Tournament Rules & Regulations

1. SCOPE OF TOURNAMENT

The tournament is an AYSO Invitational Tournament. All games will be played according to current FIFA laws of the Game, except as modified by AYSO National rules and Regulations and the Rules and Regulations set forth herein. Please review the rules set forth below particularly those rules relating to player eligibility. These Rules and Regulations comply with the provisions of AYSO’s Tournament Handbook.

2. WEB SITE INFORMATION

The tournament web site is at www. ayso88.org/tourney

3. PLAYERS

A. AGES OF PLAYERS
U 19- players must have been 18 or younger as of July 31, 2005.
U 16- players must have been 15 or younger as of July 31, 2005.
U 14- players must have been 13 or younger as of July 31, 2005.
U 12 - players must have been 11 or younger as of July 31, 2005.
U 10 - players must have been 9 or younger as of July 31, 2005.
With the permission of the regional commission, players may play up one division above their normal age level division. A player should not be permitted to play up unless it is in the best interest of the player. Players should not be permitted to play up solely for the purpose of creating a stronger team. Players who played up a division during their region’s regular season program are permitted to play at their normal age level division. See paragraph D below regarding additional player eligibility requirements.

B. TEAM ROSTERS
Team rosters should conform to the official tournament roster form; however, any roster containing the required information will be accepted (a pre-printed roster containing the required information may be attached to the official roster form). The regional commissioner/area director of the team must sign the rosters. Rosters must be received no later than June 15, 2006. The roster may be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to the tournament registrar by the due date. A duplicate of the roster must be given to the registrar at team check-in on Saturday, July 9, 2006.

If any players are added after the roster is submitted, a revised roster must be submitted as soon as possible. If there are any deletions the registrar should be advised of the deletions at check-in. No roster changes may be made after team check-in on Saturday, July 9, 2006. There is no charge for roster changes. Rosters for AYSO teams that have guest are required to comply with special rules (see Player Eligibility rules set forth in paragraph D below).

A player may not be listed on more than one team roster, and no player may play for more than one team during the tournament. In the event of a conflict, the coaches for the respective teams must resolve the conflict prior to check-in; otherwise, the player will be ineligible to play on either team. Failure to comply with this rule by playing an ineligible player will result in a forfeiture of each game in which the ineligible player participated and possible additional sanctions against the coach or the team or both.

C. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS
U12-U19 team rosters may have a maximum of fifteen (15) players. The maximum roster size for U10 teams is ten (10) players. All games except U10 games will be 11V11. The format in U10 games will be 7v7.

D. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
The following requirements for player eligibility conform to and are required by the AYSO Tournament Handbook. The tournament director and the tournament registrar will help those teams needing assistance in order to comply with these requirements.

1) AYSO TEAMS
Except for guest players (see below), in order to be eligible to participate on an AYSO team, players must be registered with AYSO and must have participated in at least one- half of the games in their region’s most recent regular season program (generally the fall program). The player’s National AYSO registration number must be shown on the roster. Players registered with AYSO who were unable to participate in one-half of the games in the region’s most recent regular season program, will be eligible to play only if they were unable to participate due to special circumstances. The sponsoring regional commissioner must request and obtain written approval for the player to participate from their Area and/or the Section Director before the player’s name can be added to the team roster.

2) GUEST PLAYERS
AYSO teams may include no more than 3 guest players. As defined in the AYSO Tournament Handbook, “Guest Players” are players registered with AYSO, and who would be eligible to participate in the tournament under the rules set forth above, except that they are from regions other than the sponsoring region. In order for a guest player to be eligible to participate, the Regional Commissioner where the player registered and played during the regular season must sign a completed an authorization form (see attached). The completed authorization form must be attached to the team roster. The maximum number of guest players that may be listed on a roster is three.

The regional affiliation of guest players must be shown on the roster (insert the region number of the player in the space provided for region numbers). In extraordinary circumstances, as certified by the regional commissioner for the sponsoring region, and with the advance approval of the tournament director, additional guest players may be included on the team. In order to include additional guest players, the regional commissioner for the sponsoring region must certify (see form attached) that the additional guest players are required because there are not sufficiently qualified and available players in the sponsoring region. The certification form must be attached to the roster.

