Everton
Florida
TOURNAMENT RULES
The tournament rules shall be in accordance with USYSA/ FYSA except as modified and approved herein.
1. TEAM ELIGIBILITY
This Tournament is open to all affiliated teams affiliated under USSF and international teams affiliated under FIFA.
It shall be the responsibility of each State Association, to certify the eligibility of its competing teams and to provide such teams with a certified copy of the roster, permission to travel and proof of insurance.
Foreign teams must have written permission and verification from USSF/USYSA and their Federation, indicating authorization to participate in the Tournament.
Roster Sizes will coincide w/FYSA rules with as many as 18 players being allowed on your official roster. A roster of the players must be given to the ref/official before each game.
The maximum number of guest players allowed on a team shall be five (5).
2. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
All players must possess a current season player pass card from their affiliated organization. Passes must be verified, photo attached, laminated with state registration number and date of birth. Players may play on only one team during the tournament. No switching of teams will be permitted.
The maximum number of rostered players on any one team is as follows:
U9/U10 roster size 10 players
U11/U12 roster size 14 players
U13-U16 roster size 18 players
U17 & up roster size 22 players (18 active)
Age classification will follow a calendar year beginning August 1 and ending July 31 as set by FYSA guidelines (www.fysa.com).
3. PRE-GAME PROCEDURE
Tournament Officials shall conduct all credential checks:
At initial registration check-in and at the field prior to each game referees shall check in players off the official game roster provided by the coach. The roster is to be retained by the referee.
In no event will a player be allowed to participate who has not been certified by the Tournament credentials committee. A player who arrives late at the playing field after the pre-game procedure may enter the game once the game’s official(s) verify the player is eligible and with the permission of the center referee.
Each manager/coach or assistant must have a valid coach’s pass and should be listed on the roster. If a manager or coach is ejected, an assistant may conduct the team. If the assistant is also ejected, or if there is no assistant, the game will be forfeited. In no case will a team be allowed to participate without a properly registered coach or assistant.
4. LAWS OF THE GAME
All games shall be in accordance with the FIFA “Laws of the Game”, except as modified below. Competition sanctioned by this association shall abide by the “Laws of the Game”, along with any modifications or regulations of the association. Players nine (9) and under, and ten (10) and under must play under the rules of the Developmental Program - modified playing rules for 10U, 8U and 6U, except as modified below:
Law I: Field of Play
U9 and U10 must play under the auspices of USYSA and FYSA in accordance with the rules of the Developmental Player Program Playing Rules for U9 and U10.
Law II: The Ball
U9, U10, U11, U12 - Size #4 (25-26 in., 11-13 oz.)
All Others - Size #5 (27-28 in., 14-16 oz.)
Law III: Number of Players
U9-U10 six (6) per side (as modified per Developmental Player Program)
U11-U12 eight (8) per side
U13-U19 eleven (11) per side per FIFA
Substitutions: Shall be unlimited in the U9-U16 age brackets. FIFA limited substitutions rules will apply in the U17-18 age group categories. Unlimited substitutions shall be allowed in each game. The substitute shall enter only at the center line.
Substitutions may be made only upon proper notification of the referee through the referee’s assistant, with the referee’s permission, at the following times:
a. Prior to a throw-in by your team
b. Prior to a goal kick by either team c. Prior to a throw-in against your team, when your opponent is substituting
d. After a goal by either team
e. After an injury, by either team, when referee stops play
f. At the beginning of the second half or overtime periods
Law IV: Player Equipment
Player equipment must conform to FIFA Rules. Shin guards will be worn (under the socks) by all players. Players wearing a permanent orthopedic cast shall not be eligible to participate in any game. Soft braces can be worn if:
a. The player has a written statement from a physician, stating he/she feels the brace is necessary and that no further injury is likely to occur to the joint that is supported by the brace;
b. The parent has signed a waiver to free FYSA from any claim against FYSA or its insurance company in case of further injury to the joint protected by the brace.
Teams will wear uniforms of matching design and color with a minimum of six (6) inch numbers affixed to the back of the uniform shirt. No two players may have identical uniform numbers while both players are playing on the field at the same time. In the event of similar team colors, the designated home team will be required to change to a color accepted by the referee.
