Competition Rules for Eken Cup
- General
- Game length
- Game Field
- Before the game
- After the Game
- Number of Players and substitutes
- The Ball
- Resin / wax
- Prohibition against marking a player and substitutions offense-defense
- Tournament jury
- Protests and Penalties
- Dispensation
- Walk Over
- Referees
Updated 2023
1. General
1.1 Eken Cup is played according to SHF’s rules.
1.2 We use SHF´s regulations on handball sizes.
1.3 Exception has been obtained for the change of playing time in Eken Cup.
1.4 The Youth Cup, B/G10 – B/G16, is played in a group stage with 3-5 teams. From that stage the team advances to a second group stage with 3-5 teams to get as tight games as possible. From the second group stage the teams will advance to semi-finals, finals and final position match. The classes B/G09 and B/G10 will only play the final position match and all players will receive a medal after their last game. All teams are guaranteed 6 matches, but most of the teams will play 7 matches.
1.5 The Mini Cup for B/G8 and B/G9 will be played in a group stage with 3-5 teams. From that stage the team advances to a second group stage with 3-5 teams. All teams will end the tournament by playing a final. All players will receive a medal after their last game. All teams are guaranteed 6 matches, but most of the teams will play 7 matches.
1.6 Eken Senior Cup is played first in a group stage followed by an A-final round. Finals are played in a cup format.
1.7 Ranking of teams in the group stage is determined as follows:
1. Points
2. Results of the mutual meeting between the teams on equal points.
3. Goal Difference
4. Most goals scored
5. Drawing of lots
1.8 Draw in the semi-finals and the final position match in the Youth Cup are determined by games for the first goal after drawing of lots. Ties in the finals will be determined by extension 1 x 5 minutes after the drawing of lots. If the match still is tied it will be determined by games for the first goal after drawing of lots.
1.9 Finals in The Mini Cup are determined by games for the first goal after drawing of lots.
1.10 Draw in the playoffs and finals for the Eken Senior Cup will be decided by extension 1 x 5 min after the drawing of lots. If the match still is tied it will be determined by games for the first goal after drawing of lots.
1.11 The template used to create the groups in the tournament for The Youth Cup, excluding B/G8 and B/G9, with 16 teams will be as follows. With a different number of teams the second round will be adapted to as tight games as possible:
- Group stage 1
- Group 1-1: 4 teams according to the ranking
- Group 2-1: 4 teams according to the ranking
- Group 3-1: 4 teams according to the ranking
- Group 4-1: 4 teams according to the ranking
- Group stage 2
- Group 1-2: 4 teams, 1st place Group 1-1, Group 2-1 and 2nd place Group 3-1, Group 4-1
- Group 2-2: 4 teams, 2nd place Group 1-1, Group 2-1 and 1st place Group 3-1, Group 4-1
- Group 3-2: 4 teams, 3rd place Group 1-1, Group 2-1 and 4th place Group 3-1, Group 4-1
- Group 4-2: 4 teams, 4th place Group 1-1, Group 2-1 and 3rd place Group 3-1, Group 4-1
- Playoff
- Semi-final A: 1st place Group 1-2 against 2nd place Group 2-2, 2nd place Group 1-2 against 1st place Group 2-2
- Semi-final B: 1st place Group 3-2 against 2nd place Group 4-2, 2nd place Group 3-2 against 1st place Group 4-2
- Final: The winners of each semi-final will play each other
- Final position match: 3rd place Group 1-2 against 4th place Group 2-2, 4th place Group 1-2 against 3rd place Group 2-2, 3rd place Group 3-2 against 4th place Group 4-2, 4th place Group 3-2 against 3rd place Group 4-2
1.12 The template used to create the groups in the tournament for The Mini Cup, B/G8 and B/G9 in the Youth Cup with 16 teams will be as follows. With a different number of teams the second round will be adapted to as tight games as possible:
- Group stage 1
- Group 1-1: 4 teams randomly selected
- Group 2-1: 4 teams randomly selected
- Group 3-1: 4 teams randomly selected
- Group 4-1: 4 teams randomly selected
- Group stage 2
- Group 1-2: 4 teams, 1st place Group 1-1, Group 2-1 and 2nd place Group 3-1, Group 4-1
- Group 2-2: 4 teams, 2nd place Group 1-1, Group 2-1 and 1st place Group 3-1, Group 4-1
- Group 3-2: 4 teams, 3rd place Group 1-1, Group 2-1 and 4th place Group 3-1, Group 4-1
- Group 4-2: 4 teams, 4th place Group 1-1, Group 2-1 and 3rd place Group 3-1, Group 4-1
- Playoff
- Final position match: 1st place Group 1-2 against 1st place Group 2-2, 2nd place Group 1-2 against 2nd place Group 2-2, 3rd place Group 1-2 against 3rd place Group 2-2, 4th place Group 1-2 against 4th place Group 2-2 and in the same order for all other groups.
