I. AGE AND ELIGIBILITY

A. The competition is open to accepted teams composed of 18 or less players (14 players on U8 - 10 teams) meeting the age limit of the division.

B. Each team must be registered for competition in a league affiliated with the USSF.

C. Proof of age for all roster players is required in the form of a current USSF youth player pass or US Club Soccer pass

 

II. ROSTERS AND PASSES

 

A. Rosters (max. 18 players for U11-U14 or 14 players for U8 - 10 registered to one team) and passes will be checked during registration at the hotel on Friday night.

B. Rosters and player passes MUST also be shown to Field Marshals at each site 30 minutes prior to each game.

C. Only players listed on the roster will be permitted to play in the Tournament.  Up to 3 Guest Players will be allowed to participate with each team.  Guest Player Passes must be issued from the same organization.

D. No player is allowed to transfer from one team to another during the Tournament. A player can only be on 1 team roster for the tournament   Anyone found doing so will be suspended from further play, and all games in which he/she participated in will become forfeits for his/her team.

 

III. LAWS OF THE GAME

 

All games shall be played in accordance with the FIFA laws of the game, except as specifically modified by these rules (Section IV). U8-U10 will play 8v8.  U11 has 8v8 and 11v11 divisions.   U12-U14 will play 11v11.

IV. MODIFICATIONS TO LAWS OF THE GAME
U8-U10:  The games will consist of two (2) 25-minute halves, with a 5-minute rest period between halves.  There will be no overtime.  Tie games will stand. No standings are kept for U8-U10.

U11-U14:  The preliminary rounds of play and championship matches will consist of two (2) 30-minute halves, with a 5-minute rest period between halves. Matches may end in a tied score during the preliminary rounds.  In U11-U14 championship matches, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, there will be two (2) 5 (five) minute Golden Goal overtime periods with no rest period in-between. The first team to score shall be the winner.  A coin toss will determine which team kicks-off and goal defending selection. Teams will change ends of the field after the first five minutes.

If the teams remain tied at the conclusion of the overtime periods, a FIFA Style shootout will be used to determine the winner.

    • A coin toss determines which team shoots first.
    • Five shooters from each team are selected.  Shooters must be players that were on the field at the end of the last overtime period.  The goalkeeper must be one of the players who was on the field at the end of the last overtime period.
    • In alternating fashion, players will shoot the ball from the penalty mark.
    • A player must shoot within 5 seconds of the referee’s whistle.  No second shot will be allowed.
    • Goalkeepers can be one of the shooters.
    • If score is still tied after five players, sudden death takes effect with the coach choosing one player at a time from the remaining players who were on the field at the end of the last overtime period.
    • If score is still tied after all players on the field at the end of the overtime have shot, the coach chooses one player at a time from the players who were on the bench at the end of the last overtime period.  This rule shall be in effect even if teams have an unequal number of players dressed for the game.
    • If still tied when all players a team has dressed for the game have shot, the next shooter for that team shall be the first player who began the shootout.  Shooters shall then continue in the same order as during the first time through the team’s roster.

 


Substitutions:  Unlimited substitutions with permission of referee:

    • after a goal is scored
    • at beginning of 2nd half, and at start of overtime period
    • at goal kick by either team
    • at time of throw-in if team has possession
    • at referee’s discretion in the event of an injury

 


Injuries:  If a referee stops a match and it is in the referee’s opinion a player is seriously injured and ensures that he/she is removed from the field, and injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has been restarted.  No injury time will be added to the match.

V. PLAYER EQUIPMENT

A. All uniform jerseys must be clearly marked, coinciding with numbers on roster. Players must be dressed identically with all wearing the same colored socks, jerseys and shorts.

B. Where colors of teams are too similar, the home team (listed first on the schedule) will change jerseys.

C. All player jerseys must have sleeves.  A player may not alter his/her jersey.

D. No metal cleats are allowed, and all players must wear shin guards.

E. Socks must be completely pulled up over shin guards. Shirts must be tucked into shorts.

F.  No player is to wear sweats, cut-offs or any non-uniform item hanging down from underneath the uniform shorts.

G. Goalies will not wear helmets or hats of any kind, or bandannas.

H. No jewelry, particularly earrings or hard hair ornaments may be worn.

I.   A player wearing an orthopedic cast of any kind will not be allowed to participate, even if the cast is covered with bubble wrap or foam.

 

VI. REGISTRATION FOR EACH GAME

 

All teams MUST report to the Field Marshall at the game site 30 minutes prior to the scheduled starting time of their games. The Field Marshall at each game will check rosters and passes. Only eligible players may play.

VII. FAILURE TO SHOW

A. All games will start precisely at the scheduled time. There will be no grace period. A team not prepared to field 7 players at the kick-off will forfeit to their opponent.

B. A forfeit will disqualify a team from championship qualification. The next team eligible will replace the disqualified team.

C. A game forfeited will be declared a 4-0 score.

 

VIII. INCLEMENT WEATHER

 

A. In the event of inclement weather, all teams must report to their fields at their assigned time. Failure to appear shall result in forfeiture.  See Section VII - Failure to Show.

B. The Tournament Committee has the authority to relocate, reschedule, or cancel a game. In addition, the Tournament Committee has the authority to change the duration of any game.

C. Any game terminated after twenty minutes of play will be considered complete. The score at the time of termination will be the official score.

 

IX. TOURNAMENT FORMAT

 

A. In a flight of 8 teams, there will be 2 groups of 4 teams.  Each group will play round-robin matches amongst the teams in it.  The team with the highest number of points in each group will compete in the championship match.

