Tournament Rules
Download pfd version of Tournament Rules
here.
New River United Soccer Association/Virginia
Tech Summer Kickoff Tournament
1. FIFA
Laws
All Games
will be played in accordance with FIFA laws, except as specifically modified by
these tournament rules.
2.
Inclement Weather/Game Delays
The
Tournament Director reserves the right to make the following changes in the
event of inclement weather: relocate and/or reschedule a match, reduce
scheduled duration of a match, cancel a match or cancel the tournament.
Coaches and their players must appear at the field ready to play as scheduled,
regardless of the weather. Failure to appear will result in a forfeit of the
match. Only the Tournament Director may cancel or postpone a match.
Additionally, the Tournament Director may reduce the length of a match because
of field conditions. Should a game in progress be terminated due to weather or
field conditions, the game will be considered official if at least the first
half has been played and the score at that time shall stand. For other games,
rescheduling attempts will be made as fairly as possible, considering referee
and field availability and normal progress of the competition. As a final
solution, it may be necessary to employ other means to determine the outcome of
the game in which case the game will be scored 1-0.
Should the
tournament be canceled in part or in whole due to any act of nature or for any
other reason, no refunds will be issued. NRUSA, Virginia Tech or any
representatives of NRUSA or Virginia Tech are not liable for any expenses
incurred by any party due to Tournament cancellation including tournament
registration fees. (No Refunds Will Be Issued).
3. Coach/Player/Spectator
Conduct
The
Tournament is for the enjoyment of the players. The tournament places a strong
emphasis on Sportsmanship and good manners by all! High standards of
sportsmanship are expected to be observed by the players, coaches, and
spectators.
Any player,
coach or team supporter sent off during this tournament will be reported to the
team’s home state association. Upon receipt of the report, the team’s home
state association and/or league may impose additional sanctions. Matters
involving referee assault or abuse will be reported immediately to the host
state association (VYSA). Any player sent off from a game (red carded) will
not be replaced and will not be allowed to participate in the remainder of the
game and the team’s next game. Two (2) yellow cards in one match are
equivalent to a red card and the above rule applies. Any coach removed from a
game must leave the field immediately and will not be allowed to coach in the
team’s next game. Any team supporter or spectator sent off during a game must
immediately leave the vicinity of the field complex and will not be allowed at
the field complex for the next game. A send off for serious verbal or physical
altercations will result in the player, coach or team supporter being banned
from the tournament facilities for the remainder of the tournament. Coaches,
players, and spectators for all participating teams must remain on their
respective sides of the field during the time the match is in progress.
Specifically, all players and coaches should be on one side of the field, and
all spectators on the opposite side of the field. Coaches are responsible for
the conduct of their players and sideline team supporters on his/her team. The
referee and /or field marshal are authorized to remove any spectator whose
behavior, in their opinion, interferes with the play of the game. In
accordance with FIFA rules, only players will be shown a card (yellow or red)
when being cautioned or sent off.
4. Team
Acceptance
a) The
Tournament Director or Tournament Committee reserves the right to accept or
reject any team application.
b) No team
shall be deemed accepted unless written notification has been sent from the
Tournament Director or Tournament Committee.
c) Once
accepted by the Tournament Director or Tournament Committee, the application
fee is non-refundable.
d) All
accepted teams are required to register Friday night before tournament play
begins. All teams must at that time present official club approved roster
(signed by appropriate registrar) plus two copies, medical release forms for
each player, player cards and permission to travel forms (for all teams
traveling from outside the state of Virginia). These forms should also be
available at the field of play at all times. An acceptance letter will be sent
out to each accepted team with a list of required player and team documentation
items.
5. Roster
and Player Documentation
You must
participate with your spring 2009 roster and all players on your roster
must be given the opportunity to participate in the tournament. You may add up
to five (5) guest players per team provided they have US Youth Soccer or
approved organization player passes.
All teams
must comply with the Tournament rules and the Tournament Director decisions are
final. Documentation is required to support the age of the player. This
documentation will be in the form of a validated Association roster/guest
player roster form, showing date of birth, and a current medical release form.
Roster and player documentation may be inspected at any time during the
tournament. Exceptions to these requirements must have written approval of the
Tournament Director or Tournament Committee. Exceptions are subject to review
by the tournament committee for a final ruling.
6. Guest
Players
Teams are
allowed a maximum of five (5) guest players as long as they are currently USYSA
registered and possess a Recreational/Travel player pass card. Players must
play on their own team if their team is playing in the 2009 tournament and are
not eligible to play as a guest player with another team. All teams will
comply with the 2009 tournament rules and the Tournament Director’s decisions
are final.
