Note:
Teams that are members of organizations of the United States
Soccer Federation but not members of US Youth Soccer (such
as AYSO, SAY, US Club Soccer or Super Y Leagues) DO NOT have
to have a US Youth Soccer Application To Travel form
(although that team's organization may require that the team
have permission). An approved team roster does need to be
provided to tournament officials, along with current player
passes from its organization.
REGISTRATION
Registration will be held 5-9 PM August
24th at the HOLIDAY INN SELECT in
Fredericksburg (Central Park Location). Teams
must present valid USYSA Player Passes, Certified State
Rosters (2 copies), Medical Release Forms and, for all
non-Virginia teams, Permission to Travel Forms. Teams may
not play without having registered under penalty of
forfeiture of games.
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REFEREES
This tournament will employ a US Soccer certified referee
assignor. A three-person referee system will be employed for
all matches U13 and above. A single-person system will
be used for all small-sided matches (U9 - U11). Officials will be USSF certified and in good
standing. If there is only one referee present for a
preliminary match at the scheduled start time, the referee
present shall commence the match using volunteer linesmen.
Should the missing referee(s) arrive at the field, he/she
shall enter the match at an appropriate time and the
volunteers shall be relieved of their duties. Priority in
reassignment will be to U-15 and above.
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PLAYER EQUIPMENT
Shoes must meet FIFA specifications and shin guards must be
worn during play. Socks must cover the shin guards
completely. In the event of a uniform color conflict, the
home team shall change. The home team is listed first on the
game schedule. No jewelry may be worn by any player during a
match (earrings, watches, necklaces).
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DURATION OF MATCHES
The duration of games is listed below. The interval
between halves shall be five (5) minutes. The referee is
the official timekeeper of the match. Intervals between
matches may be reduced to maintain the schedule.
HS: 60 minutes (11v11)
U13-U15: 60 minutes (11v11)
U12: 60 minutes (8v8)
U-9 - U-10 - U11: 60 minutes (7v7)
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BALL SIZE
U-13 through U-18: Size 5
U-9 through U-12: Size 4
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TEAM/SPECTATOR FIELD
POSITIONS
Coaches and players shall stand on opposite sides of the
field from parents and spectators. No coaching shall be
permitted within 18 yards of the goal line, from behind the
goal line or from the parent/spectator sideline. Parents and
spectators from both teams shall stand on the same side of
the field. The behavior of the parents and fans remains the
responsibility of the coach. The referee and the Field
Marshall are authorized to remove any spectator whose
behavior, in their opinion, interferes with the play of the
game. All spectators will remain behind spectator lines, as
designated. Noise
makers are not allowed at any of the field locations.
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WARNINGS & EJECTIONS
If a player is ejected from a match (red card by the
referee) that player must sit out the remainder of that
match plus his/her team's next tournament match. No
substitution may be made for the ejected player during the
match in which the red card was issued. Two yellow cards
constitute a red card and ejection. Coaches that receive an
ejection or 2 warnings in the same match are subject to the
same penalties outlined above for players. Any coach ejected
from a match will not be allowed in the general vicinity of
the field (as defined by the referee) for the remainder of
that match and the team's next match. No team or club
official may enter the field of play, regardless of the
circumstances, unless that person has been given permission
by the referee. Red cards issued after the end of regulation
play or as a result of physical assault are subject to
review by the Tournament Rules Committee and a more
strenuous penalty, that is not subject to appeal, may be
issued. Should the infraction be sufficiently serious, law
enforcement authorities may be summoned. All infractions
shall be reported to the host association (VYSA) for relay
to the team's state association following the tournament. In
accordance with USSF Rule 3042, red cards or ejections for
assault, abuse or like offenses shall be reported
immediately.
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PROTESTS
No protests shall be allowed.
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FORFEITS
Teams may not play any games without having registered first
or the game will be forfeited. A forfeit shall be awarded if
a team is not present and prepared to play within five (5)
minutes of the scheduled commencement time. A ten (10)
minute allowance shall be made for Semi-final and Final
matches. Any team of any age group that cannot field seven
(7) players at the scheduled commencement time shall forfeit
their match. The team forfeiting the match shall be declared
the loser by a score of three (3) to none (0). Further, the
Tournament Director reserves the right to sanction teams and
amend these rules to address additional forfeits that are
not in the "spirit of the game."
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SUBSTITUTIONS
Either team shall have unlimited substitutions subject to
the following conditions and upon approval of the referee:
• Prior to throw-in by the team in possession.
• Prior to a goal kick by either team.
• After a goal.
• Halftime or the beginning of an overtime period.
• After a yellow card for the carded player (only if the
coach requests such a removal).
• Any time approval is granted by the referee (as in the
case of injury for the injured player).
