Miami Soccer Festival Youth Tournament Rules

The rules of this tournament shall be in accordance with US Youth Soccer and FYSA except as modified and approved herein.

TEAM ELIGIBILITY

Miami Soccer Festival shall be open to all teams comprised of properly registered youth players (as defined by the Rules of US Youth Soccer) in all age groups indicated in the “Tournament Rules” provided such team is in good standing with its youth association.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED AT REGISTRATION

Miami Soccer Festival shall be open to all teams comprised of properly registered youth players (as defined by FYSA) in all age groups listed in the “Tournament Rules” provided such team is in good standing with FYSA.

Tournament officials shall conduct all credential checks:
- At initial registration
- At the field before each game. Teams should be available for check in with the referee or field marshall 30 minutes prior to the scheduled game time.

Documentation required at initial registration:

Teams from the United States:
- The players and bench personnel must present picture ID cards issued by the team’s Federation Organization member (USUS, USClub, AYSO, Other)
- ID cards must be verified, photo attached, and laminated
- Teams must provide proof of approval of the team’s participation from the team’s Federation Organization Member.
- Teams from a US Youth Soccer National State Association outside of Florida must provide proof of permission to travel
- Teams must provide a certified/approved tournament roster from the team’s Federation Organization.
- Teams must provide a completed Miami Soccer Festival Waiver Form for every player and bench personnel

Documentation required for pre-game check in:

All teams
- Teams are required to have and present player and bench personnel picture ID cards
- ID cards will be checked against the tournament generated game reports
- Teams must have on hand a certified/approved tournament roster from the team’s Federation Organization in case of any discrepancies with the tournament generated game reports
- Each team is limited to three (3) coaches on the bench, all of which must be listed on the team roster. In no case will a team be allowed to participate without a properly registered coach or assistant
- The shirt number of each player must be the same as the player’s shirt number on the tournament roster. If not the referee is not to allow the player to take part in the match until the numbers are the same ( Shirt or roster changed)

A player who arrives late at the playing field after the pre-game procedure may enter the game once the game’s official(s) verify the player is eligible and with the permission of the center referee.

Only at the pre-game procedure may a player be challenged by an opposing manager/coach. Challenged player(s) will be noted by the referee on the game report and will be allowed to participate in the game.

A late arriving player may be challenged at the time he/she is allowed to participate by the referee. ANY TEAM USING AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER WILL FORFEIT ALL TOURNAMENT MATCHES PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. A report will be filed with the offending teams National Organization or National State Association. If you are not sure of a player’s eligibility ask the Tournament Director.

Mandatory: All teams must provide their roster complete with bench personnel into the tournaments online scheduling system no later than 2 days prior to the event. The minimum required information is Name, Date of Birth, player ID number, uniform umber and gender. Revisions can be made to the roster up to the night of team registration. This information will appear on the tournament game reports to be used by the referees for check-in on the field prior to each game. Teams failing to input this information are subject to removal from the event.

PLAYER AGE AND ELIGIBLITY

Age determination – the player’s playing age is determined by the following USYSA guidelines for 2012/13.

*Each team will be allowed to have guest players, who are properly registered through their National and State Association, Federation or any other USSF affiliated organization. FYSA teams and players must follow FYSA Rule 208 “Guest Playing” and will not be allowed to guest play with or have guest players from a non USYS affiliate organization. Crossover between USSF affiliates and FIFA Federation will be allowed except as stated in FYSA Rule 208. Guest players must have permission to participate/travel from their National and State Association, Federation or any other USSF affiliated organization.
Players may NOT play for more than one team in the tournament.

FESTIVAL FORMAT

The Miami Soccer Festival will also feature 4 v 4 formats for U7 and U8, and 3 v 3 formats for U5-U7 and are to be non-competitive and over both days.

The format is to play on two fields, after 20 minutes (with a water break @ 10 min.) Then a signal is blown and the team have “halftime” for ten minutes. Teams switch fields to play another opponent for a second half. Written schedule will be one hour and 15 minutes between the hours of 9am and 2pm.

