Rules of Competition 2008
1 – Eligibility
The tournament is open to presently registered league or association teams composed of no more than 18 players. All teams must be currently registered with their state, national or provincial association.
Maximum roster size for divisions older than U10 is 18, including not more than 3 guest players. For U9 and U10 maximum roster is 14, including not more than 3 guest players. A player may participate on one team only during this tournament and may not switch to another team during the tournament. If a player is found to have played on multiple teams during this tournament both teams on which they played will forfeit their games and be removed from the tournament.
All teams will determine their ages per the USSF/USYSA age guidelines effective September 1, 1991. The ages will be determined on birthdays as of August 1. For example, all players born on or after August 1, 1990 are considered Under 16.
All teams in Western Pennsylvania and outside the State of Pennsylvania must file travel permission forms.
2-Laws of the Game
All matches will be played in accordance with the F.I.F.A. Laws of the Game. Rules and/or interpretations provided by the tournament director. All director decisions are final. The following items will further interpret these rules for purposes of this tournament and/or will provide an administrative framework for the operation of the tournament.
The tournament will use only USSF registered referees for all tournament games. U12 and older age groups will utilize a three-person referee system. U9 boys and girls, U10 boys and girls and U11 girls will utilize a one-person referee system. U11 boys will utilize a one-person referee system for the 25-minute seeding games and a three-person referee system for the full-length games. The diagonal system of play will be used with the USSF procedure to be followed when only two referees are present. Where only two referees are present the USSF mandated procedure will be utilized - one will be referee and the other will be a linesman. The referee will select a club linesman.
3-Team Field Position
A. Coaches are required to bring player passes and medical release forms to every game.
B. Each team’s players and coaches will be located along the same touchline. All players will have their passes checked and verified prior to the start of every game. Players whose passes have been verified must stay on the sidelines with their team during the game. All players whose passes have been verified must be wearing the game jersey prior to the start of the game and cannot change their jersey during the game. No other players will be allowed on this sideline. Only the coach, assistant coach(s), and one extra support adult may remain on the side of the field with the players. Spectators are to sit on the opposite side of the field.
C. All players and coaches should remain near the player bench area while on the sidelines. All spectators must remain between the 18-yard lines. No spectators will be permitted in the areas directly behind the goal lines. All people on the sideline must remain at least two (2) yards behind the sideline. Failure to provide the linesmen room to clearly see the touchline may lead to a bench caution.
D. Coaches and/or other officials, players and spectators may not enter the field of play at any time unless requested to do so by the referee. Only players and coaches will be permitted in the bench area. All sideline personnel must keep back from the touchline a minimum of two (2) yards at all times.
E. Each coach will provide a linesperson as requested by the referee if a linesperson is not provided by the tournament.
4-Player Uniforms and Equipment
A player’s uniform will consist of shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, and footwear. Cutoffs will not be allowed under or in lieu of uniform shorts. NO slider pants will be allowed under any uniform shorts.
Teams must wear numbers on their shirts. Each player shall have a different number and this number must be the same as listed on the official tournament roster.
In the event of a color conflict, the home team will change color. (The home team is the first team listed on the schedule.)
Goalkeepers shall wear colors, which distinguish them from the other players on both teams and from the referee.
The appearance of players is a vital extension of the game. Players must wear shin guards, socks must be pulled up over the shin guards, and shirts will be tucked into their shorts at all times during tournament games.
5-Player, Coach and/or Spectator Behavior
All players, coaches and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the spirit as well as the letter of the Laws of the Game. Referees have been specifically instructed to run the matches according to this spirit and will act accordingly. DISSENT FROM PLAYERS, COACHES AND/OR SPECTATORS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED; CAUTIONS AND/OR DISMISSALS WILL RESULT. Players are encouraged to play all matches with intensity and desire. However, UNNECESSARY PHYSICAL PLAY, PARTICULARLY THAT WITH INTENT TO INJURE, WILL NOT BE TOLERATED; CAUTIONS AND/OR DISMISSALS WILL RESULT. Coaches are responsible for the actions of the team's players and spectators as well as their own actions.
Players, coaches, and/or spectators DISMISSED FOR FIGHTING will be banned from further tournament participation. Teams will be held responsible for adhering to this rule. Any team playing a dismissed player in violation of this rule will be disqualified from the tournament and all matches played by the team will be ruled to have been a forfeit.
THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE THE PARTICIPATION OF ANY TEAM, PLAYER, COACH OR FAN, IF THE BEHAVIOR OF THE PLAYERS, COACHES AND/OR SPECTATORS CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE IN WHICH A MATCH OR MATCHES CANNOT BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE SPIRIT AND LETTER OF THE LAWS.
*Any player, coach, and/or spectator that is cautioned (yellow carded) TWICE during any given game will be ineligible to participate in the remainder of that match and may not participate in the next match.
