Howell United Soccer Club

 

10^th Annual Thanksgiving Tournament 2008

 

 

“ Holiday Cup X”

 

 

Tournament Rules

 

A)    Facilities

 

 

1)       There will be no smoking, no alcoholic beverages and no pets permitted on any tournament facilities.

 

B)    AGE AND ELIGIBILITY

 

1)       Each team must be registered for competition from National Federations recognized by FIFA and Associations recognized by USSF, USYSA, Club and/or NJYSA.  Teams from outside the State of New Jersey must have a copy of “Permission To Travel Form” approved and signed by a USSF representative.  Please note that Permission to Travel is not required for US Club carded teams.

 

2)       Full-sided team rosters are limited to eighteen (18) players.  Small-sided team rosters are limited to fourteen (14) players.  No roster changes will be allowed after the team has been registered.

 

3)       Proof of age is required for all rostered players in the form of a birth certificate or other document deemed acceptable by the tournament committee.

 

4)       Up to three (3) guest players will be allowed per registered team.

 

5)       Secondary players are NOT allowed in the tournament.

 

6)       Players may not play for more than one team in the tournament. Players must have jersey numbers and may not change numbers once registration is complete.

 

7)       If not designated, the first team listed is considered the home team. The home team will resolve any color conflicts. Both teams will be on the same side of the field, spectators will be on the opposite side.

 

8)       No hard casts are allowed, no exceptions, players with soft cats will be allowed at the SOLE DISCRETION of the Referee.

 

C)    INCLEMENT WEATHER

 

1)       In the event of inclement weather, all teams must report to their fields at their assigned times (unless otherwise notified). The Tournament Committee will have the authority to change games as follows:

 

a)       Relocate and/or reschedule any game.

 

b)       Change duration of any game.

 

c)       Cancel any games.

 

2)       Games terminated after the completion of the first half because of weather or interference will be considered official. The score at the end of termination will stand.

 

D)    TOURNAMENT CANCELLATION POLICY

 

1)       In the event that the entire Tournament is cancelled for any reason before the start of the tournament, the Tournament will refund between 80% to 100% of a team’s entry fees.  The reason for cancellation might include weather, field usage, or Tournament Committee decision.

 

2)       If the Tournament is postponed or rescheduled to a time and date subsequent to the Tournament’s official date, a new permission to host agreement will be submitted to NJYSA and all teams that applied to the original date will be given the opportunity to withdraw from the revised date of the tournament and will receive a full refund of their entry fees.

 

3)       Please note that individual games cancelled after the start of the tournament, as described under Section 2 above, are not covered under the Tournament Cancellation Policy.

 

4)       The Tournament Committee will not be responsible for any non-tournament expenses (lodging, travel, etc.) incurred by any team if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part for any reason.

 

E)    REGISTRATION FOR EACH GAME

 

1)       All teams MUST report to the Field Marshall assigned to the field on which they are scheduled to play thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled starting time of their game.  The field Marshall will inspect all players for identification and apparel.

 

F)     FAILURE TO SHOW AND FORFEIT

 

1)       It is sincerely hoped that NO games will be forfeited during this tournament, as the expressed purpose of this tournament is to encourage good sportsmanship and participation in as much soccer as possible during the weekend. In the event that a team must forfeit, the following rules shall apply:

 

a)       A team shall be allowed a ten-minute grace period after the scheduled kick-off time before the game is awarded to their opponent. A minimum of seven (7) players for full-sided teams and a minimum of five (5) players for small-sided teams constitutes a team.

 

b)       In no case will a team that has forfeited a game qualify for awards.

 

c)       A game forfeited will award a 3-0 score to the winner.  

 

G)    LAWS OF THE GAME

 

1)       All games shall be played in accordance with the FIFA Laws except specifically modified rules of competition.  Subject to the foregoing, FIFA laws, as modified by USSF, USYSA and NJYSA rules, apply.  Please note that per FIFA Laws of the Game number 4, the wearing of shin guards by players is mandatory. No player will be allowed to play without shin guards.

 

H)    SUBSTITUTIONS

 

1)       For all age groups, substitution, without limit, will be allowed during natural stoppage of the match at the referee’s discretion.  Examples of substitution opportunities include: a) After a goal has been scored; b) At the beginning of the second half, c) At a goal kick by either team, d) At a throw-in by the team in possession only, e) At the referee’s discretion in case of injury  (opposing team shall be permitted an equal number of substitutions). Also, in U8 – U10 Matches a team can substitute on the opposition’s throw-in, provided the opposition requests a substitution first.

 

2)       It is mandatory for a players receiving a yellow card to be substituted out of the game immediately upon receiving the yellow card, they may re-enter at the next substitution opportunity.  A player receiving 2 yellow cards in 1 game will be ejected from that game and will not be eiligble to play in their team’s next game.

