Rules and Regulations
2008 Continental Cup
Rules & Regulations
Tournament Sanctioning Form
REQUIREMENTS: Teams are required to provide the following when checking into the tournament:
o Player passes
o Travel permission form
o Player Waiver Form (roster, insurance, medical and photo release)
DOMESTIC TEAMS
FOREIGN TEAMS
- Players must present passports at registration
- Teams must have a completed form from its Provincial or National Association approving the team’s participation in the tournament
- Teams must provide an Official Roster.
PLAYER AGE ELIGIBILITY (born on or after)
- Boys & Girls U10 – August 1, 1997
- Boys & Girls U11 – August 1, 1996
- Boys & Girls U12 – August 1, 1995
- Boys & Girls U13 – August 1, 1994
- Boys & Girls U14 – August 1, 1993
- Boys & Girls U15 – August 1, 1992
- Boys & Girls U16 – August 1, 1991
- Boys & Girls U17 – August 1, 1990
- Boys & Girls U19 – August 1, 1988
ROSTER SIZE
- Boys & Girls U10 – maximum roster size of 12
- Boys & Girls U11 – maximum roster size of 14
- Boys & Girls U12 – maximum roster size of 14
- Boys & Girls U13 – maximum roster size of 18
- Boys & Girls U14 – maximum roster size of 18
- Boys & Girls U15 – maximum roster size of 18
- Boys & Girls U16 – maximum roster size of 18
- Boys & Girls U17 – maximum roster size of 18
- Boys & Girls U19 – maximum roster size of 18
GUEST PLAYERS PERMITTED
- 5 guest players are allowed per each team. This applies to all age groups. These guest players must be included on your roster and count towards your maximum roster size. USYS teams who wish to use guest players must have a National State Association, US Youth Soccer Guest Player Form attached to their roster. All Guest Players/Replacement Players must meet the following criteria:
- Guest players must be from the same USSF affiliate as the team to which
they are requesting play
- Players can only appear on one roster per age group
- Younger players are permitted to “play up” an age group, but must be listed on both rosters
MATCH LENGTH
- Boys & Girls U9 -- 2 x 25 minute halves -- No. of players 6v6
- Boys & Girls U10 – 2 x 25 minute halves – No. of players 6v6
- Boys & Girls U11 – 2 x 25 minute halves – No. of players 8v8
- Boys & Girls U12 – 2 x 25 minute halves – No. of players 8v8
- Boys & Girls U13 – 2 x 30 minute halves – No. of players 11v11
- Boys & Girls U14 – 2 x 30 minute halves – No. of players 11v11
- Boys & Girls U15 – 2 x 30 minute halves – No. of players 11v11
- Boys & Girls U16 – 2 x 30 minute halves – No. of players 11v11
- Boys & Girls U17 – 2 x 30 minute halves – No. of players 11v11
- Boys & Girls U19 – 2 x 30 minute halves – No. of players 11v11
MATCH SCHEDULES
- Each team will play a minimum of four (4) games for the tournament (number of games depends on number of participating teams).
- The tournament reserves the right to combine age groups, depending on the total number of teams in identified age divisions. Teams will be notified prior to the tournament, if groups are to be combined.
TEAMS
- The home team will be determined by which team is listed first. Any color conflicts will be resolved by the home team. Both teams will be on the same side of the field; spectators will be located on the opposite side of the field.
PLAYER CREDENTIALS & UNIFORMS
- Player passes (passports for international teams) are to be presented and available to the head referee at all matches. The shirt number of each player must be the same as the player’s shirt number on the daily match report or roster. If the numbers are not the same, the referee is not to allow the player to take part in the match until the numbers are the same (Example – the player changing his or her shirt, or daily match report being changed).
PLAYER EQUIPMENT
- Shin guards are required for all players – no exceptions.
- Casts – no hard cats are permitted; soft casts are permitted with the permission of the referee.
LAWS OF THE GAME
- NO GRIEVANCE TIME ALLOWED
- NO WARM-UP TIME ON THE FIELD
- GAMES MUST START AT SCHEDULED TIMES – no exceptions
- All matches must be played in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game.
SUBSTITUTIONS
- Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee at the following times:
o After a goal by either team
o At half-time
o Prior to a goal kick by either team
o After an injury by either team when the referee stops play
o Prior to a throw-in. The team in possession of the ball for a throw-in may
substitute. If the team in possession of the ball chooses to substitute, the
opposing team may alsosubstitute at that time.