E. PLAYER REGISTRATION FORMS AND IDENTIFICATION
The coach must have an AYSO Player Registration Form for each player scheduled to participate in the tournament. Each form must contain the parent’s or legal guardian’s original signature and date. Copies of Player Registration Forms without an original signature and date are not acceptable. No other forms of identification are required.

F. SANCTIONS FOR PLAYING AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER
A team that plays an ineligible player will be declared to have forfeited that game regardless of whether the violation resulted from mistake, neglect or inadvertence. Falsifying the eligibility of a player will result in a determination that the team forfeited each game in which the ineligible player participated. The tournament committee may expel a team from the tournament for playing an ineligible player or impose such other sanctions, as it may deem appropriate. A team expelled from the tournament shall not be entitled to a refund of its entry fee. The referee deposit will be refunded only if the expelled team completes its entire referee obligation.

4. REGISTRATION, GAME CARDS, AND GAME SCHEDULES

A. SATURDAY CHECK—IN
Teams must check-in with the registrar at least one hour before the team’s first scheduled game on Saturday. At check-in the coach must present a duplicate copy of the team roster and the originally signed Player Registration Forms. If the team contains guest players, guest player authorization forms must also be presented. All players on the team roster must be present at the check-in in order to be eligible to play. Any players not present at the team check-in must go to the registration table (with their originally signed medical release) to check-in before they will be eligible to play.

B. NO FURTHER CHECK-IN
After the initial registration on Saturday no further check-in is required and teams should go directly to their assigned fields prior to the scheduled game time.

C. GAME CARDS
At the check-in the coach must provide the registration staff, five fully completed game cards. Players should be listed in ascending order by jersey number. In addition to the other information required on the card, the card must show the team number assigned to that team. The game cards will be stamped and returned to the coach. The coach must fill in the following information on the game card prior to the card being given to the assigned referee: (1) the date of the game; (2) the time of the game; and, (3) the field number on which the game is scheduled.

5. FORFEITURES

A. MINIMUM NUMBER OF PLAYERS
No team may play with less than seven players, except for U10 games where the minimum number of players shall be five. The tournament director, or his or her representative, may, declare a game to be forfeited if, within 10 minutes after the scheduled start of the game, either one or both teams do not have the required minimum number of eligible players present on the field and ready to play, or the team does not have an eligible coach present. The purpose of the forfeiture rule is to keep all games on schedule. In determining whether or not to declare a forfeiture the tournament director shall have complete and absolute discretion and may consider, among other factors, whether there is sufficient time to permit the game to be played even if the game starts over 10 minutes late. In the event that the tournament director declares forfeiture, the non-forfeiting team shall be recorded as having won the game by a score of 1-0 (eight points). If both teams forfeit, 0 points shall be awarded to each team for that game.

B. INELIGIBLE PLAYERS AND COACHES
A team playing an ineligible player, or a team that is coached by an ineligible coach, shall be declared to have forfeited that game by a score of 0-1. If the game was completed, and the other team won the game by a score that would result in that team being awarded more than 8 points, it shall be awarded the higher point total and the forfeiting team shall be awarded 0 points.

6. GAMES

A. LENGTH OF GAMES
Except as otherwise specified by the tournament director, all U10, U12, U14, U16 and U19 games shall consist of two twenty-five minute halves with quarter breaks for substitutions and a five- minute break between halves. Time will not be stopped for quarter breaks.

In all divisions - no time will be added for substitutions, quarter breaks, injuries or for any other reason whatsoever without the approval of the tournament director. The referee, in his or her discretion, should caution and show the yellow card to any player(s) that he or she believes is deliberately wasting time in order to gain an advantage.

B. END OF GAMES
Except as the tournament director may otherwise decide in his or her absolute discretion, and notwithstanding any delay in starting the game, all games must end no later than the scheduled starting time for the following game on that field. There will be no exceptions to this rule, including but not limited to, a delay in starting the game due to the absence of a referee. In the event that the referee has not ended the game by the time of the scheduled start of the next game on the field, the field monitor, or other authorized tournament official, shall end the game as soon as the ball next goes out of play. No protests based upon a shortened game will be allowed.

C. HOME TEAM
The home team is the team listed first on the game schedule. The home team shall be on the north side of an east-west field and the east side of a north-south field. The visiting team shall be on the other side of the field from the home team. Teams, coaches and team spectators shall remain on their designated sides of the field. The home team shall change jerseys, or wear pennies, in the event that the referee decides that the uniform colors of the two teams require such a change. The home team shall choose which side of the field to defend before the start of the game and the visiting team shall kick off.

