The tournament philosophy is to promote high-level soccer through good sportsmanship. Any individual or team not adhering to this philosophy will be subject to disciplinary action by the acting Tournament Director.
General
The acting Tournament Director reserves the right to make the following changes in the event of inclement weather:
1. Relocated and/or reschedule a match
2. Reduce scheduled duration of a match
3. Cancel a match
·If inclement weather prevents a match from being completed during the scheduled time, the score shall stand if at least one-half of the match has been completed.
·The Tournament Committee, the coaches of the host teams, or any sponsors of tournament activities shall not be responsible for expenses incurred by any team or club if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part.
·Coaches and players will share one side of the field. All spectators will take up a position on the opposite side of the field during the time that the match is in progress.
·The acting Tournament Director reserves the right to decide on all matters relative to the tournament. His/her decisions are final.
·All Tournament matches will be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as issued by FIFA except as modified below.
Player Registration
Each team shall be allowed a maximum of eighteen (18) players for all divisions except U10/11 where the maximum are 14 players. Player passes authorized by their respective soccer association shall be verified and compared with the tournament roster at team registration and prior to each championship match. Players must register with only one team for the duration of the tournament, except for the U18/19 divisions, where in club Guest players may be used.
Player Equipment
Shoes must meet FIFA specifications. Shin guards are mandatory. In the event of a uniform color conflict, the home team shall change. The home team is listed first on the schedule.
Duration of Matches
Duration of the match will be as follows:
Age GroupPrelim. & Semi-Final matchesChampionship matches
U-12/13/14/15 2 X 30 2 X 35
U-16/17/18/19 2 X 30 2 X 35
U-10/11 (8 V 8) 2 X 30
Interval between halves shall be five (5) minutes. The referee is the official timekeeper of the match. All games will be running time with “limited” injury time. Time will be added on only for major injuries delaying the game. The tournament director has the authority to shorten any match due to special circumstances.
Overtime
All tied preliminary matches will remain a tie. In the Semi-final and final matches if regulation play ends in a tie score, the following steps will be followed:
A maximum of two 10 minute overtime periods will be played to sudden death (first goal wins). If still tied, the tie will be broken by penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA tiebreaker rules. Best of 5 penalty kicks.
Substitutions
Each team will have unlimited substitutions subject to the following conditions and upon approval of the referee:
1. Prior to thrown in by the team in possession.
2. Prior to goal kick by either team.
3. Any time approval as granted by the referee.
4. For a player who has been cautioned.
Standings and Tie Breakers
Group standings will be based on total points from the results of preliminary matches. Three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie, (0) points for a loss. A tie in total points within a group will be settled by the following tiebreakers in order:
1.Head to head result (disregard if more than two teams are tied).
2.Team with the highest goal differential. A maximum positive differential of five goals per match only will be counted.
3.Least goals allowed.
4.Most wins.
5.If still tied after steps 1 through 5, both teams will proceed to an available field, at a time directed by the Tournament Director, and take penalty kicks (best of five).
Note: U10 divisions will have no standings.
Wildcard Teams
Wildcard teams will be selected from the second place teams based on the group standings. The second place team with the most points advances. If tied they will follow the same group standing tie breaking procedure. If three teams remain tied after steps #1-4,
a three-coin toss will give the odd team a bye for the first penalty kick (best of five) shootout to determine the winner. The Tournament Director has the right to alter semi-final pairings to avoid team within same group or teams that have already played matches versus each other.
Ball
Age groups U-13 and older will use a size 5. U-10/11/12 and under will use a size 4. The referee will provide the official tournament ball. The home team is responsible for a backup match ball.
Referees
A referee and two linesmen will be assigned to each match. If there are no linesmen present for a preliminary match at the scheduled start time, the referee present shall commence the match using volunteer club linesmen. Should the linesmen arrive at the field, he/she shall enter the match at an appropriate break in play and volunteer linesmen shall be relieved of their duties.
Forfeits
A team, which cannot field seven (7) players at the start time, shall forfeit the match. The team forfeiting the match shall be declared the loser by a score of four (4) goals to none (0). A team forfeiting may be considered not in good standing and face disciplinary action. It is the duty of the coaches to insure that players report to the field fifteen minutes prior to start time of each match.
Protests
A written protest must be presented to the acting Tournament Director within one half (1/2) hour of conclusion to the match. The acting Tournament Director will rule on the matter.
Discipline
·If a player is ejected from a match – red card by the referee – that player must sit out the remainder of the match plus his/her teams’ next tournament match. No substitution may be made for the ejected player during the match that the red card was issued. The referee will collect the player’s pass and bring it to the tournament tent for record keeping. The coach or manager of the player ejected must pick up the player’s pass at the designated tournament tent.
·Red cards issued after the end of regulation play or as a result of physical assault are subject to review by the acting Tournament Director and a more strenuous penalty, which is not subject to appeal, may be employed.
·Coaches in receipt of a red card are subject to the same penalties as outlined above for players. Any coach ejected from a match will not be allowed in the vicinity of the field for that match and for his/her team’s next match.
·Coaches are responsible for their players, parents and guests on the sideline. No team or club official may enter the field of play regardless of the circumstances unless that person has been given permission to enter the field of play by the referee.
