RULES OF COMPETITION

Tournament Approval Form

1. General

This Class I/ Class III tournament is open to under 9 through under 19 boys and girls teams from CYSA-S, USYSA National Affiliates, AYSO, and all FIFA foreign affiliates. The application deadline is July 15, 2009. Qualifying applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any application. Decisions are final.

1A. Tournament Director and Headquarters: Paul Kaminski 4949 Lorelei Ave. Lakewood, Ca. 90712

      Paul Kaminski     562 547-6224.

2. Roster

The roster limit is a maximum of eighteen (18) players (14 maximum in U9 & U10). A Maximum of eighteen (18) guest players is allowed. All players must have a laminated Player Pass from their state or national association. A medical release form is also required. Any player without both of these documents will not be allowed to play. Travel papers are required for teams from outside of CYSA-S.

3. Tournament Check-In

Coaches must check their teams into the tournament one hour before game time at the field of their first match. All rosters, medical release forms, and player ID cards will be verified at check-in. Coaches must submit the completed game card and signed team roster at this time.

3A. Teams from the United States:

       1. The players must have picture identification cards issued by the team’s Federation Organization Member.  (CYSA, AYSO, other)

       2.  Teams must provide proof of approval of the team’s participation from the team’s Federation Organization Member.

       3.  Teams outside the State Association where the tournament is located must provide proof of permission to travel.

3B. Foreign Teams: For a team coming from a CONCACAF nation:

       1.  Players must present passports at time of registration or if from a nation that the United  States doesn’t require a passport, proof of entry into the United States that is required by The United States.

       2.  Teams are required to have and present player picture identification cards.

       3.  Tournament rules must require that the team have a completed form from its Provincial or National Association approving the team’s participation in the Tournament.

4. Game Check-In

Teams must be at their assigned fields at least thirty (30) minutes before their scheduled game times for check-in. The "No Shin-guard, No Play" rule will be strictly enforced. Also, baseball cleats (those that contain a toe cleat) will not be allowed. No hard casts are permitted.  Soft casts are permitted with the permission of the referee.  All players must have appropriate jerseys, with unique numbers prominently displayed on the backs. The player ID cards of the two teams will be collected and verified.

5. Home Teams

The first team listed on the playing schedule is the designated home team. The two teams competing in a game must locate themselves on opposite sides of the field. The home team shall have the first choice of location. There shall be no persons allowed behind the goals at anytime during the match. Teams shall

include players, substitutes, coaches, and spectators. The home team will provide the game ball if one is not provided by the tournament. The designated away team will have the privilege of calling the coin toss. If the referee determines there is a conflict in the jersey colors of the two teams, the home team is required to change to another color jersey. Any home team required to change to another jersey that fails to provide the means of doing so will be in violation of the rules and forfeit for that game.

6. Forfeits

Any team that fails to have seven (7) eligible players on the field at the scheduled game time, in appropriate uniform, will forfeit the game. There will be no grace period. The Tournament Committee will credit a score of 1-to-0 (7 points) to the team that was present, ready to play.  Teams that forfeit will be allowed to continue play in the tournament.

7. Game Cards

The Field Marshal shall present the game card to the referee before the start of each game. Referees will enter goals scored, the half-time score, and the final score of the match. Referees will also record any misconduct (Jersey #, first and last name of any player, coach, or spectator ejected or cautioned), and return the cards to the Field Marshal. See #10. Misconduct Red and Yellow Cards.

8. Rules of Play

Games will be played according to FIFA Laws of the Game, except as modified by these Tournament Rules of Competition. Table 1 summarizes the significant differences. All Finals games will be regulation length.

9. Substitutions

Free substitution is allowed during any dead ball (with the consent of the referee). In addition, when the game is stopped for a caution, the cautioned player may be substituted. Free substitution is allowed for U15 and under.  For age groups U16 and older, free substitution is allowed providing the tournament is not an official competition (but a friendly club tournament) and the age category does not include matches between national teams of CONCACAF member countries.  If it DOES involve national teams, then up to six substitutions are allowed.

