Saku Cup 2024

International challenge level youth football tournament

Welcome to Saku Spring

International Youth Football Tournament
Saku Cup 2022 promo video

Saku Cup 2024 is an international youth football tournament, which is held in September and October at Saku and Tallinn, Estonia.

In all the age groups up to 70 teams are invited to take part in the tournament with clubs from Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania and elsewhere expected to participate.

Information

Information

Saku Cup is one of the two annual tournaments organised in cooperation with local football club Saku Sporting, the second tournament will be held in autumn and called Saku Spring. Saku Sporting was founded in 2005 and has now over 300 youth players in their training groups.

Saku Cup was held for the first time in 2016, but tournament organizers have many years of experience running tournaments like Hillar Otto Memorial and Tartu Santos Cup in Tartu as well as Tallinn and Saaremaa Cup in the last decade.

The organisers’ objective is to offer all the participants an enjoyable, memorable football experience!

Saku Cup 2024 dates & age groups.

Age group Stadium Players Game time Ball Off-side Dates
Girls 2011/2012 Õismäe artificial turf 11 vs 11 2×20 min. 4 + 26.-27.10.2024
Boys 2009 (B-level) Saku/Lasnamäe artificial turf 11 vs 11 2×20 min. 5 + 26.-27.10.2024
Boys 2010 (B-level) Saku/Lasnamäe artificial turf 11 vs 11 2×20 min. 5 + 19.-20.10.2024
Boys 2011 (B-level) Õismäe artificial turf 11 vs 11 2×20 min. 4 + 12-13.10.2024
Boys 2012 (B-level) Saku artificial turf 8 vs 8 2×18 min. 4 + 12-13.10.2024
Boys 2013 (B-level) Õismäe artificial turf 8 vs 8 2×18 min. 4 + 05-06.10.2024
Boys 2014 (B-level) Saku artificial turf 7 vs 7 2×18 min. 3 05-06.10.2024
Boys 2015 (B-level) Saku artificial turf 7 vs 7 2×18 min. 3 05-06.10.2024
Boys 2016 (B & C-level) Saku artificial turf 5 vs 5 1×25 min. 3 28.09.2024
Boys 2017 (B & C-level) Saku artificial turf 5 vs 5 1×25 min. 3 29.09.2024
Boys 2018 (B & C-level) Saku artificial turf 5 vs 5 1×25 min. 3 29.09.2024

Tournament program organizational details:

Before the tournament: 

After the registration of the team our team will contact you  and will provide all the important details about arrangements and help you thru the process of getting ready for Saku Cup.

About 2-3 weeks before the tournament you will get the schedules of the tournament and also a individually designed bus schedule  which will help you team travel during the tournament starting from the port until the Sunday when we will take you team back to port/airport.

With bus schedule your team will also get scheduled meal times, which are set according to your team games.

The invoice for the tournament will be sent thru the e-mail about 1-2 weeks before the tournament and must be paid before the arrival of the team.

At the tournament: 

Friday
We will meet and greet your team at the port/airport from where our buses will take your team to a hotel. After check-in the dinner is served upon your requested time.

For extra it is possible to arrange a lunch on Friday for teams arriving earlier.
Upon request we can also arrange different leisure activities (e.g cinema, guided tours etc.)

Saturday

Tournament will start around 9-10 am and end around 8-9 pm. Before the first match a breakfast is eaten at the hotel.
Bus schedule is designed so that your team will be taken from hotel to stadium abou 45-60 minutes before the first game.

Day is divided into morning and evening session, which means that team will have either 1 or 2 games in the morning or in the evening.

Depending on schedule a team is taken back to hotel for lunch.

Sunday

Sunday will start around 9 am. and teams will play 2 games. All the transportation is arranged as on previous day and tournament final is around 15 pm.  Lunch is served for team at agreed time and team is transported back to airport/port.
Late check-outs from hotel are possible.

Contact:

Erki Kade
Telefon: +372 53 804 057
E-post: erki@revalsporttours.eu

Rules

Saku Cup 2024 rules

I FIFA Laws of the Game

The international youth football tournament Saku Cup 2024 shall follow the international laws of the game provided by FIFA.
NB! If there are conflicting claims in the FIFA rules and in the Saku Cup 2024 rules and regulations, the tournament guide shall apply.

II Age groups and regulations

Age group Stadium Players Game time Ball Off-side Dates
Girls 2011/2012 Õismäe artificial turf 11 vs 11 2×20 min. 4 + 26.-27.10.2024
Boys 2009 (B-level) Saku/Lasnamäe artificial turf 11 vs 11 2×20 min. 5 + 26.-27.10.2024
Boys 2010 (B-level) Saku/Lasnamäe artificial turf 11 vs 11 2×20 min. 5 + 19.-20.10.2024
Boys 2011 (B-level) Õismäe artificial turf 11 vs 11 2×20 min. 4 + 12-13.10.2024
Boys 2012 (B-level) Saku artificial turf 8 vs 8 2×18 min. 4 + 12-13.10.2024
Boys 2013 (B-level) Õismäe artificial turf 8 vs 8 2×18 min. 4 + 05-06.10.2024
Boys 2014 (B-level) Saku artificial turf 7 vs 7 2×18 min. 3 05-06.10.2024
Boys 2015 (B-level) Saku artificial turf 7 vs 7 2×18 min. 3 05-06.10.2024
Boys 2016 (B & C-level) Saku artificial turf 5 vs 5 1×25 min. 3 28.09.2024
Boys 2017 (B & C-level) Saku artificial turf 5 vs 5 1×25 min. 3 29.09.2024
Boys 2018 (B & C-level) Saku artificial turf 5 vs 5 1×25 min. 3 29.09.2024

III Use of older players in the tournament

In age group for 11v11  it is allowed to use  up to 3 older players in one team, who have been born later than 1 August the prior year.