LAWS OF THE GAME

All games shall be according to FIFA “Laws of the Game,” except as modified below:

Law 1: Field of Play
U13 and older – No change as per FIFA “Laws of the Game”
U5- U7 (3v3) ,U7 and U8 (4v4), U9 & U10 (6v6) and U11 & U12 (8v8) must play in accordance with the US Youth Soccer Official under 12 and 10, and Festival playing Recommendations.

Law 2: The Ball 
The tournament will provide each team at registration. This ball is to be presented to the referee at the start of each match. The ball is the team’s responsibility and will not be replaced if lost or stolen.
U13 and older size 5, U12 and younger size 4, U8 and younger size 3

Law 3: Number of Players

U5-U7 THREE (3) per side, and U7-U8 FOUR (4) per side, U9 and U10 SIX (6) per side
U11 to U19 eight (8) per side
Substitutions:

Substitutions shall be unlimited. Substitutions may be made only upon proper notification of the referee through the assistant referee, with the referee’s permission, at the following times:
Prior to a throw-in by your team
Prior to a goal kick by either team
After a goal by either team
After an injury, by either team, when referee stops play
At the beginning of the second half or overtime periods

The substitute shall not enter the field of play until the player he is replacing has left, and then, only after receiving a signal from the referee.

Law 4: Player Equipment
Player equipment shall be in accordance with the FIFA rules. All players must wear shin-guards.

Additionally:
Screw in cleats is permitted; however, judgment as to their safety is at the discretion of the referee.
Orthopedic casts are not permitted. However, soft braces can be worn with written approval from doctor, and judgment as to safety is at the discretion of the referee.
A player may be removed from the game at any time if the referee determines that the player is using or is attempting to use a brace to injure another player.

Teams will wear uniforms of matching design and color with a minimum of six (6) inch numbers affixed to the back of the uniform shirt. No two players may have identical uniform numbers on the team roster or while both players are playing on the field at the same time.
In the event of similar team colors, the designated home team will be required to change to a color accepted by the referee.
Teams dressed predominantly in colors of those associated with the referee uniforms will be responsible for providing the referee and assistant referees with a jersey that is distinctively different from the uniforms worn by either competing team.The goalkeeper uniform colors must distinguish him/her from the other players, the referee and the assistant referee.

Festival format teams will receive children’s training vests and numbers are not mandatory.

Law 5: Referees
The center referee for all FYSA matches must be certified by the Federation

Referees are required to submit a completed, official game report to the site director containing any information relating to any game incidents involving players/coach, spectator misconduct, or injuries.
In the event the assigned referees fail to appear and the assignor and/or site director
fails to provide a replacement, the senior assigned assistant referee shall assume the
duties and shall find an alternate assistant referee. The game will be played as scheduled
and will be deemed official.

Law 6: Assistant Referees
No assistant referees will be used as no 11 v 11 and is Festival type weekend. A single center referee with no assistant referees will be used for U9 & U10 6v6 matches, U11 & U12 8v8 matches, and Festival U5-U8 games will have 1 referee overseeing coaches who will ref as directed. The game will be played as scheduled and will be deemed official.

Law 8-10

No change as per FIFA “Laws of the Game”

Law 11

U11-U19 No Change per FIFA “Laws of the Game” except there will be no offside for U11-U12 8 v 8.
U9 & U10 Offside will NOT be called in accordance with the US Youth Soccer Official under 10 playing recommendations. U8 Festival format no offside

Law 12-17
No change per FIFA “Laws of the Game”

Post Game Procedures

As a mutual courtesy, both teams meet at the center circle and congratulate each other for a game well played.
Referees will return player passes to the Site Director along with a completed game report.
The coach/manager of each team will confirm score with the Site Director and collect passes after each game except for those participants sent off (if any).
The manager/coach of both teams will ensure their respective sideline areas are clean and that all trash is in containers.

