2007 Matthews USA Soccer Invitational

All teams must register at Tournament Headquarters, between 6:00 - 8:00 pm the Friday evening before games at: Colonel Francis Beatty Park at the LAKE PARK PAVILLON  4330 Weddington Road

 2007 MATTHEWS USA SOCCER INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT RULES

Team Requirements:

A.      Each team must present an Official Team Roster as an affiliated member of USYSA at

Team Registration and provide a copy of their roster before each game to the referee.

 B.      Teams must be registered members and in good standing with their appropriate

member organization.
 

C.      The tournament committee reserves the right to accept or reject any team application.

D.      No team shall be deemed accepted unless written notification has been sent from the

Matthews USA Soccer Invitational Tournament committee.

E.       Once accepted by the Matthews USA Soccer Invitational Tournament committee the

application fee is non-refundable.

F.       All accepted USYSA teams are required to register before the tournament at Team
Registration with the following completed:

1.     Validated, laminated Spring 2007 USYSA Affiliated Member issued player pass

         for EACH Player and EACH Coach.

2.      An Original and one copy of their validated Official Team Roster from their USYSA
affiliated member organization

3.       Current Individual Notarized Medical Release Forms.

4.       An Official Document that grants the Team Permission to Play as either required

by the team’s USYSA Soccer affiliated member OR as required by the Matthews USA Soccer

Invitational as proof that the team is in good standing with it’s affiliated member

(ie. USYSA Permission to Travel Form)

Player Requirements:

A.     All players must be born in the year of their age group classification. Players may play

 up in an older age group.

B.     Each player must be registered for the Spring 2007 season, in good standing with their

 USYSA member organization and be able to provide proof of insurance.

C.     Each player must possess a valid player pass for the Spring 2007 season issued by a

 USYSA affiliated member for their team.  Players must play on their own team and are

 not eligible to play as a guest player if their team is playing in the Matthews USA Soccer Invitational.

D.     Teams may invite up to 3 guest players provided the player(s) meets the above criteria.

E.     Guest players must be signed by the person in the US Soccer affiliated member who is

 authorized to do so. The signature of said person is proof that the Guest Player is properly

 registered, possesses a valid USYSA issued player pass, and has permission to play in

 the Matthews USA Soccer Invitational.

F.      Each player, including guest players, must have a current individual notarized medical

 release form to be presented at Team Registration.  This notarized form is to remain with

 the team at all times during the Tournament in the event of injury.

 Note: While 22 players may be rostered to a U-17 /U-18 team, only 18 may participate in a match.

USYSA Required Documents
 
(1) Roster: Each player must be properly rostered with the team they are playing on as

evidenced by a current Team Roster, a Guest Player Roster or Tournament Team Roster

signed by their appropriate state officials. Teams must bring one red stamp original copy

of their roster, and one additional roster copy to team registration.
(2) Player Pass: Players must have current laminated Player Passes unless written exception

 is granted by the Tournament Director.
(3) Travel Permit: Each out-of-state team must have appropriate Permission to Travel

Documentation

General Rules

1. FIFA “Laws of the Game” shall govern all tournament play except as modified for the

    tournament.

2. Players may only play on one team participating in this tournament.

3. It is the responsibility of each team head coach to insure the proper conduct of

their players, coaches and spectators. Each Field Marshal has the authority to intercede in
    any instance of unruly behavior, and after fair warning, has the authority to remove any
    spectator who fails to comply. Should the coach/spectator fail to obey the initial instructions
    of the Field Marshal, they will be asked to leave the field of play and be out of sight and sound
    of the field. If they fail to obey this initial instruction, the appropriate local authorities will be
    called to remove them. The game will not resume until all offenders have been removed from
    the field and surrounding areas.

4. In unusual situations not provided for in these rules, the Tournament Committee will make
    decisions regarding the tournament.
5. Protests are not allowed.

6. The Tournament Committee, Matthews USA Soccer Club or any affiliated organizations,

organizers or sponsors are not responsible for expenses incurred by any team or individual

if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part for any reason.

7. No Glass Containers or alcoholic beverages of any kind are permitted at any park! 

8. Pets are not permitted on any athletic fields and must be leashed at all times. 

9. Please park in marked parking spaces ONLY!  Cars parked on grass will be ticketed and

towed by the County Parks Department.

                Tournament Format

Age	Length of Half (min)	Half-Time (min)	Overtime* (min)	Min Until Forfeit*	Max Roster	# Players On Field	# Players To Start	Ball Size
U10	25	10	10*	5	12	6	4	4
U11	30	10	10*	5	14	8	6	4
U12	30	10	10*	5	14	8	6	4
U13-U14	35	10	10*	5	18	11	7	5
U15-U16	40	10	10*	5	18	11	7	5
U17-U18	45	10	10*	5	22	11	7	5

                 

*Overtime: There are no overtime periods in preliminary rounds (only in semis and finals). 

  Overtime games are "Sudden Death" (1st goal wins the match) or two 5-minute halves. 

A "running clock" will be kept (i.e., no time added for injuries, delays) except in unusual circumstances.

 

 

Point System for Preliminary Matches:

Win = 6 points; Tie = 3 points; Loss = 0 points; Shutout = 1 point only when a team scores a goal;
Example: 0-0 game = 3 points for each team
Example: 1-1 Tie = 4 points each team (3 points for a tie and one point for each goal up to 3 goals)
Example: 1-0 game= 8 points with a  shutout. (6 points for a win, 1 point for a shutout and 1 point for a goal)
Forfeits are recorded as 3-0 scores, with 10 points awarded to the winner.
Maximum points awarded to a team is 10 points.