MATCH DELAYS, SUSPENSIONS, CANCELLATIONS
- In the event that the tournament is cancelled, a refund of the entry fee (if any) or a portion of the entry fee will be determined by the Board of Directors after all expenses have been calculated.
- Weather
o Games called off during the first half by the referee or Tournament
Director, because of weather conditions, will be decided as follows: the team
up by 2 goals or more shall be awarded a win. If the score differential is 1 goal or
less, the game will be recorded as a tie.
o Games called off during the second half by the referee or Tournament Director,
because of weather conditions, will be confirmed complete and will be scored
according to the score at the time the game is called off.
o Due to circumstances or conditions beyond its control, the Tournament Director
will not be responsible for the loss of any funds due to the cancellation of all or
any part of this tournament.
TOURNAMENT SCORING SYSTEM
· Scoring System
o Win = 3 points
o Tie = 1 point
o Loss = 0 points
· In the elimination stage, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, kicks form the
penalty mark, as per FIFA laws will decide the match.
· In the pre-determined pairings for the elimination stage, adjustments will be made
accordingly if the wild card team comes out of the same preliminary round bracket.
· Tie-Breaker Procedures:
· Head-to-Head competition
· Goal differential (goals for & goals against) – example, 7 goals for, 1 goal against = +6
· Goals For
· Goals Against
· Penalty Kicks
MATCH & SCORE REPORTING
· The official match report for each completed match must be verified (i.e., score, cautions,
sendoffs) at Field Headquarters at each site immediately after the game by the team
coach or manager. Match reports that are not verified stand as submitted and may not be
contested or appealed.
PROTESTS & DISPUTES
· Red Cards will be administered as per FIFA Laws of the Game.
o A player sent off for a second caution will not be allowed to play for the remainder
of that game and the next game.
o The referee will display both the yellow and red cards to indicate the dismissal for
a second cautionable offense.
o A player sent off for any other reason will not be allowed to play for the remainder
of that game and the next game at a minimum.
· Violence may result in more than a one (1) game suspension by the Tournament Director.
o If a player receives a Red Card, the player pass will be retained by the referee and
forwarded to tournament headquarters.
o After suspension is served, the coach may pick up the pass in headquarters.
· No protests will be heard on judgment calls by the referee. All decisions by the referee
are final.
· Protests on player eligibility must be stated prior to the start of the game.
· Protests on other technical matters may be made in writing and submitted to
headquarters, along with a $200 fee.
· Express concerns regarding violations prior to the start of the game or at the time the
incident occurs.
· If you have a problem regarding the rules or procedures at your game, take the following
steps:
o Notify the referee immediately so that a correction can be made.
o If the situation is not resolved, notify the Tournament Director and the official will
respond.
o For United States teams, the Tournament Director will be notified along with the
Federation Organization Member of that team in which disciplinary action is taken
or required.
o For CONCACAF teams, the Tournament Director will notify the US Soccer
Federation of any disciplinary action taken or required to that team’s provincial or
national association.
GAME BALLS
· The tournament is responsible for supplying the game balls. All balls are FIFA approved.
The sizes are as follows:
o Boys & Girls U10-U12 – size 4
o Boys & Girls U13-U19 – size 5
REFEREES
· All referees will be USSF Certified.
INJURIES
· Medical staff will be on site.
· Coaches are considered guardians for underage participants when the parents are
unavailable, and for all players regardless of age, when impairment of mental status
renders the player incapable of making decisions.
· A coach’s decision to allow a participant to play, contrary to the recommendation of the
medical staff, may leave the coach open to legal liability.
· If the coach is under the legal age, the team is required to have official representation of
the legal age at the field who will serve as the legal guardian.
· Coaches are responsible for having emergency medical information for all players in their
possession at all times.
· Referees are responsible for summoning the coach and first aid personnel onto the field, in
the event of an injury.
o The injured player will first be evaluated on the field by first aid staff.
o If further evaluation is warranted, the inured player will be moved to the sideline
when medically safe, according to emergency medical protocol.
REFUNDS
· There will be no refund if an opposing team does not show up for the game.
· Tournament cancellation due to weather or other conditions WILL NOT result in a refund of the entry fee.