LALIGA Academy Shanghai Winter League

1. Registration Period: From now until December 5, 2025
2. Match Dates: December 2025 to January 2026

The organizing committee will make necessary adjustments to the match schedule and timing based on national competitions, municipal-level events, weather conditions, and the number of registered teams.

• Schedule for each group:

U7/U8/U9 Futsal Matches: December 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025

U10/U11 8-a-side Matches: January 4, 11, 18, 25, 2026

1. Age Groups: U7, U8, U9, U10, U11
2. Age Eligibility for Participation

• U7 Group: Players born on or after January 1, 2019; no more than 3 players born between September 1 and December 31, 2018
• U8 Group: Players born between January 1 and December 31, 2018; no more than 3 players born between September 1 and December 31, 2017
• U9 Group: Players born between January 1 and December 31, 2017; no more than 3 players born between September 1 and December 31, 2016
• U10 Group: Players born between January 1 and December 31, 2016; no more than 3 players born between September 1 and December 31, 2015
• U11 Group: Players born between January 1 and December 31, 2015; no more than 3 players born between September 1 and December 31, 2014

• Female players are allowed a one-year age relaxation. For example, U7 Group allows players born on or after January 1, 2017.

3. Principles for Group Setting

Teams in each group will be divided based on the actual number of registered teams. If the number of registered teams in an age group is less than 6, mixed-group matches will be held or the group will be merged into the next higher age group. The organizing committee will make the final decision based on comprehensive factors such as the registration status of participating teams, eligibility review results, and competition schedule.

4. Participants

In line with the requirement of integrating sports and education, the competition is open to all teenagers in primary and secondary schools in this city. School representative teams, sports school (football school) representative teams, club youth training echelons, and social youth training institutions are all eligible to register. The names of participants can be used in combination.

1. Competition Events

• U7, U8, U9: Futsal (5-a-side)
• U10, U11: 8-a-side Football

2. Match Duration

• For U7, U8, U9 Groups: Each match consists of two halves of 20 minutes each, with an interval of no more than 10 minutes.
• For U10, U11 Groups: Each match consists of two halves of 25 minutes each, with an interval of no more than 10 minutes.
• Each team will play 2 matches per match day.

3. Match Venue and Ball

• Futsal Venue: 38m × 25m; Goal size: 2m (height) × 3m (width)
• 8-a-side Football Venue: 60m × 40m; Goal size: 2m (height) × 5m (width)
• Both futsal and 8-a-side matches use Size 4 balls.

4. Competition System

The specific method will be determined based on the final number of registered teams. In principle, each team will play no fewer than 8 matches.

5. Competition Rules

• Implementation of Rules: The latest “Football Competition Rules” approved by the Chinese Football Association shall be implemented.
• Substitution Rules

1. a) Substitutions can be made when the ball is out of play.
2. b) With the consent of the referee, substitutions follow the rule of “substitute enters only after the replaced player leaves”. There is no limit on the number of substitutions, and replaced players can be substituted back into the game.

• Match Rules

1. Futsal – Applicable to U7, U8, U9 Age Groups
   • If a team has fewer than 3 players on the field during the match, the match will be terminated, and the team will be deemed to have conceded. The score will be recorded as 0:3. If the actual score exceeds 0:3, the actual score shall prevail.
   • Kick-off Rule: A direct goal from the center circle kick-off is invalid.
   • Throw-in Rule: Throw-ins shall be taken with feet at the point where the ball went out of play. Direct shooting from a throw-in is not allowed; a direct goal from a throw-in is invalid and will be ruled as a throw-in violation, with the defending team taking a goal kick.
   • Goal Kick Rule: Goal kicks shall be taken within the penalty area. The goalkeeper can only throw the ball with hands. If the goal kick is taken with feet, it will be ruled as a violation and the goal kick will be retaken. For a hand-thrown goal kick to be valid, the first landing point of the ball must not cross the halfway line, or the first touch point must be within the halfway line. Opposing players shall stay outside the penalty area when the goalkeeper is throwing the ball. If the ball has not left the penalty area and is kicked or touched by any player, the goal kick will be retaken.
   • Back-pass Rule: Teammates are allowed to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper, but the goalkeeper is not allowed to catch the back-pass with hands. If the goalkeeper catches the back-pass with hands inside the penalty area, an indirect free kick will be awarded at the foul spot. If the goalkeeper catches the back-pass with hands outside the penalty area, a direct free kick will be awarded at the foul spot.
   • Distance Rule for Defenders in Free Kicks: Defenders shall maintain a distance of 3 meters from the player taking throw-ins, free kicks, or goal kicks.
   • A goal scored directly from a center circle kick-off is not allowed. If the entire ball crosses the opponent’s goal line without being touched by any player of the kicking team or the opposing team, it will be ruled as a goal kick and the match will restart with a goal kick.
   • Offside Rule: No offside rule applies.
   • Tackling is not allowed.

