RULES OF PLAY 7/26/24 10:15 AM

 

LAW 1 – LAWS

The rules of this tournament shall be in accordance with USSSA, FIFA and USSF except as modified and approved herein. Rules may be changed for the good of the game.

 

LAW 2 – TEAM ACCEPTANCE

The tournament committee reserves the right to accept or reject any team application. Once accepted by the Tournament Committee, the application fee is non-refundable.

 

LAW 3 – TEAM ELIGIBILITY

This tournament shall be open to all teams comprised of properly registered adult players (as defined by the rules of USSSA) and are in good standing with its member association.

 

Each team must provide the following at check-in:

Official Roster

Player Passes/Cards

Travel Permits (for USASA teams if applicable)

 

LAW 4 – GUEST PLAYERS

There will be a limit of four guest players allowed. All guest players must have player passes, medical waiver, and signed loan forms (if applicable).

 

LAW 5 –GROUPS – may be divided into pools

Men’s Premier – two groups of 4 teams where the top two in each group move on to the playoffs.

Men’s Elite / O30 – two groups of 4 teams where the top two in each group move on to the playoffs.

The tournament reserves the right to move teams within groups or to new groups to balance competition. Groups without enough participating teams may be merged or cancelled.  Teams that advance out of their group shall be determined by the format of division and the schedule as published.  Teams will be seeded out of their groups by the tie breaker system.

 

LAW 6 – ROSTERS and TEAM CHECK-IN

A representative from each team is requested to attend the team check-in prior to the tournament. Any changes to the schedule or any other tournament details will be passed onto the teams at this time. The tournament will not be held responsible for not passing on information to any team that does not check in on time. It is highly recommended, therefore, that a team manager, coach or representative be present at the check-in at least one hour before your first game.

You must provide two copies of your roster.

Each copy must be identical. Use a  sharpie to put a black X over the names of those players that you will not be using. Do not cross off pictures. If you are using a CASA roster, you must arrange all of your players on pages 1 and 2 with no non tournament players.

During the check in, tournament officials will sign off on your rosters, and keep one. You must use the official roster to check in at every game. Special tournament team rules apply. No all-star teams allowed. All players must be registered to the same team on the same roster (reserve teams are the same team; players may play up from a reserve team but not down). A player may only play for 1 team in any division.

Only at this pre-game procedure may a player be challenged by an opposing manager/coach. Challenged players will be noted by the Referee on the Referee game report, but will be allowed to participate in the game so long as they have valid, verified player passes and are listed on the tournament approved validated roster. A player who arrives at the playing field after the pre-game procedure, may enter the game once the
game officials verify the player is eligible and with the permission of the center referee. A late arriving player may be challenged by the opposing coach at the time he is allowed to participate by the center official. Playing an illegal or red carded (suspended) player is an automatic forfeit. Suspended players will be listed at the tournament table. It is the team’s responsibility to check and know that a player has been suspended for a game.

 

LAW 8 – TEAM BENCHES and
TECHNICAL AREA

Both teams will be situated on the same sideline in their respective technical areas. The technical area runs from top of the 18 to the bottom of the circle. Spectators must be on the opposite side of the field. The referees may stop play to remove spectators.

 

LAW 9 – MATCH BALL

Each team shall furnish a regulation game ball to the referee prior to the game

 

LAW 10 – NUMBER OF PLAYERS

All teams will play 11v11 with a limit of 22 players on the roster. Only 18 players may play in any given game. Any players ineligible to play must remove any team colors or jerseys or wear a pinnie.

 

LAW 11 – JERSEYS & COLOR CONFLICTS

The Home team, listed first in the schedule will wear a dark jersey.  In cases where the referee deems there to be a color conflict the visiting team (listed second on the Official schedule) will be responsible for changing their uniforms.

 

LAW 12 – SUBSTITUTIONS

The team in possession may substitute at during any throw-in.  If one team makes a substitution, then the other team may also do so.  Free substitution is allowed for both teams after goals, goal kicks and at half time. The substitutes must be at the centerline ready to enter before the referee will allow the substitution to take place. The referee has the authority not to allow the substitution if he/she believes that the procedure will stop the flow of the game or is being used as tactical time wasting ploy. Unlimited substitutions may be made by both teams if a player is injured and requests to be removed from play.

 

LAW 13 – CASTS OR ORTHPOEDIC BRACES

Both casts & braces must be approved by the referee to ensure that they are not dangerous to any of the players on the field.

