game that is the time that is played. It is of no concern to the referee if a younger age group is playing in the competition.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If a team is 'playing up', they play to the rules of the age group they are playing in.

Playing up is usually a voluntary decision, so the team has the option to play to the harder rules and presumably against harder opposition. If the tournament does not have enough teams entered and teams are forced to play up or not play, I would reconsider my association with that tournament in the future.