D. GAME BALLS
The home team shall supply two appropriate game balls for the game. For U14-U19 games a size 5 ball shall be used. For U12 and U10 a size 4 ball shall be used. The extra game ball shall be placed outside the goal being defended by the home team and may be substituted with the permission of the referee.

E. PLAYER EQUIPMENT
The uniforms for all players on a team shall be the same color and type. Teams are encouraged to have a change of shirts with a different color in case of color conflicts. All teams must have at least one different colored goalkeeper shirt in case of color conflicts with the other team or the referees. All goalkeeper shirts must be of a color that is clearly distinct from the shirts worn by the teams and the referees. All players must wear shin guards. Shin guards must be completely covered and worn inside the socks. No player may play if the player has a cast of any type whether hard or soft. A leg, knee, arm or finger wrap is not considered a cast and may be worn. Flexible knee braces are permitted as long as they are sufficiently padded. Sliding pants and bicycle shorts are not permitted. Jewelry, including but not limited to ear studs, is not permitted. Medical identification bracelets must be taped to prevent injury, but must be readily observable in case of an emergency.

F. COACHES AND SPECTATORS
A maximum of two coaches per team is permitted. Coaches are required to remain within the technical area (whether marked or not). The technical area is one yard outside the touchline and extends ten yards on either side of the half-line. No spectator coaching is permitted. Spectators and coaches must remain on their team’s assigned side of the field at all times during the match. Spectators are not permitted to be closer to the goal line than eighteen yards on either end of the field. No spectators are allowed behind the goal lines. Coaches are required to comply with the AYSO principle of positive coaching. Coaches should instruct all spectators to refrain from dissent or abusive behavior directed toward referees, players or other spectators and to provide positive support for the players. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of parents and spectators affiliated with their team.

7. SUBSTITUTION OF PLAYERS

A. PLAYERS MUST PLAY ONE-HALF OF THE GAME
Each player (except an absent player must play no less than one-half of the game. This includes any player arriving before the start of the third quarter. A player arriving after the start of the third quarter, but before
the start of the fourth quarter, must play the last quarter. All late arriving players must report to the referee at the first stop of play after the player arrives. The minimum play requirements do not apply to overtime periods if any.

B. SUBSTITUTIONS IN U10, U12 AND U14 GAMES
Substitutions in U10, U12, U14, U16, and U19 games shall be made in accordance with AYSO National Rules and Regulations and maybe made only at the appropriate quarter breaks, at halftime, and for injuries.

8. DISCIPLINARY ACTION

A. YELLOW CARDS
Yellow cards do not carry forward to the next game and do not result in any point deductions. There is no mandatory cooling off period for players that receive a yellow card, however the coach should be given an opportunity to sit the player down if the coach so requests. If the coach elects to remove a yellow carded player from the field no substitute will be permitted to replace that player except at the appropriate substitution opportunities, i.e., quarter breaks and halftime. A player who has been removed from the field as a result of a yellow card shall be permitted to re-enter the game at any time thereafter when the ball is out-of-play and in the possession of the player’s team (with the exception of a free kick situation).

B. RED CARDS
A player receiving a red card must immediately leave the area of the field of play. The player shall not leave the tournament area unless the player is 18 or older or is accompanied by a certified team parent. The area of the field of play is defined as being at least 100 yards from the field on which the game is being played. A red-carded player is automatically not eligible to play in the team’s next game. The tournament committee may decide to impose additional sanctions. A red carded player may not be replaced on the field. No points shall be deducted for a red card. The referee shall complete a Referee Game Misconduct Report for any games in which a red card is issued.
The regional commissioner for the player and the NSTC shall be sent a copy of the game misconduct report.

C. COACH EJECTIONS
An ejected coach shall immediately leave the area of the field of play. The area of the field of play is defined as being at least 100 yards from the field on which the game is being played. An ejected coach is automatically not eligible to coach the team’s next game. The tournament committee may decide to impose additional sanctions. No points shall be deducted for a coach ejection. The referee shall complete a Referee Game Misconduct Report for any games in which a coach is ejected. The regional commissioner for the coach and the NSTC shall be sent a copy of the game misconduct report.

