UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED BELOW,
FIFA "LAWS OF THE GAME" AND USSF YOUTH RULES
I. CREDENTIALS
All teams must provide properly laminated, league, state or International player passes or necessary credentials.
II. GAME FORMAT
1. Each team will play a minimum of 3 games.
2. Game length for PRELIMINARIES AND SEMI FINALS for U9- through U-13 will be 25 minute halves, U-14 through U-19 will be 30 minute halves.
3. U9 and U10 teams will play 8-a-side, with a maximum size roster of 14 players.
4. Preliminary games may end in a tie. Semi Finals go straight to penalty kicks if game ends in a tie. FINALS only will be regulation game length per age bracket including Overtimes and Penalty Kicks. (2) ten minute overtimes.
5. HOME TEAM will be listed first on schedule and will have choice of team sidelines (bench), choice of field to defend, provide game ball, and change jerseys in CASE of color conflict (Referee’s decision).
6. AWAY TEAM will be listed second on schedule and will have choice of jersey color and initial kick-off to start the match.
III. SCORING
In Preliminary games, teams will accumulate points to determine who advances to the single elimination rounds (usually semi-finals and finals).
1. Standard points are awarded points as follows: 3 points for a win 1 point for a tie 0 points for a loss
2. A Forfeited game will be worth (3) points, as it resulted in a 1-0 game score. The "forfeit one, forfeit all" rule will be in play.
3. Ties in bracket standings will be broken sequentially by:
a. Head to Head competition, only if all teams tied have played each other. b. Most wins by shut out.
c. Goal differential. Goals scores minus goals allowed. d. Goals allowed (fewest being best).
e. Goals scored (most being best). e. Penalty kicks per FIFA rules.
4. CROSS- BRACKET PLAY (7, 9 or 10 teams):
In a bracket that uses CROSS-BRACKET PLAY (a bracket of 7 or 10 teams), if both teams in one group win both of their preliminary games, those two teams will advance to semi finals. The first team listed in the group will advance as the first place team from their group and the second team listed will advance into the semis as the first place team from the opposing group from preliminary games.
Subsequently: both teams in the opposing group that lost both of their preliminary games (in the cross-bracket play) will be placed as the second place teams (wild card rules will still apply). The first team listed in the group will become the second place team from their group and the second team listed will become the second place team from the opposing group.
5. NO PROTESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
IV. SPECIAL INTERPRETATION OF RULES
1. All games will start at the scheduled time with a 5 minute grace period allowed. Failure to start the game on time will result in a forfeiture of the game by the offending team. If a team does not take the field with a minimum of 7 players (5 players for U9 & U10) at the scheduled start time then that team will forfeit that game.
2. Official tournament lineup cards will be used for each game. Coaches must report to the Field Marshall at the end of each match.
3. Teams must be on opposite sides of the field. Home teams have choice of side.
4. A player with an injury that is protected by a hard cast will not be allowed to play, no metal braces allowed. All other braces or player medical hardware at referee discretion. Referee Coordinator has final say. NO protests allowed.
5. SHIN GUARDS ARE MANDATORY. A player without shin guards will not be allowed to play.
6. Unlimited substitution will be allowed at any stoppage of game with referees consent and by entering at the mid field line or as instructed by the referee.
V. DISCIPLINE
1. A cautioned player (yellow card) MUST be substituted at the time of caution, and may be substituted back in, at the next substitution allowed by the referee.
2. A player receiving two yellow cards (red card) will sit out the remaining of that game BUT will be allowed to play their next game. If a player receives a yellow followed by a straight RED CARD then the player will be suspended for the remainder of that game and the next game.
3. A player or coach receiving a red card will be suspended from the remainder of that game and the next game. The Tournament Committee could extend the suspension for the balance of the Tournament.
4. All interpretations of the rules and other decisions pertaining to 2nd Annual Independence Cup tournament will be made by the Tournament Committee and will be final.
5. All disciplinary cards are to be reviewed by the Tournament Committee for any additional action if required.
6. Any team refusing to complete a game will forfeit the game and will be reported to its playing league/organization.
7. If the referee terminates a game for any reason, the Tournament Committee will review and decide the outcome of the game.
8. If a team forfeits one game - all games played by that team will be considered forfeited. "Forfeit One, Forfeit All" rule.
9. Clocks will not stop for injuries. If there is a serious injury the decision will be made by the Tournament Committee to allow for additional time.
VI. MISCELLANEOUS
1. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, SMOKING, PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON ANY PLAYING FIELD.
2. PLEASE OBEY ALL PARKING SIGNS. YOU WILL BE SITED IN AREAS POSTING "NO PARKING" SIGNS.
Rules