2012 Tournament Rules
ABSOLUTELY NO DOGS WILL BE ALLOWED!!!
Philosophy
For those teams that are attending please remember that a tournament is a social event as well as a sporting event. Please leave your tempers at home and live by the words everyone loves to say, “This is for the kids”. We have worked hard to provide great facilities and services as well as great referees. Not everything will go perfectly but politeness and sportsmanship are amazing cures for bad attitudes and hard times. Please be gracious in your wins and losses and remember it does not take a 10 goal spread to prove you won a game. Contrary to what some believe, running up the score does not enhance your team’s reputation and tables have a funny way of turning around in time.
Rules
The Mansfield Columbus Day Cup is sanctioned by MYSA and USYSA. Mansfield Youth Soccer is a member of BAYS (Boston Area Youth Soccer) and will follow BAYS rules for the Tournament. These rules may be found on the BAYS web site and incorporate the Playing Rules as well as the By-Laws.
The referee is in control of the game. We will abide by, and strongly enforce, the BAYS Zero Tolerance Policy.
BAYS Rules may be modified by the following tournament rules or exceptions:
The length of the game will consist of two (2) 22-minute halves with a 5 minute break. All games will start on the hour.
Safety
Players’ safety is of primary importance.
MYSA Medical Release forms and rosters must be in the coach’s possession at check-in and throughout the entire tournament.
Coaches are expected to keep players who have sustained injuries off the field.
The Referee will inspect players for dangerous items prior to each game. Some examples are casts, splints, jewelry, hats, barrettes, faulty cleats and protective headgear. The Referee cannot allow anything to be worn that might hurt a player or an opponent on the field. The Referee must err on the side of safety and his or her judgment will be final. Coaches must support safety as well.
Equipment
BAYS LAW 4 Players' Equipment
Equipment consists of a jersey (each with a unique number at least six inches high), shorts, shin guards, stockings, and shoes.
Shin guards must be worn (properly covered with stockings) when a player is on the playing field. In a case where the visiting team and the home team have similar colored jerseys,
the home team must change to a markedly different jersey color. Pinnies worn over a numbered uniform shirt are acceptable; otherwise, substitute uniform shirts must conform to requirements
for numbering. Goalkeepers must wear colors which distinguish them from other players, from each other, and from the referee. Articles that may constitute a danger to the wearer or any other
player must be removed, i.e. jewelry, earrings, watches, barrettes, chains, belts, head coverings with any visor or protrusions, etc. A goalkeeper may wear a soft billed cap or soft headgear with
the approval of the referee. Players will have shirts tucked in. Players who enter the field but fail to have proper equipment or who have duplicate jersey numbers will be sent to the touchline
until the next stoppage in play (while their team plays short-handed) and may rejoin their team after being inspected by the referee. Players with plaster casts or hard splints, even if padded,
cannot play -- even with the permission of a parent, or medical approval. Players with orthopedic braces that have exposed or uncapped metal parts are also not allowed to play.
Shin guards and matching team uniforms must be worn at all times during a game (in conjunction with the “uniform rule” below).
No hats or dangerous headgear may be worn during the game. The Referee has final say on all bandanas, headbands, and devices to hold hair.
No jewelry except for medical alerts which must be taped down.
Substitutions
Unlimited substitutions with the permission of the referee are allowed and players must report to the center touch line before the referee will allow such substitutions. Substitutions will be permitted as follows:
- preceding offensive throw-ins
- on opponents throw ins, if they are also substituting
- prior to goal kicks
- at the start of the half
- following the scoring of a goal
- with the injury of a player - only the player(s) involved may be substituted
Game Balls
- U12 & Under -- Size 4
- U14 -- Size 5
Game Length
The length of game which will consist of two (2) 22-minute halves with a 5 minute break. All games will start on the hour.
The length of games is subject to change by the Tournament Director and Referees Committee. Coaches will be notified before the start of the half in which such a change is made. Time is kept by the Referee and is running time. Time may be added, at the sole discretion of the referee, in the case of injuries. In the event of unsafe conditions, a game may be terminated at any point by the referee. If one half has been completed, the score at that time of the termination will stand and the game will be considered officially completed.