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TOURNAMENT STANDINGS/TIE
BREAKERS
Division standings shall be calculated using the following
point system:
WIN: 3 Points
TIE: 1 Point
LOSS: 0 Points
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DETERMINATION OF WILD
CARDS, SEMI-FINALISTS AND FINALISTS
Division standings will be based upon total points at the
completion of preliminary must be determined when there are
three divisions of four teams (Divisions A, B and C). The
team with the best overall record advances. A coin flip must
be accomplished to determine the wild card team's opponent
as teams from the same division may not play each other
again. For example, if the wild card team comes from the C
division a coin flip will be held between the winners of
divisions A and B. The winner of the coin toss will play the
wild card team and the loser will play the winner from
division C. matches (i.e. the team with the most points
finishes first).
Tie-breakers. Total point ties within divisions will be
broken by the following tie-breakers in order:
Head to head competition during the tournament of the two
tied teams.
(Disregard if more than two teams tied).
Team with the highest goal differential totaled for all
preliminary matches. A maximum differential of four (4)
goals per match will be counted. Goal differential equals
goals for minus goals against.
Least goals scored against in preliminary matches.
Least amount of red cards followed by least amount of yellow
cards.
If still tied after steps 1-5 above, both teams will proceed
to an available field, at the time and place directed by the
Tournament Director/Field Marshal, and take penalty kicks in
accordance with FIFA tie-breaker rules.
Wild Card. A "wild card team" must be determined
when there are three divisions of four teams (Divisions A, B
and C). The team with the best overall record advances. A
coin flip must be accomplished to determine the wild card
team's opponent as teams from the same division may not play
each other again. For example, if the wild card team comes
from the C division a coin flip will be held between the
winners of divisions A and B. The winner of the coin toss
will play the wild card team and the loser will play the
winner from division C.
For any age groups that have divisions with only three teams
in each of two divisions, your third game will be the
Championship between the top team in each division.
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TOURNAMENT OVERTIME
All preliminary matches tied will remain a tie. In the
Semi-final and Final matches, if regulation play ends in a
tie score, the following steps will be taken: Two (2) ten
(10) minute overtime periods will be played. If
still tied after two (2) overtime periods, the tie will be
broken by penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA tie-breaker
rules.
Only players on the field after the second overtime period
will be allowed to participate in penalty kicks.
Substitute goalkeepers must be chosen from players on the
field.
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TIE-BREAKER CLARIFICATION
Once a criteria has been used to determine a tie-breaker,
teams must continue to the next criteria and may not revert
back.
Example: Three teams each have 6 team points. Team
"A" is winner over team "B",
"B" over "C", and "C" over
"A". Three teams are tied so, criteria #1
(head-to-head) is disregarded.
Team "A" and "B" have goal differential
of 7 goals, and "C" has a differential of 5 goals.
Therefore team "C" is eliminated. You do not
revert back to criteria #1 (head-to-head). The next criteria
is #3 (least goals scored against) to determine the winner
between teams "A" and "B".
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INCLEMENT WEATHER
Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and
their teams must appear at their respective field site,
prepared to play as scheduled. Failure to appear will result
in forfeiture of the match. Only the referee or Tournament
Director may cancel or postpone a match. In the case of
severe weather (including extreme heat conditions), in their
discretion, the referees or Tournament Director may cancel
or discontinue a match, relocate and/or reschedule a match
or reduce the scheduled duration of a match by 50%. In the
case of extreme heat conditions, the referee, at his
discretion, may order a 5-minute water break for all
players. This five-minute water break will not be used to
substitute for the normal five minute break between halves.
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DISCLAIMER
Neither the Tournament Director, the Fredericksburg Area
Soccer Association, Tournament Sponsors or coaches of host
teams are responsible for any expenses incurred by any team
if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part due to
inclement weather, adverse field conditions or circumstances
beyond the Tournament’s control, nor
will any refunds be made. The Tournament Director
reserves the right to decide all matters relative to the
Tournament and her decisions are final. All decisions of the
referee are final and binding.
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TEAM CONTACTS
Each team, upon arrival in Fredericksburg, shall provide the
name of the hotel/motel, room and telephone number of the
coach, assistant coach or team representative at Tournament
Registration so contact may be made by Tournament Officials
in the event conditions require it. Teams shall ensure that
the point-of-contact information provided is for a team
official that is reasonably accessible during non-game
hours.
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PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS
In the event of a problem, or if a team has a
question about the tournament, they should first check with
the Field Marshall at the field headquarters at the
respective field. The Field Marshall will check periodically
with Tournament Headquarters and can resolve most problems.
The Tournament Director will ultimately decide all issues
not resolved at the field location. Decisions of the
Tournament Director are final.
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Awards
Each player on the Championship teams and Runner-up teams in
each division will receive a trophy. Younger teams are
encouraged to participate in a patch or pin exchange at the
conclusion of each match