B. In a flight of 6 teams, there will be two groups of 3 teams.  The groups will play 3 cross-over matches and the 2 teams with the highest total of points will compete in the championship match.

C. In a flight with 7 teams, there will be two groups, one with three teams (group B) and one with four teams (group A).  The group with four teams will play two matches in their bracket on Saturday and will complete the round robin play on Sunday morning.   Teams will be seeded upon completion of the round robin play on Sunday morning.  The group with three teams will play round robin matches on Saturday.  Teams will be seeded after the last match on Saturday.  The 3rd Seeds from both groups will play a consolation match.  The 4th place team in the four team group will not have a fourth match.  The 1st and 2nd place teams from the two groups will play each other on Sunday in two semifinal matches (1st A vs. 2nd B and 1st B vs. 2nd A). The winners of the semifinals will play in the championship match.

D. In a flight of 5 teams, there will be one group of 5 teams.  Each team will play the others in the group for a total of 4 matches each.  The champion will be the team with the highest point total and 2nd place will be awarded to the team with the second highest point total.  Ties will be broken based on the tie breaker rules.

E. In a flight of 12 teams, there will be 4 groups of 3 teams.  Each team will play 2 matches against group opponents.    The winner of each group will play a semi-final match and the winners will advance to the championship game.  Teams that did not qualify for the semi-finals will play a consolation match.

 

X. TOURNAMENT SCORING

 

A. Teams will be awarded 2 points for each win and 1 point for each tie during preliminary rounds. Using this scoring method, teams with the highest point totals will advance to the championship game.

B. If the point totals result in a tie upon the completion of the preliminary games, the tie shall be broken as follows, in this order:

  • Head-to-head play (omit when three-way tie exists)
  • Most wins
  • Total goals scored minus total goals allowed. (Difference--per each game cannot exceed 4.)
  • Total goals scored, up to 6 per game
  • Least goals against  
  • If these tie breakers fail to determine a winner, the tie will be broken via a FIFA style shoot-out.

C. The above procedure will also be used in the selection of any "wild card" teams for championship rounds.

D. Points will be deducted for red cards in accordance with Section XIV.B.

 

XI. DELAYED GAMES

 

If a field becomes backlogged and off-schedule, the Tournament Committee may elect to relocate games to a secondary site or shorten the length of the game underway. Opposing teams will be so notified upon check-in with the Field Marshal before the scheduled game.

XII. LINESPERSONS
When a 3 person referee crew is not provided, each team will provide a linesperson. No children may serve as linesperson.

XIII. GAME REPORTS
The coaches of both teams will be responsible for checking and signing the referee’s game card, which will then be turned into the Field Marshall for score reporting.  Signed game cards are the official record of the score of the games and used to determine total points for tournament.  The official tournament standings are kept at the Tournament Headquarters.

XIV. CONDUCT

A. Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the law, as well as within the letter of the law.  Displays of offensive language, temper, or dissent are causes for ejection from the game and field of play. Coaches shall be responsible for the conduct of all persons on their team, and those supporting them.

B. Players, coaches, and/or team officials who are red-carded from a game by the referee shall be automatically suspended for the following game, and, depending upon the violations, may be suspended for more games as determined by the Tournament Committee. Anyone red-carded must report to the Tournament Committee at Smith Field after the game. Two yellow cards received for flagrant violations by the same player, coach, or team official during the tournament shall be treated as a red-card and the recipient will be suspended from play. One point will be deducted from the total points for each red-card received at the time scores are posted.

C. Only the referee may suspend or abandon the game. If the referee abandons a game due to misconduct by players, coaches, or spectators of one team, a victory will be awarded to the opposing team with the score being 4-0, or the score at the time of suspension, if it is higher. The offending team will be suspended from the tournament.

D. Should the game be abandoned because of misconduct on the part of both teams, both teams will be disqualified from further play in the tournament.

E. Players and coaches will take opposite sides of the field from spectators. The home team (one listed first in the schedule) shall have the right to choice of sides. Substitutes will be required to remain seated in one spot. Spectators will not run up and down the sidelines, and must remain at least 5 feet behind the sideline. No one is allowed to stand behind or near the goal net.  The final determination of spectator location will be at the referee’s discretion, and is non-disputable.

F. Absolutely no consumption of alcoholic beverages will be allowed at any game site. No pets are allowed on the fields.

G. Fans are requested to please clean up their area upon leaving the field.

 

XV. PROTESTS

 

A. There will be no protests.

B. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament, and their interpretation of rules is final.

 

XVI. AWARDS

 

Individual trophies will be awarded to players and coaches finishing in first and second place in the championship final games for U11-U14.  Awards will be presented immediately following game’s end at the "Winner’s Circle" at Tournament Headquarters.  All U8-U10 will be presented participation awards as per NJYS guidelines.

XVII. GOLF CARTS

A valid driver’s license and PSC approval is needed to operate any golf cart at any tournament field.

 

XVIII. TOURNAMENT DISCLAIMER

 

The Tournament Committee, the Parsippany Soccer Club, the Tournament Sponsors, or the Township of Parsippany shall not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part; nor will said parties assume any responsibility for any losses or injuries resulting from participation in this tournament. Once teams have been accepted to the tournament the entry fee will not be refunded. In accordance with NJYSA tournament rules and regulations, in the event weather forces cancellation of the entire tournament, a refund of 80% of the application fee will be provided.  No other refunds will be made in the event weather forces cancellation or shortening of any matches, or any condition beyond the control of the Tournament Committee and its directors. Teams that have agreed to play in this tournament shall be bound by these Rules of Competition.