D. SPECTATOR CONTROL
Coaches are responsible for the conduct of the team’s spectators. If directed by the referee, the coach shall immediately undertake such as re reasonably necessary to insure that the spectators control their behavior, If the referee directs the coach to have a spectator leave the area of the field of play, the coach shall immediately do so. The coach may be ejected for failure to do so.

E. RESULT OF TERMINATED GAMES
The referee has discretion to determine a game should be terminated. The final result, including whether or not to declare a forfeiture or to any points for a terminated game shall be made by the tournament committee after consulting with the referee, the assistant referees, the coaches, and any other persons that the tournament committee may choose to hear from. In most instances, where the game was clearly terminated as the result of the conduct of one team (rather than both) the tournament committee will decide that the other team has won the game as a result of a forfeiture. In cases where the committee determines that both teams were at fault the committee may decide to award no points to either team for the game. The specification above of what the tournament committee may decide to do in connection with a terminated game does not limit the committee’s discretion to decide upon another result which it may deem fair, just and equitable under the circumstances. The committee shall make its decision as to the result of the terminated game within two hours after has been notified of the game termination.

F. ADDITIONAL SANCTIONS
The tournament committee shall have the right to impose additional sanctions if it determines that such sanctions are warranted under the circumstances. In making that determination, the tournament committee shall consult with the referees, the assistant referees, the coaches, and such other persons as the committee may choose to hear from. The additional sanctions that the committee may choose to impose include but are not limited to, additional game suspensions for players or coaches, expulsion from the tournament of players or coaches, or the expulsion of the team from the tournament.

9. TOURNAMENT FORMAT

A. STRUCTURE
All teams will be scheduled to play a minimum of three games. Due to late team cancellations and forfeitures, it is possible that some teams that are scheduled to play three games may not be able to do so. In the event that due to the tournament format, as opposed to late team cancellations or forfeitures, a team cannot be scheduled to play three(3) games that team will receive a refund equal to one-third of the tournament fee (no teams will be scheduled to play less than three games).

The tournament director may change the format of the tournament upon the number of teams that are entered in a particular division. In the event that the format is changed the tournament director shall distribute a “Supplement to Tournament Rules” explaining the format.

B. POOL PLAY
Teams will be divided into pools of four teams and the teams in each pool will play a preliminary round of three games within their pool. Following completion of the preliminary pool play round, the top team in each pool will be playing a two game playoff.

C. BRACKET PLAY
Placement in a bracket, and pairings for semi-final games within that bracket, will be determined as follows:

• For divisions with 16 teams there will be four brackets. The first place team of each bracket will move on to the play offs. The first place team with the most points will play the first place team with the least points and the other two first place teams play each other.
• For divisions with 8 teams there will be two brackets. The first and second place teams of each bracket will advance to the playoffs. The first place team of bracket A will play the second place team of bracket B and vice versa. The winners of these play off games will play for first place and the losers will play for third.

D. STANDINGS AND PLACEMENT (POINTS)
Pool standings, and team placement within a division shall be determined by using the following point system: 6 points will be awarded for a win; 3 points will be awarded for a tie; 0 points will be awarded for a loss; 1 point will be awarded for a shut out (including 0 — 0 ties); 1 point will be awarded (up to a maximum of 3) for each goal scored (regardless of whether the team won or lost). For pool games, ties at the end of regulation time will not be broken. A maximum of 10 points is possible for each game. Eight points will be awarded if a team wins by forfeiture. If the forfeited game was completed and the non-forfeiting team won the game by a score that would result in a higher point total the non-forfeiting team shall be awarded the higher point total and the forfeiting team shall be awarded no points.
The above point system is not applicable for semi-final, championship and third places consolation games. Ties in those games shall be broken as set forth in paragraph F below.

E. POINT TIE-BREAKERS
In the event of a tie in total points the tie will be broken by using the following tie-breakers in the order listed: (1) head-to-head competition (the outcome of the game involving the tied teams); (2) greatest goal differential ( total goals scored, less goals allowed, with a maximum differential of three goals per game); (3) least goals allowed (the total of all goals scored against the tied teams); (4) most goals scored (up to a maximum of three goals per game); (5) a coin flip conducted by the tournament director or his or her representative. The coaches need not be present for the coin flip.

F. SEMI-FINAL, CHAMPIONSHIP AND CONSOLATION GAMES
These rules apply to divisions with 16, 12 OR 8 teams. For other divisions the tournament director may implement a different format.

