San Diego Open : Soccer Tournament

RULES

COMPETITION

1. Decisions relating to the interpretation of the Tournament Rules can only be made by the Tournament Directors. Disputes relating to the interpretation of these rules will be resolved with the administrator/coach that is registered with the involved team(s). Individuals may not represent a team if not registered as an administer/coach with the involved team(s)

2. All games will be played by FIFA rules except as modified by USYSA and CYSA-S. This includes all Under-8 thur Under-10 divisions (8 vs. 8). Age groups will be for the up coming 2010/11 season.

3. All games will be considered final. No protest allowed. Any situation not explicitly covered by the rules will be resolved by the Tournament Committee.

4. The HOME team is listed first on the game schedule. The home team may choose on which side of the field they will stand and will provide a game ball, unless supplied by the Tournament. The game ball will be subject to Referee approval. The home team will be required to switch to alternate jersey if a color conflict is declared by the Referee. If the home team cannot supply alternate jersey, the home team will forfeit the game.

In the case where there are adjacent fields with sidelines less than five (5) yards apart, spectators for one team must sit on one side of the center line, and spectators and team from the adjacent game must sit on the other side of the center line. There will be no seating “back-to-back”, and seating will be done so that the linesman has a clear run of the sideline (spectators’ backs) on his side where he calls offside and a clear view (spectators’ feet) on the opposite end where he calls balls crossing the touch line. Your cooperation in this matter is appreciated.

5. Free substitution is allowed in all age groups. However, teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission and only at the following times (including over-times) in accordance with the following:
a. Prior to a throw-in, in your favor
b. Prior to a goal kick, by either team.
c. After a goal, by either team.
d. After an injury to either team, when the referee stops play.
e. During half time.
f. On a caution, only the cautioned player may be substituted at that time.

In the event there are two foreign teams in the same age bracket, the FIFA Friendly Match rule goes into effect.

6. A player receiving two (2) yellow cards in a single game is considered the same as having been given a RED CARD. A player given a red card or two yellow cards in one game shall be expelled from that game and not be replaced. A player or coach receiving a red card or two yellow cards in one game shall not be allowed to participate in the next game. The Tournament Committee may give a further suspension for violent conduct.

7. All coaches have complete responsibility for the conduct of their players, bench, friends and spectators at all times. For the purpose of this tournament a coach can be carded

8. If, in the opinion of game officials, a game must be terminated for misconduct of players, bench or spectators, the offending team can be suspended from further play and forfeit that game and all remaining games. In this event, all previous points earned remain as played.

9. All players are required to wear shin guards at all times. No shin guards - No play!

10. Teams failing to report, ready to play, within five (5) minutes of the scheduled kickoff time, or home teams failing to change to an alternate jersey in cases of color conflicts, will result in the forfeiture of the game by a 3-0 score. The winning team will be awarded ten (10) points. If both teams fail to appear within five (5) minutes of the scheduled kickoff, each team will receive zero points. No refund will be allowed due to forfeit of game by team accepted to tournament.

11. Players will be allowed to play in a soft cast, at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

12. In case of inclement weather or field conditions, games may:
a. Be shortened
b. Go to F.I.F.A penalty kicks
c. Be canceled

13. In the event of an unusual event that results in a significant loss of game time, the lost game time may be rescheduled at the discretion of the Tournament Director. The rescheduling of the lost game time is subject to field availability. An example of an unusual event would be a major injury to a player, which prevented the use of the playing field. The Tournament defines a significant loss of game time as more than half the game. An accumulation of time delays due to minor/moderate injuries to several players would not constitute an unusual event nor will these delays be considered lost game time. An accumulation of time delays resulting from normal course of a game will not be considered lost game time. Time however, will be added at the discretion of the referee in the fairness and spirit of the game.
Games maybe be shortened at the discretion of the referee, in the best interest of the tournament and safety of the players.

