3v3 Tournament Rules

3v3 Tournament Rules

Age Groups – U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, High-School

Rules – FIFA rules apply if not modified below

The following rules have been designed to ensure fair play for all participants. Each coach and player is expected to understand these rules prior to their participation in the West Mont United 3v3 Soccer Festival. Any questions concerning these rules should be directed to the Tournament Director or West Mont United Event Staff.

Master Scoreboard / Schedule Changes: It is the responsibility of the team (coach, team contact / manager, or team captain) to check the Master Scoreboard Schedule for any changes after each tournament game (you will not be notified of changes). Check the Master Scoreboard often, as changes do occur to the schedule.

When a change does occur, WMU will attempt to notify teams, and will strive to not change any game times or locations before the first game; but teams are responsible for checking for updates to the Master Scoreboard after each game.

Official Team Roster Form, Player Registration & Proof of Age Requirements:

  • OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTER: Each team must complete the Official Team Roster Form, Waiver and Medical Release form and submit the form to the 3v3 Event Staff during Team Check-In at HQ tent 30 minutes prior to your teams 1st game. Failure to do so may result in your team being disqualified from the tournament. All players must be listed on the Official Team Roster prior to the team’s first scheduled game time. Teams cannot add players after the start of their first game.

  • PROOF OF AGE: Tournament officials have the right to demand Proof of Age for any player included on the roster. Players are required to carry Proof of Age with them at all times during the event.

  • NUMBER OF PLAYERS PER TEAM: six is the maximum number of players on each team’s roster: three field players and three substitutes, but teams are allowed less than six players if they choose. (A team must have a minimum of 2 field players). Players may only play on one team per division.

RULES DURING PLAY:

  • Game Duration: The game shall consist of two 12-minute halves separated by a two-minute halftime period or if team is leading with 8 goal difference (Not first to 8 goals) whichever comes first. A coin toss will determine possession and direction before the start of the game. Games during Pool Play that are tied after regulation play shall end in a tie. Games during the Playoffs / Championship Rounds that are tied after regulation play shall proceed to Overtime (see Overtime Rules for Playoffs / Championship Rounds listed below). There are no timeouts and the Game Clock does not stop in 3v3 games. In the event that a field is behind schedule, the referee may shorten the halftime period, or limit warm-up time prior to game (the referee should communicate any shortened time to each team). The Referee has the official time on the field.

  • Substitution:
    • Substitutions may be made during dead-ball situations, regardless of possession.
    • Teams must gain the referee’s attention and players must enter and exit at mid-field when prompted by the referee.
    • Substitutions should not be made on the fly!

  • Kick Offs / Kick Ins / Direct and Indirect Kicks / Goal Kicks / Penalty Kicks:
    • KICK OFF:
      • May be kicked in any direction.
      • The kick off is an indirect kick – a goal cannot be score directly from a kick off (ball must be 100% over the mid-line to be considered on the offensive half of the field).
    • KICK-INS: The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline, rather than thrown in.
      • The ball is considered in play when the ball is touched and changes position.
      • A kick-in is an indirect kick – a goal cannot be scored from this kick.
    • DIRECT & INDIRECT KICKS: All dead-ball kicks (kick-ins, kick-offs, free kicks) are indirect with the exception of corner kicks and penalty kicks.
      • Indirect kicks must only change position before the ball will be considered in play.
      • If a free kick is awarded within five yards of the opposing goal box, the ball will be moved back to five yards from the box. It is the referee’s discretion where the ball will be placed.
    • GOAL KICKS:
      • May be taken from any point of the end line.
      • All Goal Kicks are indirect kicks.
    • PENALTY KICKS:
      • Shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction (the infraction does not automatically result in a red card).
      • Penalty kicks are DIRECT kicks taken from the center of the mid-line with all players (on both teams) behind the mid-line.
      • Penalty kicks are dead ball infractions.
      • If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick.

  • Five Yard Rule: In all dead-ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal is closer than five yards, the ball shall be played five yards from the goal box in line with the direction of play prior to the penalty.

  • Goal Scoring:
    • A goal may only be scored from a touch (offensive or defensive) within the team’s offensive half on the field.
    • The ball must be completely on the offensive half of the field, and cannot be touching the mid-line (Example: kick-off).
    • If a player in their defensive half kicks the ball across the midline and the ball hits another player (offensive or defensive) in their offensive half, and the ball goes in the goal, a goal will be awarded.
    • If a ball is kicked from the defensive half and is not touched before the ball rests in the goal, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.
    • A goal cannot be scored from an indirect kick, such as a kick-in from out-of-bounds. See below for “Plane of the Goal / Net Interference.”

