📋 Tournament Rules
📅 Game Guarantee & Format
| Day | Details |
|---|
| Saturday | 2 games guaranteed |
| Sunday | At least 1 game |
🏆 Finals & Advancement
| Category | Details |
| Finals Qualification | Top 2 teams per bracket |
| Multiple Brackets | Top team overall may advance to Final |
🥇 Awards
| Placement | Awards |
| Champions | Trophies + medals |
| Finalists | Medals |
🧾 Check-In & Credentials
Registration (GotSport):
- Official league roster
- Player passes
- Release of Liability form (due 5 days before tournament)
- ❌ No roster changes after submission
Credentials:
- If a Recreation team – provide your league roster and a signed medical release waiver
- Valid player ID cards with photos
- Signed Medical Release forms
- Travel documentation required (AYSO, USSF, USYS, USAAA, US Club)
- US Club teams must provide approved roster from US Club site
- Players may only play for one team
- Unique jersey numbers required (no duplicates or changes)
👥 Guest Players
- Maximum of 7 guest players
- Must share same sanctioning body
- ❌ No mixing US Club & USYS cards
- Must stay within roster limits
⚖️ Rules of Play
- FIFA Laws of the Game (modified by USYS & MSYSA)
- ❌ No heading for U11 and younger
- Build-out lines used for U8–U10
⏱️ Game Duration & Format
| Age Group | Format | Game Length | Ball Size |
|---|
| U8–U10 | 7v7 | 2 × 25 minutes | 4 |
| U11–U12 | 9v9 | 2 × 25 minutes | 4 |
📊 Additional Rules
| Rule | Details |
| Halftime | 3 minutes |
| Preliminary Rounds | No overtime |
| Scoring | Win = 3 pts • Tie = 1 pt • Loss = 0 pts |
| Elimination Games | Penalty kicks if tied after regulation (U8–U19) |
🏅 Tie-Breakers
| Category | Details |
| Tie-Breakers | Refer to GotSport link on team schedule |
| Final Decision | Tournament Manager |
🧩 Division Formats
| # of Teams | Format |
| 4 Teams | Top 2 advance to Final |
| 8 Teams | Top team in each bracket advances |
| 12 Teams | 1st in each bracket + Wild Card to Semifinals |
| 16 Teams | 1st (and possibly 2nd) to Quarterfinals/Semifinals (manager discretion) |
| 20+ Teams | 1st in each bracket + Wild Cards to Quarterfinals |
Note: Wild Cards are reseeded to avoid rematches.
🎯 Game Check-In & Conduct
- Referees conduct pregame safety checks
- Managers retain player cards unless requested
- Medical forms & laminated cards required at all times
- Referees manage official Game Cards
🔁 Substitutions
- Unlimited with referee permission (USYSA Rule 302)
🧤 Player Equipment
- Shin guards required (FIFA Law 4)
- Referee determines safety (including braces)
🎙️ Coaching Conduct
- Within 10 yards of halfway line
- No mechanical aids
- Positive/instructional tone only
- ❌ No profanity, harassment, or disruption
- Coaches responsible for team & spectators
🟥 Cautions & Ejections
- 2 yellow cards = red card (ejection)
- Ejected players miss next game (2 games for violent conduct)
- Ejected coaches: same penalties + out of sight/sound
- Additional discipline may be imposed
⏸️ Suspended / Terminated Games
- Suspended games may resume (must end 5 min before next game)
- Misconduct termination = forfeit + possible expulsion
🩹 Injury & Added Time
- Referee may add time for injuries
- Games must finish before dark
- Added time does not delay next match
👨⚖️ Referee Decisions
- Final on all in-game matters
🏠 Home / Away Team Protocol
- Home Team: Listed first, wears light jerseys, provides game ball, kicks off
- Away Team: Wears dark jerseys, chooses direction
- Color conflict: Home team changes
🧑🤝🧑 Spectators & Sidelines
- Spectators sit opposite team benches
- Must remain on their designated side
- No switching sides
