Rules of play: Age Groups will be 2021-2022, PLEASE SEE HERE FOR UPDATED AGE GROUP INFORMATION. FIFA rules will apply unless noted below. It is the understanding of this tournament committee that all teams, including all players, coaches, spectators, and officials, will participate in the spirit of FAIR PLAY and will conduct themselves in accordance with the Tournament Rules
CHECK IN DEADLINE: Check in deadline is THURSDAY, July 8 @ 5:00 pm, for teams starting play on Friday and FRIDAY, July 9 @ 5:00 pm for teams starting play on Saturday. Teams not meeting check in deadlines may forfeit their first match
Tournament Format: All teams will be guaranteed 3 matches, semi final and final matches will be played. There are no consolation games for this tournament.
Deadline to Withdraw: Deadline to with draw from the tournament with a full refund is June 1. Any team with drawing after this date will forfeit their entry fee
Forfeited Matches: Any team that does not fulfill their commitment to play all tournament matches will be banned for 2 years for future tournament and club placed on probation
PLAYING ON MULTIPLE TEAMS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED: Players may only play and be on one roster at the tournament, this includes different age groups, different brackets regardless of the players affiliation with the club
Protests: Protests are only allowed regarding paperwork issues. The decision of the Referee, Field Marshall, and the Tournament Director shall be final. Protests must be reported to the Tournament Director before, during or immediately after the match. Disputes will be handled by the tournament committee and tournament director. Referee decisions may NOT be disputed. Only Tournament Director has the ability to declare a match a “forfeit.” Tournament Director has the discretion to order matches “continued at a later time” or “result stands” if a match is suspended for weather or other related issues (provided at least half of the match is completed.)
Credentials: Laminated US Club player ID cards or USYSA equivalent will be required. {all cards MUST be valid. All teams must provide a team roster. PLAYERS MAY ONLY PLAY FOR ONE TEAM DURING THE TOURNAMENT, regardless of their club affiliation. This includes various age groups. ONCE AGAIN, PLAYERS MAY PLAY FOR ONLY 1 TEAM DURING THIS TOURNAMENT. TEAMS IN VIOLATION OF THIS MAY FORFEIT MATCHES.
Medical Release: All players must have signed US Club medical/USYSA release forms at team check in and throughout the tournament.
Players Age Group: Teams will play in their 2021/2022 Age Groups
| U13 | Born in 2009 |
| U14 | Born in 2008 |
| U15 | Born in 2007 |
| U16 | Born in 2006 |
| U17 | Born in 2005 |
| U19 | Born in 2002 |
Roster Size: Teams may register a maximum of 26 players for the U13 and U19 age groups with a maximum of 18 players suited up per game; There is no limit on “LOAN” or “GUEST” Players, teams may register 26 players for the tournament, but only 18 are allowed for each match. They 18 eligible to participate must be designated before the start of the match at check in.
Player’s Credentials and Equipment: The referee has the final determination as to the safety of each player’s equipment. All players are required to use shin guards. No rings, chains, watches, metal objects, jewelry, or headbands may be worn. Soft cast are permitted with the permission of the referee. Soft casts are allowed in tournament if padded and the referee considers them to be safe. Hard casts are not allowed
Player picture identification cards are to be present and available at all matches.
Identification cards are required to be checked by the referee prior to each match.
PLAYERS MUST BE ON THE PRINTED GAME CARD, PLAYERS NOT ON THE OFFICIAL GAME CARD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY.
The shirt number of each player must be the same as the player’s shirt number on the game card or roster.
Home Team: Home Team will be listed first on the scoreboard and in the program. The home team is responsible for game balls (if tournament balls are not available)
Away Team: Will be required to change uniforms if there is a conflict (note: different than most tournaments). The “away” team is listed second on the schedule
Team Check- In & Registration: Teams must register at the Mandatory check-in & registration. ALL REGISTRATION IS DONE ONLINE information regarding this is AVAILABLE HERE. Failure to check-in may result in disqualification from the tournament without a refund of the fee. At the discretion of the tournament, the disqualified team may be allowed to compete as a “Guest team.” Games not played will be classified as “Forfeits and Byes.” Forfeits will be scored as 3-0. THERE IS NO FRIDAY MORNING CHECK IN, GAME CARDS WILL BE PRINTED THURSDAY NIGHT.
