Number of fielded players
- 7 players per team including goalkeeper
- Fixed goalkeeper during game
- The minimum number of players is 5.
- If a team has less than 5 players playing, the team will need to forfeit to a 3:0 loss
- Transfer of players between teams during the tournament will not be allowed
- Unlimited substitution will be allowed, notification of referee will be required
- Roll on/roll off of subs when the ball is out of play
- Substitutes must enter the game from the half-way line and may not do so until the substituted player has left the field.
- Substituted players may return to play.
- Shin pads must be worn during the game
Time management
- Group stages and Knock-out stages will be 12 mins game straight through with no breaks
- Final will be 10 mins each way with 2 mins break
- An air-horn will be used to signal the start and ending of the game. No extra time or added time
- The game manager will have the authority of final decisions
Point system in group stage
Points system for all games: Win = 3 points, Draw = 1 point, Lose = 0 point
Group Stages
- The top two teams from each group will proceed to the Knock-out Stage
- Schedule of play in Knock-out Stage will depend on the Group Stage ranking by points
- In the event of a tie in points, it will be decided by goal difference
- In the event of a tie in goal difference, it will be decided by the number of goals scored
- In the event of a tie in the number of goals scored, it will be decided by the head-to-head result in Group stage
- In the event of a tie in the head-to-head result in Group stage, it will be decided by less yellow/red cards.
Knockout Stages
- Winners move on through the stages
- In the event of a tie at Knock-out stage and Finals Stage, the match will proceed straight to sudden-death penalties.
Red and Yellow Cards
- Any player receiving 2 yellow cards during the tournament will be suspended for the next game
- A straight red card issued during any game will make the player ineligible for the following game
- All cards will be reset at the beginning of knockout stages
Ball In and Out of Play
- Ball over the sideline results in a throw in
- Throw in should be taken by hand
- Ball over the end line results in a goal kick or a corner kick
- Throw ins and goal kicks must be taken within 5 seconds
Free Kick
- Opposing players must retire at least 5 meters from the ball for all free kicks
- Minimum distance from goal line for indirect free kicks will be 5 meters (e.g. for violation of pass backs to goalkeeper)
Penalty Kick
- A penalty kick is taken from the 5-meter mark. All players except the kicker and the goalkeeper must retire outside the penalty area. The goalkeeper must stand on his/her goal line until the penalty kick is taken
- No run up while taking the penalty
Others
- Branches of Hope will have the authority of final decisions in the event of any disputes
- Offsides will not be applicable
- Pass back to goalkeeper is allowed, goalkeeper cannot touch the ball with hands on the back pass
- Each game will have 2 referees
Home and Away Football Tournament 2024 | Home and Away 足球錦標賽 2024
Date: 11 October 2024 | 10月11號
Time: 8:30am – 5:30pm | 上午8點半至下午5點半
Venue: King’s Park Sports Ground, Ho Man Tin | 何文田京士柏運動場
Since its inception in 2012, Branches of Hope has organised an annual charity football tournament to bring together our community and raise awareness and support for the organisation’s work assisting refugees, asylum seekers, and survivors of human trafficking.
由非牟利機構「希望枝子」舉辦的「Home & Away慈善足球錦標賽」將於今年10月11日（重陽節）載譽回歸，希望以足球比賽連繫香港市民和居港的邊緣與弱勢群體。透過公平競賽，無分國界，一起享受足球樂趣，從而提升社會對難民、免遣返聲請人和人口販運倖存者的關注。
“Home & Away” is a football term that refers to whether a team is playing at ‘home’ in their own venue, or away in someone else’s. With this event, we share a message that while the community we support are away from home and separated from their families, our city is one that cares. This event will provide a safe place for the marginalised and vulnerable to enjoy football with the diverse and inspiring individuals that call Hong Kong home and, as a result, form genuine friendships. Through this event, we aim to facilitate social integration across the city where all can feel cared for and experience a “Home away from Home”.
