All matches will be played in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game. Rules and/or interpretations provided by USYSA and/or NCYSA for youth matches are in the following items, which will further interpret these rules for the purpose of this tournament.
TEAM PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:In order for a team and its individual players to be eligible to participate in the tournament, the team and individual players must meet all tournament rules (as communicated in tournament mailings) and per the FIFA, USYSA and NCYSA rules for registration. Further, all teams must have participated in the CAYSL Spring season. No guest players are allowed for this Tournament- only players on rosters as of the State Roster deadline/freeze for State Cup will be allowed to participate. Failure to meet any of these registration rules will render a team and/or individual players ineligible to participate in the tournament. Any team playing while ineligible or any team playing ineligible players will forfeit all matches played and will be reported to the appropriate governing body. Players can only play for one team participating in the tournament.
PLAYER EQUIPMENT:All teams and players participating in the tournament must meet the standard equipment requirements of the USYSA and/or NCYSA per the referee’s discretion. Minimum requirements will be as follows:
- Shin Guards must be worn.
- Where Jersey Colors are similar, as interpreted by the referee, the home team must change their jersey. Home teams are requested to wear white or light colored jerseys.
- Casts or Protective Equipment may be worn only if approved by the referee.
- Referees will check equipment before the start of each match.
- The referee will have final say concerning the acceptance of equipment for play.
- No jewelry can be worn on the field, medical bracelets or tags must be taped to the body.
TEAM FIELD POSITION:The referees will determine where each team’s players, coaches and spectators will take position during the match. In cases where practicable, spectators will sit in the stadium or in stands and the players/coaches will take a position on the opposite side of the field. All players/coaches and spectators must stay at least one yard behind the touchline when positioned on the field. Players/coaches are expected to stay in the general position of player/coach bench area.
PLAYER, COACH AND SPECTATOR BEHAVIOR:All players, coaches and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the letter as well as the spirit of the Laws of the Game. The referees working the matches in the tournament are experienced and will apply the Laws as they interpret them in the flow of the matches. Player, coach or spectator dissent will not be tolerated and will be dealt with as necessary. Players, coaches or spectators dismissed from a match will be banned (out of sight and sound of the playing area) from the team’s current and next scheduled match. Players, coaches or spectators dismissed from a match for fighting may be banned from the remainder of the tournament by the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director reserves the right to ban any team from further competition if the behavior of the team’s players, coaches or spectators creates an atmosphere where further competition cannot take place within the letter as well as the spirit of the Laws of the Game.
DURATION OF PLAY:All pool play and round robin matches will be the following length with a halftime no longer than 5 minutes.
- U-09 to U-10 25 minute halves
- U-11 to U-13 30 minute halves
Semi-final and final matches will be full length as designated by USYSA for each group with a halftime of no longer than 5 minutes.
- U-09 to U-10 25 minute halves
- U-11 to U-13 30 minute halves
Combining Age Groups:
If an age group does not have enough teams, the tournament committee reserves the right to combine age’s groups to create a playable bracket. If an age group is combined, teams have 72 hours from bracket posting to notify the tournament director / committee by email if this is not acceptable and would like to withdraw.
SUBSTITUTION:Both of the Teams in a game are permitted unlimited substitutions, with the permission of the referee, during the following:
- Possession Throw-ins
- Goal Kicks
- Following a goal
- Injured Players
- Cautioned Players
- Before an overtime period
All substitutions, should take place from the halfway line and substitutes should not enter the field until the player they are replacing has reached the touchline.
SCORE REPORTING:The referees and/or field marshals will report to the site headquarters after each match. In the case of a one-field site, referees will report scores to referee headquarters.
DIVISION RANKING CRITERIA:Teams will be awarded points during divisional play based on match results as follows:
WIN=3 POINTS, TIE=1 POINT, LOSS=0 POINTS.At the conclusion of round-robin and/or divisional play (including crossover matches), team will be ranked in their playing group based on the points earned from wins and ties only. Any situation in which two or more teams have the same number of points, the tie will be broken by using the following criteria in the following order, one after the other as needed:
- Game Points – this is determined by the (W,L,T) as described above. If game points are tied, then Bonus points will be used.
- Head to Head Competition - If 3 or more teams are tied; only #3, 4,5 and 6 will be used.
- Bonus Points - Goal Differential of up to 3 goals max awarded per game
- Goals Against
- Most Shutouts
- FIFA Penalty Kicks (at a time/site to be determined by the Tournament Directors)
SEMI FINAL and FINAL MATCH TIE BREAKINGIf at the end of regulation play a game is tied, after a maximum 5-minute break, teams will play a 10-minute sudden death overtime period, first team to score is declared the winner. The 10-minute period will be split into two 5-minute halves with golden goal (1st goal scored) winning the match. If at the end of the full 10 minute overtime period the game remains tied, FIFA Penalty Kicks will be used to determine a winner. If time, weather or other material factors interfere with the ability to determine a final winner, the Tournament Director may declare two teams as co-champions.
FORFEITS:A forfeit shall be awarded if a team is not present and prepared to play within 10 minutes of its scheduled match time. The score for a forfeited match will be 3-0. A team that forfeits any match will lose all playoff advancement opportunities.
PROTESTS:No protests will be entertained concerning interpretation of the Laws of the Game by a referee. Any other protest will be heard if made in writing to the Tournament Director at tournament headquarters within one hour of the completion of the match in question. The written protest must be accompanied with $100 cash. The cash will be forfeited if the protest is not upheld.
INCLEMENT WEATHERRegardless of playing conditions, teams are expected to be at the assigned field prepared to play at the scheduled playing time. Forfeits will be awarded if a team is not prepared to play within 10 minutes of the scheduled match start time. The Tournament Director or, in extreme localized weather instances, the Site Director and/or referee may reduce the scheduled match length due to weather conditions either before the start of matches or during play. Referees may stop play in matches already started due to dangerous weather conditions. In cases in which these actions are not planned, every attempt will be made to complete the match. In any such case, all match results will stand as they are at the point at which any such matches are stopped. Should the tournament be cancelled due to the weather or circumstances beyond the tournaments control, there will be no refunds. If a complete half is played and a prolonged rain delay occurs, the tournament committee can deem the game complete if needed to keep the schedule moving.
FINAL INTERPRETATIONS AND DECISIONS:The Tournament Director will make final interpretations of any and all tournament rules and/or tie-breaking decisions.
