GENERAL INFORMATION
Each team will play a minimum of three (3) games. One award per player is presented to first and second place teams in each class of competition. The traditional exchange of team patches following games is encouraged.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
All participating teams must be properly registered and in good standing with their sanctioning organization. Only Club Teams with a maximum of three (3) guest players are accepted. Each team must submit an approved Team Roster at the time of registration composed of no more than a maximum of 14 players (U9, U10, U11 & U12 (8v8). A maximum of 18 players for U12 (11v11), U13 – U16. 22 players for U17 & U19. All teams outside of Region 1 are required to present an approved application for travel form as filed with their state association if applicable. Teams within Region 1 are not required to present the form, with the exception of New Jersey and Connecticut. All teams must also present a medical release form for each player on the roster or guest player, at registration.
NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE ABOVE MAY BE MADE.
All players must be born in the year of their age classification or later. Player registration cards duly authorized by a team’s sanctioning organization shall be required as proof of age and eligibility. Player passes are verified against the roster at Registration and before each match if requested by a coach or tournament official. No player is allowed to be registered with more than one team or to transfer from one team to another once the tournament has begun. A player must play for the team to which they are primarily rostered if that team is in the tournament.
TOURNAMENT AGE GROUPS
Boys and Girls U09 through U19: 2007-2008
REGISTRATION AGES
- Under 09: after July 31, 1998
- Under 10: after July 31, 1997
- Under 11: after July 31, 1996
- Under 12: after July 31, 1995
- Under 13: after July 31, 1994
- Under 14: after July 31, 1993
- Under 15: after July 31, 1992
- Under 16: after July 31, 1991
- Under 17: after July 31, 1990
- Under 19: after July 31, 1988
TOURNAMENT RULES
The Tournament is played in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game Guide for Referees: United States Soccer Federation, except as modified in this document (see the end of this document for U09/10/11-specific differences). Potomac Soccer Association intends to apply the rules as presented in this document, but reserves the right to rule as it deems necessary on any situation. Potomac Soccer Association is not responsible for any expenses incurred by any Team or Club if the Tournament is canceled in whole or part.
Law II: The Ball
- Under 09 through Under 12: Size 4
- Under 13 through Under 19: Size 5
Law III: Number of Players
Unlimited number of substitutions are allowed at the discretion of the referee. Substitutions are allowed, at the discretion of the referee, after any goal, any kickoff, goal kick, throw in on your own possession, injury at referee's discretion. And an opponent may substitute if the team with possession and a throw in chooses to do so.
U17 / U19 Rule ModificationU17 and U19 teams may have up to a maximum of 22 players on their tournament approved roster, which may include up to a maximum of 3 guest players. Prior to each match the team must provide to the field marshal their chosen 18 man roster for that particular match. Only these 18 players may remain in uniform in the bench area during the match.
Law IV: Players Equipment
Each player must have a different number, which must coincide with the number on the team’s Tournament Roster. All teams must have two jerseys of different colors. In case of color conflicts, the first team listed in the Schedule must change.
Laws V and VI: Referees & Assistant Referees
All referees are certified by the USSF. U09-U12 age groups use a 1-referee system. U13-U19 age groups use a 3-referee system. If less than two assistant referees appear at a game, the referee and Field Marshal shall solicit and the coach of each team shall offer volunteers. The referee shall select the best qualified person(s) and explain the role of the assistant referee to the volunteer(s).
At the conclusion of each game, the referee submits an official game report to the Field Marshal, including the final score, the name and number of all players cautioned and/or sent off and the reason why, and the signature of each team’s coach or manager is required on each game report.
Law VII: Duration of the Game
- 25-minute halves: Boys & Girls U09-U11, U12(8v8)
- 30-minute halves: Boys & Girls U12(11v11)-U14
- 35-minute halves: Boys & Girls U15-U16
- 40-minute halves: Boys & Girls U17-U19
The interval between halves is five (5) minutes.
CONDUCT
Potomac Soccer Association does not tolerate disruptive behavior on or off the field or at area hotels, by players, coaches, parents or other spectators. No alcoholic beverages may be present or consumed at the field sites. Players, coaches, managers, parents and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible manner at all times. No team official or spectator may enter the field of play regardless of the circumstances unless the person has been given permission to do so by the referee.
Note: No smoking is allowed at the MD SoccerPlex. It is a smoke free facility by county law. No pets are allowed at the Maryland SoccerPlex facility. Any individual bringing a pet will be asked to remove that pet from the premises, immediately, by the Park Police.
POSITION OF PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS ON THE FIELD
Players and coaches for both teams shall occupy one side of the field, while spectators affiliated with those teams shall occupy the side of the field opposite that of the teams. All persons affiliated with a team are permitted on the sidelines only, not behind the goal line, and must remain at least 3 yards from the field of play at all times. No individual may stand closer to the end line than the 18-yard line. The team listed first in the Schedule has choice of sides.
