CREDENTIALS
At the Friday night registration, each team must submit to the Tournament Committee their credentials to include:

 

• Player Passes  
• Medical Release Form for each player  
• A team roster documenting affiliation with appropriate governing soccer association  
• a permission to travel form signed by their association (out-of-state teams only)

The latter two items should have been mailed to the Tournament Committee prior to arrival; therefore, a copy will not be required unless it is missing or has been modified. The player passes are to be presented in the same sequence as that appearing on the team roster.

 

COMMISSIONERS
No protests will be entertained. All penalties will be handled by the Tournament Commissioners, who will have the right to exclude a team, coach, or player(s) not acting in accordance with the Tournament rules. The decision of the commissioners is final.  

 

RULES
The Tournament will be played in accordance with FIFA rules, with the following additions and exceptions.

 

1. ROSTER A team may not have more than 15 players including Guest and Secondary rostered players, for the U09 and U10 age divisions. For the U11 age division and up, the maximum number of players is 18, including Guest and Secondary rostered players.  Please note that U-09 and U-10 games will be played with eight (8) players on the field at a time (including the goalkeeper) for each team. The U-11 and above games will be eleven (11) players a side as always. No player may be rostered on more than one team. 
    
2. LINE-UP Coaches must provide four signed line-up forms at registration. The Referee or Field Marshall may request a coach to surrender player passes and coach passes to the Field Marshal or the referee prior to the start of the game. Should the coach fail to comply prior to the start of the game the team will forfeit that game immediately. The passes will be returned after the game. Line-up forms can be printed from the web page. Every team must submit four line-up sheets at registration.
   
3. UNIFORMS All players on a team must wear the same colored jerseys and each jersey must be numbered distinctively with no number being repeated. Teams are requested to bring alternate jerseys. Where both teams have the same color jersey, the team listed first in the game schedule will be designated as the home team and will be asked to change their jersey. All players must wear shin guards when playing in a match. Stockings/socks must be worn in the pulled up position covering the shin pads or guards and shirts/jerseys must be tucked into the shorts.
   
4. GAME DURATION BY AGE GROUP
   U09-U10 = Two (2) 20 minute halves and 5 minute half time
   U11-U12 = Two (2) 25 minute halves and 5 minute half time
   U13-U17 = Two (2) 30 minute halves and 5 minute half time
   Teams are expected to play at the scheduled starting time for each game. If a team has seven (7) players available, play will begin. Any team more than ten (10) minutes late will forfeit the game and have their score recorded at a minus one (-1) point. The other team will be given two (2) points for a win by a 3-0 margin.
   
5. GAME DELAYS Any game which must be stopped due to unplayable field conditions will be resumed as soon as possible at a time and field location designated by the Tournament Committee. If games cannot be played on one or more days, the games will not be made up and standings will be determined by all other games played.
   
6. GAME BALL A size 4 ball will be used for U-09, U-10, U-11 and U-12
   games; all other groups will use a size 5 ball. All games will be played with a game ball provided to the referee by the Tournament Committee.
   
7. SUBSTITUTIONS Unlimited for both teams on goal kicks, goals scored, and half time. Unlimited on throw-ins for the team with possession. Limited if an injured player(s) is replaced, the opposing team may substitute an equal number.
   
8. EJECTIONS A substitute may not be sent in for an ejected player nor may an ejected player be a substitute. An ejected player or coach is ineligible for the next scheduled game. A player ejected for fighting is ineligible for further Tournament play.
   
9. CAUTIONS An accumulation of three (3) cautions or an ejection and a caution to a player or coach will result in dismissal from the Tournament.
   
10. REFEREES All U-11 through U-17 games will be officiated under the three (3) referee system; one referee and two linespersons. All will be USSF-licensed referees. The U-09 and U-10 games will be officiated by a USSF-licensed referee and two Hampden Township linespersons.

STANDINGS (This rule doesn’t apply to U9 and U10 age groups)
The number of points accumulated will determine the order of finish.

 

·        Three (3) points for a win

 

·        One (1) point for a tie

 

·        Zero (0) for a loss

 

·        Negative (-1) one for a forfeit.

