2009 International Amateur Soccer Tournament

Tournament Rules

Team Eligibility Requirements. This is an invitational tournament, and in the exercise of his discretion the Tournament Director will issue invitations to teams of boys with birth dates on or after 1 January 1992 in the following categories:

national teams,
Olympic and Olympic development teams,
academy/youth teams affiliated with elite, professional teams based outside the United States of America,
teams accepted into the United States Soccer Development Academy League, and/or
very highly ranked independent club teams in the highest division in the county, state, province or country where they are based. In the exercise of his discretion, the Tournament Director may rescind any invitation prior to final written or electronic Tournament acceptance of a team’s application.

Team Application Requirements. A team application must consist of

a completed and signed team Application Form in the form enclosed with the team’s invitation,
a completed and signed Club/Team Release and Indemnity Agreement in the form enclosed with the team’s invitation,
a completed and signed Player Release and Indemnity Agreement in the form enclosed with the team’s invitation,
written proof of approval of the team’s participation from the amateur soccer governing organization in its home country (referred to herein as a “Soccer Association”),
a copy of each player’s picture identification card issued by its Soccer Association; however, if the Soccer Association’s approval letter states that it does not issue picture identification cards to team players, that Application requirement will be waived for the team and all its players if the team sends with its Application one passport size photograph of each player with his name and jersey number printed on the back,
for teams outside the jurisdiction of the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, written proof of permission to travel in connection with the Tournament by the team’s Soccer Association except that United States Youth Soccer State Association teams within Region I (not including Connecticut Junior Soccer Association and New Jersey Youth Soccer Association teams) do not require “permission to travel papers”,
for teams residing outside the United States, a copy of the picture and issue/effectiveness data pages of each player’s, coach’s and other accompanying staff member’s passport,
payment of the Tournament Application fee and participation deposit, if applicable.

If the team’s Soccer Association letter of approval to participate states that it does not issue picture identification cards, the Tournament Administration will issue the team’s player picture identification cards at final registration at the Tournament site using the passport photographs referenced in Rule 2(d) above.

Team Size & Player Eligibility Requirements.

Team rosters may not exceed twenty (20) players of whom at least fourteen (14) must be registered to play on the applicant team for the Fall 2008 Season by its Soccer Association and not more than four (4) of whom may be guest players; however, except in cases of common team ownership discussed below, all guest players must be registered to play on a team in the same league as the applicant team by the applicant team’s Soccer Association, but a guest player may not be registered by that Soccer Association to play on another team that applies to participate in the Tournament; by way of exception, however, if the applicant team is under common ownership or control as another team registered by another Soccer Association, guest players registered by the other Soccer Association are permitted on the applicant team up to the guest player limit provided in this rule.
A player may play for only one team in the Tournament.
Not more than 18 players may be eligible for a match; however, a different active roster of 18 eligible players may be designated for each match.
At least fifteen (15) minutes before the scheduled start of each match, a team coach must submit to the field referee seven (7) copies of the team’s active player roster for that match. Before the start of the match, the field referee shall distribute copies of each team’s active player roster for that match to the opposing team’s coach, each other referee for that match and the Tournament field marshal for that match.

Matches Assured for Each Team. Each team will play a minimum of three (3) Tournament matches.

Jersey Number Requirements. Each player on a team must have a different jersey number and may not change the number once team registration is final.

Team Check-In Requirements. Check-in will be with the Tournament Field Marshal 15 minutes before each match at the match venue. Original player picture identification cards must be present, available and presented to the referees for player verification before each match. The referees will also verify each player’s jersey number by reference to the daily match report before each match. If a player’s picture identification card or jersey number is not the same as on the team’s registration, that player may not play in the match until the discrepancy is resolved by Tournament Administration by a decision to permit the player to play.

Home Team, Jersey Color Conflicts & Match Ball Requirements.

The first team listed on the daily match report is the home team.
The home team’s head coach will resolve any jersey color conflicts
The Tournament Field Marshal will provide a FIFA approved match ball for each match and take possession of the match ball after each match.

Non-Player Location Around Field. While its team is playing a Tournament match, all coaches, trainers, assistants and players who are not actively playing on the field will be located on the same side of the field, and spectators will be on the opposite side. No one may be positioned behind the goals.
Duration of Matches. Unless shortened by the field referee, all matches will be full length with two 45 minute halves separated by a fifteen (15) minute halftime break; however, First Stage matches will end at the end of regulation time plus any stoppage time added by the field referee, and Second Stage matches will end as provided in Sections 11, 12 and 13.
Division of Teams into Divisions & Scoring of Match Results.

