AV HEAT LANCASTER CUP 2003

Tournament Rules

PURPOSE

The purpose of the AV Heat March Madness Tournament is to promote the game of soccer through friendly competition and provide participating teams a format which closely resembles that of the CYSA-South State Cup Competition. This includes regulation match time limits during Preliminary Rounds of competition and a State Cup Championship format to assist teams in their final preparations for their State Association National and/or Open Cups.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

The Tournament shall be played under F.I.F.A. rules as modified by CYSA-South for youth competition. All matches will adhere to the rules set forth with the following modifications:

• The Tournament Director or his/her designee, or the Tournament Committee is the only body that may make decisions relating to the interpretation of the Tournament Rules.
  
• Disputes relating to the interpretation of these rules will only be addressed with registered team administrators or coaches involved with the team. Unregistered or uncertified individuals may not represent a team or club.
  
• No protest will be allowed. All decisions, judgments, and calls made by the Tournament Director or his/her designee or referees are final.
  
• FIFA limited substitutions shall apply in divisions involving more than one foreign team in the U16-U19 age group categories. Only five (5) substitutions shall be allowed in each match. After leaving the match, the substituted player shall not be allowed to re-enter the match. This substitution rule will be enforced in the appropriate age divisions.

ELIGIBILITY

All teams must be affiliated with FIFA and/or USSF. Players, coaches, and administrators must have valid, current laminated pass cards and medical release forms in order to be eligible to participate in the Tournament.

All teams affiliated outside of CYSA-South must submit proper travel papers and documents through their State Association or governing body.

U10 age group will play 8 v 8 with no exceptions.

Unlimited loan players are permitted with a maximum roster size of 18 players, (14 players for U10 age group) with proper loan papers if applicable.

REGISTRATION and CREDENTIAL CHECK-IN

Unless otherwise coordinated, teams must register at mandatory Credential Check-In, Friday evening, March 21, 2003.

A complete and signed Team Roster must be submitted at Credential Check-In by a registered Team Official who must certify that all players, coaches, and administrators have valid, current passes and/or medical release forms.

Laminated player, coach, and administrator pass cards with signatures (for States that require signatures) and photos are required at Credential Check-In and must be present with the team throughout the duration of the Tournament.

There shall be no additions or modifications to the team roster after Credential Check-In.

PRE-MATCH CHECK-IN

Teams shall check-in with Field Marshals at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of each match at their assigned field location. Referees will hold all player and administrator ID pass cards during the match and shall complete the match results card at the end of each match. Field Marshals will collect match results cards after they have been signed and verified by an Official Administrator from each team.

CONDUCT

The following rules of conduct shall apply during the Tournament:

• All coaches and team administrators are responsible for the conduct of their players, bench, friends, and spectators at all times.
  
• If, in the opinion of match officials, a match must be terminated due to misconduct of players, coaches, administrators, bench or spectators, the offending team may forfeit that match and may be suspended from further play and all remaining matches.
  
• Any player, coach, administrator, or spectator ejected from a match or ordered from the field of play (RED CARD or DOUBLE YELLOW CARD) will not be allowed to participate in the next match as a minimum. If the ejection was the result of violent conduct, the offending party may be penalized an additional match, or for the remainder of the Tournament at the Tournament Director’s discretion. Two YELLOW CARDS during a match constitutes ejection for the remainder of the match and serves a one-match suspension for the next match at a minimum.
  
• Disciplinary measures imposed by the Tournament or it’s representatives for inappropriate behavior shall be limited to placing restrictions upon an individual player, coach, administrator, spectator or teams participation in the Tournament. Such disciplinary action will be as determined by and at the discretion of the Tournament Director, his/her designee, or Tournament Committee and can include exclusion from further tournament participation.
  
• Any cards issued will be reported to CYSA-South in the tournament report and thereby to the home club/league of the player, coach, administrator, spectator, or team involved except that all matters involving a referee assault shall, in accordance with USSF Rule 1108, be referred immediately to CYSA-South. The home State Association and the home club/league of the player, coach, administrator, spectator, or team shall, except in the case of referee assault, have the responsibility for imposing, should circumstances warrant, additional sanctions within their respective jurisdictions with regard to matters arising from this tournament.
  
• No player may compete in the Tournament on more than one team.

COACHING FROM THE SIDELINE

Coaching from the sideline (giving direction to one’s own team on points of strategy and position) is permitted, provided:

• No mechanical devices are used
• The tone of the voice is informative and not derogatory
• Each coach, substitute, or player remains within 10 yards on either side of the halfway line or midfield line
• No coach, substitute, or player uses profanity
• No coach, substitute, or player incites in any manner, disruptive behavior

PLAYER SAFETY

• No player wearing an orthopedic cast, temporary cast, or splint shall be permitted to play in the Tournament.
• Shin guards are mandatory for all players participating in the Tournament.

COMPETITION FORMAT

The players, coaches, and authorized administrators from both teams shall be placed on the same side of the field as determined by the Tournament Committee. Friends, spectators, and others shall be stationed on the opposite side of the field of play from team members.

Home teams are listed first on the schedule and are required to change jerseys in the event of a color conflict.

Matches involving U10 through U12 teams will be played using an official size #4 ball. Matches involving U13 through U19 teams will be played using an official size #5 ball.

All matches must start on time as scheduled. A forfeit will be declared if a team cannot field a minimum of seven (7) players at the scheduled start time of the match.