Ejections
No player ejected (red carded) may reenter that game, nor may the player have a substitute. Any player or coach ejected from a game will be ineligible to appear until after the completion of the team’s next game. Penalty kick procedures are not considered games. If two red cards are awarded to a team, that team will forfeit the game. The Tournament Committee and Referees Committee will determine whether any further action is warranted.
Forfeits
In the event of a forfeit, the opposing team will be awarded a 1-0 win or the score at the time of the forfeit if the goal differential is greater than 1.
A delay of 10 minutes from the official starting time will be tolerated before the Referee declares forfeiture. Teams forfeiting a game are not eligible for Semi Final or Final Games.
Roster
No player may be on more than one roster – DUAL ROSTERIING is not allowed.
U10 & Under (6v6):
- Maximum roster of 15 players
- 4 must be present and able to play in order to start or continue a game.
U12 (8 v8):
- Maximum roster of 18 players
- 6 must be present and able to play in order to start or continue a game.
U14 (11v11):
- Maximum roster of 18 players
- 8 must be present and able to play in order to start a game
- 7 must be able to play in order to continue a game
Special 6v6 Rules:
There will be NO OFFSIDE in 6-versus-6 play. Goal kicks shall be taken from within six yards of the goal line. Indirect kicks awarded to the attacking team within the penalty area will be placed at the spot of the infraction, but no closer than six yards from the goal / goal line. On goal kicks, or on goalkeeper saves followed by a throw-out or punt, the ball must touch the ground or be touched by any player in the defensive half of the field. Infringement of this rule will result in a turnover of the ball to the other team. Play shall restart with an indirect kick at the midfield line nearest the point of contact. Penalty kicks will be taken from a point eight yards (for U-10) or twelve yards (for older teams) directly in front of the midpoint of the goal. All other players must stand beyond the midfield line.
Special 8 v 8 Rules:
No special rules. Games follow same rules as 11 v 11 soccer, with three less players on the field.
Advancement to Finals
With the exception the age groups younger than U11, which will play in a ‘non-results oriented’ format, the top performing teams in each division will advance to Finals which will be played on Monday.
The number of teams in a division will dictate how many teams advance to the Finals. The specific rules for advancement to the Finals will be posted the week of the Tournament.
All decisions of the Tournament Committee will be final.
All U9’s & U10’s will receive a participation trophy.
Playoff Winners and Finalists will receive awards.
Tie Breakers/Advancement Rules
In the event of a standings tie following preliminary competition, the tie will be broken according to the following system:
- Highest number of points earned in preliminary round of play (3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss)
- Results of head-to-head competition
- Most wins
- Least goals allowed
- Most shutouts
- Goal Differential (maximum of 5 per game)
- Penalty Kicks (see procedure below)
Ties in Semi Finals and Finals
In the event of a tie at the end of regular time, two sudden death overtimes of 5 minutes each will be played with no break between them. In the event of a tie following completion of these overtimes, the penalty kick procedures will be followed.
Penalty Kick Procedure
- The players remaining on the field at the end of the second overtime are the only players who may take part. These players must remain on the field following the second overtime period.
- The referee will select a goal.
- Teams will alternate taking penalty kicks. After each team has taken five kicks, the winner will be determined based on the number scored by each team.
- (If, before both teams have taken 5 kicks, one has scored more than the other could, even if it were to complete its 5 kicks, the taking of kicks will cease.)
- If the game is still tied after five kicks, teams will continue to alternate taking kicks. If one team gains a lead, that team will be declared the winner.
- All players, including the goalkeeper, must take a penalty kick before any player is permitted to repeat.
Score Posting
The official scores will be posted at the scorer's table located in the adjacent tent to the Concession Stand at the Plymouth Street Sports Complex
Problems & Protests
Problems with a game should be reported to the Field Marshal in the tent adjacent to the field you are playing on. The referee is in control of the game. We will abide by, and strongly enforce, the BAYS Zero Tolerance Policy.
Protests must be filed in writing within 1 hour after the completion of the game. Protests will be filed with the Tournament Director (or appointee) at the Tournament Office on the observation level of the concession stand located at the Plymouth Street facility. All protests will be decided by the Tournament Director (or appointee) and all decisions are final.
Cancellations & Refunds
All fees are non-refundable once the team has been accepted. Notifications are via the web and email. Lack of an email address or an incorrect email does not create an exception.
No games will be cancelled or postponed unless the referee considers the playing surface unsafe. The tournament will not be rescheduled due to weather.