2. Match length
2.1 All teams should be by the game field at least 10 minutes before the match start.
2.2 All games in Eken Cup are played 2 x 15 min.
2.3 There are no timeouts used during Eken Cup.
3. Game Field
3.1 Matches are played on grass playing fields and artificial turf with approved measurements.
3.2 The goal in the games for the classes for B/G10 and B/G11 will have a lower cross bar!
3.3 The Mini Cup is played on mini playing fields with appropriate goals.
3.4 You are allowed to use football boots at Eken Cup but it is not accepted to have metal studs on the boot.
4. Before the Game
4.1 Before your first game begins you need to enter your team line-up in our administration system, CupManager. If you have any questions on your team line-up please contact the information tent located at Gubbängsfältet. The team line-up should be entered in the system on Thursday before the tournament starts.
4.2 The team needs to be at the playing field at least 10 minutes before the game is set out to start!
4.3 If two teams have the same dress colour, the away team needs to change.
4.4 The home team has to bring a correct size and authorized ball to the game.
4.5 Each team will choose one person that helps out with the score board. During half time they should align with the referees that they have the same score.
5. After the Game
5.1 After the game, each team leader needs to sign the game protocol, the yellow card. If there is a different score between the referees and the score board, it is the score by the referees that is the final result.
5.2 The winner of the game will leave the game protocol, yellow card, to the competition tower.
6. Number of players and substitutes
6.1 A team may use a maximum of 16 players per game. It is allowed to have more than 16 players within the team line-up. You may use the same player from a club in various teams in the tournament but not in the same age category.
6.2 The player need to be licensed for the club it is playing for at Eken Cup.
6.3 The number of players on the field in The Mini Cup is 4 players plus a goalkeeper. In all other classes the number of players are 6 plus a goalkeeper.
7. The Ball
7.1 The home team has to bring a correct size and authorized ball to the game. At a game we allow 3 handballs to be used. All handballs need to be approved by the referee. The 2 handballs that are not used should be placed on the ground near the post of the goal, one at each goal.
7.2 Handball Sizes
Size 00 – Soft Handball (A handball with a foam-rubber surface)
The soft handball shall have a circumference of 47-49 cm and weighs 150-200 gram. It is used for all games in the Mini Cup for B/G8 and B/G9.
Size 0
The size 0 handball shall have a circumference of 46-50 cm and weighs 250-300 gram. It is used by B/G10, B/G11 and B/G12, as well as G13 and G14.
Size 1
The size 1 handball shall have a circumference of 50-52 cm and weighs 290-330 gram. It is used by B13 and B14, as well as G15 and G16.
Size 2
The size 2 handball shall have a circumference of 54-56 cm and weighs 325-375 gram. It is used by B15 and B16 and for Women Seniors.
Size 3
The size 3 handball shall have a circumference of 58-60cm and weighs 425-475 gram. It is used by Men Seniors.