1. 8-a-side Football – Applicable to U10, U11 Age Groups

• If a team has fewer than 5 players on the field during the match, the match will be terminated, and the team will be deemed to have conceded. The score will be recorded as 3:0. If the actual score exceeds 3:0, the actual score shall prevail.
• Fouls and Penalties
• Excessive tackling, verbal conflicts, or physical conflicts may result in a yellow card or red card.
• A player who receives a red card must leave the field immediately and will be suspended for the next match; a player who accumulates two yellow cards will also be suspended for one match.
• A goal scored directly from a center circle kick-off is not allowed. If the entire ball crosses the opponent’s goal line without being touched by any player of the kicking team or the opposing team, it will be ruled as a goal kick and the match will restart with a goal kick.
• Offside Rule: The offside rule is the same as that of 11-a-side football.
• Set-piece Rules
• Throw-in: Both feet must not leave the ground; the ball must be thrown over the head with both hands and must exceed the height at which it was held. A goal scored directly from a throw-in without being touched by other players is invalid.
• Corner Kicks, Free Kicks, Goal Kicks: Defenders must maintain a distance of at least 8 meters before the ball is kicked. A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick.

1. Uniform Requirements

• Each participating team must prepare uniform match jerseys and socks.
• The color of the goalkeeper’s jersey must be significantly different from that of other players and referees. If the jerseys of the two teams clash, the winner of a coin toss will decide which team wears the vest provided by the organizer.
• Each team’s jerseys must have unique numbers; no duplicate numbers are allowed. Players without numbers, with duplicate numbers, or whose numbers do not match the registration information are not allowed to play.
• The team captain must wear an armband with a color significantly different from the jersey color, and shall cooperate with the referee in managing players’ conduct and the match.
• The match venue has high-quality natural grass. Participating players can choose TF (turf) studs, MG (multi-ground) or AG (artificial grass) short studs (FG (firm ground) long studs are not recommended, and SG (soft ground) steel studs are strictly prohibited).
• Players must wear shin guards, which must be fully covered by socks. No equipment or accessories that are dangerous to themselves or other players are allowed.
• Players who need to wear corrective lenses due to myopia, etc., must wear contact lenses or sports glasses.
• Participating players and officials are not allowed to wear or display any ornaments or tattoos with political, religious, provocative, or discriminatory implications.

1. Code of Conduct

• Teams must arrive at the venue 10 minutes in advance for inspection, and submit the team list 5 minutes before the match. For futsal matches, the list shall include 5 starting players, substitute players, and substitute bench officials (1 head coach, 1 team leader, and 1 team doctor are allowed). For 8-a-side matches, the list shall include 8 starting players, substitute players, and substitute bench officials (same as above).
• Substitute bench officials and substitute players must wear vests or clothing with colors different from those of on-field players. All on-field players must wear uniform jerseys and socks, and the jersey numbers must match the team/player registration information.
• During the match, only one team official is allowed to stand in the technical area to direct the match; other officials and substitute players must sit on the substitute bench. The coach and team leader are responsible for the discipline of the team’s substitute bench. Smoking, littering, or any other behavior that affects the match is strictly prohibited in the match area.
• All individuals, including but not limited to players, coaches, parents, and spectators, must respect match officials, competition rules, and all players, coaches, and staff.
• Any person who engages in insulting, discriminatory, unsportsmanlike, or public order-disrupting behavior, or even fights, may be warned or expelled from the match venue. Those who commit serious violations will be referred to judicial authorities for handling.

1. Forfeiture and Walk-off

• If one team forfeits or walks off the match, the other team wins 3:0. If the actual score exceeds 3:0, the actual score shall prevail.
• If both teams forfeit or walk off the match, neither team will receive a result for the match, and 0 points will be recorded.
• If a team withdraws from the match midway, the score against all other teams in the same group will be recorded as 0:3 (regardless of whether the match has been played). If the actual score of a played match exceeds 0:3, the actual score shall prevail.
• If any team withdraws from the match for the second time, it will be disqualified from the league.
• Except for force majeure, if a participating team fails to participate in the match at the specified time (15 minutes after the match start time as determined by the referee) or with the required number of players, it will be deemed to have forfeited.