Requirements for Check-In & Registration: At the Mandatory Registration, teams must provide the required credentials. All US teams must provide valid laminated Player ID Cards with photographs, signed medical Release forms. Travel Papers for US Club teams are not required. Proper Player Loan Forms will be required at Registration along with other required credentials, as required by US Club soccer. Travel papers for other organizations are not required by the tournament
Teams From the United States: The players must present picture identification cards issued by the teams Federation Organization Member (US Club/USYSA ). Teams must provide proof of approval of the team’s participation from the teams Federation Organization Member.
Conduct: All coaches have total responsibility for the conduct of their players and bench at all time. Coaching from the sidelines (giving direction to one’s own team) is permitted provided:
No mechanical devices are used;
The tone of voice is instructive and not derogatory;
Each coach or substitute remains within 10 yards of either side of the halfway line
No coach, player or substitute makes derogatory remarks or gestures to the referees, other coaches, players substitutes or team officials.
No coach, player or substitute uses profanity or incites, in any manner, disruptive behavior.
Mechanical noise making devices are allowed provided they are not used by the teams technical staff or players or used inside the technical area (drums, trumpets etc, etc)
Any parental behavior on the sideline such as profanity, coaching, fighting or other behavior that is not sportsmanlike is not accepted. Teams may be removed from the tournament per the Tournament Committee if they feel team sideline is out of control.
Equipment: No Jewelry…Soft casts are allowed in tournament if padded and the referee considers them safe…Mandatory that all players wear shin guards…No alcohol permitted at the tournament…..No smoking…No animals (Dogs)
Cautions & Ejection’s: A player or coach receiving two (2) yellow cards in a single game is considered to have received an ejection (red card). Ejected players or coaches may not be replaced in the current game and shall serve a minimum of one game suspension at their next game played. For flagrant violations, longer suspension or additional disciplinary action may be enforced based on mandatory review of the Tournament Director. The tournament director will hold ID cards of the player or coach until suspensions are served. Suspended coaches cannot be on the same sideline as the team with no communication of any manner. Players may sit with the team but may not be in uniform. Suspended Coaches must be “Out of Sight & Sound of the Field”. PLEASE NOTE, UNDER FIFA and US CLUB TOURNAMENT Sanctioning Rules, Red Cards can NOT be appealed. All sending offs are a mandatory 1 game suspension. If a player or coach is suspended beyond 1 match, that ban may be appealed. The one game suspension is mandatory and may not be appealed. No points are deducted for sending offs, coach or player.
Suspended Games: If, in the opinion of game officials, a game must be terminated due to misconduct of players, bench or spectators, the offending team could be suspended from further play and forfeit all points and position previously earned. Additionally, the home league and state association will be contacted as appropriate.
Substitutions: U13-U19—Unlimited substitutions . However, teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission. Substitutes must wait on the sideline (off of the field of play) until the field player has left the field of play and/or the referee has indicated the substitute may enter the field of play. Substitutions may occur during any stoppage of play.
Substitutions by either Team are allowed at any stoppage of play with the permission of the referee. Referees will be instructed not to allow substitutions that are deemed “excessive” or of a “time wasting” nature. Please be respectful of the integrity of the game and do not use the free substitution rules (13U-19U) as a means to disrupt the match.
Injury: In the spirit of the game, all attempts to play injury time will be made. Delays of the match due to injury (or other stoppages) will result in appropriate time being added to the full game time, based on the judgment of the referee.
Home Team:The home team appears first on the match schedule. The Home Team will supply game ball, (only if tournament ball is unavailable). The match ball is subject to referee approval.
Away Team: The away team will be required to switch to an alternate jersey, if the referee declares color conflict.
Side Lines: Both teams and coaches will be on the same sideline directed by the field marshal or referee unless otherwise notified. All spectators will be on the opposite sideline.
Forfeitures & Byes: Games not played will be classified as “Forfeits & Byes”. Teams failing to report ready to play within Five (5) minutes of scheduled kick-off time forfeit that game. All teams who Forfeit will have the game scored 0-3 loss. The winner will be awarded maximum tournament points for a win (3 ). A team needs 7 players for a U12-U19 match for the game to get started. Teams taking actions which cause the game to be terminated will forfeit.
