6th Annual Richmond Cup Invitational
Rules & Procedures
I. Tournament Format
A.) Divisions with 4 teams (1st & 2nd Place Awards) Three matches will be guaranteed. The top two teams will advance to a Championship Match. Tie breaking rules A & B will resolve the finalist if necessary.
B.) Divisions with 5 teams (1st & 2nd Place Awards) Four matches will be guaranteed in a Round Robin format. The Champion and Runner-up will be determined by the point system in Rules A & B.
C.) Divisions with 6 teams (1st & 2nd Place Awards) Three matches will be guaranteed. Teams will be divided into two groups of 3, Group 1 & Group 2. Each team in Group 1 will play 2 preliminary matches against the teams in Group1 and the teams in Group 2 will play 2 preliminary matches against the teams in Group 2. The winner of Group 1 will play the 2nd place team in Group 2 in a semi final match. The winner of Group 2 will play the 2nd place team in group 1 in a semi final match. The winners of the semi-finals will meet in the Championship match. (NO OVER-TIME PERIODS FOR SEMI-FINAL MATCHES). . Ties in semi-final matches will be resolved immediately following the tied match by using FIFA Penalty Kick procedure
D.) Divisions with 8 teams (1st & 2nd Place Awards) Three matches will be guaranteed. Teams will be divided into 2 Groups with each team playing three matches within its Group. Ties will not be broken. The top team in each Group will advance to the Championship Match.
E.) Divisions with 12 teams (1st & 2nd Place Awards) Three matches will be guaranteed. Teams will be divided into 4 Groups with each team playing 2 matches with- in its Group on Saturday. After these matches, teams will be ranked by using criteria in Rules A & B. On Sunday, semi-final matches will be played. The top team in Group I will play the top team in Group II. The top team in Group III will play the top team in Group IV. The winners of these matches will advance to Championship Match. The 2nd place team in Group I will play the 2nd place team in Group II and the 2nd place team in Group III will play the 2nd place team in Group IV. The 3rd place team in Group I will play the 3rd place team in Group II and the 3rd place team in Group III will play the 3rd place team in Group IV. Ties in semi-final matches will be resolved immediately following the tied match by using FIFA Penalty Kick procedure (NO OVER-TIME PERIODS FOR SEMI-FINAL MATCHES). See Rule C for resolving ties in the Championship Match.
F.) Divisions with 10 teams (1st & 2nd Place awards) 3 matches guaranteed. Teams will be divided into 2 groups of 3 and 1 group of 4. The 2 groups of 3 will play in the same format as the above 6 team division. Teams finishing 1st in each of the brackets in the 2 groups of 3 will play a semi final match on Sunday to determine who will play the winner of the 1 group of 4. In the 2 groups of 3 brackets, the 2nd place teams will play a consolation match on Sunday morning as will the 3rd place teams. Ties will be broken based on Tournament Tie Breaking rules.
II. Tournament Rules
All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA laws, except as specifically superseded by these rules.
A. Point System: Group or Division winners will be decided on the following basis:
Win= 5 points Tie= 2 points Loss= 0 points
Ties for 1st and 2nd place in Group or Division will be broken according to the rules listed below. An effort has been made to form competitive divisions in selecting tournament participants. However, it may be that some teams are over matched. You will see from the tie breaking rules that under no circumstances does it benefit a team to defeat an opponent by more than 5 Goals.
B. Tie Breaking Procedure
Tie-breaking procedure to determine finalists in divisions with 4, 5, or 8 teams and semi-finalist in divisions with 6, 10 or 12 teams will be determined as follows:
1. Results of Head to Head competition with team (s) with which tied.
2. Most Bonus Points (Goals scored minus Goals allowed, 1 goal=1 Point., max. 4 Bonus Points per Game. No Negative Bonus Points).
3. Goals Allowed in ALL Matches
4. Most Shut Outs ( Wins or Ties) ALL Matches
5. Most Goals scored (max. 5 Goals/game ). All Matches
6. No Cards: 5 Bonus Points / game, Red Cards: -2 Pts /card / game , Yellow Cards: - 1 Pt / card / game
7. If tied after 6, Penalty Kicks
8. If matches canceled by weather and teams tied after tie breakers 1-6, A coin toss will be used to determine the winner &/or runner up.
B:1:1- In the event that the tournament is canceled for any reason after the 1st day of the tournament, the tie breaking rules above will be applied to determine Champions and finalists. If Championship matches cannot be played on Sunday but Semi Final Matches have been played to completion, a Champion and finalist will be selected from the semi final matches. If Semi final matches have not been played to completion, results will revert back to Saturday’s matches for Final determination
If a 3 way tie exists, the tie breaking rules will be followed in order until 1 team is eliminated. A 2 way tie between the 2 remaining teams will be decided beginning with Rule 2. In a 3 way tie, if 2 teams are eliminated under 1 tie breaking rule, the remaining team shall be the Group/Division winner.
C. Resolving ties in Championship Match:
If the Championship match is tied at the end of regulation time, the teams will be given a 5 minute rest and then two 10 minute over-time periods will be played. Both 10 Minute over-time periods will be played to completion. If still tied after the two over-time periods are completed, the Champion will be decided by using the FIFA penalty kick procedure.
D. Substitutions:
FIFA limited substitution laws of the game concerning substitutions will be followed for U-16 and above, when two (2) or more international teams participate in any one age division. In all other divisions with out 2 or more international teams, substitutions will be made with the referee’s permission.