1. Competition Method

• First Stage: All teams will first participate in a single-round robin points match in the group stage. The top 2 teams in the group will play a single-round robin points match with the 3rd and 4th place teams from another group. For details on the promotion and seeding method, please refer to the match schedule.
• Group Stage Ranking: Based on the following points system: Win: 3 points, Draw: 1 point, Loss: 0 points.
• In case of tied points, the ranking will be determined in the following order:
• Direct match results between teams with tied points
• Goal difference between teams with tied points
• Total goals scored between teams with tied points
• Total goal difference in all matches
• Total goals scored in all matches
• Draw by lot

• Second Stage: Knockout Stage
• After the group stage, the top 4 teams in each group (see match schedule for details) will qualify for the Championship Group, while the bottom 4 teams (see match schedule for details) will qualify for the Excellence Group.
• If a match in the knockout stage is a draw, no extra time will be played, and the winner will be determined directly by a penalty shootout. For both futsal and 8-a-side matches, the penalty shootout follows the “5+1” format (5 penalty kicks per team first, then sudden death if needed).

1. Yellow and Red Cards

• Yellow Card: A referee will show a yellow card to warn a player who commits a foul during the match. The warned player can continue to play butwill be sent off if receiving a second warning (the referee will first show a second yellow card, then a red card).
• Red Card: A referee will show a red card and order a player to leave the field for serious fouls. The sent-off player will be suspended for one match.
• After the knockout stage, the yellow and red card counts will be reset。

1. Referees and Supervision

• Match supervisors and referees will be appointed by the organizing committee. They are authorized to enforce the competition rules related to the match. Referees must enforce the rules seriously, diligently, fairly, and accurately. Match supervisors will coordinate all on-site work, evaluate the match and the work of the competition venue, and submit a record report.
• The “burden of proof principle” applies to appeals in this competition, which shall be handled directly by the referee supervisor. Teams may communicate with the referee on-site if they have different opinions on the referee’s decisions. If an appeal is needed, the team representative (head coach or team leader) must submit the appeal materials to the match supervisor at the venue30 minutes after the end of the match. The match supervisor will forward the materials to the Referee Committee, which must provide a specific opinion before the next round of matches.
• To appeal against an ineligible player participating in the match, the appealing party must provide video materials and relevant evidence of the match. The referee is only responsible for supervision, and the team itself shall bear the responsibility for violations.
• Appeals not submitted by team representatives, oral appeals, and appeals submitted beyond the specified time will not be accepted.
• Fraud and other unsportsmanlike behaviors are strictly prohibited. If such behaviors occur and are verified, the team’s result of the match will be canceled, and the team will be deemed to have lost 0:3. If the actual score exceeds 0:3, the actual score shall prevail. For serious cases, the organizing committee has the right to disqualify the team from the competition and cancel its match results, and the subsequent rankings will be adjusted accordingly.
• The organizing committee will determine the penalty method based on the severity and impact of violations and disciplinary infractions during the match.
• For inappropriate behaviors of spectators, inappropriate behaviors of coaches, and the use of unregistered players, referees and the organizing committee have the right to remove the spectators with inappropriate behaviors, coaches, and unregistered players from the stadium.

1. Match Cancellation, Suspension, or Termination

• Description of Common Severe Weather and Special Circumstances
• Thunderstorm, heavy rain (blue warning or higher)
• Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 200
• Excessively high PM2.5 concentration
• Typhoon, earthquakes, hailstorm, tornado, sandstorm, etc.
• Match Suspension
• If severe weather or force majeure occurs during a match, the organizing committee will suspend the match and decide whether to resume or postpone the match based on the actual situation at that time (the part of the match already played will be recorded as valid).
• Match Cancellation/Postponement
• If severe weather occurs before a match, or schools adjust class hours due to holidays, or other force majeure events occur, the organizing committee will cancel the match. The organizing committee will issue an official notice of canceled or postponed matches via WeChat and phone calls.

1. Group Seeding

• If the number of registered teams exceeds the expected number, the organizing committee will rearrange the grouping for the official competition.
• If the number of teams is insufficient or the teams are of similar level, mixed grouping will be adopted.