FORFEITS
A team shall forfeit if it is not prepared to play with seven players within 10 minutes of the scheduled kick-off time (five players in the case of U09-U11, U12 (8v8) age groups). In no case shall a team which forfeits a game be declared a Round Robin Division Winner or Runner-Up or Wildcard Team.
If a team forfeits one Round Robin Game, it forfeits all its games in the Round Robin, even if one or more games have already been played. The winning teams will be awarded a 3-0 win. The forfeiting team may play all remaining Round Robin Games with referees as official exhibitions. Teams are requested to be present at least 30 minutes prior to scheduled kick-off time.
TOURNAMENT PROTESTS
No protests are accepted.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event inclement weather forces cancellation of a game after at least half of regulation time has been played, the game shall be considered official and the score at the point of cancellation shall be the final score. The decision on whether a game has been canceled or will be recommenced if weather improves (and if the referee agrees to resume play) is made by the Field Marshal. If a game must be stopped before halftime, the Field Marshal rules on its rescheduling. Such a game may be temporarily halted and recommenced, picking up where play stopped. Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams MUST appear on the field of play ready to play as scheduled unless officially notified not to appear by the Tournament Director. Failure to appear (unless notified) results in forfeiture of the game. In case of inclement weather, the Tournament Director or the Field Marshal may reduce the length of the game by 50 percent (no halftime break except to switch ends of the field). The Tournament Director or the Field Marshall or the referee may postpone or cancel any game. If the decision is made to postpone or cancel, that decision is final. Teams that continue to play shall be suspended from the Tournament.
TOURNAMENT STANDINGS AND TIE BREAKERS
1. In Round Robin play, teams receive a maximum of ten (3) standings points per game, as follows:
- three (3) points for a win
- one (1) point for a tie
- zero (0) points for a loss
If at the end of round robin play teams are tied in point totals the following will be used to determine the group winner:
· Head-to-head result (used only if 2 teams are tied)
· Most wins
· Total goal differential (goals for minus goals against) in all games
· Fewest goals allowed
· Penalty Kicks (in accordance with FIFA penalty kick tie break procedure)
*If three or more teams are tied on points at the conclusion of Round Robin play, the first tie-breaker is the number of points accumulated by each team in games among the teams tied. If one team has an advantage over all other teams tied at any point in the tiebreaker process, they are declared the winner. The next tiebreakers are also only used for the games among those teams tied.
Please note: the tiebreaker procedure for three or more teams tied at the conclusion of Round Robin play is only used until two of the three or more teams remain. At that point the original 2 team tiebreakers are reapplied to break the tie between the two remaining teams.
2. In flights where there are three groups of four teams, the 1st place team in each group advances to the semifinals along with the 2nd place team (Wild Card) with the most standings points. If two or more 2nd place teams have the same number of standings points, tiebreakers above are used to break the tie. The group winner with the most standings points (Group Winner 1) shall play the Wild Card team in the semifinals, unless they both come from the same group. In that event, the group winner with the second-most standings points (Group Winner 2) shall play the Wild Card team in the semifinals, and Group Winner 1 shall play Group Winner 3.
3. If Elimination Round Games end in a tie, there shall be two (2) periods of overtime will be played, each consisting of 5 minutes. The score at the conclusion of both overtime periods shall stand. If the game remains tied at the conclusion of the overtime periods, referees shall proceed to FIFA Penalty Kicks to determine the winner of the game.
4. If the Final ends in a tie, there shall be two (2) periods of overtime played, each consisting of 10 minutes. If the game remains tied at the conclusion of both overtime periods, referees shall proceed to FIFA Penalty Kicks to determine the winner of the game.
Players, coaches or spectators receiving a red card (or ejected for the match) or two yellow cards in a match will be sent off for the rest of that match and must sit out the next match that their team plays. This applies to all group, semifinal and final games. NO EXCEPTIONS, NO PROTESTS AND NO APPEALS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES REGARDLESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MATCH TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OR TEAM.
U09/10-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES AND INFORMATION
1. Number of Players: 7-a-side (6 plus goalkeeper)
2. Field Size: 45-50 yards x 65-70 yards
3. Goal Size: approximately 6.5 feet x 18 feet
4. Roster Size: Maximum number of registered players is 14
U11 & U12 (8 v 8)-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES AND INFORMATION
1. Number of Players: 8-a-side (7 plus goalkeeper)
2. Field Size: 45-50 yards x 65-70 yards
3. Goal Size: approximately 6.5 feet x 18 feet
4. Roster Size: Maximum number of registered players is 14
CANCELLATION
In the event of tournament cancellation, there is no guarantee of refunds.