Law V: Referees
Referees are required to submit a completed, official game report to the Site Director containing any information relating to any game incidents involving players/coach, spectator misconduct, or injuries.
a. Referees will not be paid before any required post game reports have been submitted.
b. In the event the assigned referees fail to appear and the assignor and/or site director fails to provide a replacement, the senior assigned assistant referee shall assume the duties and shall find an alternate assistant referee. The game will be played as scheduled and will be deemed official.
Law VI: Linesmen
Two (2) linesmen will be used. In the event the assigned linesmen fail to appear, the referee must find suitable linesmen. The game will be played as scheduled and be deemed to be official.
Law VII: Duration of the Game
The duration of the game will be as follows:
AGE GROUP REGULATION (min.)OVERTIME (min.)
U9- U10 2 x 25 = 50…………N/A direct to Pk
U11- U12 2 x 30 = 60…………2x 5 = 10
U13- U19 2 x 35 = 70 2 x 10 = 20
In any FYSA sanctioned match a break will be given at the midpoint of each half of regulation time and at the end of each overtime period (if played) for player hydration. This break will be given at a normal stoppage of play and it is mandatory for any FYSA sanctioned match during which the air temperature is or is expected to reach eighty-five (85) degrees.
Violation may result in charges under FYSA’s Code of Ethics.
Overtime periods will only be used for deciding winners in final rounds. Teams may be requested to move to special Penalty Kick area so that the next scheduled game may continue. Special Penalty Kick referees may be used.
Penalty Shoot Out Procedure in accordance to FIFA guidelines.
Law VIII - Law XVII: No Change
5. CONTROL OF SIDELINE CONDUCT
Players, reserve players, managers, coaches and fans are expected to conduct themselves within the letter and spirit of “The Laws of the Game”. The Site Director has the authority and the responsibility to remove any person(s) from the tournament for abuses of conduct, in addition to any specific disciplinary action brought about by any other authority. In addition to good manners, these rules will apply to this tournament:
a. The Site Director will designate one (1) sideline to be for the sole use of the players listed on the game roster and two (2) manager/coaches from each team, with one team occupying one (1) side of the midfield and one (1) team the other. While the game is in progress, the manager/coach and the reserve players must remain on their respective benches and may not roam the sidelines.
b. The Site Director will designate the opposite sideline for the spectators.
c. The manager/coach is responsible for the behavior of fans and the referee will have authority to warn and ultimately send off, any coach whose fans behave in an abusive or disruptive manner.
6. POST GAME PROCEDURES
a. Referees will return player passes to the Site Director along with a completed game report and any red card reports.
b. The manager/coach of each team will confirm the score with the Site Director by signing the game report and collect passes after each game, except for those participants sent off (if any).
c. The manager/coach of both teams will ensure their respective sidelines areas are clean and that all trash is in containers.
7. DISCIPLINE
The Tournament Committee shall have a Discipline Committee of no less than three (3) members. The Discipline Committee will review and rule on all reports of unacceptable conduct by players, managers, referees, spectators, etc. using the FYSA standards as set by Rules Section 502.
a. All players, manager, coaches shall be subject to FYSA Section 502 - Discipline and Sanctions.
b. A player or manager/coach ejected will have an automatic minimum of one (1) game suspension regardless of the cause of the ejection.
c. Depending on the severity of the unacceptable conduct, the Discipline Committee may recommend the suspension of up to the duration of the tournament with further disciplinary action by the appropriate state or national association. The Discipline Committee recommendations must be available to the affected parties no later than prior to the next scheduled game.
d. At the conclusion of the tournament, passes will be returned to the coach (even if suspension has not been completed). A complete report will be sent to the appropriate State Association within seven (7) days of the conclusion of the tournament for possible further discipline.
8. DETERMINATION OF GROUP WINNERS
In group play, there will be no overtime games. Standings in a group will be determined by:
(I). GAME POINTS:
3 points for a Win
1 point for a Tie 0 points for a Loss
Note: In groups where one team plays one more game than the others in the group due to an uneven number of teams in the bracket, game points, net goal differential, goals allowed and goals scored will be weighted to make them comparable to the other teams in the group playing only three games.
i.e. if Team A plays four games and Teams B, C, D, and E play three games, then Team A’s games will carry a point value of .75 to give them a total weight equal to the other team’s games. For example:
Team A games = 4 total points 12 (X .75) = 9 points
Team B " 3 " " 7 = 7 "
Team C " 3 " " 9 = 9 "
Team D " 3 " " 2 = 2 "
Team E " 3 " " 5 = 5 "
In the above example teams A and C would be tied for points and rules for tiebreakers would be followed.
