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2024 VIT Rules
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

Tournament Dates  February 23-25, 2025

Last Updated        June 30, 2023

Vestavia Invitational Tournament Rules

GENERAL NOTES        2

PARENTS & COACHES        2

PARENT & COACH BEHAVIOR POLICY - ZERO TOLERANCE        2

STAFF MEMBERS ON BENCHES DURING GAMES        2

ROSTERING & PLAYER PASSES        2

Games and rostering        2

No double rostering players OR ‘player passing’ or ‘club passing’ in the tournament:        3

GAME PLAY NOTES        3

PETS AT COMPLEX        3

SUBSTITUTIONS        3

AGE AND ELIGIBILITY        3

ONLINE TEAM CHECK-IN        3

TEAM REQUIRED CREDENTIALS        3

RECREATIONAL TEAMS PLAYING CASL (ALABAMA)        3

OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTERS (FROM STATE ASSOCIATIONS):        4

SOCCER IN COLLEGE MULTI-GAME GAME CARD/ROSTER        4

GUEST PLAYERS        4

TRAVEL PERMITS        4

MEDICAL RELEASE FORMS        4

PLAYER I.D. CARDS        4

TEAM / PLAYER FIELD USAGE LIABILITY WAIVER        4

LAWS OF THE GAME        5

DURATION AND FORMAT OF GAMES        5

BUILD-OUT LINE FOR 7V7 - UPDATED FOR 2022        5

DIVISION CHAMPIONS        6

GAME DAY: PREGAME CHECK-IN PROCEDURES & GAME CARDS        6

EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS        6

UNIFORM COLORS        6

RECREATIONAL TEAM UNIFORM NOTES        6

SUBSTITUTIONS        6

SCORING SYSTEM        7

TIE BREAKING PROCEDURES        7

Kicks from the Mark        7

Three-Way Ties        7

Use a coin toss to determine the first two opponents.        7

FAILURE TO SHOW & FORFEITS        8

EJECTIONS        8

PROTESTS        8

INCLEMENT WEATHER        8

TOURNAMENT RULES INTERPRETATION AND REFUND OF ENTRY FEES        9

GENERAL NOTES

PARENTS & COACHES

PARENT & COACH BEHAVIOR POLICY - ZERO TOLERANCE

STAFF MEMBERS ON BENCHES DURING GAMES

ROSTERING & PLAYER PASSES

Games and rostering

No double rostering players OR ‘player passing’ or ‘club passing’ in the tournament:

GAME PLAY NOTES

PETS AT COMPLEX

SUBSTITUTIONS

AGE AND ELIGIBILITY

Participation in the Tournament is open to accepted teams meeting the roster and age limit of the specified division. Players must have been born during, or after the divisional year. Each team must be registered with a National State Association affiliated with USSF, USYSA, US CLUB, SAY, and AYSO.

ONLINE TEAM CHECK-IN

TEAM REQUIRED CREDENTIALS

RECREATIONAL TEAMS PLAYING CASL (ALABAMA)

OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTERS (FROM STATE ASSOCIATIONS):

Each team must submit an affiliated league AYSO, USSF, USYS, US Club, CASL, etc. approved roster during Online Check-In.

SOCCER IN COLLEGE MULTI-GAME GAME CARD/ROSTER

The tournament will supply the game cards for the referees and use the multi-game game card issued by Soccer In College at the tournament website. Teams are required to update the information in SINC (this information auto-populates on your game card).  No player will be allowed to play that is not on the tournament approved game card/roster.  Please note Online Check-In deadlines on the tournament website.

GUEST PLAYERS

Teams participating in the Tournament may have the following number of guest players (teams must have their states or league approval for guest players - does not apply to US Club teams):

All teams with guest players must abide by State Association rules and submit appropriate paperwork for guest players.  

TRAVEL PERMITS

Teams outside the jurisdiction of the Alabama Soccer Association must have travel permits. U.S. Club Soccer teams are not required to obtain a travel permit.

MEDICAL RELEASE FORMS

One Medical Release form for each player on the form provided by your state association or league must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian and, if applicable, notarized.

PLAYER I.D. CARDS

TEAM / PLAYER FIELD USAGE LIABILITY WAIVER

All the above listed documents are required for team registration and Online Check-In.

