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Tournament Rules

Registration: Teams must check in at the Mandatory Registration which will be announced to all Team Managers in their acceptance emails. Failure to check in will result in automatic disqualification (without a refund of the fee) from the tournament. Games not played will be classified as “Forfeits”. 

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Current laminated USYSA player cards will be required of all players as proof of age and must be available for inspection at initial check-in and at the start of each game. USYSA Teams from outside Cal South must also provide approved Travel Papers, which must include a roster listing all players authorized to travel by the team’s State Association. All Travel Papers must be submitted to the Tournament Director prior to check in. Any player not listed on the Travel Papers, including any amendments, properly executed by the team’s State Association will not be allowed to play in the tournament. Proper Player Loan Forms will be required at Registration along with other required credentials, as required by the team’s State Association. All teams must provide the USYSA Player I.D. Cards from the State Association listed on this application. Teams registering under the US Club Soccer banner will also be accepted. Player I.D. Cards from associations other than USYSA or US Club Soccer will not be accepted. Medical release forms will be required for all players at initial check-in. Teams will be required to keep medical releases on hand at all times.

 

Refunds: There will be no refunds given after the stated application deadline. Prior to the application deadline, refunds will be made less any administrative fees that have been incurred.

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Rosters: Teams may register a maximum of eighteen (18) players for U-19 & U-17, eighteen (18) players for U-11 thru U16, and fourteen (14) players for U9 and U10). A team may use up to five (5) guest players, but any team utilizing guest players is still limited to the eighteen player maximum (22 for U17-U19) (14 for U9 and U10). Players must only play for one team only during the tournament . Players cannot move from team to team from the same club or even a different club.

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Rules of Play

All games will be played under FIFA rules with USYSA and Cal South adjustments for youth competition with the following additions and clarifications:

 

Game Format: Each team will play a minimum of 3 games. Preliminary Games can end in a tie. Some Brackets will have cross bracket play. The Winners of the Bracket will advance and Wild Cards based on points earned in cross bracket play. Quarter Final, Semi Final & Final games ending in a tie after regulation will proceed immediately to FIFA penalty kicks to determine advances or is awarded the trophy. Penalty Kicks will immediately follow the game.

 

Duration of Games and Overtimes (by period), and Ball size is as follows:

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There will be no stoppage time for injuries; in other words, there is a running clock for all games. Half time for Preliminary games will be 5 minutes. Half Time for Semi Final and Final games will be 5 minutes.

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Determining Winners: Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:
  • Six (6) points for each Win
  • Two (2) points for each Tie
  • Zero (0) points for each Loss
  • One (1) point for each goal scored up to a maximum of three (3) per game
  • One (1) point for each shutout
  • Minus one (-1) for each player or coach ejected
  • A 0-0 tie will be scored as 3 points for each team (2 for tie, 1 for shutout)

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In the event of a tie in points at the end of bracket play, the teams to advance will be determined as follows:
  1. The winner in head to head competition
  2. Goal differential (not to exceed 4 goals per game)
  3. Goals against
  4. Goals For
  5. Shut out wins
  6. If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 5, FIFA Penalty Kicks will be taken (time and location to be determined by the Tournament Director) prior to the scheduled start of the appropriate Quarter Final or Semi Final game.
  7. If a three-way tie exists within a bracket after steps 1 through 5, a three-way coin flip will be conducted. The teams that tie in the coin flip will compete in FIFA Penalty Kicks to eliminate one team prior to proceeding to FIFA Penalty Kicks with the third team. The coin flip and time of the FIFA Penalty Kicks will be determined by the Tournament Director at the fields.

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If ties exist in the determination of a wild card team, criteria 1 through 7 will be applied.
 

Game Day Check-In: At least thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of each scheduled game, a team representative must present to the Field Marshall the team’s player cards and game card so the team may be checked in to play and the game started as scheduled. Team manager is required to check in at the Fusion Tent. There is no need to bring the whole team, just all the necessary ID Cards and player registration paperwork. For each day you will need to leave your player ID cards/paperwork at the Fusion Tent. We will keep these until the end of your final game on Saturday where  you may collect your player ID Cards. On Sunday the Team manager will need to again drop off the player ID cards at the Fusion Tent 30 mins before your first game on Sunday. At the end of the tournament on Sunday you may collect the ID Cards. The tournament location will have a Fusion Tent. A team who fails to properly check in with Marshall at Fusion Tent will forfeit that game.  The Tournament Director has the final say on the determination of safety and suitability of each player’s equipment, including the wearing of a hard brace and/or hard cast. Shin guards are mandatory for all players. 