**If any player, coach, and/or spectator is sent off the field of play (dismissed/red carded) by a referee for any reason other than fighting, that player, coach, and/or spectator is ineligible to participate in the remainder of that match and may not participate in the next match. Referees are instructed to record the player’s name, number, team and reason for the caution or send-off and present the information to the tournament director. All cards issued will be reported to the appropriate state association. Any disciplinary measures imposed by the tournament staff shall be limited to placing restrictions upon an individual's group participation in the tournament.
6-Pre-Game Activity
Team captains must report to the FIELD MARSHAL at the field at least 15 minutes before game time. Coin toss will be done at this time. Any team not reporting will be considered as having lost the toss and will forfeit selection of goal AND kick-off. Teams may warm up in practice areas away from playing fields. There will be no warm up on the field between games.
7-Start of Play
Regardless of weather conditions, players and coaches must be on the field at the scheduled playing time, ready to play. Forfeits will be awarded if play has not started within five (5) minutes of starting time as determined by the referee; a minimum of 7 players must be prepared to play before a team will be allowed to start a match. A forfeited match will be recorded as a 1-0 score and bonus points awarded. The tournament director may modify a scheduled start time for any match or reduce scheduled match length prior to the start of the match; all such matches will be considered to be official. Only a referee may restart a match already stopped due to weather conditions; all such matches that have been played for a minimum of 50% of the scheduled time will be considered official. Matches not considered official will be replayed in their entirety when rescheduled.
8-Duration of Play
All matches in the qualification round will consist of twenty-four (24) minutes of playing time. There will be no halftime, however the referee may allow the teams to change ends of the field at a stoppage of play at approximately the twelve (12) minute mark of the game. The clock will continue to run during the exchange of ends.
B. All matches in the championship round will consist of:
- For U11 and older - fifty (50) minutes of playing time divided into two (2) twenty-five (25) minutes halves with a five (5) minute halftime
- For U9 and U10 – forty (40) minutes of playing time divided into two (2) twenty (20) minutes halves with a five (5) minute halftime
C. Official match time will be kept on the field by the referee. Match time will be kept on a running clock, and there will be no stoppage of time unless an injured player is assisted from the field by medical personnel.
9-Substitutions
There shall be unlimited substitutions with the permission of the referee at the following times:
A. On a throw in, your own or your opponent’s throw-in provided they are also substituting.
B. Either team's goal kick.
C. Either team scores a goal.
D. At the beginning of the second half.
E. In case of an injury, substitution for the injured player is permitted but not required; the opposing team may also substitute one player if the injured player is substituted for. If injured player’s coach comes on to the field of play to attend to injured player, said player must be substituted for.
F. If a player receives a dismissal (red card), that player must leave the field of play. Their team may not substitute for them at any time during that match. If the match goes into Sudden Death Period in Championship Round of Play the team will play 7v7 (U11 and above), or 5v5 (U9 & U10). The team may field a full team in its next scheduled match.
All substitutions must enter the playing field from the halfway line with the permission of the referee. The referee may disallow a request for substitution if, in the referee's judgment, that request is intended to delay the play of the game.
10-No Protests
NO PROTESTS will be entertained concerning the interpretation of the Laws of the Game by a referee. The tournament director’s interpretation of the foregoing rules and regulations shall be final. The tournament director reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament.
11-Cancellation Policy
If the tournament is cancelled due to weather conditions the tournament will provide a credit of $200 toward next year’s tournament registration or $100 in cash.
If a game is suspended due to weather problems, field conditions, or other situations beyond the tournaments control, after completion of the first half, that game shall be considered complete and official. If a game is temporarily suspended for any of the foregoing reasons before completion of the first half, each team involved must check with tournament headquarters for instructions.
12-Score Reporting
A tournament staff field marshal will be stationed at a group of fields. The field marshal will fill out a game report for each game played. The report will include game related information as required by the tournament committee. The field marshal will give the referee the game report. The referee will record all game related information such as goals scored, cautions and dismissals. At the conclusion of each match, the field marshal will collect the game report after it has been signed by the referee. BOTH COACHES MUST SIGN GAME REPORTS AFTER EACH GAME. The field marshal will verify the information on the game report and then relay the match results to the tournament headquarters. The field marshal may be available to answer questions NOT pertaining to match situations. If there is a question on the score of a match, the coach and coach only, can contact the site administrator. The site administrator will take whatever action may be necessary to verify the score.
13-Preliminary Round of Play - Seeding for Championship Round
Teams will play three (3) mini-games (providing no teams forfeit) in the qualification round of play. At the end of each game the winning and losing teams will be awarded game points based on the following criteria:
a. Regulation win = 3 game points
b. Tie Match = 1 game point
c. Regulation loss = 0 game points
d. 1 point for each goal, up to 3 points per game
e. 1 point for each goal differential goal, up to 3 points per game
f. 1 point for a shutout
Maximum points that can be earned per game are 10.
