HCUNITED SOCCER CLUB
ADIDAS COLUMBUS DAY CLASSIC
TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS

The rules of the tournament shall be in accordance with FIFA, FYSA, USYSA and USSF except as modified and approved herein.

 1. TEAM ELIGIBILITY
This Tournament shall be open to all teams comprised of properly registered youth players (as determined by the rules of US Youth Soccer and USSF) in all age groups indicated on tournament approval form, provided such team is in good standing with their association.

It shall be the responsibility of each Association to certify the eligibility of its competing teams and to provide such teams with a certified copy of roster, permission to travel and proof of insurance.

2. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

Players must be properly registered to US Youth Soccer or USSF through their respective National State Associations, in accordance with US Youth Soccer and USSF  registration requirements.  All teams must have current US Youth Soccer or approved organizational player passes, or appropriate National Association passes to participate.  Passes must be verified, laminated and photo attached.

3. PRE-GAME PROCEDURE
Tournament Officials shall conduct all credential checks:
a.  At initial registration check-in

 

Players not certified by the Tournament credentials committee will not be allowed to participate in any tournament event.

 

A player who arrives late at the playing field after the pre-game procedure may enter the game once the game official(s) verify the player is eligible and with the permission of the center referee.

 

Only at the pre-game procedure may a player be challenged by an opposing manager/coach.  Challenged player(s) will be noted by the referee on the game report and will be allowed to participate in the game (if said player has been verified).  A challenged player does not constitute a game protest, but may serve as the basis for protest should one be submitted.  A late arriving player may be challenged at the time he/she is allowed to participate by the referee.

 

Each manager/coach or assistant(s) 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.

 

The referee or assistant will check player equipment in accordance with tournament rules and US Youth Soccer/FYSA rules concerning player equipment. 

 

IN NO EVENT WILL A REFEREE ALLOW A PLAYER TO PARTICIPATE WITHOUT A VALID, VERIFIED PLAYER PASS OR WITHOUT REQUIRED PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.

 

 

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 twelve (12), eleven (11) and under, ten (10) and under, and nine (9) and under must play under the auspices of USYSA and FYSA in accordance with rules of the Developmental Program – modified playing rules for U12, U11, U10, and U9.

 

LAW 1:  Field of Play

 

U12, U11, U10 and U9 must play under the auspices of US Youth Soccer and FYSA in accordance with the rules of the Developmental Player Program Playing Rules for U12, U11, U10 and U9.

 

LAW 2:  The Ball

 

9U, 10U, 11U, 12U                 Size #4 (23-24 in., 11-12 oz.)

 

All Others                                 Size #5 (27-28 in., 14-16 oz.)

 

LAW 3:  Number of Players
U9/U10- Maximum of Six (6) per side (as modified per developmental player program)
U11/U12- Maximum of Eight (8) per side (as modified per developmental player program)
U13-U19- Eleven per side per FIFA         

4 Guest Players will be permitted per team.

Substitutions shall be unlimited, unless otherwise specified by tournament administrators.  Substitutions may be made only from the center line and upon proper notification of the referee through the assistant referee, and with the referee’s permission, at the following times:

 

1. Prior to a throw-in by your team
2. Prior to a goal kick by either team
3. After a goal by either team
4. After an injury by either team when the referee stops play
5. At the beginning of the second half or overtime periods

 LAW 4:  Player Equipment

Player equipment must conform to FIFA rules.  Shin guards must be worn under socks by all the players, be approved material and offer a reasonable degree of protection.  Orthopedic casts are not permitted; however, soft braces can be worn with written approval from a doctor, and judgment as to safety is at the discretion of the referee.

 

1. A player has a written statement from a physician stating that 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 AND…
2. The parent has signed a waiver to free FYSA, US Youth Soccer, USSF, the tournament, the tournament committee, site officials, and the hosting club of any claim against them or their insurance company in case of further injury to the joint protected by the brace.
3. A player may be removed from the game at any time if the referee determines that the player is using or is attempting to use a brace to injure other players.

 

Teams will wear uniforms of matching design and color with a minimum of six-inch numbers affixed to the back of the uniform shirt.  No two players may have identical uniform numbers while participating in any match.

 

A.      In the event of similar team colors, the designated home team will be required to change to a color accepted by the referee.

 

B.       The uniform of the goalkeeper must be distinctly different in color from the basic colors of both competing teams and the referee.

 

 

LAW 5:  The Referee

 

The referees are required to submit a completed, official game report to the site director containing information relating to any game incidents involving players, coaches, spectators, misconduct and injuries.

 

1. Referees will not be paid before any required post-game reports have been submitted.
2. In the event the assigned referees fail to appear and the assignor and/or site director fails to provide a replacement, the senior assigned referee shall assume the duties and shall find an alternate assistant referee.  The duties of the assistant referee shall be limited.  The game will be played as scheduled and will be deemed official.

