The 2008 Blue & Gray Cup Tournament Rules


GENERAL
All Tournament matches will be played in accordance with "The Laws of the Game" as issued by FIFA/USYSA except as modified in these "Tournament Rules." The tournament committee has the right to combine age groups as it deems necessary.

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BALL SIZE
U-13 through U-18: Size 5
U-9 through U-12: Size 4
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TEAM/SPECTATOR FIELD POSITIONS
Coaches and players shall stand on opposite sides of the field from parents and spectators. No coaching shall be permitted within 18 yards of the goal line, from behind the goal line or from the parent/spectator sideline. Parents and spectators from both teams shall stand on the same side of the field. The behavior of the parents and fans remains the responsibility of the coach. The referee and the Field Marshall are authorized to remove any spectator whose behavior, in their opinion, interferes with the play of the game. All spectators will remain behind spectator lines, as designated. Noise makers are not allowed at any of the field locations.
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WARNINGS & EJECTIONS
If a player is ejected from a match (red card by the referee) that player must sit out the remainder of that match plus his/her team’s next tournament match. No substitution may be made for the ejected player during the match in which the red card was issued. Two yellow cards constitute a red card and ejection. Coaches that receive an ejection or 2 warnings in the same match are subject to the same penalties outlined above for players. Any coach ejected from a match will not be allowed in the general vicinity of the field (as defined by the referee) for the remainder of that match and the team’s next match. No team or club official may enter the field of play, regardless of the circumstances, unless that person has been given permission by the referee. Red cards issued after the end of regulation play or as a result of physical assault are subject to review by the Tournament Rules Committee and a more strenuous penalty, that is not subject to appeal, may be issued. Should the infraction be sufficiently serious, law enforcement authorities may be summoned. All infractions shall be reported to the host association (VYSA) for relay to the team’s state association following the tournament. In accordance with USSF Rule 3042, red cards or ejections for assault, abuse or like offenses shall be reported immediately.
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PROTESTS
No protests shall be allowed.
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FORFEITS
Teams may not play any games without having registered first or the game will be forfeited. A forfeit shall be awarded if a team is not present and prepared to play within five (5) minutes of the scheduled commencement time. A ten (10) minute allowance shall be made for Semi-final and Final matches. Any team of any age group that cannot field seven (7) players at the scheduled commencement time shall forfeit their match. The team forfeiting the match shall be declared the loser by a score of three (3) to none (0). Further, the Tournament Director reserves the right to sanction teams and amend these rules to address additional forfeits that are not in the "spirit of the game."
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SUBSTITUTIONS
Either team shall have unlimited substitutions subject to the following conditions and upon approval of the referee:

• Prior to throw-in by the team in possession.
• Prior to a goal kick by either team.
• After a goal.
• Halftime or the beginning of an overtime period.
• After a yellow card for the carded player (only if the coach requests such a removal).
• Any time approval is granted by the referee (as in the case of injury for the injured player).
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TOURNAMENT STANDINGS/TIE BREAKERS
Division standings shall be calculated using the following point system:

WIN: 3 Points
TIE: 1 Point
LOSS: 0 Points
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DETERMINATION OF WILD CARDS, SEMI-FINALISTS AND FINALISTS
Division standings will be based upon total points at the completion of preliminary must be determined when there are three divisions of four teams (Divisions A, B and C). The team with the best overall record advances. A coin flip must be accomplished to determine the wild card team’s opponent as teams from the same division may not play each other again. For example, if the wild card team comes from the C division a coin flip will be held between the winners of divisions A and B. The winner of the coin toss will play the wild card team and the loser will play the winner from division C. matches (i.e. the team with the most points finishes first).

Tie-breakers. Total point ties within divisions will be broken by the following tie-breakers in order:

Head to head competition during the tournament of the two tied teams.
(Disregard if more than two teams tied).
Team with the highest goal differential totaled for all preliminary matches. A maximum differential of four (4) goals per match will be counted. Goal differential equals goals for minus goals against.
Least goals scored against in preliminary matches.
Least amount of red cards followed by least amount of yellow cards.
If still tied after steps 1-5 above, both teams will proceed to an available field, at the time and place directed by the Tournament Director/Field Marshal, and take penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA tie-breaker rules.

