The Williamsburg Cup - Tournament rules

Tournament Rules
Tournament Rules - PDF Version

GENERAL
All Tournament matches will be played in accordance with "The Laws of the Game" as issued by FIFA/USYSA except as modified in these "Tournament Rules."

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Each team shall be allowed a maximum of eighteen (18) players. All teams must be USClubSoccer, USYSA, USSF and FIFA affiliated, in good standing with their state associations. Player Passes authorized by their respective soccer association shall be verified and compared with an approved state association roster at tournament registration. Players must be born during or after the year and month indicated by the age division in which they are to compete. NOTE: Coaches shall insure that the player passes presented at registration, and prior to each match correspond directly to the approved state roster.
Back to top

Eligibility
This is a USYSA/VYSA sanctioned tournament for club and tournament teams. Teams must be USYSA, USSF, FIFA, or US Club Soccer affiliated, in good standing with their state association, and players possess 2007-2008 player passes. Teams affiliated with AYSO, SAY, US Club Soccer or Super Y League are also welcome. National, state or league select teams are not eligible. A maximum 6 USYSA carded guest players are allowed. Teams must be USYSA, USSF, FIFA affiliated, in good standing with their state association, and players possess 2007-2008 player passes. Teams will be evaluated on their individual team records.
Back to top

REFEREES
A three-person referee system will be employed at all times except for U-10 and U11 matches. Officials will be USSF certified and in good standing. If there is only one referee present for a preliminary match at the scheduled start time, the referee present shall commence the match using volunteer linesmen. Should the missing referee(s) arrive at the field, he/she shall enter the match at an appropriate time and the volunteers shall be relieved of their duties. Priority in reassignment will be to U-15 and above.
Back to top

PLAYER EQUIPMENT
Shoes must meet FIFA specifications and shin guards must be worn during play. In the event of a uniform color conflict, the home team shall change. The home team is listed first on the game schedule. No jewelry may be worn by any player during a match (earrings, watches, necklaces)
Back to top

DURATION OF MATCHES
The duration of halves is listed below. The interval between halves shall be five (5) minutes. The referee is the official timekeeper of the match. Intervals between matches may be reduced to maintain the schedule.

U-13 through U-19: 35 minutes
U-12: 30 minutes
U-10 and U-11: 25 minutes
Back to top

BALL SIZE
U-13 through U-19: Size 5
U-10 through U-12: Size 4
Back to top

TEAM/SPECTATOR FIELD POSITIONS
Coaches and players shall stand on opposite sides of the field from parents and spectators. No coaching shall be permitted within 18 yards of the goal line, from behind the goal line or from the parent/spectator sideline.

Parents and spectators from both teams shall stand on the same side of the field. The behavior of the parents and fans remains the responsibility of the coach. The referee and the Field Marshall are authorized to remove any spectator whose behavior, in their opinion, interferes with the play of the game. All spectators will remain behind spectator lines, as designated.
Back to top

WARNINGS & EJECTIONS
If a player is ejected from a match (red card by the referee) that player must sit out the remainder of that match plus his/her team ís next tournament match. No substitution may be made for the ejected player during the match in which the red card was issued. Two yellow cards constitute a red card and ejection.

Coaches that receive a red card or two yellow cards in the same match are subject to the same penalties outlined above for players. Any coach ejected from a match will not be allowed in the general vicinity of the field (as defined by the referee) for the remainder of that match and the team's next match.

No team or club official may enter the field of play, regardless of the circumstances, unless that person has been given permission by the referee.

Red cards issued after the end of regulation play or as a result of physical assault are subject to review by the Tournament Rules Committee and a more strenuous penalty, that is not subject to appeal, may be issued. Should the infraction be sufficiently serious law enforcement authorities may be summoned. All infractions shall be reported to the host association (VYSA) for relay to the team's state association following the tournament. In accordance with USSF Rule 3042, red cards for assault, abuse or like offenses shall be reported immediately.
Back to top

PROTESTS
No protests shall be allowed.
Back to top

FORFEITS
Teams may not play any games without having registered first or the game will be forfeited.

A forfeit shall be awarded if a team is not present and prepared to play within five (5) minutes of the scheduled commencement time. A ten (10) minute allowance shall be made for Semi-final and Final matches. A team that cannot field seven (7) players at the scheduled commencement time shall forfeit the match.

The team forfeiting the match shall be declared the loser by a score of three (3) to none (0). Further, the Tournament Director reserves the right to sanction teams and amend these rules to address additional forfeits that are not in the "spirit of the game."
Back to top

SUBSTITUTIONS
Either team shall have unlimited substitutions subject to the following conditions and upon approval of the referee:

Prior to throw-in by the team in possession.
Prior to a goal kick by either team.
After a goal.
Throw-in by the team in possession.
Halftime or the beginning of an overtime period.
After a yellow card for the carded player.
Any time approval is granted by the referee (as in the case of injury for the injured player only). Note: When this occurs, the opponent may substitute a like number.