10. Misconduct, Red and Yellow Cards

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team (including coaches, players, and spectators) and may be cautioned or ejected for their misconduct. Verbal abuse will not be tolerated at anytime. Spectators, players and coaches may be asked to leave the facility for verbal abuse. Any player or coach ejected will not be permitted to participate in the remainder of that game and their team’s next scheduled game, which means the can not be present at the match site; not on the sidelines, not in the stands, not on the facility. At the discretion of the tournament committee, ejected players/coaches may be suspended from participation for the remainder of the tournament. A red card will result in the deduction of 1 point from the team’s total number of points in the standings. The Field Marshal shall immediately report all red cards to the Head Field Marshal and the Tournament Director. The Field Marshal must collect a completed "USYSA Referee's Report" from the referee for each red card issued. There are no penalties for the accumulation of yellow cards.  Note: This report must be filed the same day as the red card was issued  Field marshals and/or referees will not hold ejected player/coach passes. 

***Alcoholic Beverages, are not permitted at any facility.

TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF LONG BEACH UNITED PYRAMID CUP AGE GROUPS AND GAME LENGTHS

AGE                BORN              GAME            OVERTIME            BALL

 UNDER        ON/AFTER      LENGTH        HALF LENGTH        SIZE

19                    8/1/91             60                    15                                5

18                    8/1/92             60                    15                                5

17                    8/1/93             60                    15                                5

16                    8/1/94             60                    10                                5

15                    8/1/95             60                    10                                5

14                    8/1/96             50                    10                                5

13                    8/1/97            50                    10                                5

12                    8/1/98             50                    10                                4

11                    8/1/99             50                    10                                4

10                    8/1/00             50                    10                                4

  9                    8/1/01            50                    15                                4

10A. Roster size for U9-U10 is a maximum of 14.  Roster size for U11-U19 is a maximum of 18.  Teams         will play a minimum of three games over two days, with a maximum of four games over two days.  Some brackets will include round robin play with a winner being determined by the most points scored during competition.  Other brackets may include cross-over play to determine a champion.  This would take place after pool play.  In this case the two first place teams from each pool would play a championship game.

10B. PLAYERS CREDENTIALS AND UNIFORMS:

         1. Player identification cards are to be present and available at all matches.

         2.  Identification cards are to be checked by the field marshal and referee prior to each match.

         3.  The shirt number of each player must be the same as on the daily match report or roster.  If the numbers are not the same; the referee is not allowed to let the player take part in the match, until the numbers are the same.  (The match report being changed or the player’s jersey being           changed).

11. Termination

If the referee, due to weather, field conditions, or misconduct terminates a game, the Tournament Committee will decide the impact of this termination on the tournament standings.

It is recognized and understood upon entering the Long Beach United Pyramid Cup Tournament that adverse weather is an act of God. Further, entrance to this tournament requires acceptance of all decisions regarding use of facilities (therefore, potentially, the outcome of competition) by the Tournament Committee as final without objection, appeal or compensation whatsoever.

Refunds will be provided if teams withdraw before July 5th, 2006.  After this date, Refunds will be granted up the half the tournament registration cost.

12. Protest

The Long Beach United Pyramid Cup Tournament Committee will accept no protest. Decisions by referees and field marshals are final.  All other non-game related disputes will be handled by the tournament director, whose decision will be final.

13. Point System & Team Standings

Team standings will be determined by a point system. Each team will receive six (6) points for each win, three (3) points for each tie, and no points for a loss. In addition, a bonus point will be awarded for each goal scored (maximum three per game), and one point for a shutout. No bonus points are awarded for a 0-0 tie. Total number of points determines the 1st team in each bracket. Red Cards will be deducted from a team’s point total before determining a team’s place finish.

If necessary, the wild card team is the 2nd place team with the most number of points in the DIVISION. The standard tie-breakers (#14) will be used to resolve wild card selection in the event of a tie on the total number of points between two or more 2nd place teams.

14. Tie Breakers

In the event that teams are tied on points, the tie will be broken by the following factors, in order: 1. Head-to-head record; 2. Least goals allowed; 3. Goal differential (Maximum 4 per game); 4. Most shut-out wins; and 5. Kicks from the Penalty Mark, per FIFA Laws of the Game.

The championship game cannot end in a tie. If a championship game is tied at the end of regular time, the two teams will play two equal overtime periods. The duration of these overtime periods is given in Table 1. For the overtime periods, choice of ends and the kick off shall be determined by the toss of a coin. If the game is still tied at the end of the two overtime periods, the outcome of the game will be determined by Kicks from the Penalty Mark, per FIFA Laws of the Game.

Some division schedules may include quarterfinal and semi-final games. If these games are tied at the end of regulation time, the games will proceed directly to Kicks from the Penalty Mark, per FIFA Laws of the Game.

15. Championship Awards

First and second place awards will be given to the players of the two top teams in each division.