  • Goal Keepers / Off-sides / Slide Tackling / Hand Ball Clarification:
    • There are no Goalkeepers in 3v3 Soccer.
    • No Off-sides in 3v3 Soccer!
    • No Slide Tackling in 3v3 Soccer:
      • If a player is sliding for the ball, contact with any player(s) from the other team is NOT ALLOWED. If a player slides and contact is initiated, a free kick shall be awarded.
      • This does not prevent players from sliding to stop/intercept a ball where contact is not initiated during the slide.
        • Example: a player may slide to save a ball from going out-of-bounds, so long as no contact is made with an opposing player.
    • Hand Ball Clarification: Deliberate handling of the ball that denies a team of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity will result in the following:
      • (1) A penalty kick (at the discretion of the referee)
      • (2) A yellow or red card given to the player committing the hand ball (at the discretion of the referee).

  • BRACKETING: Rankings, Seeding, and Tie Breakers:

DETERMINING WINNERS: Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:

Three (3) points for each Win

One (1) point for each Tie

Zero (0) points for each Loss

 

Seeding Tie-Breakers

In the event of a tie in points at the end of bracket play; the winner for advancement to

Semi-Final or Finals will be determined as follows:

 

1. The winner in head to head competition. (If there is a 3 team tie, proceed to the next tie breaker)

2. Goal differential, maximum of +/-3 per game (Team wins 4-0, only gets 3 points, losing team gets -3)

3. Most Goals scored

4. Fewest goals against.

5. Most total wins.

6. If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 5, teams will play a game consisting of a golden goal outcome (1st team to score wins) NO RULES WILL BE REVISITED

  • Overtime Rules for Playoffs / Championship Rounds

Shall consist of sudden death overtime period, maximum length of three minutes, with a coin toss to decide kick-off direction.

The first team to score in overtime is the winner.

If no team has scored in the three minute-overtime period, the winner shall be decided by shootout.

    • A coin flip will decide which team starts the penalty kick round.
    • Three players from each team will alternate with each penalty kick taken at the half line, with the higher scoring team winning after the first round.  
    • If the score remains tied after the first round of penalty kicks, players from each team, starting with the players not used in the first round of penalties and then using all the players from each team again, will rotate in a sudden death penalty kick format until one team scores unanswered.

Field Dimensions, Goal Box, Plane of the Goal / Net Interference, Player Uniforms, Game Balls, etc.

  • The Goal Box:
    • There is no ball contact allowed within the goal box, however, all players may pass through the goal box as long as they do not touch the ball while in the box.
    • If the ball comes to a rest in the goal box, or on the goal box line, a goal kick is awarded regardless of who touched the ball last.
    • Any part of the ball or player’s body on the line or inside the plane of the box is considered in the goal box and an extension of such.
      • If a defensive player touches the ball after it has entered the goal box, the plane of the goal box, or an extension of the goal box (such as any part of the ball or player’s body on the line or inside the plane of the box), a goal will be awarded to the offensive team.
      • If an offensive player touches the ball after it has entered the goal box, the plane of the goal box, or an extension of the goal box (such as any part of the ball or player’s body on the line or inside the plane of the box), a goal kick will be awarded to the defensive team, and a goal will not be counted if scored.
      • The plane of the goal box extends upward infinitely. The referee’s judgment call and ruling on the field will not be overturned.

  • Plane of the Goal / Net Interference:
    • A goal will be awarded if the ball strikes the netting portion of the goal, even if the ball is then returned back into the field of play without completely crossing the goal line.
    • If the ball strikes the cross bar or goal posts, and simultaneously strikes the netting portion of the goal,
      • the referee’s judgment will determine whether the netting prohibited the ball from crossing the goal line (which should be awarded a goal); or
      • whether the bar or post prohibited the ball from crossing the goal line (which should NOT be awarded a goal).
      • The referee’s judgment call and ruling on the field will not be overturned.
      • In simple terms, the net should not be the source that will prohibit a shot from scoring as a goal.

  • Player Uniforms, Jerseys, Protective Casts & Jewelry: All players must wear shin guards, or will not be allowed to play. All players must wear jerseys/shirts during play and each team must bring both a light and dark colored jersey/shirt. If both teams are wearing the same color, a coin flip in pool play will determine which team must change. In playoffs, the higher seed will have the option.  No jewelry will be allowed, including earrings of any type, rope necklaces and bracelets. The only exception will be players wearing medical bracelets.

 

ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENT INFO:

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