Rules of play:
It is the understanding of this tournament committee that all teams, including all players, coaches, spectators, and officials, will participate in the spirit of FAIR PLAY and will conduct themselves in accordance with the Tournament Rules.
Protests:
No protests will be allowed during this tournament. The decision of the Referee, Field Marshall, and the Tournament Director shall be final. All games will be considered final.
Credentials:
Laminated 2025 Player ID cards from the appropriate association that the team plays in will be required. MLS NEXT and GA teams must provide a team roster.
Players Age Groups:
The tournament will host U11-U19 age groups for boys and girls.
Roster Size:
Teams may register/roster a maximum of 24 players for all age groups U13-U19, with a maximum of 24 players suited up per game, 16 players max roster for U11-U12 age groups, with a maximum of 16 players suited up per game. A team may use players from teams inside the tournament from the same club to help with roster numbers and play on multiple teams. These players must be included in the roster maximum and listed on both tournament game cards. These players must be age-eligible. This is a preseason showcase, and we want all teams to have what they need to manage the roster. The players must have been checked in before the first game, and can only play with one additional team in the tournament, and must be a younger player or of the same age.
*U19 MLS NEXT/ECNL Division will be allowed to roster (3) 2006 players to align with MLS NEXT Season Rules.
*If an MLS Next player is approved by MLS Next as a Bio Band player, they are eligible to play down in this event. The player must be approved by MLS Next.
Note: Rosters are frozen once the first game is played, and no additional players may be added after the competition has started.
Player’s Credentials and Equipment:
The referee has the final determination as to the safety of each player’s equipment. All players are required to use shin guards. No rings, chains, watches, casts, metal objects, jewelry, or headbands may be worn. Soft casts are permitted with the permission of the referee. Casts are allowed in CYSA if padded and the referee considers them to be safe.
The shirt number of each player must be the same as the player’s shirt number on the game card or roster.
Home Team:
Home Team will be listed first on the website schedule. The home team is responsible for game balls unless provided by the tournament, and if there is uniform conflict, the home team will change uniforms.
Requirements for Check-In & Registration:
At the Mandatory Team check-in, teams must provide the required credentials. All teams must provide valid laminated or digital Player ID Cards, or rosters for MLS NEXT and GA teams with photographs.
Conduct:
All coaches should be mindful to ensure that their players, bench, friends, and spectators associated with their respective teams, obey tournament rules and act civilly and in a sportsmanlike manner at all times. Failure to do so may result in penalties or sanctions against the respective team, at the sole discretion of the tournament:
- No mechanical devices are used.
- The tone of voice is instructive and not derogatory.
- Each coach or substitute remains within 10 yards of either side of the halfway line
- No coach, substitute, or spectator makes derogatory remarks or gestures to the referees, other coaches, players, substitutes or spectators;
- No coach, substitute, or spectator uses profanity or incites, in any manner, disruptive behavior.
- Fighting will not be tolerated and zero tolerance. Anyone involved in a fight, throwing punches, will be removed from the event.
Any parental behavior on the sideline, such as profanity, coaching, fighting, or other behavior that is not sportsmanlike, is not accepted. Teams can be removed from the tournament per the Tournament Committee if they feel the team sideline is out of control.
Equipment:
No Jewelry
Casts are allowed if padded and the referee considers them safe.
Mandatory that all players wear shin guards
No alcohol is permitted at the tournament
No noise makers
No smoking
No animals (Dogs)
Cautions & Ejections:
A player or coach receiving two (2) yellow cards in a single game is considered to have received an ejection (red card). Ejected players or coaches may not be replaced in the current game and shall serve a minimum of one game suspension at their next game played. For flagrant violations, longer suspension or additional disciplinary action may be enforced based on mandatory review of the Tournament Director. The tournament director will hold the ID cards of the player or coach until suspensions are served. Suspended coaches cannot be on the same sideline as the team with no communication in any manner. Players may sit with the team but may not be in uniform. Suspended Coaches must be “Out of Sight & Sound of the Field”.
Suspended Games:
If, in the opinion of game officials, a game must be terminated due to misconduct of players, bench or spectators, the offending team could be suspended from further play and forfeit all points and position previously earned. Additionally, the home league and state association will be contacted as appropriate.
Substitutions:
Unlimited substitutions allowed in all ages. However, teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission. Substitutes must wait on the sideline (off of the field of play) until the field player has left the field of play and/or the referee has indicated the substitute may enter the field of play. Substitutions are allowed only at the following times (including overtime):
- Substitutions by either Team are allowed at any stoppage of play with the permission of the referee.
Side Lines:
Both teams and coaches will be on the same sideline, directed by the field marshal or referee unless otherwise notified. All spectators will be on the opposite sideline.
Forfeitures & Byes:
Games not played will be classified as “Forfeits & Byes”. Teams failing to report ready to play within five (5) minutes of the scheduled kick-off time forfeit that game. All teams that Forfeit will have the game scored 0-1 loss. A team needs at least 6 players for a U9-U10 match and 7 players for a U11-U18 match for the game to get started. Teams taking actions that cause the game to be terminated will forfeit.