7.
Eligibility
All teams and
players must be registered with a member association of USYSA. All teams must
have current US Youth Soccer or approved organization Player Passes, or the
appropriate National Association passes. Each team must provide an official
roster that includes all traveling players and team officials signed or stamped
by the appropriate registrar and current individual medical releases. Standard
VYSA medical release forms may be downloaded here: www.vysa.com/docs/registration/medical%20
release%20form.doc Teams that are members of organizations of the United States
Soccer Federation but not members of US Youth Soccer (such as AYSO, SAY, US
Club Soccer or Super Y Leagues) DO NOT have to have a US Youth Soccer Application
To Travel form (although that team’s organization may require that the team
have permission). Such a team roster does need to be provided to tournament
officials, however, along with current passes from its organization.
USYS State
Association teams within Region I that are accepted into a tournament in Region
I do not need permission to travel papers. Permission to Travel is not
required for participation in friendly games within Region I. Please take note
of the two states that have exceptions to this policy. (Connecticut and New Jersey).
List of
Region I National State Associations
*Connecticut Junior Soccer Association – Teams are to check with the Tournament rules to see
if a permission to travel is needed.
Delaware Youth Soccer Association
Eastern New
York Youth Soccer
Association
Soccer Maine
Maryland Youth Soccer Association
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association
New Hampshire Soccer Association
*New Jersey Youth Soccer Association – Permission to Travel Required
New York State West State Soccer Association
Pennsylvania West State Soccer Association
Soccer Rhode Island
Vermont Soccer Association
Virginia
Youth Soccer Association
West Virginia Soccer Association
8. Duration
of Play and Ball Size (Duration subject to change due to weather, actual time
versus scheduled time, etc.)
Age Groups Length
of Game Halftime Ball Size
U-9/10 (6v6) 2
x 25 min. halves 5 minutes 4
U-11/12 (8v8) 2
x 30 min. halves 5 minutes 4
U-13 - 19
(11v11) 2 x 35 min. halves 5 minutes 5
9. Start of
Game
A maximum
grace period of 5 minutes will be allowed after the scheduled kick-off time.
U-13 teams and older must have seven (7) players present in order to begin a
game. U-10, U-11, and U-12 teams must have five (5) players present in order
to begin a game. A game forfeited will be scored 3-0 and he winning team
awarded 3 points. It is the duty of the coaches to have teams be present 20
minutes before the scheduled start time to aid in the timely start of play.
10. Player
Equipment
a)
Shin guards MUST
be worn by all players, and covered by socks.
b)
The Tournament
will supply appropriate size game balls.
c)
With the exception
of medical ID, no rings, watches, earrings or other jewelry of any kind may be
worn. Medical ID medals must be taped to the chest. Medical ID bracelets must
be taped to the wrist so that a finger may not become trapped under it. The
referee prior to the game must approve any protective device or cast worn by a
player. Casts must be padded and wrapped.
d)
When the color of
the jerseys is similar or identical, the designated home team will change
jerseys (The team listed first on the schedule is the home team).
e)
Goalkeepers must
wear a different colored shirt, which distinguishes them from all other players
and referees.
f)
Each field player
must have a unique number on his/her jersey and all jerseys shall match in color.
Shirts must be tucked in during the entire game.
g)
No equipment
changes may be made after the referee’s equipment check without his/her
permission.
11.
Substitutions
Substitutions
may be made with the permission of the referee based upon FIFA rules. All age
groups will have unlimited substitutions and players may re-enter the game.
The substitute must wait until the player is off the field before entering the
field (unless the referee waves him/her on). Players must exit and enter at
the halfway line, on their own team side of the field. No substitutions will
be allowed for a player sent off. Substitutions will be allowed as follows:
Before a throw-in in Your teams favor, Before a goal kick by either
team, After a goal by either team, When the referee has stopped play to attend
to an injured player (by either team), At half time, Before either overtime
period, At the time of infraction, a cautioned (yellow card) player may
leave the field and may be replaced with a substitute, if available, or
play short. The cautioned player may reenter the game at a later time. The
opposing team may also substitute at this time. If a keeper is sent off (red
card), he/she must leave the game and the team must play down. A new keeper
must then be designated either from the current field players or a substitution
of a field player with the new player becoming the keeper.