 

LAW 6:  The Assistant Referee

 

Two assistant referees will be used.  In the event the assigned assistant referee fails to appear, the referee must find a suitable assistant.  The game will be played as scheduled and be deemed official.

 

LAW 7:  Duration of the Match
AGE GROUP                    REGULATION (min)
U19                                   2 X 35 = 70                                          
U17                                   2 X 35 = 70                           
U16                                   2 X 35 = 70
U15                                   2 X 35 = 70                            
U14                                   2 X 35 = 70                            
U13                                   2 X 35 = 70                            
U12                                   2 X 30 = 60                            
U11                                   2 X 30 = 60                            
U10                                   2 X 25 = 50                
U9                                     2 X 25 = 50    

 

**All quarter-final, semi-final and championship rounds will go straight to penalty kicks if tied at the end of regulation.     

 

 

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” and comply with FYSA’S Code of Ethics.  The site director has the authority and the responsibility to remove any person 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, the following rules will apply to this tournament.

 

1. The site director will designate one sideline to be the sole use of the players listed on the game roster and three managers/coaches from each teams.  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.

 

2. The site director will designate the opposite sideline for the spectators.

 

3. Managers/Coaches will be responsible for the behavior of their fans and the referee will have the authority to warn and ultimately send off any coach whose fans behave in an abusive or disruptive manner.

 

 

6. POST-GAME PROCEDURES

As mutual courtesy, both teams will meet at the center circle and congratulate each other for a game well played.

 

1. Referees will return player passes to the Site Director along with a completed game report.

 

2. The Manager/Coach of each team will confirm score with the Site Director by signing the game report and collect passes after each game, except those participants sent off (if any).

 

3. 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 Disciplinary Committee of no less than three (3) members.  The Disciplinary Committee will review and rule on all reports of unacceptable conduct by Managers/Coaches, players, referees, spectators, etc. using the FYSA standards as set by Rules Section 502.

 

1. All players and Managers/Coaches shall be subject to FYSA Section 502 – Discipline and Sanctions.

 

2. A player or Manager/Coach ejected will have a minimum of one (1) game suspension regardless of the ejection.

 

3. Depending on the severity of the unacceptable conduct, the Disciplinary 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 Disciplinary Committee recommendations must be available to the affected parties prior to the start of the next scheduled game.

 

4. 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 72 hours of the conclusion of the tournament for possible further discipline.

 

 

8. DETERMINATION OF GROUP WINNERS

**IF A WILDCARD TEAM IS SCHEDULED TO PLAY A TEAM FROM IT'S ORIGINAL GROUP THEN THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WILL RE-SHUFFLE THE SEMI-FINALS SO THAT TEAMS ARE NOT PLAYING TEAMS THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY PLAYED IN THIS TOURNAMENT

 

In group play, there will be no overtime games.  Standings in a group will be determined by:

 

1.GAME POINTS: 

                                                      3 points for a Win

                                                      1 points for a Tie

                                                      0 points for a Loss

2. TIE BREAKERS:

 

1.         Head to Head Competition.  If no clear winner; 
2.    Goal Differential with a Maximum of Three(3) goal differential per game.  If no clear winner;
3.    Extra Point for every shutout in group play(not counting forfeits).  If no clear winner;
4.    Least Amount of Goals Allowed (total for all games).  If no clear winner;
5.    Most Goals Scored with a Maximum of Three(3) goals per game.  If no clear winner;
6.    Penalty Kicks in Accordance with FIFA “Taking of Kicks from the Penalty Mark”.

Determination of Quarterfinal, Semi-final, if any, and Final Game Winners:
In head to head competition, if the game is not decided after regulation, overtime will not be played. Penalty kicks will be taken in accordance with FIFA “Taking of Kicks From the Penalty Mark”. 
Note:  Teams may be asked to move to a designated Penalty Kick area to permit the next scheduled game to proceed.

 

 9. FORFEITS

A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team.  Games should start at given starting times.  In case the team does not have seven (7) players present, it should be allowed a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes grace period, before awarding the game to the opponent.  A forfeit will be scored 3-0.  An abandoned game is recorded as a forfeit and will be scored 3-0.

10. 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.

11. PROTESTS
No protests will be accepted.  All disputes will be resolved by the Tournament Director.

 

12. 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. 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. 

13. CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL CEREMONY
Following the completion of each championship game, the two competing teams will present themselves to the Game Site Coordinator for awards. 

 

14. GENERAL

The Tournament Committee, FYSA and/or host affiliate will not be responsible for any expense incurred by any team due to cancellation in part or whole of this tournament.

 

1. The Tournament Committee’s interpretation on the foregoing rules and regulations shall be final.

 

2. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide all tournament matters.

 

3. If not enough teams are realized within a single age bracket, the Tournament Director shall notify the participants as soon as possible and those participants will be given the option to play up or to receive a full refund.

 

4. The Tournament Committee has the responsibility to uphold any previous suspension imposed by FYSA/US Youth Soccer.

 

5. The Tournament Committee agrees to have a copy of the Tournament Rules at all game sites.