FIFA LIMITED SUBSTITUTION RULES WILL APPLY IN DIVISIONS INVOLVING MORE THAN ONE FOREIGN TEAM IN THE U-16 THROUGH U-19 AGE CATEGORIES. (Only five (5) substitutions shall be allowed in each game. After leaving the game, the substituted player shall not be allowed to re-enter the game.)
Back to top

TOURNAMENT STANDINGS/TIE BREAKERS
Division standings shall be calculated using the following point system:

WIN: 3 Points
TIE: 1 Point
LOSS: 0 Points
Back to top

DETERMINATION OF WILD CARDS, SEMI-FINALISTS AND FINALISTS
Division standings will be based upon total points at the completion of preliminary matches (i.e. the team with the most points finishes first).

Tie-breakers. Total point ties within divisions will be broken by the following tie-breakers in order:

Head to head competition during the tournament of the two tied teams. (Disregard if more than two teams tied).
Team with the highest goal differential totaled for all preliminary matches. A maximum differential of four (4) goals per match will be counted. Goal differential equals goals for minus goals against.
Most goals scored (up to five per match) in preliminary matches.
Most wins in preliminary matches.
Least amount of red cards followed by least amount of yellow cards.
If still tied after steps 1-5 above, both teams will proceed to an available field, at the time and place directed by the Tournament Director/Field Marshal, and take penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA tie-breaker rules.

Wild Card. A "wild card team" must be determined when there are three divisions of four teams (Divisions A, B and C). The team with the best overall record advances. A coin flip must be accomplished to determine the wild card team's opponent as teams from the same division may not play each other again. For example, if the wild card team comes from the C division a coin flip will be held between the winners of divisions A and B. The winner of the coin toss will play the wild card team and the loser will play the winner from division C.
Back to top

TOURNAMENT OVERTIME
All preliminary matches tied will remain a tie. In the Semi-final and Final matches, if regulation play ends in a tie score, the following steps will be taken:

Two (2) ten (10) minute overtime periods will be played. The golden goal rule will apply. The first team to score a goal wins.
If still tied after two (2) overtime periods, the tie will be broken by penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA tie-breaker rules.

Only players on the field after the second overtime period will be allowed to participate in penalty kicks.

Goal keepers may not be changed during the penalty kicks except in the case of injury, in which case the opposing team may also elect another goalkeeper. Substitute goalkeepers must be chosen from players on the field.
Back to top

TIE-BREAKER CLARIFICATION
Once a criteria has been used to determine a tie-breaker, teams must continue to the next criteria and may not revert back.

Example: Three teams each have 6 team points. Team "A" is winner over team "B", "B" over "C", and "C" over "A". Three teams are tied so, criteria #1 (head-to-head) is disregarded.

Team "A" and "B" have goal differential of 7 goals, and "C" has a differential of 5 goals. Therefore team "C" is eliminated. You do not revert back to criteria #1 (head-to-head). The next criteria is #3 (total goals scored) to determine the winner between teams "A" and "B".
Back to top

INCLEMENT WEATHER
For Weather Updates and Tournament Hotline Call 757-220-3794!
Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear at their respective field site, prepared to play as scheduled. Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the match. Only the referee or Tournament Director may cancel or postpone a match.

In the case of severe weather, in their discretion, the referees or Tournament Director may either cancel or discontinue a match, relocate and/or reschedule a match or reduce the scheduled duration of a match by 50%.
Back to top

DISCLAIMER
Neither the Tournament Director, the Williamsburg Soccer Club, Tournament Sponsors or coaches of host teams are responsible for any expenses incurred by any team if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part due to inclement weather, adverse field conditions or circumstances beyond the Tournamentís control, nor will any refunds be made.
Back to top

The Tournament Director reserves the right to decide all matters relative to the Tournament and his decisions are final. All decisions of the referee are final and binding.
Back to top

TEAM CONTACTS
Each team, upon arrival in Williamsburg, shall provide the name of the hotel/motel, room and telephone number of the coach, assistant coach or team representative at Tournament Registration so contact may be made by Tournament Officials in the event conditions require it. Teams shall ensure that the point-of-contact information provided is for a team official that is reasonably accessible during non-game hours.
Back to top

PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONS
In the event of a problem, or if a team has a question about the tournament, they should first check with the Field Marshall at the field headquarters at the respective field. The Field Marshall will check periodically with Tournament Headquarters and can resolve most problems. The Tournament Director will ultimately decide all issues not resolved at the field location. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final.
Back to top

U-10 and U11 RULES

Start of play - Conform to FIFA except that the opponent must be eight (8) yards from the center mark while the kick-off is in progress.
Ball in and out of play - Conform to FIFA “Method of Scoring”
Off-side - Conform to FIFA “Fouls and Misconduct”
Free-kicks - Conform to FIFA except that opponents must be eight (8) yards away from the ball.
Penalty kicks - Same as free kicks.
Throw-ins - Conform to FIFA.
Goal-kicks - Conform to FIFA.
Corner kicks - Conform to FIFA except that opponents must be eight (8) yards away from the ball.
Referee - One central official.
Other - Games are 7v7. Substitution on the fly. Equipment same as per FIFA rules.