The Tournament Committee will handle all disputes involving non-referee decisions and make all final decisions. Decisions by referees are not appealable, and any decision on a dispute is final.
Rules of Play:
It is the understanding of this tournament committee that all teams, including all players, coaches, spectators, and officials, will participate in the spirit of FAIR PLAY and will conduct themselves in accordance with the Tournament Rules.
Player's Credentials and Equipment:
The referee has the final determination as to the safety of each player's equipment. All players are required to wear shin guards. No rings, chains, watches, metal objects, jewelry, or headbands may be worn. Soft casts are permitted with the permission of the referee. Casts are allowed if significantly padded and the referee deems them safe. Each player's jersey number must match the number on the game card or roster.
Home Team:
The home team appears first on the game schedule. The home team will supply three game balls and will pick a side (no coin toss). The game balls are subject to referee approval. The home team will wear a light-colored jersey, and the away team will wear a dark-colored jersey. The home team will be required to switch to an alternate jersey if the referee declares a color conflict.
Away Team:
The away team will have the kickoff at the start of the game.
Conduct:
All coaches should be mindful to ensure that their players, bench, parents, friends, and spectators associated with their respective teams obey tournament rules and act civilly and in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. Failure to do so may result in penalties or sanctions against the respective team, at the sole discretion of the tournament:
Any parental behavior on the sidelines, such as using profanity, coaching, fighting, or other unsportsmanlike conduct, is not accepted. Teams can be removed from the tournament per the Tournament Committee if they feel a team's sideline is out of control.
Equipment:
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 or coaches may not be replaced in the current game and shall serve a minimum of one game suspension at their next game played. For flagrant violations, a longer suspension or additional disciplinary action may be imposed following a mandatory review by the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director will hold the player's or coach's ID card until the suspension is served. Suspended players may sit with the team but may not be in uniform. Suspended coaches cannot be on the sideline and cannot have any communication with the team or other coaches/managers. To elaborate, suspended coaches must be "Out of Sight & Sound of the Field".
Suspended Games:
If, in the opinion of game officials, a game must be terminated due to misconduct by players, the bench, or spectators, the offending team could be suspended from further play and forfeit all points and positions previously earned. Additionally, the home league and state association will be contacted as appropriate.
Substitutions:
Unlimited substitutions will be allowed in all age groups. However, teams may substitute only with the referee's permission. Substitutes must wait on the sideline (off of the field of play) until the field player has left the field of play and/or the referee has indicated the substitute may enter the field of play. Substitutions by either team are allowed at any stoppage of play with the permission of the referee.
Side Lines:
The Home Team has the choice of the sideline before each game. The home team, coaches, and spectators will all be together on the same sideline. Opposing teams, coaches, and spectators will be on opposite sidelines, unless otherwise notified by the Field Marshal. All spectators will be on their team's sideline, sitting to the left of the team bench. No spectators are allowed behind the goals. No players, coaches, or spectators are allowed on the opponent's sideline.
Forfeitures & Byes:
Games not played will be classified as "Forfeits & Byes". Teams failing to report ready to play within five (5) minutes of the scheduled kickoff time forfeit that game. All teams that forfeit will have the game scored as a 1-0 loss. The winner will be awarded 3 tournament points. A team needs at least 5 players for a 7v7 match, 7 players for a 9v9 match, and 8 players for an 11v11 match for the game to get started. Teams that take action that causes the game to be terminated will forfeit. If a team refuses to play in the Final, the next highest-placed team in the respective tournament division will earn the spot in the Final.
Playing Times:
Play will be with a running clock and a 5-minute halftime—a preliminary semifinal with a tie. Semifinal games ending in a tie during regulation will go straight to FIFA Kicks from the Penalty Mark ("Penalty Shoot-Out") with no overtime. The Penalty Shoot-Out will immediately follow the game.
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Tournament Play:
All teams will be scheduled for at least 3 games.
All Preliminary games will be terminated at least five (5) minutes before the scheduled start of the next game, regardless of the 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.
SemiFinals and CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES: Games ending in a tie will go directly to the Penalty Shoot-Out to determine a winner (no overtime).
Halftime:
Halftime will be exactly five (5) minutes. Please help officials with this request.
Tournament Points System:
Score Reporting:
Each TEAM MANAGER/COACH will report scores after each game to the Field Marshal at the registration/check-in table at each field site.
Tie Breakers:
In the event of a tie in Points, the winner will be determined as follows:
If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 6, a Penalty Shoot-Out will be taken 15 minutes before the start of the Semifinal. If a three-way tie exists within a bracket after steps 2-6, a three-way coin flip will be conducted. The teams that tie in the coin flip will compete in a Penalty Shoot-Out to eliminate one team before proceeding to a Penalty Shoot-Out with the third team. The coin flip and time of the Penalty Shoot-Out will be determined at the fields.
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 the venue determines that field damage will result due to continued play. In the event of such a delay or postponement of games, the tournament will endeavor to reschedule such games reasonably, if possible. If games cannot be rescheduled or played due to rain, weather, or other Acts of God, there will be no refund or credit of fees.
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