During the First Stage of the Tournament, unless fewer than eight teams are accepted, teams will be divided into groups of four teams each with an effort made to include at least one non-USA team and at least one academy team of a USA Major League Soccer team in each division.
In the First Stage of the Tournament with fewer than eight (8) accepted teams, each team will play three (3) matches against teams determined by random draw by the Tournament Director.
Match results will be counted as:
            (1) 3 Points for a Win,
          (2) 1 Point for a Tie, and
          (3) 0 Points for a Loss.

Advancement to Tournament’s Second Stage.

If there are four (4) divisions in the Tournament, after each team in each division has played a scheduled match against the other three (3) teams in its division or a scheduled match was forfeit, the team with the highest number of points in each division will advance to the Second Stage of the Tournament; however, if two (2) teams in the same division have the same, highest number of points, the team that scored the most goals will advance and, if the two (2) teams scored the same number of goals, the team that scored the most goals in the match against each other will advance, and if the two (2) teams tied their match, the team that scores the most goals during two (2) ten (10) minute extra periods will advance, and, if the teams are tied at the end of those two (2) extra periods, the winner by penalty kicks in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game will advance to the Second Stage of the Tournament.
If there are three (3) divisions, the team with the highest number of points in each division and the team with the highest number of points among all second place teams will advance to the Second Stage of the Tournament; however,
(i) if two (2) teams in the same division have the same, highest number of points which is higher than the second place team in both other divisions, both teams will advance and the first place team in that division will be the team that scored the most goals and, if the teams scored the same number of goals, the first place team in that division will be the team that scored the most goals in the match against each other or did not forfeit their match, and if the teams tied their match, the first place team in that division will be determined by coin toss, and
(ii) if two (2) second place teams have the same, highest number of points, the team that scored the most goals will advance and, if the teams scored the same number of goals, the team that did not forfeit a match will advance and, if neither team forfeited a match, the team that scores the most goals during two (2) ten (10) minute extra periods will advance, and, if the teams are tied at the end of those two (2) extra periods, the winner by penalty kicks in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game will advance to the Second Stage of the Tournament.
If there are two (2) divisions, the team with the highest number of points in each division will advance to the Championship Match; however, if two (2) teams in the same division have the same, highest number of points, the team that scored the most goals will advance and, if the two (2) teams scored the same number of goals, the team that scored the most goals in the match against each other will advance, and if the two (2) teams tied their match, the team that scores the most goals during two (2) ten (10) minute extra periods will advance, and, if the teams are tied at the end of those two (2) extra periods, the winner by penalty kicks in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game will advance to the Championship Match.
If there are fewer than eight (8) accepted teams, the two (2) teams with the highest number of points will advance to the Championship Match; however, if more than one (1) team has the same, second highest number of points, the team that scored the most goals will advance and, if the teams scored the same number of goals, the team that scored the most goals in the match against each other will advance, and if the teams tied their match or did not play each other, the team that scores the most goals during two (2) ten (10) minute extra periods will advance, and, if the teams are tied at the end of those two (2) extra periods, the winner by penalty kicks in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game will advance to the Championship Match.

Organization of Tournament’s Second Stage.

During the Second Stage of the Tournament with at least three (3) divisions, the team with the highest number of points will play against the team with the fewest points and the other two (2) teams will play against each other. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time plus any stoppage time added by the field referee, two (2) ten (10) minute extra periods will be added, and the team that scores the most goals during the two (2) extra periods will advance to the Championship Match. If the teams are tied at the end of the two (2) extra periods, the winner will be decided by penalty kicks in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game and advance to the Championship Match.
In the Second Stage of the Tournament, the two (2) teams determined by Rule 11(d) or Rule 12(a) will play the Championship Match. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time plus any stoppage time added by the field referee, two (2) ten (10) minute extra periods will be added, and the team that scores the most goals during the two (2) extra periods will win the Tournament. If the teams are tied at the end of the two (2) extra periods, the winner will be decided by penalty kicks in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game.

Substitution. Substitution of not more than 7 (seven) players on each team is allowed during a natural stoppage of the match, but only with the referee's approval. A substitution is completed when the substitute enters the field of play. At that time, the player to be replaced is no longer a player. After a player is substituted, he may not return to play in the match.

