Thunder Summer Invitational Rules and Regulations

Competition

1. All games will be played according to FIFA rules except as modified by these rules, USYSA and CYSA-S.
2. All game results will be considered final and NO protests will be allowed or considered.
3. In the case of any game caused to be abandoned for any reason, the Tournament Committee shall review the circumstances of the game, and shall be solely responsible for determining the outcome of the match.
4. The Home Team shall be listed first on the game schedule. The Home Team shall provide a suitable game ball.
5. In the event of a uniform color conflict (as determined by the referee) the Home Team shall change to an alternate color, or wear contrasting pinnies as appropriate.
6. The Home Team and spectators shall occupy the west or north end of the field.
7. All teams shall be present at the appropriate field a minimum of 30 minutes before game time.

Credentials

1. Each participating team must be comprised of properly registered and rostered players as defined by USYSA and CYSA-S.
2. Each player on each team shall provide a properly laminated player ID card. Any player without a valid card WILL NOT be allowed to participate in any games.
3. Any team from outside the CYSA-S district must submit appropriate Travel Papers to the Tournament Director a minimum of two weeks prior to the tournament.
4. All players must present their laminated ID cards to the referee prior to each game.
5. Team rosters of all eligible players shall be frozen at the time the team is checked in by the tournament administrators.
6. At the time and place designated for team check in with the tournament officials, each team must have a representative present with the laminated player cards, CYSA registration forms/medical release forms/birth certificate of each player.

NOTE 1: The time and place of the official check-in will be made known to all teams with the Tournament Acceptance Correspondence.
NOTE 2: If a team is unable to have a representative at the official check in time and location, they must obtain permission from the tournament director to check in at an alternate time acceptable to the Tournament Director. If such arrangements are not made, that team may be dropped from the tournament with no refund.

Misconduct and Related Matters

1. Misconduct by any player, parent, coach, administrator or team may be reviewed by the tournament committee.

2. Any player receiving a red card, or a coach who has been ejected, will be suspended for the remainder of that game and the entire next game. This includes players receiving a “second yellow” red card.

3. The referee will retain a red carded player’s ID card or an ejected coach’s administration card, and surrender it to the Tournament Director.

4. A red carded player or ejected coach will not be allowed at the site of the game in which they have been disciplined, nor at the site of the next game for which they are suspended. The referee or Tournament Committee may define how far the disciplined individual must remove themselves.

5. Violent conduct red cards or ejections may result in the individual being suspended from participating for the remainder of the tournament.

6. A 1 (one) point penalty will be assessed and deducted from the teams point score for each red card presented to a player or each ejection to a coach. All red cards and ejections are reported to CYSA-S and the team’s home association as applicable.

7. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of all parents, spectators or any person that is on their sideline. If a spectator is asked to leave, the coach will convey this information to the ejected spectator and will supervise their immediate withdrawal from the vicinity of the field.

8. If a game is terminated for any reason, the Tournament Committee shall determine the exact course of action to be taken.

9. In instances of misconduct so severe as to be regarded by the Tournament Committee as cheating, or when a team deliberately violates the tournament rules, the tournament reserves the right to forfeit ALL games without refund and the incident reported to CYSA-S.

10. All matters pertaining to disciplinary actions and decisions, whether specifically addressed by these rules or not, are the sole responsibility of the Tournament Committee which reserves the right to report any incidents to CYSA-S.

Forfeits, Game Starts and Game Suspensions

1. All games shall start at the scheduled time with a running clock.

2. Tight scheduling consideration require that there will be NO grace period to start a game.

3. If a team does not take the field with a minimum of seven (7) players at the scheduled game time then that team will forfeit the game.

4. A forfeit win is reported as a 2-0 score and awarded a total of 9 (nine) points.

5. In the case of inclement weather all teams should assume that the games will be played on time unless official notification from the Tournament Staff is given.

6. In the case of bad weather resulting in a game postponement or cancellation, teams shall be notified at the earliest opportunity.

7. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to shorten any game for reasonable cause such as inclement weather.

8. Every effort will be made to play the scheduled games as published, but circumstances beyond the tournament’s control may result in cancelled, shortened or rescheduled games.

9. The Tournament reserves the right to change field assignment at any
time.

Health and Safety

1. No smoking or use of tobacco products will be permitted anywhere in the vicinity of the fields.

2. No alcohol or illegal substances shall be permitted under any circumstances.

3. Care shall be taken when retrieving balls from the non-developed areas of the soccer complex. It is suggested that an adult supervise ball retrieval in such cases.

4. Keep off all embankments surrounding the soccer complex.

5. All tournament officials reserve the right to enforce common sense safety practices.

Game Officials

1. The appointment of game officials shall be the responsibility of the tournament committee which has contracted with the Antelope Valley Soccer Referee Association (AVSRA).

2. All officials shall be USSF registered.

3. It is NOT acceptable to direct abuse at or threaten any official for any reason.

4. At the conclusion of each game, the referee will give to the site Field Marshall, the line-up forms from the completed games.

5. Unless amended by these rules or those of CYSA-S, games shall be played under the FIFA Laws Of The Game.

Substitution

1. CYSA-S State Cup substitution rules will apply

2. The referee must be informed of, and must agree to, any substitutions to be made.

3. Subject to #2 above, substitutions shall be allowed as follows:

a. Upon a throw in awarded to the substituting team.(CLARIFICATION: only on team’s own possession).
b. Upon a goal kick by either team.
c. After a goal by either team.
d. For an injured player. (A player may be substituted for the injured player only.)
e. If a player receives a yellow card, the coach of the cautioned player may choose to substitute the cautioned player (recommended, but not compulsory).

Format of Play

1. Playing times for each half shall be as follows:

2. Ties shall stand in ALL preliminary games.

3. Point System:

a. 6 points for a WIN
b. 3 points for a TIE
c. 0 points for a LOSS
d. One point for each goal scored (maximum three points per game).
e. One point for each Shut-out for no goals allowed by a winning team. (Clarification: 0-0 tie is not awarded any shut out points)
f. Maximum number of points which can be received by any team in one game is 10 (ten).
g. A 1 (one) point penalty will be assessed and deducted from the teams point score for each red card presented to a player or each ejection to a coach. (See “misconduct” #6 above)
CLARIFICATION: a losing team may accumulate “negative points” in the event of red carded players/ejected coach.

4 Semi-Final and Championship games, if tied at the end of regulation play, will result in tie breakers, the maximum duration of which is shown above.

5 Tie breakers, when played, SHALL BE “GOLDEN GOAL”. (Clarification: If a tie breaker is played, THE FIRST VALID GOAL SCORED in the tie breaker period shall win the match for the scoring team, and the game is ended.)

6 If a game subject to the tie Golden Goal tie breaker procedure above does not result in a winner, then penalty kicks from the mark will take place subject to FIFA rules.

7 Half time periods in all games shall consist of a 5 minute break, no more, no less. The two halves of overtime play will be separated by a break of no more than 1 minute.

8 Tie Breaking Procedure (Preliminary games)

a. Head to Head result of tied teams
b. Team which allows the fewest goals against
c. Fewest yellow cards received (Only a factor in the tie breaker procedure)
d. Most shut-out victories recorded.
e. FIFA Penalty Kicks from the mark

Refunds

1. No refunds will be considered unless requested in writing a minimum of 30 full days prior to the tournament date.

2. There will be no refunds or reimbursement of the tournament fees for the cancellation or forfeiture of any game.

3. No refunds will be allowed for any team disqualified from the tournament.

4. In all instances the refund policy of CYSA-S shall supersede these rules.