Note: Groups of 5 teams will play 4 games each and the champion and finalist will be determined by game points and tie breakers.
(II). TIE BREAKERS a. Head to head results. If no clear winner,
b. Net Goal Differential (Maximum of 4 goal differential per game). If no clear winner,
c. Least goals Allowed (Total for all games). If no clear winner,
d. Most Goals Scored (Maximum 4 per game). If no clear winner,
e. Most shutouts in group play. If no clear winner,
f. Kicks from the Penalty Mark per FIFA rules (Taking of Kicks from Penalty Mark)
g. Coin Toss
If Three Or More Teams Tie In Points:
a. All tie breakers as outlined above (a-g). If no clear winner,
b. Kicks from the Penalty Mark per FIFA rules (Taking of Kicks from Penalty Mark)
A blind draw determines which two teams compete using penalty kicks. The first team drawn will be the home team. If three teams, the third team draws a “bye”. The winner will then compete against the team that had the bye. The winner of the penalty kicks will advance.
Determination of Semi-Final and Final Game Winners:
a. In Semi-Final and Final games, if no clear winner is decided after regulation time, there will be two overtime periods as defined Law VII.
b. If no clear winner is decided after overtime period, Penalty Kicks in accordance with FIFA “Taking of Kicks from the Penalty Mark”.
c. U9 and U10 go directly to Penalty Kicks.
d. When a wild card team is chosen to play in the semi-finals and the wild card and group winner come from the same group (i.e. have played each other in the preliminary round), the visiting teams are switched such that the same teams would not play each other again until the finals.
9. MERCY RULE
If any team is ahead by a margin of eight (8) goals at the start of the second half, the game will be called and a win will be awarded to the team ahead by the eight (8) goal margin. Teams may chose to finish the game on a scrimmage basis.
10. FORFEITS
Games should start at given starting times. In case the team does not have seven (7) players present for U13 & up, six (6) players for U11, 12, and four (4) for U9,10, it should be allowed a maximum of ten (10) minutes grace period, before awarding the game to the opponent. A forfeit will be scored 4-0. An abandoned game is recorded as a forfeit and will be scored 4-0. Teams that have forfeited a game may be deemed ineligible for semifinal or final games. All decisions will be made by the Tournament Director and final.
11. PERFORMANCE BOND
A performance bond may be required of teams to guarantee participation. The host organization shall return any unforfeited bonds immediately after the team’s final game.
12. PROTESTS
Teams may only protest the use of an ineligible player. This protest must be made in writing by only the coach immediately after the game. The coach must present the protest in person to the Tournament Director. No other team representative may be present. Once a result is posted, the score will stand. No other forms of protest will be accepted.
13. EXTERNAL CONDITIONS, WEATHER, etc
In the event unusual conditions necessitate the rescheduling, curtailment or cancellation of games, the Tournament Committee shall have absolute authority to make the changes in order to best serve the interests by a certain time period. There will be no refunds for events that are beyond our control.
Games that have been started and subsequently suspended due to inclement weather or other external conditions, will be deemed completed if the start time of the next game commences before the current game can be completed.
Games may be shortened at the tournament director’s direction. The Tournament Director may also choose to go directly into PK’s to determine a winner or cancel the game and record the game at a 0-0 score. The Tournament Director will determine the PK location.
The Tournament Director’s decision will be final.
In case of severe weather (hurricane, tornado) the Tournament Director may reschedule the tournament start date to seven (7 ) days later.
14. CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL CEREMONY
Following the completion of each championship game, the two competing teams will present themselves to the Game Site Coordinator for awards.
15. GENERAL
The Tournament Committee, FYSA and/or host affiliate will not be responsible for any expense incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or whole of this tournament.
a. The Tournament Committee’s decision on the foregoing rules and regulations shall be final.
b. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide all tournament matters.
c. If not enough teams are realized within a bracket, the Director shall notify the participants and those participants will be given the option to play up or to receive a full refund.
d. The Tournament Committee has the responsibility to uphold any previous suspension imposed by FYSA/USYSA.
e. The Tournament Committee agrees to have a copy of the Tournament Rules at all game sites.