「主 / 客場」是指在足球比賽中球隊在自己的「主場」或對手在「客場」作賽的術語。我們希望，即使居港的邊緣與弱勢群體因種種原因而被逼離開家園，來到香港這個充滿關愛的城市後，透過平等及公平的比賽讓以香港為家的不同群體建立友誼，促進社會共融，讓所有人都能感受到「家外之家」的感覺。
This friendly 7-a-side tournament will pit 20-30 teams all vying to be crowned the ‘Home & Away’ champion! Whether you’re a corporate hotshot or a casual player, we want YOU on our teams! So, gather your colleagues, friends, and neighbours, and get involved! Please click the link below to sign up before 31 August 2024.
活動將有企業隊伍、公眾隊伍以及由難民、免遣返聲請人所組成的社區隊伍，報名期由即日起至2024年8月31日結束。組成12人為一隊的企業隊伍或公眾隊伍即可透過以下連結參賽：
TEAM SIGN UP:
LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
SPSONOR COMMUNITY TEAM:
SIGN UP AS VOLUNTEERS:
Volunteer roles description: https://branchesofhope.org.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/HA-2024-Volunteer-roles.pdf
IMPORTANT NOTES TO PARTICIPANTS
- All footballers must be aged 16 years old or above.
- Players should be aware of their own physical fitness. For the sake of safety, persons with health problems such as asthma, heart and lung diseases, plantar fasciitis should seek medical advice before entering for the tournament.
- Players taking part in this event are acting solely on his / her own discretion and at his / her own risk. The organizers accept no responsibility, nor liability, for accidents of any kind, resulting in death or injury, nor for any damage or loss of personal property during the event.
- All registration fees and other donations are not refundable.
- The Organiser (“Branches of Hope”) reserves the right to restrict or reject any application.
參賽者注意事項：
- 所有參賽者需滿16歲以上
- 參賽者需確保其身體狀況良好才參賽。為了安全起見，建議患有哮喘、心肺疾病、跟腱炎等健康問題的參賽者在比賽前先徵詢醫生建議
- 參賽者需自行承擔風險，主辦方無須為任何損傷、意外或任何其他經濟損失索償負上法律責任
- 所有報名費用或捐款均不可退還
- 如有任何爭議，主辦方將保留最終決定權
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- Cup Champion
- Cup Runner-up
- Highest Fund Raising Team
報名費及捐款：
公眾隊伍：港幣7,000元 / 隊
企業隊伍：最少港幣25,000元 / 隊
足球錦標賽分別設有賽事及籌款獎項，包括冠軍、亞軍以及最高隊伍籌款獎等。希望枝子將提供豁免繳税收據，歡迎公眾於GIVE.Asia的活動頁面捐贈以支持希望枝子對難民、免遣返聲請人和人口販運倖存者社群的支援項目及社區工作。
捐贈連結：https://give.asia/campaign/event-branches-of-hope-footy2024#/story
METHODS TO FUNDRAISE:
Method 1: Donation Form
- Fill out the Donation Form (DOWNLOAD THE DONATION FORM)
- Collect donation from donors
- Payment methods:
- Cheque – Payable to “BRANCHES OF HOPE LTD”. Please mail cheque together with this registration form to “Branches of Hope, 29 Burrows Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong”
- Bank Transfer – Branches of Hope Ltd’s HSBC account (499-814499-838). Enclose the bank slips with this form, email to info@branchesofhope.org.hk.
- Online Payment – Please make payment online at https://branchesofhope.org.hk/donations. Please email info@branchesofhope.org.hk your payment confirmation email together with this form.
All proceeds (minus administrative cost) help raise fund for our work and service towards the most marginalised and vulnerable community in Hong Kong.
