Tournament Rules

This is a Class I Tournament open to USSF, USYSA, US Club Soccer, and FIFA affiliated teams.

All teams, including players, coaches, spectators, and officials, will participate in the spirit of FAIR PLAY and will conduct themselves in accordance with these tournament rules.

Brackets:

Bracketing of teams within an age group is at the sole discretion of the tournament director and may not be appealed unless a team is placed in the wrong gender.

Six-Team Flights:

Flights with 6 teams will consist of two brackets (A & B) of three teams. Each team will cross-play with the opposite bracket (bracket A teams play bracket B teams) for a total of three preliminary games for each team. At the end of bracket play – the two teams with the highest points amongst the SIX TEAM FLIGHT (regardless of which bracket they are in) will advance to the final as Wildcard #1 and Wildcard #2.

Player’s Equipment:

Referees will perform safety checks on all players.

It will be the game referee’s discretion to determine the safety and suitability of player equipment including the wearing of a hard brace.

Home Team:

The home team appears first on the game schedule. The home team will supply 3 game balls. Game balls are subject to referee approval. The home team will be required to switch to an alternate jersey if the referee declares the colors conflict.

Home team will have the selection of which bench to sit on. The halfway line shall separate the teams.

Home team chooses side of field and visitor kicks-off.

Game Format:

All teams will be scheduled for a minimum of 3 preliminary games.

Format and playing times will be based on halves as specified below:

Half-time will be five minutes unless games are behind schedule which will be determined by the tournament director. Please help officials with this request.

All preliminary games will be terminated at least five minutes prior to the scheduled start of the next game regardless of the amount of time played in each half up to that point.

A game is complete upon completion of one half of play regardless of the circumstances of termination during the second half with final results based on the score at termination.

A preliminary game can end in a tie.

Final games that end in a tie will be decided by FIFA penalty kicks from the mark. They will not have overtime periods added.

Younger rules (all 7v7 games):

• There will be a build out line
• Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the GK can pass, throw or roll ball into play
• Punts and drop kicks are not allowed
• Offside will be called within goal line and build out line
• Direct / indirect kicks will be taken as usual (goals can be scored only from direct kick)
• Headers are not allowed (also not allowed for 9v9 games)

Substitutions:

Unlimited substitutions are allowed in all age groups. Teams may substitute at any game stoppage of play with the referee’s permission. Substitutes must wait on the sideline, off the field of play, until the active player has left the field of play and/or the referee has indicated the substitute may enter the field of play.

Substitutions will be made at the centerline.

Tournament Point System:

• 6 Points for each win
• 3 Points for each tie
• 0 Points for each loss
• 1 Point for each goal scored (maximum of 3)
• 1 Point for shut-out, excluding 0-0 ties

Tie Breakers:

1. In the event of a tie, bracket winners will be determined as follows:
2. The winner of head-to-head competition
3. Fewest goals against
4. Most goals scored (max 3 per game)
5. Most wins
6. Most shutout wins
7. Most shutouts

If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 6, FIFA penalty Kicks will be taken from the Penalty Mark at the location determined by the tournament director.
If a 3-way tie exists within a bracket after steps 1-6, a three-way coin flip will be conducted. The teams that tie in the coin flip will compete in FIFA Kicks from the Mark to eliminate one team prior to proceeding to FIFA Kicks from the Mark with the third team. The coin flip and time of the FIFA Kicks from the Mark will be determined at the fields.

Protests:

No protests will be allowed during this tournament. The decision of the referee, field marshal, and the tournament director shall be final. All games will be considered final.

Conduct:

All coaches have total responsibility for the conduct of their players, bench, friends, and spectators at all times. 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, substitute of spectator makes derogatory remarks or gestures to the referees, other coaches, players, substitutes or spectators
• No coach, substitute of spectator uses profanity or incites, in any manner, disruptive behavior

Cautions & Ejections:

A player or coach receiving two (2) yellow cards in a single game is considered to have received an ejection (red card). Ejected players may not be replaced in the current game and shall serve a minimum of one game suspension and will not be allowed to play in their next game.

Any coach, player, team official or spectator receiving an ejection (sent off) will NOT be allowed to be within sight or hearing distance of the field of play during his/her suspension and will NOT be allowed to coach the following game. They will serve a one-game suspension.

Any parent red-carded or sent off will be suspended for the remainder of the tournament.

For flagrant violations, a longer suspension may be enforced based on a review by the tournament director.

Player ID cards will be confiscated for all red cards issued for violent conduct or referee abuse and will be submitted to Cal South (the tournament sanctioning organization) to determine any further discipline.

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 will forfeit all points and position previously earned. Additionally, the home league and state association will be contacted accordingly.

Injury:

Delays of the game due to injury will result in appropriate time being added to the full game time, based on the judgment of the referee. However, all preliminary games will be terminated not less than five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the next game.

Forfeits & 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 will forfeit that game. Forfeits & Byes will be scored 1-0 and the winner will be awarded 8 points for a win.

A forfeit will be declared if a team cannot field, and maintain, a minimum of seven (7) players (11v11), six (6) players (9v9), or five (5) players (7v7), for the entire game, beginning five (5) minutes after the scheduled game start time.

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 or facility personnel decide to close the fields. In the event of such a delay or postponement, games will be rescheduled if possible. There will be no make-up games due to inclement weather.

In the event of inclement weather forcing play to be halted and preventing the match from being completed during the scheduled time, the score shall stand if at least one half of the match has been played.

Applicants expressly acknowledge and agree that inclement weather situations are beyond the control of the tournament, and no credits or refunds will be given in the event that inclement weather interferes with, alters, or results in the cancelation of scheduled matches.