Pärnu Beach Soccer Festival invites teams to compete at one of the most exciting beach soccer venues in the Baltic Sea region.

The tournament will take place in the heart of Pärnu, the Summer Capital of Estonia. The pitches are located at the Düün Beach Center – Pärnu Beach Arena (Mere pst 15, Pärnu – directly on Pärnu Beach).

Event Schedule

August 7–8

Friday: 17:00–20:00
Saturday: 10:00–19:00

Laws of the Game

All matches will be played according to the FIFA Beach Soccer Laws of the Game.

Referees

The tournament will be officiated by beach soccer referees from different countries, including FIFA-licensed referees.

Teams

• Each team may register up to 15 players and up to 2 team officials.
• A maximum of 12 players may participate in a match.
• A player may represent only one team during the tournament.
• Each team is guaranteed a minimum of 4 matches.
• Team entry fee: €250.
• Initial team registration closes on July 19. The registration deadline may be extended if necessary.

Team Kits

A team competing in the Men's Competitive League must have at least two sets of playing kits with clearly contrasting primary colours and unique shirt numbers from 1 to 99. Outfield players must have two different kit sets, and goalkeepers must have two different goalkeeper kit sets.

Teams competing in the Women's League and Men's Recreational League must have at least one matching set of playing kits (two colours recommended) with unique shirt numbers from 1 to 99.

If teams in the Women's League or Men's Recreational League have shirts of the same colour, the team listed second on the match schedule must wear an alternative kit or training bibs.

All other equipment requirements shall comply with the FIFA Beach Soccer Laws of the Game.

Leagues

Women's League

• 10 teams
• 2 groups in the Group Stage
• Match duration: 2 × 11 minutes

Men's Competitive League

• 8 teams
• 2 groups in the Group Stage
• Match duration: 3 × 10 minutes

Men's Recreational League

• 32 teams
• 8 groups in the Group Stage
• Match duration: 2 × 11 minutes

Competition Format

The competition consists of a Group Stage (teams are divided into groups) followed by playoff placement matches.
All matches will be played using running time.
The final competition format will be confirmed after team registration has closed.

Group Stage

Group standings are determined by the total number of points earned, where:

• a win is worth three (3) points;
• a draw is worth one (1) point;
• a loss is worth zero (0) points.

If a match result is annulled due to a rule violation, the offending team is awarded a loss and the opposing team a win. Goals scored by the opposing team remain valid.

If two or more teams are tied on points, the following criteria shall be applied in order:

• fewer forfeited matches and annulled results;
• points obtained in matches between the tied teams;
• goal difference in matches between the tied teams;
• greater number of wins;
• overall goal difference;
• greater number of goals scored;
• drawing of lots.

Playoffs

If a playoff match is tied at the end of regular time, the winner shall be determined immediately by a penalty shootout.

Each team takes three (3) penalty kicks. If the score remains tied after three kicks per team, the shootout continues on a sudden-death basis until a winner is determined.

Participation in Matches

Teams must be ready to play at the scheduled kick-off time.

If a team is not ready to start the match within five (5) minutes of the referee's call, the team shall forfeit the match.

In the event of a forfeit, the match result shall be recorded as – : +.

Disciplinary Regulations

A player sent off from the field of play and a coach or other team official dismissed from the technical area shall be suspended for the next match of the competition. The tournament organiser reserves the right to modify disciplinary sanctions, including increasing their severity.

A player or official who has been sent off must leave the field of play or technical area and move at least five (5) metres away from the field boundary. A dismissed official may not coach, communicate with the team, or remain in the technical area until the end of the match.

A player or team official shall automatically be suspended for the next match of the competition after receiving every third caution in different matches for which no suspension has already been served.

Two cautions received in the same match resulting in a dismissal shall not count separately towards the accumulation of cautions.

A suspended player or official may not be listed on the match sheet or be present in the technical area in any capacity until the required suspension has been served.

Single yellow cards that have not resulted in a suspension expire at the conclusion of the Group Stage and are not carried forward into the playoffs.

The tournament organiser is not obliged to notify teams of cautions or dismissals received during matches. Each club is responsible for tracking its own disciplinary record.

If a suspended, unregistered, or otherwise ineligible player participates in a match, the result shall be annulled. The opposing team shall be awarded a win and three (3) points. Goals scored by the offending team shall be cancelled, and the match result shall be recorded as – : [number of goals scored by the opposing team].

Goals and assists recorded by the opposing team shall remain valid, as shall all cautions and dismissals issued during the match.

Any previous suspensions of players from the offending team, including the ineligible player who participated in the match, shall be considered served.

Protests

A protest may be submitted in the following cases:

• participation of an ineligible player;
• an obvious refereeing error involving mistaken identity;
• a serious misapplication of the Laws of the Game by the referee that significantly affected the match result;
• any other exceptional circumstance that significantly affected the match result.

No protest may be submitted against a referee's factual decisions.

A team must notify the referee of its intention to submit a protest immediately after the match and, no later than ten (10) minutes after the match, pay a protest deposit of €50 in cash to the tournament office and submit the protest in writing.

Late protests shall not be considered.

The protest deposit shall be refunded if the protest is upheld or dismissed without consideration.

Awards

The top three teams in each league shall receive trophies, and team members shall receive medals.

The top goalscorer, best player, and best goalkeeper of each league shall receive individual awards.

Other Provisions

Participation in the tournament is at the participant's own risk. The organiser accepts no responsibility for injuries sustained during the tournament or for the loss of personal belongings.

Teams are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and insurance expenses.

By participating in the tournament, participants grant permission for their image to be used in tournament-related photographs and video materials.