Each team win or lose receives points for goals up to three goals
 

Tie-Breakers for Preliminary Standings to Determine Advancement to Playoffs

If points do not determine standings, the following will apply, in sequence, until standings are

determined: (1) Head-to-Head competition, then if necessary...(2) Net Goal Differential, with a maximum

differential of +3 or -3 per match, then if necessary...(3) Fewest # of goals allowed, then if necessary...

(4) Coin Toss

 

Overtime for Semi-Final and Final Matches Ending in Ties

Substitutions are allowed prior to the start of each overtime period.  (1) A 5-minute rest will be

given, while captains meet for a coin toss to determine kick-off and goal. (2) Overtime games are

"Sudden Death", meaning the 1st goal scored wins the match. (3) Two 5-minute halves will be played,

with the teams switching ends of the field after the first 5 minutes, unless a team scores at which time

the game is over. (4) If the teams are still tied, penalty kicks per FIFA guidelines will be taken as follows:

five alternating penalty kicks will be taken by each team, then if necessary single alternating penalty

kicks will be taken until one team has scored the most goals after a given round. (5) Only players on

the field at the end of the 2nd overtime are eligible to participate in penalty kicks, any one of which

can serve as goalkeeper for any kick. Prior to the start of the penalty kicks, referees must verify that

both teams have the same number of eligible players on the field. No team may have more eligible

players on the field than the other team. (6) An injured keeper can be replaced with a player from

the sidelines.

 

 Players Equipment: 

(1) Safety: In general, the referee will determine if a players equipment is safe, except that
(a) shin guards are mandatory for every player; (b) metal cleats and jewelry are not allowed; and
(c) metal knee braces and hard casts are allowed only at the referees discretion and if safely covered. 

 (2) Jerseys: If, in the referees judgment, jerseys are too similar in color, the home team will change

       jerseys.

 

 General Play: 

 (1) Game Ball: At least one tournament game ball will be provided for each 
       match. If no tournament ball is available, the home team will provide the game ball. 
 (2) Home Team: The designated home team is the team listed first on the schedule. 
 (3) Score Cards: After each match, the winning coaches are asked to sign and turn in game 

score cards to the Scorers Table.
 (4) Red/Yellow Cards: The referee will report any cautions or ejections to the Scorers Table. 
 (5) Rosters/Passes: Team Rosters (or Guest Player Rosters or Tournament Team Rosters as

appropriate) and Player  Passes should be available at every match, unless written exception

is given by the Tournament Director.
 (6) 15 Minutes: Teams are asked to be at the field 15 minutes prior to game time.
 (7) Opposite Sides: Players and spectators must remain on opposite sides of the field.
 (8) Club Linesmen: If required, both teams may be required to provide a club linesman.
 (9) Coach or Parent: Each team must be represented on the field of play by a properly rostered

coach, and no team may have more than 3 adults on the players sideline during a game.

 

 Matches That Cannot Start on Time: If the tournament or a field is running behind schedule, both 

teams should remain at the field ready to begin play immediately upon conclusion of the previous

match.

 Forfeits are awarded if a team is not ready to play 5 minutes after the scheduled start of the match

 Substitutions: 

 (1) Unlimited substitutions, with the referees consent, are allowed
 (a) Prior to a throw-in by your team;
 (b) Prior to a goal kick by either team;
 (c) Following a goal by either team;
 (d) At half-time. 

 (2) Substitutions are allowed for injured or yellow-carded players, with the other team allowed an 

       equal number.

 

 Misconduct, Cautions and Ejections : Ejected players (red card) or ejected coaches or spectators 

 are not allowed to participate in their teams next match. Teams will forfeit a game in which an 

 ineligible player or coach participates.  Any ejected coach, player or spectator must leave the

 game area out of sight and out of sound of the game.

 

Inclement Weather: Regardless of weather, teams should appear on the field ready to play as

scheduled. Only the referee or the Tournament Committee is authorized to cancel or postpone a

match, and will do so if the weather so dictates. Matches terminated after the first half has been

played will be considered complete at the point terminated. If a game is canceled prior to the 

completion of the first half due to weather, no score will stand. Best efforts will be made to reschedule. 

If matches cannot be rescheduled, then the Tournament Committee will render a decision. 

If championship matches cannot be played, champions will be determined on points to date.

 

 In the event of questionable weather, please check the tournament weather hotline for

 field information  704- 849-3693.

 

 Guest Players:  Teams are permitted up to 3 guest players (with proper ID and paperwork). 

U/9 and U/10 team roster sizes are limited to a total of 12 participating players. 

U/11 and U/12 team roster sizes are limited to a total of 14 participating players.

U/13 through U/16 are permitted up to 18 players on their roster.

U/17 and U/18 are permitted 22 players.

 

Reporting Game Scores:  The coach of the winning team is responsible for reporting the match

score to the scoring tent within 30 minutes of the end of their match.  In the event of a tie,

the coach of the team designated as the home team on the match schedule will be responsible

for reporting the game score to the scorers tent.

 Awards Presentations:  1st Place, 2nd Place awards will be presented 15 minutes after the conclusion
of the match. Parents and players will be directed to a designated area at each park for awards.