1. GENERAL RULES

All decisions of the referee are final and binding. The Tournament Committee will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team or club if the tournament is canceled in whole or part. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament and its judgment is final. Any team that disregards any decision by the Tournament Committee (including the inclement weather policy) will be automatically dropped from the tournament and forfeit all remaining games. First place awards will be presented to winners. Second place awards will also be presented to the finalists.

2. AGE AND ELIGIBILITY

A.

Participation in the Tournament is open to accepted teams composed of eighteen (18) or fewer players ((14) or fewer for U-9/11 small sided only) meeting the age limit of the specified division. Each team must be registered with a National Soccer Association affiliated with the USYSA/USSF or national equivalent and must present a valid State or Provincial roster. Player registration cards duly authorized by State/Provincial or National Association will be required as proof of age. PLAYER PASSES MUST BE PRESENT AT THE FIELD FOR THE DURATION OF THE GAME.

B.

No player shall play for more than one team during the tournament.

C.

3. ROSTERS

Each team shall have a roster properly stamped by its state or regional association present at every game and rosters may be inspected by the field marshal at the request of either coach or on the decision of the referee. Rosters submitted at tournament registration shall govern.

4. GUEST PLAYERS

A maximum of 4 guest players will be allowed during the tournament

5. NUMBER OF PLAYERS

A.

U13- U15 11 v 11

B.

A game may not start with fewer than seven properly uniformed players on each team. Once started, games may not continue with fewer than seven players per team. If a game cannot start or is stopped because a team has fewer than seven players, that team shall forfeit the game. A team shall have a 5 minute grace period from scheduled starting time before a forfeit is declared.

C.

A forfeit in the preliminary rounds shall be awarded as three (3) points for the win. For tiebreaking purposes, the score shall be set as the average of goals scored by the winning team rounded up to the nearest whole number, against the average of the goals given up by that team rounded down to the nearest whole number. As a minimum, the score will be recorded as 1-0.

D.

If a team is the cause for termination of a game, that team will be considered to have forfeited that game.

E.

Teams that have forfeited a game may not advance beyond the preliminary rounds without the approval of the tournament director.

6. SUBSTITUTIONS

A.

Substitutions without limit may be made, with the referee's permission:

Substitutions may be made during any stoppage of play.

B.

C.

7. PROTESTS. THERE WILL BE NO PROTESTS.

8. UNIFORM, EQUIPMENT AND FIELDS

A.

Players must wear numbers on the back of their uniforms and these numbers shall coincide with those listed on the team's Official State/Provincial roster.

B.

PLAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR SHIN GUARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FIFA LAWS OF THE GAME.

C.

Where uniform colors are similar, the designated home team will change colors. Home team is listed first on the schedule.

D.

When requested by the referee, each team must provide a linesperson.

E.

Team must be at fields 30 minutes prior to the scheduled kick-off.

F.

Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear on the field, ready to play as scheduled. Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the game. Only referees and/or the tournament director can postpone or cancel a game.

10. DURATION OF GAMES

The following table shows the length of game halves for boys and girls preliminary matches, semi-final and final matches. Please note that there will be no overtime for Semi-final of Finals. Should the game be tied at the end of regulation the game will be decided FIFA Penalty Kicks.

Ages

U13-15

Preliminaries

70 Min Games

Finals

80 Min Games

In the event inclement weather forces cancellation of a game after at least 30 minutes have been played, the game shall be considered official and the score at the point of cancellation shall be the final score. Should a game be halted before 30 minutes have been played, it shall be rescheduled for complete replay, or recommenced at the discretion of the tournament director. In the event of a tie in a semi-final or final game, overtime shall be played as described above.

11. DIVISION WINNERS AND WILD CARD TEAMS

A.

Each team shall be awarded three points for a win and one point for a tie in the preliminary games. The division winner shall be the team with the most points. In the event that two or more teams are tied, the tie-breaking rules are as follows:

1. Head to head competition (does not apply if more than two teams are involved).

2. Most wins.

3. Bonus points - Bonus points will be awarded for the difference between goals for and goals against up to a maximum of three (3) per game (e.g., 6-3 and 3-0 scores each earn three bonus points). Only positive points count towards the bonus points (do not subtract).

4. Additional Bonus point -- awarded for a shutout.

5. Fewest goals against.

6. Penalty kicks - the FIFA penalty kick procedure will be used to determine a winner. Coaches who feel that they may require this discriminator should stay in close contact with their field marshal throughout Sunday.

B.

In the event of a tie among more than two teams: a tie is broken by the above system, but if ties among remaining teams still must be decided, those ties would be broken by starting again from the top of the tie-breaking procedure.

12. SEMI-FINAL AND FINAL TIE-BREAKING RULES

If a tie in score exists at the end of regulation, the FIFA penalty kick procedure will be used to determine a winner.

13. GAME AND SCORE REPORTING

A.

The Field Marshal will ensure that the game report forms are properly completed, signatures obtained, and scores recorded at the end of each game.

B.

The Field Marshal will ensure that the scores of each game are reported to Tournament Headquarters in a timely manner each day. The Division Coordinator will ensure that the game report forms are turned in to Tournament Headquarters by 7:00 p.m. each day.

14. CONDUCT

A.

Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the Law as well as the letter of the Law. Displays of temper or dissent are cause for ejection from the game and surrounding field area.

B.

Both teams (players and coaches) will be on the same sideline. Spectators of both teams will take the opposite side of the pitch. No one will be allowed behind either end line.

C.

A player or coach receiving a red card will not be able to participate in the tournament game following the game the card is issued. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to SUSPEND ANY PLAYER, COACH OR TEAM FROM THE TOURNAMENT FOR UNRULY CONDUCT.

D.

Accumulation of Cards - any player or coach who receives a second caution card (yellow) during any part of the tournament will not be allowed to participate in the next tournament game following the contest where the second caution card was issued.

E.

In the event of assault/abuse on a game official, a judiciary hearing shall immediately be convened at a Tournament site to be designated by the Tournament Director. All terms described in the USSF Official Administrative Rule Book under Rule 3.2.8, Suspension for Assault on Official, shall apply. In any event, a player, coach, or other team official who is charged with assault on a game official is suspended from further participation in the tournament.

F.

Any team disregarding a decision by the referees and/or the tournament committee to either suspend or cancel tournament play, will be disqualified for the remainder of the tournament. Also, a written complaint will be filed with both the MSYSA and the team's state association (if different).

15. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND SMOKING ARE NOT PERMITTED AT GAME SITES.

16. TOURNAMENT CANCELLATION POLICY

In the event inclement weather forces total cancellation of the tournament, teams will be refunded fee minus tournament expenses.