 

LAW 14 – DURATION OF THE GAME

Game	Duration
Men’s Premier finals	2 x 45 = 90 mins
All other matches	2 x 30 = 60 mins

 

LAW 15 – OVERTIME

Overtimes will only be used in the elimination stages of the tournament – quarterfinals, semis and finals. The duration of the overtime will be 2 x 5 minutes periods with no golden goal rule. In the final game there will be 2 x 15 minute over times with no golden goal.

In case of a tie after overtime FIFA style penalty kick shootouts will determine the winner.
(The result of five kickers, then sudden death between kickers)

 

LAW 17 – FORFEITS

A minimum of 7 players constitutes a team. A 10-minute grace period will be extended beyond the scheduled kick-off time before a forfeit shall be declared. Failure to complete a match, or a team leaving the field during play, will result in forfeiture. No team that has forfeited a match or caused a game to be abandoned through VC will be declared a group winner or runner-up for advancement purposes, unless the tournament director deems the reason for the forfeit worthy. The purpose of this rule is to protect players and deter teams from not showing for their last games if they have already mathematically advanced.

For tie-breaking purposes, the score of a forfeited game will be recorded as 1-0.

 

LAW 18 – CONTROL OF THE SIDELINE

Players, reserve players, managers, coaches, assistant coaches and fans are expected to conduct themselves within the letter and spirit of “THE LAWS OF THE GAME.” The site directors have the authority and responsibility to remove any person(s) from the tournament grounds for conduct abuse, in addition to any specific disciplinary action brought about by other authorities. Team managers are responsible for their own fans. Games may be stopped to remove fans. Games may be forfeited by teams that do not control their fans.

 

LAW 19 – PROTESTS

There will be NO PROTESTS. The Director will resolve all disputes immediately. These decisions will be final.

 

LAW 20 – POST-GAME PROCEDURE

We ask that as a mutual courtesy, both teams congratulate each other after every game. The following procedures should also be used:

The Referee or Field Marshals will insure the return of all rosters/player passes to each team Manager/coach of both teams will confirm the score with the referees.

Referee will complete the Game Report and deliver it with any incident reports to the Site Director Desk. Manager/coach of both teams will insure that their sideline area is clean and
that all trash is in containers.

 

LAW 21 – RED CARDS & TEAM DISCIPLINE

A red carded player will automatically miss the next scheduled game, but depending on the severity of
the unacceptable conduct, the Director may recommend suspension up to the duration of the Tournament.

Further disciplinary action by the member association or national association may be recommended. The red carded player must immediately move at least 75 yards from the field. A team causing a game to be abandoned for any reason will automatically forfeit that game and be ineligible for any playoff. Any referee abuse or assault, at any time, may result in a team being removed from the tournament.

 

LAW 22 – POINT SYSTEM

3 points for win, 1 for tie, 0 for loss. The score of a forfeit is 1-0.

 

LAW 23 – TIE BREAKERS

If at the conclusion of the preliminary rounds a tiebreaker is needed the following criteria will be utilized:

Head to head (not used if more than two teams are involved in the tie breaker)

Fewest goals allowed

Goal difference (i.e. goals scored minus goals allowed with 4 goal maximum differential, e.g. 10-1 games will be deemed 5-1)

Most shutouts

Most goals scored (no maximum)

Fewest red cards

Sudden death penalty kicks (the tournament reserves the right to use a coin flip if time is limited)

In the event unusual conditions, (including weather), necessitate rescheduling, curtailment, or cancellation of games, the Tournament Director shall have absolute authority to make changes to best serve the interest of the Tournament.

 

LAW 25 – REFUND POLICY

The Tournament Committee, and/or host affiliate will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or whole of this tournament. Refunds will be provided under the following guidelines:

If the tournament is cancelled prior to the first game being played due to circumstances outside the control of the Tournament or USSSA, $125 of the entry fee will be retained and the balance refunded to paid entries. $75 per game will be refunded for every non-playoff game cancelled after the start of the tournament. If not enough teams are realized within a specific bracket and no games are played, the Tournament Director shall notify the participants as soon as possible and the participants will be given the option to play in a different bracket or division or receive a full refund.

 

LAW 26 – Good of the Competition

The tournament Director reserves the right to change these rules for the good of the competition with no notice given.

 

LAW 27 – Waiver of Liability

By participating, each player, coach and referee acknowledges that soccer is a dangerous activity and agrees to release and hold harmless CASA, USSSA, CASA Member Leagues and Facilities, including their officers, officials, agents, contractors, and/or employees, for any and all injuries incurred, even if arising from their negligence or facility conditions.