Unlimited substitutions may be made with the referee’s permission:
· After a Goal has been scored
· At the beginning of the 2nd half of play or prior to the beginning of overtime play
· At a Goal kick by either team, or
· At a Throw-in by the team in possession
Limited substitutions may be made, with the referee’s permission:
· In case of stoppage of play for an injury: or
· To replace a cautioned player
Under No circumstances may substitutions be made (1) on corner kicks or (2) after the game has ended in a tie and FIFA penalty kicks will be required to determine a winner.
E. Length of the Game and Ball size:
Boys & Girls Length of Game Ball Size
U-9/10 50 Minutes 4 (7 v 7)
U-11/12 60 Minutes 4 (8 v 8)
U-13 /14/15 70 Minutes 5
U-16/17/18/19 80 Minutes 5
There will be no time allowance for substitutions and injuries or other compensating time. The referee will start the clock at the beginning of each half and run it continuously until the conclusion of that half. Theonly time the referee will stop his clock for an injury is if the game has to be stopped because a player on the field may not be moved while the rescue squad is summoned. All halftime periods will last 5 minutes. In semi-Final or Final matches, if the game has been stopped for a serious injury, the referee will resume the game at the point where the match was stopped and finish out the match in it’s entirety. No Semi-final or final match will be shortened due to a serious injury.
F. Players Equipment:
1. Player’s having splints or casts will be permitted to play if deemed safe by the referee.
2. For player’s wearing glasses, safety straps are required. Wire rim glasses are prohibited, no exceptions!
3. All players must wear shin guards .
4. If a uniform conflict occurs, the Home Team (team listed 1st on the schedule) must change jerseys, unless visiting team offers to do so.
G. Conduct:
Any player dismissed/sent off (Red Carded) shall not be allowed to participate in his team’s next game. A Coach who is dismissed will not be allowed to participate further in the tournament. A report will be sent to the State Association and League/Club of teams whose players or coaches receive yellow/red cards. A case of referee assault will be referred immediately to the Virginia Youth Soccer Association in accordance with USSF Rule 1108.
H. Forfeits:
Teams not having 7 players (6 players U-9/U-10) ready to play within 10 minutes of the scheduled game time will have a forfeiture declared for the match. The score of a forfeited game will be 3-0 in favor of the team ready to play.
I. Inclement Weather:
Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear on the field of play and be ready to play their scheduled game. Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the game. Only the Tournament director can cancel or postpone a match.
1. Inclement weather before the game: In the case of severe weather conditions before play begins, the
Tournament Director may reduce the length of the game by 50%.
2. Inclement weather during the game: Should a games progress be suspended due to severe weather,
2nd half will be reduced to the length of the 1st half so the game will finish in its allowed time. If the game cannot be continued and 20 minutes or more of the game has been played, the game will be considered official and the score at the time will stand.
3. Tournament Cancellation: If the tournament should be canceled for inclement weather before the tournament begins and no matches have been played, teams will be guaranteed some type of partial refund which be determined by the tournament committee after subtracting tournament expenses.
4. If the tournament should be canceled for any reason, there will be no make up date.
J. General Rules:
1. All decisions of the referee and the Tournament Committee are Final. There are no Protests!
2. The tournament Committee and FC Richmond, will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by tournament participants if the tournament is canceled for any reason.
3. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament and its decision shall be final.
4. During games, coaches and players shall remain on 1 side of the field and the spectators shall remain on the other side. The teams will stay on one half of the side of the field from the halfway line down to the 18. Coaches, players and spectators will remain at least 1 yard from the touchline.
5. The home team shall have the right to decide which half of the players/coach side of the field that they will occupy.
6. All teams must have 2009/2010 US Youth Soccer or approved organizational Player Passes, or the appropriate National Association passes. All teams must provide an official roster which includes all traveling players and team officials, signed or stamped by the appropriate registrar. Birth Certificates and Passports will not be accepted at this tournament. And teams need to have current Medical Releases.
7. Rosters will be limited to 14 players max for U-9/10 teams, 18 Players max U-11/12/13/14/15/16 teams and 22 Players max U-17 teams and above. For U-17-19 age groups, teams must name 18 players per game.
8. If in the opinion of the Tournament Director, the conduct of a team, its coaches or supporters do not meet the standards of sportsmanship that are expected, a team may be barred from further participation in the tournament. There will be no refunds of fees or costs in the event of expulsion. A full report of the reason for the barring will be sent to the State Association and League of any team so expelled.
9. Region 1 Policy Regarding Application To Host A Tournament
Region I has established the following policy concerning permission to travel when attending USYS sanctioned tournaments in Region I. The purpose of this policy is to make it as simple as possible for the US Youth Soccer Region I teams to travel to tournaments within Region I.
The new policy states that any USYS State Association teams within Region I that is accepted into a tournament in Region I do not need permission to travel papers. Permission to Travel is not required in friendly games within Region 1. Note is to be taken on the two (2) states that have an exception to this policy (Connecticut & New Jersey).
NationalStateAssociations in Region I:
Connecticut Jr Soccer Assn - Must provide Permission to Travel
Delaware Youth Soccer Assn
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Assn
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Assn
Soccer Maine
Maryland Youth Soccer Assn
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Assn
New Hampshire Soccer Assn
*New Jersey Youth Soccer Assn – Must provide Permission to Travel
New York State West Youth Soccer Assn
Pennsylvania West State Soccer Assn
Soccer Rhode Island
Vermont Soccer Assn
Virginia Youth Soccer Assn
West Virginia Soccer Assn
11. Teams that are members of organizations of the United States Soccer Federation but not members of US Youth Soccer (such as AYSO, SAY, US Club Soccer or Super Y Leagues) DO NOT have to have a US Youth Soccer Application To Travel form (although that team's organization may require that the team have permission). An approved team roster does need to be provided to tournament officials, along with current player passes from its organization.
