RULES AND REGULATIONS
This is a US Club Soccer sanctioned event but teams from US Club, USYS and AYSO are all welcome but must bring their 2008-2009 player cards and medical releases.
This tournament shall be played under F.I.F.A. rules for youth competition. All games will adhere to the rules set forth with the following additions/clarifications:
· Decisions relating to the interpretation of the Tournament Rules can only be made by the Tournament Director.
· Tournament Director may delegate authority to Site Manager or Field Marshall if Tournament Director not present at game site.
· Disputes relating to the interpretation of these rules will be resolved with the administrators/coaches that are registered with the involved team(s). Individuals may not represent a team if not registered as an administrator/coach with the involved team(s).
· All decisions, judgments, and calls of tournament referees and Tournament Director or designated Field Marshall are final. No protests will be allowed.
Eligibility
Teams will play in age brackets for 2008-2009 season. U9 & U10 ages will play 8v8 with no exceptions.
Teams must be affiliated with FIFA and/or USSF and players and coaches must have laminated cards.
Five (5) loan players will be permitted with a maximum roster size of U9 & U10 (14 players), U11-U19 (18 players) with loan papers, if applicable.
Registration
Teams will register on the Field one hour before the team’s first game.
There will be no additions to the team roster after the team registers. Player cards or medical releases may be accepted later by Field Marshall but only if player is listed on the official team roster at time of registration.
At registration, a complete and signed Team Roster must be submitted by Coach or Manager who must certify that all players are FIFA and/or USSF 2007/2008.
Laminated player cards with photo and the player's signature (for States that require signatures, photos and/or laminated cards for identification) and medical release forms will be required at registration.
Check-IN--Game
Teams will check-in 20 minutes prior to game time at game site. Field Marshals will check in all teams and will hold player ID cards during match. Player Passes are to be returned after each game. Coach or Team Administrator will hold Medical Release forms. The Field Marshall will collect match cards, which must be signed by Coach or Team Administrator.
Conduct
The following rules of conduct apply:
· All coaches have complete responsibility for the conduct of their players, bench, friends, and spectators at all times.
· If, in the opinion of game officials, a game must be terminated for misconduct of players, bench or spectators, the offending team can be suspended from further play and forfeit that game and all remaining games. In this event, all previous points earned remain as played.
· Any player or coach ordered from the field of play (RED CARD) will not be allowed to participate in the next match as a minimum and if violent conduct occurs the player or coach may be ejected for remainder of tournament at discretion of Tournament Director. Two YELLOW cards during match shall be ejected for remainder of the match and may serve a one game suspension at the discretion of the Tournament Director. A one point deduction will be given to the offending team for each red card (double yellow included).
· Disciplinary measures imposed by this tournament organization for inappropriate behavior shall be limited to placing restrictions upon an individual player, coach, and spectator or team's participation in the tournament. Such disciplinary action will be as determined by and at the discretion of the Tournament Director or designated Field Marshall and can include exclusion from further tournament participation
· Any cards issued will be reported to the team's National Association in the tournament report and thereby to the home club/league of the player, coach, team or supporters involved except that all matters involving a referee assault shall, in accordance with USSF Rule II08, be referred immediately to the team's National Association. The home state association and the home club/league of the player, coach, team or supporters shall, except in the case of referee assault, have the responsibility for imposing, should the circumstances warrant additional sanctions, within their respective jurisdictions, with regard to matters arising from the tournament.
· All players are required to use shin guards at all times. No shin guards - No play!
· No player may compete in the Tournament on more than one team.
Competition Format
Home teams are listed first and will choose sides in case of a conflict. The home team will change jerseys in case of a color conflict.
All games will begin on time. A forfeit will be declared if a team cannot field a minimum of seven (7) players at start time.
Preliminary round game times may be varied by Field Marshall to maintain game start schedules. These games may end in a tie.
Teams will be grouped into divisions according to age and gender and will play all their games within the9ir assigned divisions. Younger players or teams may elect to play in older divisions.
· Teams/players will compete based on the 2008/2009 age groups.
· All teams will play minimum of 3 games unless the scheduled games are shortened or canceled due to rain, unforeseen circumstances such as critical injury or acts of God
· The Tournament reserves the right to alter the game formats to enhance competition and to improve the overall quality of the Tournament. Teams will compete in Six, Eight, Twelve, Sixteen or Thirty Two team divisions as follows:
-SIX TEAM DIVISIONS will consist of two (2) groups of three (3) teams each. Each team will play the other teams in its group plus a crossover game in other group for a total of three (3) preliminary round games. In crossover game 1st of Group A will play 2nd of Group B and 1st Group B will play 2nd of Group A in Semi Final matches. 3rd of Group A will play 3rd of Group B. The Semi Final winners will play for the championship.