At the conclusion of all qualification matches in an age group the game points will be totaled. The team with the highest game points will be seeded in the highest position. The team with the next highest game points will be seeded in the next position. This will continue until all teams have been seeded. Should 2 teams have the same number of game points, tiebreakers as specified in 14 will take effect.
14-Tie Breakers
Tie Breakers will be determined as follows.
Round 1 Tie Breaker Scheme:
- Highest number of points obtained from WINS and TIES of all 3 games in Round 1
- Highest number of WINS of all 3 games in Round 1
- Highest goal differential of all 3 games in Round 1
- Lowest number of goals allowed of all 3 games in Round 1
- Coin toss – performed by computer (or Tournament organizers, if computer not available)
Round 2 Tie Breaker Scheme:
- For two team ties ONLY, winner of head to head play in Round 2
- Highest points obtained from WINS and TIES of all 3 games in Round 2
- Highest goal differential of all 3 games in Round 2
- Lowest number of goals allowed of all 3 games in Round 2
- Winner of Shoot Out (A shoot out will ONLY be used to break ties associated with first and/or second place within a Round 2 bracket. If two teams are still tied for third place after the fourth tie breaker criterion has been applied, no shoot out is performed, and both teams remain tied for third place in the final standings.)
Shoot Out – Format and Rules
- In a simple head to head shoot out, each team will supply three shooters and one goalie. If no winner is decided after each team’s three shots, a single elimination one-shot format is used until a winner is decided – new shooters must be supplied from each team until all players have shot.
- Goalies can be substituted throughout a shoot out. Except for injuries, there is a one-minute time limit for goalie substitutions.
- Format varies depending on the number of teams tied, as follows:
- 2 team format: Simple head to head shoot out
- 4 team format: Shoot Out #1 vs. Seed 4 – simple head to head shoot out
Shoot Out #2 vs. Seed 3 – simple head to head shoot out
Winners of Shoot Out #1 vs. Shoot Out #2 – simple head to head shoot out
- 3 team format:
- Each team will supply six shooters (3 shooters to face each opposing team’s goalie) and 1 goalie.
- Order of the shooters and goalie(s) is displayed on the 3 team Shoot Out – Score Card.
- Points are awarded to the shooter’s team if a goal is scored or the goalie’s team if a goal is NOT scored.
- After all 18 shots (6 shooters from 3 teams) are taken, total the points for each team. Winner is team with highest total. More details on score card for other scenarios.
15-Drawn Matches - Championship Round of Play
a. Tie games in the championship round will be decided by playing a Sudden Death overtime period. Sudden Death might be modified due to weather conditions and is at the discretion of the tournament director or site director.
b. U-11 and above will play 7 v. 7, U-10 and below will play 5 v. 5. The players selected for the Sudden Death period must be on the field at the end of regulation time.
c. If a team member receives a red card during regulation play his team will not be penalized in the Sudden Death period.
d. At the end of regulation time all players on the field will immediately report to the center circle. Coaches will be allowed 3 minutes to select the players to remain on the field, all other players will report to the sidelines.
e. A coin toss, with the home team calling the flip, will be held. The winner of the toss will determine which goal they want to defend. SUDDEN DEATH PERIOD WILL COMMENCE WITH A DROP BALL AT MID FIELD.
f. All regular FIFA rules will apply with the exception of the following:
1). There are no substitutions during the Sudden Death period.
2). There will be no goalkeepers allowed during the Sudden Death period.
3). If a penalty kick is awarded during Sudden Death, the defending team may place a defender on the goal line in front of the net. This defender may use any part of his body EXCEPT his hands during the penalty kick.
4). There will be NO OFFSIDE called during the Sudden Death Period.
5). IF SCORELESS AT THE END OF EACH APPROXIMATE FIVE (5) MINUTE INCREMENT (AT ANY STOPPAGE OF PLAY), ONE (1) PLAYER FROM EACH TEAM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE FIELD. COACHES WILL HAVE 20 SECONDS TO REMOVE A PLAYER, OR REFEREE WILL DESIGNATE PLAYER TO BE REMOVED.
6) AT EACH 5 MINUTE DESIGNATED STOPPAGE, TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO SWITCH ENDS OF THE FIELD.
g. The game will end upon the score of a goal by either team.
h. Any cards given during the Sudden Death period will be treated as if issued during a regular match.
16-Disclaimer
The tournament director, members of the tournament committee, the host soccer club, its members and board of directors, any participating associations, colleges, advertisers, school districts and recreation departments and related municipalities will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team, player or spectator nor will they be held liable for any injury of any player, coach or spectator that may result from the participation in, or travel to and from the tournament. Each team will be responsible for its own medical and liability insurance.
The tournament director or site administrator reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the conduct and administration of the tournament and their judgment shall be deemed as final.
