Tournament Rules
Eligibility
All players must be eligible to play within their age group classification. Proof of birth date will be by USYSA or Certified State Association player passes. A player may play on more than one team as long as those teams are in different divisions and the teams are in age brackets that are the same age or older than the player's soccer age. All teams and players must be properly registered and affiliated with their State or National Soccer Association.
Rosters and Player Passes
Rosters and passes shall be submitted prior to the tournament. Rosters and passes will be held by Tournament Officials. Rosters must properly identify team coach(es) and/or managers. There will be no roster changes once a team has played its first game. If an ineligible player is used, that team shall automatically forfeit all games in which the player is used and be subject to disqualification from the tournament. Up to three (3) guest players will be allowed provided that they are registered with the same club.
Number of Players
Each team may be composed of a maximum of 12 players. A game may not be started with fewer than 6 properly uniformed players on each team. After the game is started, it may not continue with fewer than 6 players. In the event that a team cannot produce 6 players or is reduced to less than 6 players after commencement of the game, it shall forfeit the game. A team shall have a five minute leeway from the scheduled starting time to field a team before a forfeit is declared. Forfeit score will be 3-0.
Substitutions
Substitutions will be unlimited at any stoppage of game at the referees discretion.
Conduct
Players, coaches, managers, and team supporters are expected to conduct themselves within the Spirit of the Law as well as the Letter of the Law. Displays of temper, dissent by word or action against an opponent or game official are cause for ejection from the game.
Player/Coach Ejection and Caution
Should a player/coach be ejected from a game by the referee, the player/coach shall be suspended for the remainder of the game and for at least the next game his/her team is scheduled to play. Referees will report all ejections. Gross misconduct may result in a larger suspension. Any player ejected for a second time shall be suspended for the remainder of the tournament. Please note: two cautions in the same game are the equivalent of an ejection.
Forfeits
A team will be allowed a five-minute grace period from the scheduled kick-off time to field a team before the game is awarded to the opponent. A minimum of six players constitutes a team for 7 v 7 games. Forfeit score shall be 3-0.
Uniforms and Equipment
Teams must wear numbers on the backs of their shirts. Each player will have a different number and this number will coincide with the player's name as shown on the roster. In the event of a team's colors clashing, the home team shall change colors- the home team being the team listed first in the schedule. All player equipment is subject to the approval of the referee for each game. The Tournament will supply all game balls.
Protests
There will be no protests. The Rules and Regulations Committee of the Tournament will act on rule violations as needed. Three uniformed referees will be assigned in all divisions except U-10 for all games. The three referee system of control will be used. The referee is the sole arbitrator of the competition. His/her duties and powers are specific. Decisions on point of fact connected with ball play shall be final, so far as the result of any game is concerned.
Weather
In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Committee shall have absolute authority to make changes as follows: • Relocate/Reschedule any game. • Change the duration of any game. • Cancel any preliminary game having no bearing on the outcome of the preliminary round. Should a game in progress be terminated due to weather or interference, if 20 minutes have been played, the game will be considered official. The score at termination shall stand.
Ball Size/Game Duration
U-9/U-10 age divisions shall use a number 4 ball. All games shall consist of two 20 minute halves running time.
Determination of Standings
Three points will be awarded for a win, and one point for a tie. No overtime will be played. In the event of a tie in the point standings, the following priority shall be used to break the tie:
1. Most wins
2. Head to Head (except in the event of a three way tie)
3. Accumulative goal differential- plus or minus 3 per game
4. Most goals scored
5. Fewest goals allowed
6. FIFA penalty kicks
Ties
In preliminary rounds, ties will not be broken. For all playoff matches where a winner must be determined, if any of these games should end in a tie, two 5 minute sudden death overtime periods shall be played to determine a winner. If the game remains tied at the conclusion of the overtime periods, FIFA penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner.
If such kicks are to be taken, only the players on the field when the second overtime period ends are eligible to take the kicks. These players shall stay on the field when the overtime ends, and substitutes shall remain on the touchline. The referee shall choose the goal at which the kicks will be taken. He/she will toss a coin and the team winning the toss shall kick first. Both teams shall take 5 kicks. Kicks shall be taken alternately. If after both teams have taken 5 kicks, both have scored the same number of goals, the kicks shall continue from among the remaining eligible players. Teams shall take one kick each until one team has a one goal lead after an equal number of kicks. No player may kick a second time until all eligible players on his team (including the goalkeeper) have taken a kick. No players may be substituted during the taking of these kicks, except in the case of a goalkeeper injured during the taking of the kicks.