8. Resin / wax
8.1 Resin and wax is only allowed from B/G15 and older. Resin/wax can only be applied directly to the fingers.
9. Prohibition against marking a player and substitutions offense-defense
9.1 For U16 and younger it is prohibited to marking a single or double players by following then outside of the 9-meter line even though they are not having the ball. If the defense is having the same amount of players outside of the 9-meter line as the offensive team it is not considered as marking.
9.2 For U14 and younger it is only allowed the change players when the own team is in possession of the ball (exception at injuries).
9.3 The penalty for changing players at the wrong time or marking of players when not allowed the referee should use progressive penalty towards the coach and not directly to the player.
10. Tournament jury
10.1 The tournament jury will be appointed by the organizer.
11. Protests and Penalties
11.1 No protest can be made within child- and youth handball.
11.2 Protests have to be given to the information tent at the most 15 minutes after the game in question has finished. The protest can only be handed in by the person responsible for the team. The protest quota (SEK 500) has to be paid at the same time. It will be returned if the protest is accepted. The decisions can not be appealed against and protests can only be given within Eken Senior Cup.
12.3 Two read cards during the tournament will automatically render a suspension in the following game. This is valid throughout the tournament in both the group stage and the playoff. The rule is valid both for players and coaches. After the suspension there will be a new count from zero which means that there will be a new suspension after the fourth red card, sixth red card and so on for the full tournament. The team-leader is responsible for the follow up.
12.4 Each team is responsible for its supporter’s behaviour.
12. Dispensation
12.1 Dispensations can be applied for through our registration system, CupManager, or by mail to info@ekencup.se.
12.2 Any club that wants to use a player that has a dispensation to play in a younger age group from their local district or country should add a copy of that dispensation when applying in CupManager. Eken Cup will approve or deny the dispensation directly in CupManager. Dispensation requests that are made during Eken Cup will normally be denied.
Eken Cup is using the same rules as SHF with a general dispensation for two players that is one year older. This dispensation is valid for representation in the younger class even though there is a team in the correct age for the player. The player will be locked to the younger class during the complete year and not only during Eken Cup. Eken Cup might still approve other type of dispensations if considered to be applied for to give the best possible games for the players.
12.3 In The Mini Cup and Youth Cup B/G10 and B/G11 it is allowed for girls to play with boys and for boys to play with girls. Apply for this in our application system, CupManager, and chose the class with the majority of the players. If for example the team has a majority of girls the team should be registered in the girls class and then Eken Cup will approve all the dispensations for the boys automatically.
12.4 In The Mini Cup and Youth Cup B/G10 and B/G11 it is allowed for players to participate in multiple teams within the same club. Apply for this directly when registering the team. It is important that the players that double up in multiple teams are done in such a way that all players get to play multiple games and not to get the best result but rather to give everyone the most time on the field. Remember that Eken Cup cannot guarantee that that games within the same class will not be played at the same time. This means that each team need to have enough players to play those games, since no games will be moved during the tournament.
12.5 In the Eken Senior Cup no other dispensations except already approved dispensations by SHF or SDF will be approved.
12.6 When a dispensation is approved the player can be used in any way for that team during Eken Cup.
13. Walk Over
13.1 A team that does not show up without a legitimate reason will lose the game with 10-0. If this happens more than once, the team may be excluded from the tournament. If there are compelling reasons the jury can exclude a team on the first offence. For example if a deliberate walk over benefits the own or another team in the group. The Competition Committee has the right to re-schedule a Walk Over match.
13.2 The walk-over will be charged with a WO-fee SEK 1100:-.
14. Referees
14.1 The referees will be appointed by the Stockholm Handball Referees Club.
Eken Cup referees will be mostly from Sweden but we also want referees from Finland and the Baltic countries. We hope to have as many referees as always this year. Do you have someone in your organization who is interested please let us know. Please contact domare@ekencup.se.