Disputes:
The Tournament Committee will handle all disputes that are non-referee decisions and make all final decisions.
Decisions by referees may not be appealed, and any decision on a dispute will be final and may not be appealed.
Playing Times:
Play will be based on halves as specified below:
Injury:
Delays of the game due to injury will result in appropriate time being added to the full game time, based on the judgment of the referee. In the discretion of the tournament and its staff, all Preliminary games will be terminated not less than five (5) minutes before the scheduled start of the next game, regardless of the amount of time played in each half up to that point.
Home Team:
The home team appears first on the game schedule. The Home Team will supply game balls, unless supplied by the tournament. The game ball is subject to referee approval. The home team will be required to switch to an alternate jersey if the referee declares color conflict.
| Bracket | Group Games | Finals | Ball Size | ||
| U19 | 40 Mins | 40 Mins | 5 | ||
| U17 | 40 Mins | 40 Mins | 5 | ||
| U16 | 40 Mins | 40 Mins | 5 | ||
| U15 | 35 Mins | 40 Mins | 5 | ||
| U14 | 35 Mins | 35 Mins | 5 | ||
| U13 | 35 Mins | 35 Mins | 5 | ||
| U12 | 30 Mins | 30 Mins | 4 | ||
| U11 | 30 Mins | 30 Mins | 4 |
- All Preliminary games will be terminated not less than five (5) minutes before the scheduled start of the next game, regardless of the amount of time played in each half up to that point.
- A game is “complete” upon completion of one half of play, regardless of the circumstances of termination during the second half, with final results based on the score at termination.
- A preliminary game can end in a tie.
- CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, if tied after regulation, will proceed immediately to FIFA Kicks from the Mark procedure to determine the winner. In the event of an injury, time may be added on at the option of tournament officials.
Half-time:
Half-time will be exactly five (5) minutes. Please help officials with this request.
Tournament Points System:
3 Points For each Win
1 Point For each tie
0 Point For each Loss
Score Reporting:
Scores after each game will be reported by the referees reporting the scores to the Field Marshal
Tie Breakers:
In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined as follows:
- The winner of to head-to-head competition
- Goal Differential(total goals scored minus total goals against).
- Most goals for
- Fewest goals against
- Most Shutouts
If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 5, FIFA Kicks from the Mark will be taken to break the tie. If a 3-way tie exists within a bracket after steps 1-5, a three-way coin flip will be conducted. The teams that tie in the coin flip will compete in FIFA Kicks from the Mark to eliminate one team before proceeding to FIFA Kicks from the Mark with the third team. The coin flip and time of the FIFA Kicks from the Mark will be determined at the fields.
Three-Way Tie Scenario:
If more than two teams are tied at the end of preliminary rounds, the tie-breaker criteria list shall be used in order to advance or eliminate teams. Once one team advances or is eliminated, and if the remaining two teams are still tied, those two teams will then be compared beginning with criterion 1 (Head to Head) to determine ultimate placement. (See different examples below).
Example 1: Three-way tie:
Head-to-head cancels out since all 3 teams either beat or tied each other.
Team A Goal Differential +3
Team B Goal Differential +2
Team C Goal Differential +1In the above example, Team A is first place, Team B is second place, and Team C is third place.
Example 2: Three-way tie:
Head-to-head cancels out since all 3 teams either beat or tied each other.
Team A Goal Differential +3
Team B Goal Differential +3
Team C Goal Differential +1In the above example, Team C is eliminated. Since Team A and Team B are tied, those two teams will then be compared beginning with criterion 1 (Head to Head) to determine ultimate placement. In this case, Team B beat Team A 1-0 in pool play. Therefore, Team B is first place, Team A is second place, and Team C is third place.
FIFA Laws of the Game will apply as modified by USYS and US Club as described herein.
9 v 9 games:
Deliberate heading IS allowed in the 9v9 games.
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS: A player receiving two cautions (yellow cards) in a single game will be given an ejection (red card). A player who has been ejected (sent off) will not be replaced. A player who has been ejected will not return for that game and will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game
9. Acts of God:
Rain or other weather conditions during the tournament shall not delay play unless the referee determines the field to be unsafe for play, or the venue determines that field damage will result due to continued play. In the event of such a delay or postponement of games, the tournament will endeavor to reschedule such games reasonably, if possible. If games cannot be rescheduled or played due to rain, weather, or other Acts of God, there will be no refund or credit of fees.
GAME FORMAT
Groups of 4
Teams will play a round robin format of three games, and the winner of the division will be crowned champions, and 2nd second-place winner.
Groups of 5
Teams will play a round robin format of four games, and the winner of the division will be crowned champions, and 2nd second-place winner.
Groups of 6
Three teams cross over, where the teams in group A play the teams in group B. The two teams with the most points will advance to the finals.
Groups of 8
Teams will play 3 games in a group. The winner of each group will advance to the finals.