Method 2: Set-up fundraising account on Give.asia
- Go to the event main page at https://give.asia/campaign/event-branches-of-hope-footy2024#/story
- Click “FUNDRAISE FOR EVENT“
- Register with your Facebook/Google/email account
- Name your campaign name with your team’s name, e.g. Home & Away 2024 – Team A
- Set your fundraising target and upload a picture related to the campaign
- Write a short introduction about the fundraising activity
- Create a short campaign URL, then click “PUBLISH YOUR CAMPAIGN”
- Complete set-up and share campaign link with family and friends
Fundraising Guideline – Set up Your Own Fundraising Page for Branches of Hope
Please make payment or raised on your fundraising page at least HKD 7,000 (Public Team) / HKD 25,000 (Corporate Team) by 14 September 2024 (Sat) to complete the team enrollment process.
Our prize for highest fundraising team and individual will be presented on the event day. If you want to win a prize, please make sure all related donations be received by Branches of Hope on or before 10 October 2024, donation through online platform and actual donation will both be counted.
All teams are encouraged to continue fundraising up until the event day. One of our corporate partners will be matching all funds raised through this initiative so every dollar you raise will be matched by another dollar, doubling the funds raised through your campaign!
All funds raised will be matched by a generous corporate partner, so every dollar given will have double the impact! All proceeds from the tournament will be allocated towards Branches of Hope care programmes supporting our community members in Hong Kong. These programmes include:
- Child Education support
- Casework and Counselling
- Medical and Housing support
- Durable Solutions: resettlement and voluntary repatriation
- Adult Education classes
活動收益扣除成本後將會用於希望枝子的項目及社區工作，項目包括：
- 學生資助計劃
- 個案工作
- 醫療和住房支援
- 移居第三國和自願返回原居國支援
- 成人教育課程
GAME RULES
- The normal rules of football will apply except that there will be no offside.
- Shin-pads must be worn at all times.
- Maximum number of players on the field will be 6 + 1 Goalkeeper. The minimum number of players is 5.
- Each team must be ready to play at the appointed time.
- There is no limit on substitutions. It is not necessary to request the referee’s permission before making substitutions. Substitutes must enter the game from the half-way line and may not do so until the substituted player has left the field. Substituted players may return to play.
- Any player receiving a red card will be suspended for a minimum of one game. Any player receiving 2 yellow cards during the tournament will be suspended for the next match
- Points system for all games: Win = 3 points, Draw = 1 points, Lose = 0 point.
- The top two teams from each group will proceed to the Knock-out Stage. Schedule of play in Knock-out Stage will depend on the Group Stage ranking by points. In the event of a tie in points, it will be decided by goal difference. In the event of a tie in goal difference, it will be decided by the number of goals scored.
- In the event of a tie at Knock-out stage and Finals Stage, the match will proceed straight to sudden-death penalties. *Group Stage: 12 minutes one way (no half-time).
*Knock-out Stage: 12 minutes one way (no half-time).
*Finals Stage: 10 minutes each way with 2 minutes break.
*Note: format subject to change according to total number of teams. Branches of Hope reserve the right of final decision.
ARRANGEMENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER
If thunderstorm signal, any rainstorm warning or the No. 3 (or above) tropical cyclone warning signal is in effect at or after 6:00am on the event day, or at any point during the event, the event will be cancelled and will not be re-arranged. Any further updates will be announced on the Team Captains’ Whatsapp group and Branches of Hope official Facebook page (@BranchesofHopeHK) and Instagram (@branchesofhopehk).
Coming Soon
Date: 30 Mar 2024 (Sat)
Reserve Day: 31 Mar 2024 (Sun)
Time: 8am – 7pm (TBC)
Location: Ma Wan Island
{打擊人口販賣達人}黃筱媛 土炮組織：受騙唔係蠢 港版人口販運 日日上演
Photo for illustration purpose
‘Malika won her case!’
The message came through to STOP earlier this month and we couldn’t be happier with this news. Her ex-employer, who had Malika work at four different sites while paying her just half of what the minimum wage was at the time, is found guilty of aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring her breach of stay.