 

3)       Players sent off during a match are not allowed to play in the next match.  In case of continued bad conduct of players, teams, officials, or supporters, the team may be withdrawn from the competition and reported to their association.  Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team and supporters.

 

4)       Any player sent off during the tournament (“Red carded”) will not be eligible to play in the next team game, and at the discretion of the tournament committee might be ejected from the tournament.

 

5)       THERE WILL BE NO SUBSTITUTIONS FOR A PLAYER “RED CARDED” FROM THE FIELD OF PLAY.

 

I)        SCORING

 

1)       The official match report for each completed match must be verified (i.e., score, cautions, send offs) immediately after the game by the team coach or manager.  Match reports that are not verified stand as submitted and may not be contested or appealed.

 

2)       The U8, U9, and U10 age groups are non-competitive and have no scoring or championship game.  Please refer to the Awards Section (L) for information on recognizing the players participating in these age groups.

 

3)       For the U11 and older age groups, scoring will be determined upon whether the Division is a Championship Division or Non-Championship Division.

 

4)       For Non-Cup Divisions without playoffs - the team with the most points wins, the team with the second most points is runner-up.  The points are based on the following criteria: Win – 3 points; Tie – 1 point; Loss – 0 points.  In the case of a tie, the following Tie Breakers will determine the winner and/or second place:

 

a)       Head to head winner.  In the case of a three-way tie, head to head is thrown out.

 

b)       Most wins.

 

c)       Fewest goals against.

 

d)       Goal Differential ( with a 3 goal max per game) - Difference between goals for and goals against.

 

e)       Least red cards.

 

f)         Penalty Kicks

 

5)       For Cup Divisions and Non-Cup Divisions with playoffs, scoring and advancement are determined as follows:

 

a)       During the preliminary stage of the tournament, teams are bracketed in groups of three or four and matches will not have overtime periods.  Matches will be counted as: Win -3 points; Tie - 1 point; Loss - 0 points.

 

b)       In the elimination stage, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, extra time of two ten minute halves will be played applying the Golden Goal rule (first team to score). If a winner is not decided after this extra time, kicks from the penalty mark as per FIFA laws will decide the match.

 

c)       In the event a tie breaker is necessary to determine which teams will advance beyond the round robin, the following order of tie breakers will apply:

 

(i)       Head to head winner.  In the case of a three-way tie, head to head is thrown out.

 

(ii)     Most wins.

 

(iii)    Fewest goals against.

 

(iv)    Goal Differential - Difference between goals for and goals against.

 

(v)      Least red cards.

 

(vi)    Penalty Kicks.

 

J)     PLAYER EQUIPEMENT

 

1)       All team players must wear acceptable and nominally identical uniforms consisting of shirt/jersey/t-shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, and suitable footwear. All uniforms shall be appropriately numbered and such number shall coincide with game roster.

 

2)       Goalkeepers must wear distinctly different uniform from the other players on both teams. The Field Marshall or referee will direct the removal of any apparel that in his opinion may be dangerous.  In the event of a uniform color clash, the designated home team will change colors.

 

K)    CONDUCT

 

1)       There is no smoking, no alcohol and no pets at any of the tournament locations

 

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

 

3)       Players, coaches and team officials ejected from a game by the referee shall be automatically suspended for the following game and, depending on the violation, may be suspended for more games as determined by the Tournament Committee and/or Disciplinary Committee.

 

4)       The referee only may suspend play or abandon the game.  If the referee abandons a game due to misconduct by players, coaches, or spectators on one team, a victory will be awarded to the opposing team with the score being 3-0.

 

5)       During play, spectators from both teams shall be required to watch from one side of the field as designated by the Field Marshall.  Players and coaches shall be at their respective benches on the opposite side of the field.

 

6)       The Tournament Committee reserves the right to suspend any player, coach, or team, from the Tournament for unruly conduct.

 

L)     PROTESTS

 

1)       Judgement calls by referees may not be appealed.  Disciplinary Committee and Tournament Committee decisions may not be appealed.

 

2)       All protests must be submitted in English to the Disciplinary Committee within three hours of the end of the match with a $100 () cash non-refundable fee.  Only protests that concern the Laws of the Game and ineligible players will be considered.  All decisions will be in the best interest of soccer and may not be appealed.

 

3)       The decision of the Tournament Manager, in conjunction with the Board of Directors and/or Tournament Committee, on any matter is final and may not be appealed.

 

M)   AWARDS

 

1)       For U8, U9 and U10 Age Groups, participation awards will be given to all players.  There are no First or

Second Place

awards and no final game for U8, U9 and U10 age groups.

 

2)       For U11 and older age groups, awards will be given for First and

Second Place

in each Division.  In Championship Divisions where there are multiple flights, the overall First and

Second Place

winners will receive awards.

 

3)       All participants, regardless of age, will receive a commemorative tournament patch.

 

N)    GENERAL

 

1)       The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of the forgoing rules and regulations shall be final and the Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the Tournament.