1. LENGTH OF GAMES
Except, as the tournament director may otherwise announce, all games, including semi-final games, except for the championship and consolation, will be 50 minutes. The championship and consolation games will be full-length games.

2. KICKS FROM THE MARK
Semi-final, championship, and consolation games may not end a tie. In the case of a tie at the end of regulation time the winner shall be determined by KICKS FROM THE MARK to be conducted in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game. There will be no overtime periods unless the tournament director so determines in advance of the start of the tournament. The minimum playing time rules shall not apply to overtime periods. For U14, U12 and U10 substitutions during overtime periods may only be made at the start of each period.

10. PROTESTS.

No protests will be considered unless they involve (1) an ineligible player participating in the subject game. No other protests will be considered. A protest based upon a claim that a player was ineligible to play because that player should have been red-carded in a prior game will not be considered because that involves a referee judgment call. If the player was red-carded the player is not eligible to participate in the next game. If the player was not red-carded, the player is eligible to participate regardless of any claim that the player should have been red-carded in the prior game. No protests of any disciplinary action (yellow, red, or other ejection) will be considered. The tournament committee will resolve all protests. Except in the event of a conflict with one of the regions involved, the committee will consist of the tournament director, the assistant tournament director, and the tournament referee administrator, or their designated representatives. If any member of the committee is from a region involved in the protest the other two committee members shall appoint a third from a neutral region. To be considered any protest must be made within one half hour after the end of the subject game. All protests will be acted upon within no more than two hours after the end of the subject game. The decision of the tournament committee will be final and not subject to further review. In the event that the tournament committee concludes that the protest should be sustained the committee may take such action, as it deems appropriate under the circumstances.

11. PAYMENT AND REFUND POLICY

In order to be accepted for participation in the tournament the entry fee and referee deposit must be included with the tournament application. Regional checks are required. The entry fee and referee deposit will be returned to any teams not accepted into the tournament. Any team accepted for participation that later elects not to participate will receive a full refund of its entry fee and referee deposit if the team notifies the tournament director in writing of the team¹s withdrawal at least 30 days before the tournament. Any accepted team that withdraws less than 30 days before the start of the tournament will forfeit its entry fee and referee deposit unless a replacement team (that pays the entry fee and referee deposit) is admitted to the tournament. If a team is notified of an “NSF” check the team will not be permitted to participate unless a cashier’s check or money order for the amount due, plus the service charge, is delivered to the registrar by the date specified in the notification. A $25.00 service fee will be charged for each check returned.

If a team provides a qualified three-person referee team for four games, the referee deposit will be refunded. The refund check will be payable to the region on whose account the deposit check was written and mailed to the region no more than 10 days after the conclusion of the tournament. If a qualified three person referee team was available to referee four games, but was unable to do so because of tournament referee scheduling problems, the referee team shall be credited with any missed games due to the scheduling problems provided that the a Referee information was submitted for that team no later than June 15, 2006. The tournament director shall have absolute discretion in determining whether a team’s failure to referee four games was due to tournament referee scheduling problems.

Teams providing officiating support at a level less than the required four games can expect to receive less than full refunds of their referee deposits.

12. AWARDS AND MEMENTOS

Medals will be awarded to those teams that finish first through fourth in their division. All participants will receive a tournament pin and T-Shirt. The head coach and assistant of each team will receive a tournament tee shirt. All referees will receive refreshments, a referee coin after the second game, free lunch tickets, Aa coin, and a T-shirt after completion of assignments.

13. RAINOUT AND CANCELLATION POLICY

In the event that the tournament is cancelled for any reason before any games commence each team shall receive a full refund of its entire entry fee and referee deposit. In the event that the tournament commences, but is thereafter cancelled due to rain or other circumstances, each team shall receive a partial refund of its entry fee equal to one-quarter of the entry fee for each game that the team was unable to play due to the cancellation, provided, however, that if the team played four games there will be no refund. In the event of a cancellation commences, teams will receive the participation awards, but medals will not be awarded. In addition, each team shall receive a refund of its entire referee deposit provided (1) that it submitted a Referee Information Form, indicating that it would be providing a three-referee team, by June 15, 2006, and (2) that referee team fulfilled its referee obligation for those games that were not cancelled. The refund will be made payable to the region on whose account the check was written and mailed to the region within fourteen days after the date on which notice of the cancellation of the tournament was given.