We hope that this win will help boost the next leg of her legal battle – the judicial review of Hong Kong’s problematic live-in policy.
Photo for illustration purpose
ZN
ZN was a victim of human trafficking for forced labour in Hong Kong between 2007 and 2010. He filed a judicial review against the government in 2015 after failing to receive help from the Immigration Department, the police and the Labour Department.
The Court of Final Appeal ruled earlier this month that the government has no duty under the Bill of Rights to enact specific legislation criminalizing human trafficking and forced labour crimes.
Here’s our response (please scroll down for English version).
Read about ZN’s case here.
COMING SOON.
MA WAN EASTER EGG HUNT 2019
Braved through Thunderstorms and Red Rainstorm
Volunteers and Inclusion Drove Success
Branches of Hope is pleased to announce the successful completion of The Ma Wan Easter Egg Hunt 2019 on 22 April 2019. Organised by Branches of Hope, the Ma Wan Easter Egg Hunt 2019 (‘MWEEH 2019’) is the largest Easter event of its kind in Hong Kong, drawing over 4,200 participants and 700 volunteers in the two-day turned three-day event, giving out some 150,000 prizes from sponsorship.
Disrupted by two thunderstorms, amber rainstorms and a red rainstorm in two days, the event was rescheduled twice before cumulating to a finale on 22 April, when sunshine returned. Thirteen egg hunt sessions, along with booth games, performances and other fun-filled activities brought excitement and joy to all participants throughout 19, 20 and 22 April.
Since 2011, the MWEEH has become an annual Easter tradition on the Ma Wan island, which has now grown into a local signature event with a charitable purpose. The 9th edition in 2019 was the most socially inclusive yet, bringing together a record eight NGOs in Hong Kong for a good cause, while ringing in the message of inclusion and sharing. The NGOs include: Branches of Hope, Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, Mission Bridge, Po Leung Kok, Rainbow Foundation, St. James’ Settlement, The Vine and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals.
Volunteers brought a significant impact to the event, with 315 individual volunteers (215 adults and 100 children) turning up just on the finale on 22 April, where they poured their hearts in supporting egg bearing, registration, logistics, prize redemption, security and booth games. A total of about 400 volunteers endured the rainstorms and thunderstorms on 19 and 20 April to ensure operations can resume on the fall back day on 22 April.
Families of refugees’ and asylum seekers, wheelchair users and underprivileged communities have been invited to the event, spending precious time on the Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach in an array of activities around the event.
Mr. Sian Loh, one of the founding members and the lead coordinator for this year’s event, wraps up the event as “providing an opportunity for participants to come together and share the true meaning of Easter, bless the local community and foster the spirit of giving.”
MWEEH’s theme this year is “Be-Kind, Be Friendly”, conveying a sense of solidarity, appreciation for cultural differences and an inclusive community. The event’s specially designed activities include diverse performances and game booths to allow refugees and asylum seekers to use their talent for cultural exchange, as they volunteered in different roles. Through this event, approximately $500,000 was raised. All net proceeds from the event will go to support the work of Branches of Hope, a local NGO that serves Hong Kong’s refugees, asylum-seekers and trafficking survivors.
Mr. Aman Yee, Executive Director of Branches of Hope, remarked: “The Ma Wan Easter Egg Hunt was a great opportunity for our refugees and asylum seekers community to volunteer and give back, with joy and dignity, show their talent and interact with the local communities in Hong Kong. We hope by this exchange and understanding, positive change will be brought forward to these marginalized groups in Hong Kong. We are truly grateful for all the volunteers who had chosen to spend their Easter holidays with us; without them the event would not have been possible.”
The event itself was supported by a diversity of key sponsors, including reputable organisations including Mars Wrigley, Garden, Vitasoy and other leading brands. For the first time, Octopus Cards Limited sponsored and provided the event with its exclusive payment, e-ticketing and registration system.