FORMAT OF PLAY

1. Play will be based on HALVES as specified below:

Age	Preliminaries	Semi-finals	Finals	Overtime (finals only)
U8 U-9 U-10 U-11 U-12 U-13 U-14 U-15 U-16 U-17 U-18 U-19	20 min 20 min 20 min 25 min 25 min 30 min 30 min 30 min 30 min 30 min 30 min 30 min	25 min 25 min 25 min 30 min 30 min 35 min 35 min 35 min 35 min 35 min 35 min 35 min	25 min 25 min 25 min 30 min 30 min 35 min 35 min 40 min 40 min 45 min 45 min 45 min	5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min 5 min

2. Half time will be exactly five (5) minutes

3. FOUR TEAM DIVISIONS will consist of one (1) bracket. Each team will play the others for a total of three (3) preliminary games. The first and second place teams will meet for the championship.

4. FIVE TEAM DIVISIONS will consist of one (1) bracket. Each team will play the others for a total of four (4) preliminary games. The first and second place teams will meet for the championship.

5. SIX TEAM DIVISIONS will consist of two (2) brackets of three (3) teams each. Each team will play the others in its bracket for a total of two (2) preliminary games. The winners of bracket A will play the second place team in bracket B in semi-final game one and the winner of bracket B will play the second
place team of bracket A in a semi-final game two. The third place team in each bracket will play a consolation game. The semi-final winners will meet for the championship.

6. EIGHT TEAM DIVISIONS will consist of two (2) brackets of four (4) teams each. Each team will play the others in its bracket for a total of three (3) preliminary games. The winner of bracket A will play the second place team of bracket B in the semi-final game one and the winner of bracket B will play the second place team of bracket A in semi-final game two. The semi-final winners will meet for the championship.

7. TWELVE TEAM DIVISIONS will consist of three (3) brackets of four (4) teams. Each team will play the other team in its bracket for a total of three (3) preliminary games. The winner of bracket A will play the wildcard team (the second place team with the most points) in semi-final game #1 and the winner of bracket B will play the winner of bracket C in semi-final game #2. If the wildcard team comes from bracket A, then the winner of bracket A will play the winner of bracket B and the winner of bracket C will play the wildcard team. The semi-final winners will meet for the championship.

8. All semi-final and championship games will be regulation with a five (5) minute half time. Semi-final games ending in a tie will go immediately to F.I.F.A. penalty kicks to determine the winner. Championship games ending in a tie will play the two over time periods, if still tied after the two over time periods; the game will go straight to F.I.F.A. penalty kicks to determine the winner. No golden goal rule in effect for this tournament.

9. At the end of each game, a team representative must sign the game card. The score indicated on the game card cannot be disputed after it is turned over to the Field Marshall. The following point system will be used to determine 1st and 2nd in each group during the preliminary rounds:

6 points for each win
1 point for each goal (maximum of 3 per game)
3 points for each tie
1 point for each shutout, a 0-0 tie is not a shut out
10 points for a forfeit
MINUS ONE (1) POINT FOR EACH RED CARD ISSUED PER PLAYER OR COACH.

Ties in the standings will be resolved as follows:
a. Winner in head-to-head competition.
b. Fewest goals allowed.
c. Most goals scored.
d. If required to determine advancement to semi-final games, penalty kicks will be taken thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the semi-final game.

CREDENTIALS

1. All teams must provide properly laminated 2009/10 or 2010/11 Player Passes and Medical Release forms at the mandatory check-in pursuant to the acceptance notifications. No mixing of player cards, all cards presented must be of the same year. Players without a valid Player Pass or a properly completed Medical Release form will not be allowed to participate. Mandatory check-in is Friday evening proceeding the first day of play.

2. Unlimited borrowed players may be used for this tournament.

3. All Player Passes and Roster Cards must be given to the referee prior to each game.

4. Teams from outside CYSA-S must have properly processed Travel Papers from their State Association. Any team without proper Travel Papers will not be allowed to play.

5. The Field Marshall will hold all Player Passes of red-carded players and coaches until the completion of the game they must sit out. If not picked up by the coach, the cards will be mailed following the tournament.