Control of Sideline Conduct

Players, reserve players, manager, coaches, and fans are expected to conduct themselves within the letter and spirit of “The Laws of the Game”. The site director has the authority and the responsibility to remove any person(s) from the tournament for abuses of conduct, in addition to any specific disciplinary action brought about by any other authority. In addition to good manners, these rules will apply to this tournament:
The site director will designate one sideline to be for the sole use of the players listed on the game roster and two manager/coaches from each team, with one team occupying one side of the midfield and one team the other. While the game is in progress, the manager/coach(s) and the reserve players must remain on their respective benches and may not roam the sidelines.
The site director will designate the opposite sideline for the spectators.
Manager(s)/coach(s) will be responsible for the behavior of their fans and the referee will have the authority to warn, and ultimately send off, any coach whose fans behave in an abusive or disruptive manner.

Conduct and Discipline

The tournament committee shall have a discipline committee of not less than three (3) members. The discipline committee will review and rule on all reports of unacceptable conduct by players, managers, coaches, referees, spectators, etc., using the FYSA standards as set by FYSA Rule 502.
All players and managers/coaches shall be subject to FYSA Section 502- Discipline and Sanctions.
A player or manager/coach ejected will have an automatic minimum one (1) game suspension regardless of the cause of the ejection.
Depending on the severity of the unacceptable conduct, the discipline committee may recommend the suspension of up to the duration of the tournament with further disciplinary action by the appropriate state or national association. The discipline committee recommendations must be available to the affected parties no later than prior to their next scheduled game.
At the conclusion of the tournament, passes will be returned to the coach (even if a suspension has not been completed). A complete report will be sent to FYSA within seventy-two (72) hours of the conclusion of the tournament for possible further discipline.

Forfeits

Game should start at a given starting time. In case the team does not have the minimum number of players, see minimum below, there will be a maximum of fifteen (15) minutes grace period before awarding the game to the opponent. A forfeit will be scored 4-0. No forfeits in Festival NON compete format

- 11v11 minimum number of players is 7
- 8v8 minimum number of players is 6
- 6v6 minimum number of players is 4

Protest and Disputes

There will be NO PROTESTS. Decisions made by referees may not be appealed. All disputes will be resolved by the Site Director. These decisions will be final.

External conditions, Weather, Etc

In the event unusual conditions necessitate the rescheduling, curtailment, or cancellation of games, the tournament committee shall have absolute authority to make the changes in order to best serve the interests by a certain time period.
In case of extreme weather (heat/humidity), the referee shall allow brief stoppage of the game to allow players on the field a water break.
Only the referee or duty manager can suspend a match already started due to weather conditions. Any one single suspension of a match may last no longer than 60 minutes or to the next scheduled game start time whichever is later.

Refund Policy

Within five (5) days after notification that the team is not accepted by their application.
Within five (5) days upon cancellation of the tournament.
Within ten (10) days of withdrawal request of the application by a team prior to acceptance of that application by the tournament.

General

The tournament committee, FYSA and/or the host affiliate will not be responsible for any expense incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or whole of this tournament.
The tournament committee’s interpretation on the foregoing rules and regulations shall be final and reserves the right to decide all tournament matters.
If not enough teams are realized within a specific age bracket, the tournament director shall notify the participants as soon as possible and the participants shall be given the option to play up or to receive a full refund.
The tournament committee has the responsibility to uphold any previous suspension imposed by FYSA/US Youth Soccer and/or affiliates of USSF. The tournament committee agrees to have a copy of the tournament rules at all game site.

Field lines will be marked for the weekend format 8 v 8 will be across 1 full size fields and may have a shared center line. 6 v 6 will be created from 1 full size field and may have shared center lines. 4 v 4 and 3 v 3 will be cones/lines as appropriate. Cones may require to be used on certain areas of each field as are turf and certain fields are prohibited from being marked.

Goals will be 18ft x 6ft for 8 v 8, 12 feet x 6ft for 6 v 6, 9ft x 4ft for 4 v 4, and 6ft x4ft or pop up for 3 v 3.