In age groups for 8v8 and 7v7  it is allowed to use  up to 2 older players in one team, who have been born later than 1 August the prior year.

In age groups for 5v5  it is allowed to 1 older player in one team, who have been born later than 1 August the prior year.

For example: In the boys age group 2010, it is allowed to have in one team 3 older players, who have been born later than 1.08.2009.

IV Players participating in several teams

During the youth football tournament Saku Cup 2024, it is not allowed for the players to play in more than one age group. If this rule is ignored, the player will be disqualified from the tournament and the game of the violating team will be cancelled. The result -/+ will be noted in the tournament chart and this means that the other team has won.

V Stadiums

Saku Cup 2024 matches will be played at Saku (Tallinna hgw..10, Saku),  Sõle (Sõle st. 40A, Tallinn), Õismäe (Õismäe rd 50, Tallinn) and Lasnamäe artificial turf (Punane st. 45, Tallinn).

NB! Tournament organizers reserve the right to make changes in the time schedules during the tournament!

VI Tournament system

In age groups 2009-2016 Saku Cup 2024 is divided into two phases: subgroup tournaments and playoffs.
In the subgroup tournaments, the teams are divided into subgroups of 4-6 teams, where all teams will play against each other once. In the matches held during the subgroup tournament, a victory gives each team 3 points, a draw game 1 point and loss 0 points.

If some teams get equal scores in subgroups, the final ranking will be decided according to:

  1. match between each other
  2. goal difference between each other
  3. overall goal difference
  4. number of goals
  5. disciplinary actions
    1. abandoned matches, cancellation of results
    2. red cards
    3. Yellow cards
  6. drawing lots

All places in the Saku Cup 2024 tournament will be determined in the playoff system. The playoff system for each age group will be announced by the organizers one week before the tournament begins.

VII Penalties

During the playoff and final match, if the match ends with a draw after the end of match time, the teams have to start shooting penalties immediately. There will be no extra time during the tournament matches.

The number of penalties in each age group:

  • 2009-2016  – 3 penalties
  • Boys 2017-2018 – No penalty shootouts

VIII Protest

A protest is directed against the validity of the result of the match. A protest has to be based on that whether the player has right to participate or not, on serious violation of the rules by the referee or on some other incident that affected the result of the match.

The protest must be submitted in writing by a team representative (a person who has been designated on the registration form as team leader) no later than 30 minutes after the end of the protested match.
A general protest against the whole opposing team is not acceptable.
Protest against the yellow or red card or against the removal of player from the field after the referee has showed two cards, is only allowed if referee made a mistake against the corresponding player.
Protest processing fee is 75 EUR. This amount will be refunded if the protest is successful.

IX Jury

The possible disagreements and protests will be solved by a three-member jury. The jury includes the head referee and two head organizers of the tournament.
NB! Jury’s final decision cannot be appealed!

X Referees

All the referees are accepted by the Estonian Football Association or the head referee of the tournament.

XI Defaulters

If on the football field there is not at least 7 players (11vs11), 5 players (8vs8), 4 players (7vs7) and 3 players (5vs5) then in 5 minutes after the start of official match time, a +/- loss will be entered into the tournament table.

XII Awards

Teams in age groups  2009-2016 having won the first, second and third place will be awarded with trophies and medals.

No places are played out in age groups 2017-2018. All the players are awarded with medals.

XIII Medicine/medical aid

The organizers of Saku Cup 2024 football tournament will not take any responsibility for injuries, which happen during the football tournament. Teams have an obligation to ensure that all trauma situations will be resolved.
If possible, the football tournament organizers will assist with their medical skills.

XIV Warnings and removals

A player removed from the field will be disqualified for the next match held Saku Cup 2024 tournament.
NB! The referee, who serves the match, has the right to demand harsher punishment for the disqualified player. The referee must submit a written application to the tournament head referee, who makes the final decision. The decision of the head referee is final and cannot be appealed.
The decision will be notified to the team representative specified on the registration form.

XV Recognition of fair play

For the recognition of fair play it is recommended that players shake hands with the opposing players and referee right after the line-up (before the match starts) and after the final whistle.

XVI Warranty

By participation in Saku Cup 2024 football tournament, the team confirms being aware of all the rules of the tournament.

XVII Balls used in matches

All the balls used during the Saku Cup 2024 have a marking “FIFA APPROVED” or “FIFA INSPECTED”.

XVIII Registration of the team

When arriving to the tournament, all the teams have to submit the completed registration form to the tournament organizers before their first competitive match. If possible, the signed registration form can be e-mailed to info@sakucup.eu

The players not listed on the registration form cannot participate. Teams are not allowed to add more players to the registration form during the tournament.

XIX Start of the match and its accompanying rules

The team has to be on the match field 5 minutes before the match starts.
If the uniforms of both teams are in the same colour, the team who has been listed as the second team has to change shirts or wear vests.
Vests are guaranteed by the tournament organizer.

Maximum team size in 11vs11 age group  – 22 players.
Maximum team size in 8vs8 age group  – 18 players.
Maximum team size in 7v7 age group – 16 players
Maximum team size in 5v5 age group – 12 players.

XX State of emergency, tournament management

The jury of the tournament has right to make changes in match times and locations, if it is necessary and an inevitable event requires it!

NB! Tournament organizers are not responsible for the event of theft during the tournament!

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