Wild Card. A "wild card team" must be determined when there are three divisions of four teams (Divisions A, B and C). The team with the best overall record advances. A coin flip must be accomplished to determine the wild card team’s opponent as teams from the same division may not play each other again. For example, if the wild card team comes from the C division a coin flip will be held between the winners of divisions A and B. The winner of the coin toss will play the wild card team and the loser will play the winner from division C.

For any age groups that have divisions with only three teams in each of two divisions, your third game will be the Championship between the top team in each division.
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TOURNAMENT OVERTIME
All preliminary matches tied will remain a tie. In the Semi-final and Final matches, if regulation play ends in a tie score, the following steps will be taken: Two (2) five (5) minute overtime periods will be played.  If still tied after two (2) overtime periods, the tie will be broken by penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA tie-breaker rules.

Only players on the field after the second overtime period will be allowed to participate in penalty kicks.

Substitute goalkeepers must be chosen from players on the field.
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TIE-BREAKER CLARIFICATION
Once a criteria has been used to determine a tie-breaker, teams must continue to the next criteria and may not revert back.

Example: Three teams each have 6 team points. Team "A" is winner over team "B", "B" over "C", and "C" over "A". Three teams are tied so, criteria #1 (head-to-head) is disregarded.

Team "A" and "B" have goal differential of 7 goals, and "C" has a differential of 5 goals. Therefore team "C" is eliminated. You do not revert back to criteria #1 (head-to-head). The next criteria is #3 (least goals scored against) to determine the winner between teams "A" and "B".
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INCLEMENT WEATHERRegardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear at their respective field site, prepared to play as scheduled. Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the match. Only the referee or Tournament Director may cancel or postpone a match. In the case of severe weather (including extreme heat conditions), in their discretion, the referees or Tournament Director may cancel or discontinue a match, relocate and/or reschedule a match or reduce the scheduled duration of a match by 50%. In the case of extreme heat conditions, the referee, at his discretion, may order a 5-minute water break for all players. This five-minute water break will not be used to substitute for the normal five minute break between halves.
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DISCLAIMER
Neither the Tournament Director, the Fredericksburg Area Soccer Association, Tournament Sponsors or coaches of host teams are responsible for any expenses incurred by any team if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part due to inclement weather, adverse field conditions or circumstances beyond the Tournament’s control, nor will any refunds be made. The Tournament Director reserves the right to decide all matters relative to the Tournament and her decisions are final. All decisions of the referee are final and binding.
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TEAM CONTACTS
Each team, upon arrival in Fredericksburg, shall provide the name of the hotel/motel, room and telephone number of the coach, assistant coach or team representative at Tournament Registration so contact may be made by Tournament Officials in the event conditions require it. Teams shall ensure that the point-of-contact information provided is for a team official that is reasonably accessible during non-game hours.
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PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONSIn the event of a problem, or if a team has a question about the tournament, they should first check with the Field Marshall at the field headquarters at the respective field. The Field Marshall will check periodically with Tournament Headquarters and can resolve most problems. The Tournament Director will ultimately decide all issues not resolved at the field location. Decisions of the Tournament Director are final.
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Awards
Each player on the Championship teams and Runner-up teams in each division will receive a trophy. Younger teams are encouraged to participate in a patch or pin exchange at the conclusion of each match

U-9 and U-10 RULES
• Start of play - Conform to FIFA except that the opponent must be eight (8) yards from the center mark while the kick-off is in progress.
• Ball in and out of play - Conform to FIFA “Method of Scoring”
• Off-side - Conform to FIFA “Fouls and Misconduct”
• Free-kicks - Conform to FIFA except that opponents must be eight (8) yards away from the ball.
• Penalty kicks - Same as free kicks.
• Throw-ins/Goal-kicks - Conform to FIFA. • Corner kicks - Conform to FIFA except that opponents must be eight (8) yards away from the ball.
• Equipment same as per FIFA rules.
• All games will be officiated by a single center referee 

ALCOHOL IS NOT PERMITTED AT THE TOURNAMENT

HOTELS ARE NOT REQUIRED
Specific Hotel services are not a condition of acceptance into The Blue & Gray Cup . All teams are free to make their own hotel accommodations.

MEDICAL RELEASE FORMS
All teams are required to carry Medical Release forms signed by a parent or legal guardian that authorizes any medical attention necessary to be administered to the child in the event of the player’s injury or accident. The Medical release documents will be presented to the tournament registrar at the time of team registration on Friday night the 28th of March.

Price Structure

Entry fee is $495 for U9 - U12 - $550 for U13-U16 and $575 for U17-U18