Miami Soccer Festival Tournament Rules

5v5 Tournament

Miami Soccer Festival Tournament Rules

5v5 Tournament

Basic Rules

1.1 Teams will receive 3 points for a win and 1 for a draw and zero for a loss. Overall standings will be decided by points won, followed by goal difference, followed by goals scored, followed by the aggregate result between the two teams in question, followed by a play-off.

1.2 Teams may only register a maximum of 8 players and no player can be registered to more than one team in the same league division. Players may not transfer their registration to a team in the same division during the course of a tournament.

1.3 All teams must be at the fields and ready to begin the match at the appointed kick-off time. If a team is more than 5 minutes late their opponents may claim the fixture with a 3-0 win.

Playing Rules

2.1 Each team may have four outfield players and a goalkeeper on the field at any time.

2.2 Substitutions can only be made during a stoppage in play and only with the referees consent.

2.3 A change of goalkeeper must be authorized by the referee.

2.4 NO metal studded footwear is permitted to be worn by any player in the tournament. Only training shoes, cleats (not metal), moulded studs and turf shoes may be worn. All Players must wear shin guards (dependent on organizer). The wearing of any jewellery is not permitted during play.

2.5 The match will consist of two equal minute halves. The length of half will be 12 minutes

2.6 Each half will begin with one team kicking off. After a goal has been scored the game will be re-started in a similar manner.

2.7 Only the defending goalkeeper is allowed to play the ball inside the goal area and only he may handle the ball in this area.

2.8 An outfield player gaining or seeking to gain an advantage by entering his own goal area will have a penalty kick awarded against his team.

2.9 An outfield player entering his opponents’ penalty area will be penalized by the award of an indirect free kick against the offending team from where the infringement took place.

2.10 A goalkeeper gaining or seeking to gain an advantage by leaving his area or by playing the ball when it is outside the area will cause a penalty to be awarded against his team.

2.11 The ball will be considered out of play if it touches the netting. An indirect free kick will be awarded against the last player to touch the ball before it makes contact with the net, regardless of intent. Play above head height on the field is permitted.

2.12 A goal may be scored from any point within the field of play. The only exception is that goalkeepers may not score against their opponents.

2.13 Free kicks for fouls are direct. All other free kicks are indirect. Observe the referees signal. Opposition players must be at least five feet from where any free kick is taken. Players may only take one step before striking penalty kicks.

2.14 In the knockout stages, if the scores are level penalties will decide who progresses through to the next round. (No extra time is played)

Penalties consist of 3 per team – the winner is the team with the highest total. If scores are level after 3 penalties, the fourth and fifth player who finished the regular game MUST take the next penalties (inclusive of goalkeeper). Penalties from this point onwards (fourth penalty) are SUDDEN DEATH. No substitutes are allowed to take ANY of the penalties. After 5 penalties, if the scores are still level, teams continue to rotate kickers until a winner is decided.

2.15 The team which kicks off a game will be decided by a coin toss from the referee

Disciplinary Rules

3.1 Slide tackling is NOT permitted. Players will be awarded yellow cards for this offence. Yellow cards will also be awarded for deliberate hand ball and other infringements deemed worthy by the referee.

3.2 Players sent off for any reason will be suspended for one match and will miss the team’s next game. Players sent off for serious foul play, foul or abusive language will be suspended for further games at the discretion of the referee and management.

3.3 If a team is permanently reduced to three players due to sending offs the game will end. The match will be awarded 3-0 to their opponents. If the score at the time produces a goal difference greater than 3-0 then that score will stand.

3.4 If a match is abandoned for any reason the team at fault will receive a 3-0 defeat unless the opposition already has a greater advantage in which case the score will stand. If both teams are judged to be at fault then both teams will receive 3-0 forfeits against them.

3.5 The decision of the referee in all matters pertaining to the playing rules of an individual game is final.

3.6 The decision of the Tournament organizer in all matters pertaining to the administration of the tournament is final.

3.7 Tournament Organizer may overturn any rule if they feel a team is deliberately using an interpretation of the rules to gain an unfair advantage.