AYSO Areas 2C and 2D Select Season Tournament

Tournament Rules and Regulations

Revised January 6, 2013

General and pre-game information

1. The matches will be played according to the FIFA Laws of the Game and the AYSO National Rules and Regulations unless modified by these regulations.
2. Each team must present their credentials to the Tournament Officials prior to each game. Failure to present credentials within a reasonable amount of time before the game may result in forfeiture of the game. A team representative will provide the tournament officials with a pre-approved AYSO line-up card which includes each player's jersey number and name in ascending numerical order; a pre-approved AYSO Player ID card, with picture, for each player; a pre-approved Coach ID card with picture and current coaching certification for each coach; and the current medical release for each player. Only those players listed on the rosters presented to the Area Directors at the beginning of the Select Season are eligible to participate. Any team using an unauthorized player will forfeit that match.
3. The properly-completed line-up card - including front and back - will be presented by each team to the referee prior to the start of each match.
4.  Good sportsmanship is one of the basic principles of AYSO and is expected from all players, parents, spectators, and coaches. Each Area Director shall review any problems with sportsmanship of any player, parent, or team from the director’s participating Regions. Coaches are responsible for the behavior of the parents/spectators on their team.
5. No alcoholic beverages or smoking are allowed on or near the playing grounds. Spectators, coaches, or players suspected of intoxication will not be allowed to participate in their scheduled matches.
6. The team listed first on the schedule is the home team and will provide the match ball(s).
7. Team uniforms must match according to the AYSO National Rules and Regulations. This includes jerseys, shorts and socks. If tape is used on the socks, it is to be the color of the socks or black. If some type of warm gear is worn under the uniform (e.g., Under Armour®), it must be the color of the uniform, black, or white. If a player’s uniform does not match that of the rest of his/her team, that player will not be allowed to participate in that match. If more than one player has the same jersey number on any team, tape must be used to change the jersey number (e.g., by either adding a 1 before or after the jersey number). The Tournament Director has final say regarding uniform issues.
8. If two teams in any given match have identical or very similar uniform colors, it is the responsibility of the home team to change colors. If pinafores are necessary and are available, the home team wears the pinafores.
9. Warm clothing may be worn under the uniform (under jersey and shorts). Long pants (anything that extends below the knee) shall not be worn by any player other than the goalkeeper. Clothing worn under the uniform should be as close to the uniform color as possible or it may be black. No loose items will be allowed, such as the hood of a hooded sweater. Health and safety of the participants should come first so referees should be flexible with underclothing in case of extreme weather (cold or rain).
10. Casts, splints or body braces made of a hard substance are not allowed, even if wrapped with softer materials. Leg braces must not have any exposed hard surfaces and must be approved by the game referee. In order for a player to return to play after suffering an illness or injury that required the care of a physician or a visit to an emergency care facility, the player’s parent or guardian must provide a complete participation release form to the player’s coach.
11. Non-medical alert jewelry, including friendship bracelets, must be removed before participating. Medical alert bracelets and medical alert necklaces must be taped to the body, with the medical alert message visible. Taping over of any other jewelry is unacceptable.
12. The referee always has the final word on any safety issues.
13. All select teams shall use individual standard AYSO game cards. Players shall be listed on the game card in numerical order.
14. In all matches, the contending teams (and their coaches and spectators) shall remain on opposite sides of the field of play wherever possible. Home team will have its choice of the side of the field.

During each game

15. Coaches must wear their AYSO Coach ID card during each game or have it readily available to identify them as a team official.
16. Per AYSO National rules and regulations only 2 coaches are recommended in the technical area during the games.  Other spectators should cheer only.
17. Spectators shall remain behind spectator lines (at least 3 yards from the touchline whenever feasible) and coaches shall remain within the boundaries of the coaching (technical) area (10 yards – either side – from the half line and at least 1 yard from the touchline) during all matches.
18. The length of the halves in bracket matches are the standard length for each division. The length of semi-final, championship, and consolation matches will be the standard length for each division: 25 minutes for U10, 30 for U12, 35 for U14, and 40 for U16/19.
19. Both Areas 2C and 2D are committed to adhere to the ¾ playing time to maximize the players’ playing time so no player can participate in the full game until at least every other player has played ¾ if able and willing.  If a player does not participate for this minimum amount (other than in the case of an injury or similar circumstance) the team shall forfeit that match. A player who begins a quarter and subsequently becomes injured receives credit for playing that quarter.
20. Standard substitution opportunities will be used in U10, U12, and U14 matches. These include midway through the first half, half time, midway through the second half, and injury only for the injured player. The stoppage midway through each half is for substitution only and is not for a strategy or other break. The referee’s watch will continue to run during this stoppage and all players not being substituted must remain on the field.
21. In U16 and U19 matches, substitutions can be made by either or both teams at any stoppage of play with the permission of the referee. Permission may be denied in cases where the substitute is not prepared and standing at the halfway line, or if the restarting team has already initiated the restart. All players must still participate in three-quarters of each match. Coaches may substitute a cautioned player at their discretion and only at the time the player is cautioned. Referees are encouraged to talk to both team’s coaches about good sportsmanship and about not delaying the game using substitutions.
22. Slide tackling and heading of the ball in the U10 division is allowed if done in a safe manner.  Referees can use their discretion to call “dangerous play” or a direct free kick foul as warranted.
23. All matches must end at least five minutes before the start of the next match. It is the responsibility of the referee to ensure that matches end on time.
24. Coaches are to be reminded that winning by more than 6 goals goes against the AYSO philosophies and should be avoided.