 

In the event two teams tie with the same number of points, the order of finish will be decided as follows:

1.     Result of game between the tied teams..ie results of the Head to Head game
If the tie is unbroken go to

 

2.     Goal difference in all games, with a maximum of 3 in each game
If the tie is unbroken go to

 

3.     Fewest goals allowed in all games
If the tie is unbroken go to

 

4.     Penalty Kick Contest using criteria sited in Rule 12

 

In the event of a three-way tie we use the following tiebreaker:
Since each team has played one another our objective is to simply break the tie. Once one team is determined not to be tied by the following criteria they are deemed the third place team. Once one team has been deemed Third place then the remaining two tied teams will go through the two-team tiebreaker criteria described above to break that tie. The criteria to break the three way is as follows:

 

1.     Goal Difference in all games, with a maximum of 3 in each game...(the team with least goal difference is deemed the Third place team)...if all three teams have the same goal differential then go to (b)

 

2.     Fewest goals in all games ...(the team with the most goals against is deemed the Third place team)...if all three teams have the same amount of goals against then go to (c)

 

3.     Coin toss...if the teams are that close then a coin toss will be used to eliminate one team. Team A will go against Team B with the coin toss. The loser of the coin toss then will toss a coin against Team C. The loser of the second coin toss is deemed the third place team. The two winners of the coin toss will go back through the two-team tiebreaker criteria to determine first and second place

 

PENALTY KICK CONTEST RULES The Tournament Commissioners shall set the time and place for penalty kick contests. Any team more than ten minutes late for such contest without prior permission from the commissioners shall be declared loser of the contest.

Prior to the start of the penalty kick contest, coaches shall choose 11 players, one of who shall be a goalkeeper, who shall take kicks. Of these, five (5) (one of who may or may not be the goalkeeper) shall be chosen to take kicks as described in “c” below. The remaining six players shall take kicks if necessary, as described in “e” below. No additional players shall be considered eligible to kick, except injury as described in Rule 7.

 

1. Referee will choose goal at which all kicks will be taken. 
2. Winner of coin toss will take first kick. 
3. Both teams shall take five (5) kicks alternately.  
4. If, before both teams have taken five (5) kicks, one has scored more than the other could, the taking of kicks shall cease.
5. If after both teams have taken five (5) kicks, both have the same number of goals or not scored any goals, the taking of kicks shall continue until both have taken an equal number of kicks and one has scored a goal more.
6. A different player who shall include the goalkeeper if the goalkeeper was not among the first five (5) kickers shall take each kick.
7. Not until all eleven (11) eligible players have kicked may a player of the same team take a second kick.  

ADVANCEMENT Teams will be placed in either four (4) or six (6) team divisions. Within each division there will be two brackets of three teams. Each team will play two preliminary round matches. After the conclusion of all preliminary round matches, all teams will be ranked in their respective bracket. The first and second ranked teams in each bracket advance to the semi-finals. The third ranked teams will play against each other for their third Tournament game. Teams in a four (4) team division will play round robin format with the two top ranked teams playing in the finals.

 

PLAY-OFF GAMES Play-off games are scheduled for each division in each age group. For six (6) team divisions, the play-off games will be played between the two teams winning the semi-finals. If both teams have the same color jersey, a flip of the coin will determine who changes their color; winner of coin toss has choice. Duration of all play-off games will be indicated in Rule 4. If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, two five (5) minute overtime halves will be played. If the teams are still tied after overtime the teams will play 7 v. 7 Sudden Death.

 

1. The players selected for the Sudden Death period must be on the field at the end of the overtime period.
2. If a team member receives a red card during regulation or overtime play her team will not be penalized in the Sudden Death period.
3. At the end of overtime all players on the field will immediately report to the center circle. Coaches will be allowed 2 minutes to select the players to remain on the field for the 7 V 7, all other players will report to the sidelines.
4. 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.
5. SUDDEN DEATH PERIOD WILL COMMENCE WITH A DROP BALL AT MID FIELD.
6. 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 her body EXCEPT her 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.
      
7. U9/U10 age brackets will not have a playoff since we are not keeping standings.

 

TOURNAMENT CANCELLATION In the event of inclement weather or any other “act of God” which would prevent continuation of the games, the Tournament will be canceled. Partial refund checks will be mailed to each coach once all obligations are paid in full at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.