Please note that if a team checks in as a US Club team, all documentation must be US Club documents. If a team checks in as a state-affiliated team, all documentation must be state-affiliated documentation. Mixing and matching of documents is not permitted.

LAWS OF THE GAME

The Tourn. will follow USYS/FIFA Laws of the Game, except as expressly modified in these Rules.

DURATION AND FORMAT OF GAMES

The duration of tournament games shall be in accordance with the following table. There will be no over-time periods played at any time. Kicks from the Penalty Mark per FIFA Rules will determine winners in tie breaks, semi-final matches, wildcard games, and finals.

Ages

Format

Roster

Dress for games

Guests

Ball Size

Referees

Game Length

U9-U10

7v7

14

14

3

4

1

50

U11

9v9

18

18

4

4

1

60

U12

9v9

18

18

4

4

1

60

U12-U14

11v11

22

18

5

5

3

60

NEW BUILD-OUT LINE FOR 7V7

New in 2022, the Build-Out line for all 7v7 matches will be the midfield line.  Please see the diagram.  

 

DIVISION CHAMPIONS

Division champions may be determined by points or by a final at the discretion of the Tournament.

1st and 2nd place teams in divisions will receive medals.

GAME DAY: PREGAME CHECK-IN PROCEDURES & GAME CARDS

Referees will check-in teams with tournament game cards and during equipment check.  The tournament will provide all game cards for the games.  It is vital that all documentation for teams be completed online during OLC.  No players will be allowed to be ‘written in’ on any tournament game card roster.

EQUIPMENT & UNIFORMS

In accordance with FIFA, teams will wear uniforms and each player will have a unique number on his/her jersey.

UNIFORM COLORS

RECREATIONAL TEAM UNIFORM NOTES

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions shall be unlimited and may be made with the referee’s consent at the following times:

SCORING SYSTEM

Division winners will be determined by the point system indicated. At the end of the preliminary round, the division winner shall be the team with the most points in their division. Division winners advance directly to the Finals. In some cases, semi-final and/or wild card games may be required. Each team will be awarded points as follows:

Preliminary games decided by penalty kicks (e.g., for inclement weather) will be scored 1-0.

TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES

In the event of a tie within a division, the following criteria shall be used to determine the winner:

  1. Winner of head-to-head games
  2. Highest goal difference (goals for minus goals against) max. 3 per game
  3. Fewest goals allowed
  4. Most goals scored, max 3 per game
  5. Most Shutouts
  6. Most Shutout Ties
  7. Kicks from the Penalty Mark
  8. Coin toss if Penalty Kicks cannot determine a tiebreak

Kicks from the Mark

Three-Way Ties

If a three-way tie occurs, use Procedures 1-5 until one team emerges as the winner or one team is eliminated, whichever occurs first. In the latter instance, start again with Procedure 1 for the remaining two teams. If all three teams remain tied after Procedure 4 go to Procedure 5.

Use a coin toss to determine the first two opponents.

FAILURE TO SHOW & FORFEITS

Match time is forfeit time.

A minimum of 8 players constitutes a team for 11v11 teams. A minimum of 6 players constitutes a team for 9v9 teams. A minimum of 5 players constitutes a team for 7v7 teams.  In no case shall a team, which forfeits a game, be declared a division winner or a wild card team. A forfeit in the preliminary round shall be awarded 10 points for the win to the opposing team and any other team that the forfeiting team has played or will play.

Deliberate forfeit means expulsion from the tournament.

EJECTIONS

A player or coach ejected from a match will be barred from further participation and the next succeeding match for that team.   Coaches with multiple teams ejected from a match will serve their suspension only for the team playing in the game at the time of the ejection.  However, a coach receiving two ejections during the tournament will be banned for the remainder of the tournament for all teams he/she coaches.

In the case of a red card, the coach or team official is to give the pass of the offender to the referee at the game. Referees will give the card to tournament officials, and an official team representative may pick up the pass after the team’s next game. If a red card occurs in the last match for the team, teams must give the card during the game to the referee and can reacquire the pass after the match. Reports will be filed with the home state association.

PROTESTS

INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director will have the authority to change or cancel games. The following may occur at the sole discretion of the Tournament Director:

TOURNAMENT RULES INTERPRETATION AND REFUND OF ENTRY FEES

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