-EIGHT TEAM DIVISIONS will consist of two (2) groups of four (4) teams each. Each team will play the other teams in its group for a total of three (3) preliminary round games. The winner of Group A will play the winner of Group B for the championship.
All games will consist of the following periods with a five (5) minute half time:
| Age Brackets | Each Half |
U15 - U19 |
40 minutes |
U13 - U14 |
35 minutes |
U11 - U12 |
30 minutes |
U9 – U10 |
25 minutes |
All championship games will consist of the following periods with a ten (10) minute half time:
| Age Brackets | Each Half |
U15 - U19 |
40 minutes |
U13 - U14 |
35 minutes |
U11 - U12 |
30 minutes |
U9 – U10 |
25 minutes |
Championship games ending in a tie, after regulation time, will have two five (5) minute overtime periods . If still tied, teams will go to F.I.F.A. kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner (special goal at site may be used for PKs).
In case of inclement weather or field conditions, games may:
· Be shortened
· Go to F.I.F.A. kicks from the penalty mark to determine the winner
· Be canceled
Games for U9-U12 will use an official size #4 ball. Games involving U13 - U19 will be played with an official size #5 ball.
STANDINGS
1. 6 Points for each win
2. 3 Points for each tie.
3. 1 Point for a shutout.
4. 1 Point for each goal scored up to a maximum of 3 per game.
5. Zero points for a loss.
6. Minus 1 point for each player or coach ejected (red carded).
7. No shutout bonus point for a 0-0 tie.
At the end of each game, the Coach or Team Administrator must carefully review and sign the score card. Coach or Team Administrator should review CHIVAS CUP website to verify scores properly recorded and contact Field Marshal and/or Tournament Director immediately of any possible errors. The score card is official match record and may not be changed except under the following circumstances:
Score corrections:
- If Coaches/Team Administrators of both teams, meet with Field Marshal and agree to a score correction, the Field Marshal will correct the score and other records accordingly.
- If Referee verifies incorrect score was recorded, Field Marshal (with Tournaments Director’s approval) may correct score and other records accordingly.
- Scores incorrectly posted on Website shall be investigated by Field Marshall by checking original match record and corrected accordingly.
Red Card corrections:
- If Referee verifies incorrect player was recorded as receiving Red Card (includes double Yellow), Field Marshal (with Tournament Director’s approval) may correct records accordingly.
TIE BREAKERS and WILDCARDS
For 12 team divisions, the wildcard team will be the team that does not win their bracket, with the highest point total of all three brackets. In the event of a tie on point totals for Wildcard (or within any Bracket), the following tie breaking system will apply.
· Head to Head (where applicable).
· Goal Differential, total all goals counting for (maximum 4 in any individual game) minus total all goals counting against (maximum 4 in any individual game)
· Goals Scored, total goals counting for (maximum 4 in any individual game)
· Goals Allowed, total goals counting against (maximum 4 in any individual game)
· F.I.F.A. kicks from the penalty mark (unless otherwise mutually agreed by both Coaches or Team Administrators, scheduled 30 minutes prior to next match at match site—special goal may be used).
SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions may be made, with the consent of the referee, at any stoppage in play.
Special Rules
As you complete this application and make your payment online, your application is considered complete and your team will be considered for acceptance into the tournament. Making your payment does NOT guarantee acceptance into the tournament. You will receive confirmation that a payment has been received. This is not an acceptance notification into the tournament. The COPA CHIVAS USA , while trying to be equitable in it's team selections, reserves complete jurisdiction of the teams that are selected for whatever reasoning.
In the event of an unusual event that results in a significant loss of game time, the lost game time may be rescheduled at the discretion of the Tournament Co-Directors. The rescheduling of the lost game time is subject to field availability. An example of an unusual event would be a major injury to a player, which prevented the use of the playing field. The Tournament defines a significant loss of game time as more than half of the game. An accumulation of time delays due to minor/moderate injuries to several players would not constitute an unusual event nor will these delays be considered lost game time. An accumulation of time delays resulting from the normal course of a game will not be considered lost game time.
Tournament Director/Site Manager may shorten games as necessary to make sure all matches scheduled on a given field are played. For example, a field running behind schedule due to an injury may have all remaining games shortened by few minutes each game so that each game gets played.
Tournament Director or referee may suspend any match or tournament in consideration of safety to players or damage to fields in event of inclement whether under any circumstances. Partial refunds for cancelled or suspended games will be considered by Tournament Committee and determine the amount to be refunded but will not exceed $100 per game. No refund will be allowed due to forfeit of game by team accepted to tournament.