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Game Procedures:  The Home Team will be the team which appears first on the game schedule. The Home Team will provide a game ball. The game ball is subject to referee approval. The Home Team will be required to switch to an alternate jersey to accommodate a color conflict as declared by the referee. If the Home Team cannot supply an alternate jersey, the Home Team will forfeit the game. The Home Team will have the selection of the side of the field from which they wish to play. No two teams will play from the same side, unless field space dictates otherwise. In all cases spectator and team seating will allow the referee’s assistants clear runs and views of all touch lines. 

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Substitutions: Substitutions are unlimited; however teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission and per Cal South rules.

Cautions and Ejections: A player or coach receiving two cautions (yellow cards) in a single game is considered to have been given an Ejection (red card) for the purposes of awarding point for the Tournament competition. A player who has been ejected (sent off) will not be replaced. A player or coach who has been ejected will not return for that game and must leave the field of play and will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game. A player or coach who is ejected for violent conduct or serious foul play will not be allowed to participate in the next two scheduled games. Any player or coach who assaults a referee will be expelled from the Tournament. A team will be disqualified from the Tournament if any player or coach fails to comply with the provisions of this section. All red cards are reported to Cal South.

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Protests/Disputes: No protests will be allowed and all games will be considered final. The Tournament Director will resolve any situation not explicitly covered by the rules. Disputes relating to the interpretation of these rules will be resolved with the Field Marshal and Administrators/Coaches that are registered with the involved team(s). Individuals may not represent a team if not registered as an Administrator/Coach with the involved team(s).

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Forfeits/Byes: All teams who forfeit will have the game(s) scored as a 0-1 loss. The winner will be awarded eight (8) points (6 for the win; 1 for a goal and 1 for a shutout). If, at the discretion of the Tournament Director, a forfeit provides an unfair advantage, the Tournament Director may make an adjustment in the bracket. Teams forfeiting their first game will be assumed to forfeit all of their games unless they contact the Tournament Director at least 3 hours prior to their subsequent games. Teams will forfeit for any of the following reasons:

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· Teams fail to check in at the required location, ready to play five minutes before the scheduled kick off time

· Home team fails to produce an alternate color jersey if referee determines there is a color conflict

· Teams fail to produce laminated player passes and/or coach’s pass

· Teams fail to report to the field with the minimum number of players required to start the game (6 for U9 and U10; 7 for U11-U19)

· Coach is ejected and fails to leave the field when directed to do so

· Coach is ejected and there is no other coach or administrator available

· Game is suspended due to the misconduct of players, coaches, administrators, parents or spectators

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There will be no refunds to teams who forfeit their own games.

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Field Safety/Inclement Weather: The Referee or Tournament Director will determine if a field is safe for play. Teams are expected to show up for scheduled games times unless notified by a tournament official. Rain or other weather conditions will not delay play unless the referee determines the fields are unsafe. If necessary games may be shortened, go directly to FIFA Penalty Kicks or be cancelled. If a game is terminated due to problems associated with the fields, including lighting for a night game, the team in the lead at the time of stoppage wins. If a Quarter or Semi Final match cannot be played, FIFA penalty kicks will determine the winner. If the Final game cannot be played, the teams will be co-champions.

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If games cannot be rescheduled or played due to rain or other circumstances, the Tournament Director will make refund adjustments and retains the right to keep up to two-third (2/3) of the team fee to cover expenses plus administration and referee costs. For example, if teams play two games on a day and not able to play their 3rd game. 

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If the tournament is cancelled for any reason prior to 30 days before the tournament, full refunds will be granted. If the tournament is cancelled for any reason between 29 and 1 day prior to the scheduled date, refunds, less hard costs, will be granted. Cancellation or termination during the event will result in no refund. Teams canceling their application after the schedule is published will receive no refund. Teams canceling after acceptance and the application deadline may receive a refund or partial refund if a replacement team is found, at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

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conduct​

All players, coaches and spectators will be expected to demonstrate good sportsmanlike conduct. Coaches have total responsibility for the conduct of their players, substitutes, friends and spectators at all times. Inappropriate conduct by your team’s spectators can jeopardize your coach and/or team. If a referee terminates a game due to misconduct of players or spectators, the offending team will forfeit. The offending player, spectator or team may be banned from further participation in the tournament.

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At no time is there to be any alcoholic beverages at the tournament sites.

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Pets are not allowed on any of the fields.

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This is a smoke-free environment; no smoking is allowed at any of the fields.

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After each game, please pick up the trash on your sideline and place it in one of the provided receptacles.

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Please help us keep the games on time by immediately collecting your things and clearing your sideline after your game. This will allow the next team to move into position and prepare for the start of their game.

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