12. Divisions
and Advancement
Dependant
upon the number of entrants, the tournament committee reserves the right to
combine age divisions when appropriate and necessary. If combinations of age
divisions occur each team shall be notified and will be afforded the
opportunity to withdraw from the tournament with a full refund. The tournament
committee reserves the right to combine levels of play (Classic and Challenge
teams) in the same division. Awards for the first and second place will be
given in all divisions.
4 Team
Divisions: Three
games will be guaranteed in a round-robin format. The champion and runner up
will be determined based on points.
5 Team
Divisions: Four games
will be guaranteed in a round-robin format. The champion and runner up will be
determined based on points.
6 Team
Divisions: Three
games will be guaranteed. Teams will be divided into 2 groups (A and B) with
each team playing 2 games within its group. Then, the top team in group A will
play the number 2 team in group B and the top team in group B will play the
number 2 team in group A as a semi-final game. The winners of these games will
advance to a championship game that will determine first and second place. The
third place teams in each group will play a consolation match.
8 Team
Divisions: Three
games will be guaranteed. Teams will be divided into 2 groups (A and B) with
each team playing 3 games within its group. The top team in each group will
advance to a championship game.
13.
Division Standings
For the
purpose of determining bracket standings and semi-final game participants, the
following point system will be used:
Win = 3 points, Tie = 1 point, Loss =
0 points
In the event
of a tie based on points, bracket winners and/or runner-ups will be determined,
progressively, as follows: a) Head-to-Head competition, b) goal differential with
a maximum differential of 3 goals per game, c) least goals allowed, d) most
goals scored, e) FIFA kicks from the penalty mark. In the event of a bye or
forfeit, tie breaking rules b), c), and d) will be based on the games actually
played among common opponents. Any team that forfeits a game CANNOT advance to
the semi-final or final game, nor be champions on points. Ties – Ties
will stand at the end of regular play for preliminary round matches and
consolation matches. For ties in semi final or championship matches, the teams
will play two successive five minute overtime periods (not sudden death). If
the teams are still tied at the end of the two overtime periods, the winner
will be determined using FIFA kicks from the penalty mark method. Only the
players on the field at the end of the second overtime period will be allowed
to participate in the FIFA kicks. The process for penalty kicks will be as
follows:
a)
All participating
players will immediately meet at the center of the field. The “Reduce to
Equate” FIFA law will apply. A coin toss will determine who kicks first.
b)
The referee will
decide which goal will be used.
c)
Five (5) players
will be selected from each team to participate in the first round.
d)
With teams
alternating, each team will take 5 kicks. The team scoring the most goals will
be declared the winner.
e)
If the teams
remain tied after the first round, the remaining participating players from
each team will take their kicks. Teams will alternate and the first team to
score with the opposing team missing will be declared the winner.
f)
Each team may
select any of their participating players on the field to serve as the
goalkeeper. In the event that the goalkeeper becomes injured, a player not
currently on the field may replace him.
14. General - Referees shall have full
discretion in any player equipment matters.
a)
Coaches and
spectators must remain between the penalty areas.
b)
Spectators must
sit on the opposite side of the field from their team. Home teams are listed
first on the schedules.
c)
No unauthorized
tents, exposed stakes, ropes or strings are allowed within 10 yards of any
playing field. The Tournament Committee may require that tents or other items
or spectators be moved at their discretion.
d)
No pets, No
firearms, No alcoholic beverages allowed on tournament facilities or in
tournament parking lots. NO EXCEPTIONS!
e)
All decisions of
the referee are final and binding. NO protests will be allowed.
f)
The Tournament
Director or his/her designee reserves the right to decide all matters pertaining
to the tournament and his/her judgment is final.
g)
At the discretion
of the Tournament Director or his/her designee, games may be shortened or other
means used to preserve schedule integrity. Game times may be changed to
accommodate successfully completing the tournament in the event of poor
weather.
h)
A forfeit shall be
awarded if a team is not present to play within five (5) minutes of the
scheduled starting time. The score shall be recorded 1 – 0 against the
offending team.
i)
Referees will be
USSF certified. The referee shall keep a record of the game and keep the
official time on the field. Club linesmen may be used in the event of an
assistant referee absence.
Disclaimer
The
Tournament Director, Tournament Committee, event sponsor, New River United Soccer
Association, Virginia Youth Soccer Association, Virginia Tech and their
volunteers will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team or
club if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part, nor will any refunds be
made The Tournament Director reserves the right to decide all matters
pertaining to the tournament and his/her judgment is final.