All teams will play a minimum of three (3) Preliminary Round Matches unless scheduled matches are reduced or shortened due to rain, unforeseen circumstances, or acts of God.

The Tournament reserves the right to alter the competition formats to enhance competition and to improve the overall quality of the Tournament. To the extent possible, teams will compete in six (6); eight (8); ten (10); twelve (12); and sixteen (16) team divisions as follows:

• SIX (6) TEAM BRACKETS – will consist of two (2) groups of three (3) teams each. Each team will play the other teams in its group plus a crossover match in the other group for a total of three (3) preliminary round matches. The winner of Group A will play the winner of Group B for the Championship.
  
• EIGHT (8) TEAM BRACKETS – will consist of two (2) groups of four (4) teams each. Each team will play the other teams in its group for a total of three (3) preliminary round matches. The winner of Group A will play the winner of Group B for the Championship.
  
• TEN (10) TEAM BRACKETS – will consist of two (2) groups of five (5) teams each. Each team will play the other teams in its group for a total of four (4) preliminary round matches. The winner of Group A will play the winner of Group B for the Championship.
  
• TWELVE TEAM BRACKETS – will consist of three (3) groups of four (4) teams each. Each team will play the other teams in its group for a total of three (3) preliminary round matches. The winner of Group A will play the Wild Card (WC) in Semi-Final #1 and the winner of Group B will play the winner of Group C in Semi-Final #2. The Semi-Final winners will meet for the Championship. In the event the WC comes from Group A, then the winner of Group A will play the winner of Group C and the winner of Group B will play the WC.
  
• SIXTEEN TEAM BRACKETS – will consist of four (4) groups of four (4) teams each. Each team will play the other teams in its group a total of three (3) preliminary round matches. The winners of Group A and B will play in Semi-Final #1 and the winners of Group C and D will play in Semi-Final #2. The Semi-Final winners will meet for the Championship.

At the end of each match the coach or other team administrator must sign the match results score card. The score indicated on the match results score card cannot be disputed or protested after it is signed and turned over to the Field Marshal.

Tournament Officials or the Referee may vary preliminary round match time in order to maintain the Tournament Schedule. Preliminary matches may end in a tie.

All Preliminary Matches will consist of regulation match time for the appropriate age group with a five (5) minute half time period.

All Quarter Final and Semi Final matches ending in a tie after regulation time shall proceed immediately to FIFA kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner.

All Preliminary, Quarter Final, and Semi Final Rounds shall consist of the following periods with a five (5) minute half time:

All Championship Matches shall consist of the following periods with a ten (10) minute half time.

Championship Matches ending in a tie after regulation time shall proceed directly to the Over-Time Period applicable for the age group. Golden Goal will apply during Over-Time Periods (the first team to score in Over-Time wins the match). If the match is still tied at the completion of both Over-Time Periods, teams will proceed immediately to FIFA kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner.

STANDINGS

The following Point System will be incorporated to determine 1st Place and Wild Card selection during Preliminary Round of competition:

• Three (3) Points for each win
• One (1) Point for each tie
• Zero (0) Points for each loss

For Flights where the Wild Card format applies, the Wild Card team will be determined as the team that does not win it’s bracket with the highest point total.

The following tiebreaker rules shall apply to teams tied in Points after completion of Preliminary Round of Play:

a) Head to Head Results

b) Goal Differential (goals scored minus goals allowed to a maximum differential of 4 goals per match)

c) Least Goals Allowed

d) Most Goals Scored (maximum of 4 goals per match)

e) Shut-Out Wins (forfeits not counting)

f) FIFA kicks from the penalty mark

If more than two (2) teams are tied at the end of Preliminary Round of competition, the tiebreaker criteria listed above shall be used in order shown to advance or eliminate one team. The remaining teams will then be compared, beginning again with criterion (a) to determine ultimate placement.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee at the following times:

• Prior to a throw-in by the team in possession
• Prior to a goal kick, by either team
• After a goal, by either team
• After an injury, on either team when the referee stops play
• At half-time
• On a caution, only the cautioned player may be substituted at that time
• Prior to the start of either Over-Time Period

In those U16 and older age groups with more than one foreign team, the Tournament shall comply with FIFA limited substitution rules for U16; U17; U18; and U19 amateur youth teams. “Friendly Five School Boy Rule” shall apply.

AWARDS

Team Trophies will be awarded to the first (1st) and second (2nd) place finishers in each age group/flight of competition. Individual medals will be awarded to members of the first (1st) and second (2nd) place teams. Additionally, each participant will receive a tournament souvenir.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event of inclement weather or field conditions, matches may:

• Be shortened
• Proceed directly to FIFA kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner
• Be canceled

REFUND POLICY

Refunds will be made to all teams not accepted.

Teams withdrawing from entry to the Tournament by March 1, 2003 will be given a full refund. No refunds will be given to teams who drop or withdraw after March 1, 2003.

The Tournament Director or referee may suspend any match or the tournament entirely in consideration of safety to players and spectators, or damage to fields in the event of inclement weather conditions under any circumstances. Partial refunds for canceled or suspended matches will be considered by the Tournament Committee and determined in full accordance with CYSA-South guidelines but will not exceed $100 per game. No refund will be allowed due to forfeit of a match by a team accepted to the tournament.