Ridley United Soccer Club - Tournament Rules

The Tournament Committee and Ridley United Soccer Club (RUSC) will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team, club or individual if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part. Every effort will be made to play the tournament in full, however, should severe inclement weather cause partial or whole cancellation there will be no refunds. There is no make-up or rain date planned for the tournament.

The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of these rules shall be final and binding. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament.

All teams are responsible for their own insurance. In the case of injury during travel or while participating in the tournament, RUSC and the Tournament Committee will not be liable.

At registration on Friday evening, each team must submit a State-stamped roster.

First and second place awards will be presented to winners and runner-ups in each division.

Be at your field ready to play 20 minutes before game time.

Referee will toss coin with team captains to start the game and choose goal.

Both coaches must sign game reports.

It is expected that each team will participate in the customary handshake and exchange of patches at the completion of each game.

2. Laws of the Game

All games will be played in accordance with FIFA, EPYSA and USYSA laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.

3. Eligibility and fees

All participating teams must be currently registered with their State association. Rosters, player passes and medical release forms for all players will be required at registration. U-9 through U11 will pay $400.00, U12 through U16 will pay $425.00 and U17 will pay a $475.00 tournament fee. However, any team who submits their application and payment postmarked prior to July 1 will receive a $25.00 discount. This is a “B” level tournament. No Premier, Cup or Select teams will be accepted*.

*NOTE: To clarify, a team’s competitive level (division 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) will be determined based upon the division they will be playing in for the upcoming Fall 2011 season.

4. Team Sizes and Guest Players

Three guest players per team are allowed. Your guest players cannot bring your roster size over the maximum allowed for your age group. There will be a maximum of 14 players on U-09 through U-11 teams and 18 players on U-12 through U-17 teams.

5. Ball Size/Duration of Game

Size 4 ball for ages U09, U10, U11 and U12; games consist of two 25 minute halves

Size 5 ball for age U13, U14, U15, U16 and U17; games consist of two 25 minute halves

6. Inclement Weather

In the case of severe inclement weather, the Tournament Committee shall have the authority to change the format as follows:

· Relocate or reschedule any game;

· Consider as complete a game that has been call by an official once 50% of the game has been played;

· Cancel any preliminary games that have no bearing on the selection of division winners or runners-up;

· Reduce the duration of any game as needed.

7. Refund policy

No refunds will be made for cancellation in whole or in part due to severe inclement weather. Any request for a refund of tournament registrations fees must be received in writing (email is sufficient) by the tournament director (ridleytournament@hotmail.com) prior to July 15 at midnight. There will be no refunds issued after July 15.

8. Substitutions

Substitutions may be made without limit, with the permission of the referee as follows: after a goal has been scored, at any goal kick, at your own throw in, after an injury, for a yellow carded player.

There will be no substitutions for a player who has received a red card. A red-carded player will not be permitted to play in the remainder of the tournament.

No player is permitted to play for more than one team during the tournament. Any player found to be playing for more than one team during the tournament will be cause for immediate disqualification of those teams involved.

9. Protests

There will be no protests allowed.

10. Games and Equipment

All uniforms must be numbered. In the event of conflicting color jerseys the home team will be required to change (home team is listed first on the schedule). Players are required to wear shin guards in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

11. Conduct

Players, coaches and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit and laws of the game. Players, coaches or spectators ejected from a game by the referee will be required to leave the field area. Severe misconduct and/or failure to comply with a referee could result in disqualification from the remainder of the tournament. Verbal or physical abuse of a referee will not be tolerated. Coaches are expected to exercise proper judgment with respect to running up the score in the event that a game is ‘decided’ prior to the end of regulation.

Players and coaches shall occupy opposite sides of the field as the spectators. Spectators should be seated or standing on the half of the field directly across from their affiliated team. No one will be permitted behind either end line.

Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any game sites.

12. Failure to Show and Forfeits

There will be no grace time allowed for teams not at the field of play at the scheduled time of kick-off. The opponent shall be awarded a 1-0 win for the match. A minimum of seven players is required for play to begin.

In no event shall a team who forfeits a game be eligible for first or second place awards. The team with the next best record or point total shall be declared the award winner.

13. Determination of Division Winners

Each team will be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. There will be 1 point awarded for a shutout.

FOUR/FIVE TEAM DIVISION:

· At the end of play, the division champion will be the team with the most win/tie points. The finalist will be the team with the second best win/tie points. In the event of a tie within the division, the following criteria will be used to determine the division champion and finalist, in the following order:

· Head to head competition (this will not be used in the case of a three way tie);

· Fewest goals allowed;

· Best goal differential (maximum of +3 per game for a win, -3 per game for a loss);

· Penalty kicks

SIX TEAM DIVISION:

At the end of play within each three-team pool, the pool winner will be the team with the most win/tie points. In the event of a tie within the pool, the following criteria will be used to determine the pool winner:

· Head to head competition (this will not be used in the case of a three way tie);

· Fewest goals allowed;

· Best goal differential (maximum of +3 per game for a win, -3 per game for a loss);

· Penalty kicks

Winners of each pool play each other for their third game. The points earned as a result of this game will determine the champion and finalist for the six-team division, and is therefore a championship game. No points earned in pool play carry forward to the points earned in the championship game. Teams in second and third place in their pool play the team in the same position in the alternate pool for their third game. Second and third position games resulting in ties stand as ties. In the event of a tie championship game in a six-team division, penalty kicks will determine the winner.