Disputes: Tournament Committee will handle all disputes that are non-referee decisions and make all final decisions.
Decisions by referees may not be appealed and any decision on a dispute will be final and may not be appealed.
Playing Times: Play will be based on halves as specified below:
U13-U14 30 minute halves, 60 minutes full
U15-U19 35 minute halves, 70 minutes full
SEMI FINAL MATCHES WILL GO STRAIGHT TO KICKS FROM THE MARK. No extra time will be played for semi final matches.
FINAL games decided in overtime will not be “golden goal.” Two five (5) minute halves will be played. Full amount of time plus injury time will be played. If match is still tied, game will be decided by kicks from the mark. Over time games will only be played for championship games. Group matches will end in a draw.
All teams will be scheduled for a minimum of 3 games.
All efforts will be made to complete matches that have been terminated due to weather or other circumstances that are not the result of discipline from one team. The Tournament Director does have the discretion to declare the match complete should one half play is completed.
Half-time: Half-time will be exactly five (5) minutes. Please help officials with this request.
Tournament Points System:
3 Points For each Win
1 Points for each draw
0 Points for a loss
(points are not deducted for red cards)
Score Reporting: Scores after each game will be reported by the referees reporting the scores to the Field Marshall. If score is misprinted on internet or “board” please contact field marshal ASAP.
Tie Breakers: In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined as follows:
1. The winner of head to head competition.
2. Goal Differential (there is no limit on goal difference)
3. Goals For (there is no limit on goals scored)
4. Goals Against
5. Most Wins
6. Penalty Shoot Out
Tie Breakers: (if 3 or more teams are tied) If more than two teams are involved in a tie, tie breaker number 2 (only if one team has not beaten the other 2, 3, 4 teams, {only relevant in a crossover bracket}) will be used first to rank the teams. If all teams are still tied, tie breaker number 3 will be used to rank the teams, and so on until a tie is broken. Once a team has been ranked higher or lower, the next tie breaking criteria will be used to continue to rank the teams. If more than two teams are still tied after tie breaker number 5, a coin toss will be held with the odd team sitting out. The other two teams will then take kicks from the mark to establish a winner. The winner of this will then play the team sitting out. (kicks from the mark). The winner will advance. When all teams will advance to the playoff rounds a coin toss, as sequenced above, will decide the team’s seed in lieu of kicks from the mark
Example #1. Three teams have 6 points and have all defeated each other. Team A has a goal differential of +6, Team B is +4 and Team C is +3. Team A is 1st, Team B is 2nd and Team C is 3rd.
Example #2. Three teams have 6 points and have all defeated each other. Team A has a goal differential of +6, Team B is +4 and Team C is +4. Team A is 1st. Team B has scored 4 goals and Team C has scored 3 goals. Team B is 2nd and Team C is 3rd based on Tie Breaker #3 (Goals For)
Example #3. Three teams have 6 points and have all defeated each other. Team A has a goal differential of +2, Team B is +3 and Team C is +3. Team B and Team C each have scored 9 goals, but Team B has only conceded 1 goal, Team C has conceded 2 goals. Team B is #1, Team C is #2 and Team A is #3. (Please note if one team is ranked higher or lower, the TIE BREAKING PROCEDURE does not revert to tie breaker #1)
Example #4. (Crossover Bracket) Three or four teams have 6 points. Since all teams have defeated another team in the tie, GD will be used to rank the teams then GF, GA, Most Wins, Penalty Shoot Out.
Example #5. (Crossover Bracket) Three teams are tied with 6 points. Team A has beaten Team B and Team C. Team A would advance virtue of the head to head tie breaker.
Filming: No filming from team bench area.
Acts of God: Rain or other weather conditions during the tournament shall not delay play unless the referee determines the field to be unsafe for play. In the event of such a delay or postponement games will be rescheduled if at all possible. If a match has played more then a half, the Tournament Director may declare the result of the match to stand. If games cannot be rescheduled or played due to rain, weather, or other Acts of God there will be no refund of fees.