Official Match Reports. The official match report for each completed match must be verified (including score, cautions and send offs) immediately after the match by each team’s coach or manager. If the match report is not immediately verified by a team’s coach or manager, that report will be final as submitted to Tournament Administration and may not be contested or appealed by the team that did not make the verification.
Discipline.

In addition to misconduct specified in FIFA Laws of the Game Law 12, the following behavior guidelines apply to team players, coaches, other officials and their invitees—e.g. family members and other supporters:
(1) Physical and sexual abuse or misconduct shall not be tolerated—including striking, hitting, kicking, biting, indecent or wanton gesturing, lewd remarks, indecent exposure, and any form of sexual contact or inappropriate touching, and
(2) Emotional or verbal abuse shall not be tolerated—including insulting, threatening, mocking, demeaning behavior, and making abusive statements in regard to a person’s race, gender, religion, nationality, ethnicity, sex or age.

Such misconduct during or related to matches may be disciplined by the referees. Such misconduct may also be disciplined by Tournament Administration.
Players and coaches sent off (red card) during a match, and players and coaches receiving two cautions (yellow cards) during the Tournament, are not allowed to play/coach in the next match--whether the next match is in the First Stage or in the Second Stage. Players not on the active roster for a match and players and coaches sent off must stay away from the match venue or with the spectators on the opposite side of the field, and coaches sent off must refrain from coaching in any manner or by any means during their suspensions.
In case of continued bad conduct of players, teams, officials, or supporters (including possession of alcoholic beverages at the field and verbal abuse of anyone), the Tournament Director may order the responsible team to be withdrawn from the competition.
Teams and their coaches are responsible for their own conduct, as well as the conduct of their invitees.

Disciplinary Hearings, Additional Disciplinary Measures & Notification to Soccer Associations. Based on Final Match Reports and Disciplinary Committee observation of a match and upon notice to the team coach or manager, a player or coach may be required by the Tournament Director to attend a Disciplinary Committee hearing that shall also be attended by the team manager. The Tournament Director may order that a disciplined player or coach sit out additional matches or withdraw from the Tournament. Tournament Director disciplinary decisions may not be appealed. For United States teams, the Tournament Director shall notify the Soccer Association of the team disciplined of the disciplinary action taken or required, and for non-United States teams, the Tournament Director shall notify the United States Soccer Federation which will transmit the disciplinary action taken or required to the disciplined team’s provincial or national association.

No Appeal of Referees’ Judgement Calls. Judgment calls by referees may not be appealed.

Protests. All protests must be submitted in writing in English to the Tournament Director within three hours after the end of the match with a $500 (US) cash non-refundable fee. Only protests that concern the FIFA Laws of the Game and ineligible players will be considered. All decisions will be in the best interest of soccer and may not be appealed.

Application of FIFA Laws of the Game (& Shin Guards, Casts & Jewelry). Except as otherwise set forth in these Tournament Rules, FIFA Laws of the Game apply--including FIFA Laws of the Game Law 4 which requires that all players wear shin guards. No player will be allowed to play without shin guards. In addition, soft casts are permitted with the permission of the field referee, but hard casts are not permitted. Players may not wear any jewelry on the field or the bench..

Tournament Cancellation. In the event the Tournament is cancelled, the Application fee will not be refunded unless ordered by the Tournament Administration after all expenses have been calculated.
Finality of Tournament Director’s Decisions. The decision of the Tournament Director on any matter is final and may not be appealed.

Use of USSF Certified Referees. All matches must use referees certified by the United States Soccer Federation.
Match Interruptions. Matches interrupted by inclement weather or other situations after completion of the first 20 minutes of second half play will be final at that time. Matches interrupted before the first 20 minutes of second half play will be completed. The decision of the field referee will determine when a match will be interrupted and if the match will resume within one hour after interruption. Interrupted matches that do not resume the same day will be completed the next day at the time designated by the Tournament Director.

Minimum Number of Players Required to Start Matches. Ten (10) registered players must be present on each team to start a match. A team not arriving with at least 10 registered players within five (5) minutes of the scheduled start of a match will forfeit that match unless the field referee determines otherwise in the interest of the sport on the basis of the reasons presented by the late team and after consultation with the coach of the other team. Whether a team that forfeits a match will be permitted to proceed in the Tournament will be decided by the Tournament Director. The other team scheduled to play a match that is forfeit will receive three (3) points as winner of that match, and the forfeit team will receive zero (0) points as loser of that match.

[As of 15 December 2008, Subject to Modification]