Tie breaking

25.  Bracket matches tied at the end of regulation time will end tied.
26. If a quarter-final is held in any bracket, and that match is tied at the end of regulation time, the match will be settled by following the FIFA instructions for the taking of kicks from the penalty mark (no overtime periods). Only the players on the field at the end of the 2nd half will be allowed to participate in the kicks from the penalty mark.
27. If a semifinal, consolation, or championship match is tied after regulation time, two 5-minute overtime periods will be played. Normal substitution opportunities for that division will still apply, but the minimum playing time for each player does not apply. If the match is still tied at the end of the two overtime periods, the match will be settled by following the FIFA instructions for the taking of kicks from the penalty mark for teams in a drawn match. Only the players on the field at the end of the 2nd overtime period will be allowed to participate in the kicks from the penalty mark.

Forfeits

28. Any team that is unable or unwilling to continue a match will forfeit the match. In the case of a match that has started, the existing score will be used if the non-forfeiting team is ahead. Otherwise the result of the match will be a 1-0 score in favor of the non-forfeiting team.

1. A match may not start nor continue if either team has fewer than the minimum number of players available - less than seven players for U14 and older, less than six players for U-12, and less than five players for U10. The team that does not have enough players will forfeit the match. If neither team has enough players the result will be a 0-0 tie.
2. A forfeit will result if a team is not at the field at the posted match starting time. A five minute grace period in starting time will be allowed. Poor weather conditions or unusual circumstances may be a consideration for match delay or for a particular team being late for its match. Only the Tournament Director (or the director’s appointee) may decide on these matters.
3. If for any reason the referee calls the match because of actions by spectators or supporters, the match will be forfeited to the opposing team. In such an event, the match referee or Tournament Director may assign red card(s) to the spectator(s) for purposes of the tie-breaker provisions for the tournament.

After each game

29. At the end of the match the line-up cards will be signed by the referees and the winning coach will return the cards to the appropriate tournament table. In the case of a tie, the home team will be responsible for returning the game cards to the tournament table. Also, in the case of any disciplinary actions (cautions or send-offs/dismissals), the referee must immediately deliver the game cards to the tournament table and inform the tournament officials.
30. A send-off (red card) or an accumulation of 3 cautions (yellow cards) during the tournament will result in a minimum one match suspension, even if the next match is a playoff or championship match. For serious misconduct, a player, coach, or team may be suspended for multiple matches or the balance of the tournament. The Tournament Director (or the director’s appointee) will rule on the suspension. The team coach may appeal any match suspension. The Tournament Director (or the director’s appointee) must be notified of the appeal one hour before the player's or coach’s next match.
31. No protests will be allowed.

Tournament Structure

All teams will participate in a preliminary round with two or three matches (the structure will vary depending on the division and the number of teams participating). Points will be assigned to the teams based on the results of the preliminary rounds. Points will be awarded to each team as follows:

6 points for a win

3 points for a tie

1 point for each goal, up to a maximum of 3 per match

1 point for a shutout

-2 points for each send off/dismissal (red card) issued to a player or coach

-1 point for an accumulation of three cautions by a team within one match

A forfeit resulting in a 1-0 score would equate to 8 points: 6 for the win, 1 for the 'goal', and 1 for the shutout. After the preliminary rounds are completed, the points will be used to determine which teams advance to the elimination rounds. If there is a tie in total points the following tie breakers will be used in the following order:

1. Head to head competition
2. Subtracting goals against from goals scored to a maximum of 3 points per match
3. Fewest goals scored against (based an average per match)
4. Fewest red and/or yellow cards received (two points for each send-off, one point for each caution)
5. Coin toss conducted by the Head Scorekeeper/Tournament Director

In the case where a Wildcard team is necessary in order to balance the number of teams for semi-final matches, the Wildcard will be determined by the team with the highest point total not counting the bracket winners. In the case where one bracket played three games and the other bracket played only two games, only the highest score and the lowest score of the three game teams will be used in the total. In other words, reduce the three-game teams to two games by considering only their highest point game and their lowest point game. If there is a tie in determining the Wildcard, the above tie-breaker rules will be used to determine the Wildcard team. Additionally, the semi-final match schedule may be modified to ensure that the Wildcard plays the highest-point team. If this results in the Wildcard team playing their bracket-mate, then the Wildcard team will compete against the second highest-point team.

Please remember at all times that we are here for the kids!

Everyone Plays - Balanced Teams - Open Registration - 
Positive Coaching - Good Sportsmanship - Player Development