TEAM REGISTRATION: Teams must register and pay the registration fee to participate in the tournament. Teams should register into a division based upon player age, gender and playing experience. Any team or player determined by the Tournament Directors to have falsified their age for the purposes of creating a competitive advantage could be dismissed from the tournament. Teams that span more than one age group should register in the division of the oldest player on the team. Teams are responsible for registering in the appropriate division. Failure to properly register may result in disqualification from the tournament and the registration fee will not be refunded. Tournament age groupings are planned to be as follows:

• Youth Brackets: U7-U15
• High School Brackets: JV & Varsity
• Adult Women: Open
• Adult Men: Open

TEAM CHECK-IN & ROSTER: Each team must check-in prior to their first game and submit any outstanding registration fees at that time or they may be disqualified from the tournament. Roster changes can take place up until the team’s first scheduled game time. Teams cannot add or change players after the start of their first game. Tournament officials have the right to demand proof of age for any player included on the roster. The recommended roster size is 5-8 players, with a max of 10 players. Players may only play on one team per division.

RULE 1: Number of Players — A team may have up to 5 players and must have at least of 4 players on the field to start a game. One player must be designated as the goalkeeper.

RULE 2: Game Duration & Timekeeping — The game shall consist of two fifteen (15) minute periods with a 2 minute half time. Rock, paper, scissors will determine direction and possession before the start of the game. Games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie, except in the playoffs. There are no team timeouts and the game clock does not stop for official timeouts.

RULE 3: Kick Off – The kick off is considered an indirect kick and may be taken in any direction.

RULE 4: Kick Ins – The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of thrown in. Kick ins are considered an indirect kick. The ball is considered in play when the ball is touched and changes position.

RULE 5: Restarts – Kickoffs, kick-ins, and indirect fouls are all indirect restarts. Direct free kicks, penalty kicks and corner kicks can be scored directly. Indirect kicks must only change position for the ball to be considered in play. Once the ball is ready to be put in play, the team in possession has 5 seconds to put the ball back in play or the ball is turned over.

RULE 6: Goal Kicks – Goal kicks result in a restart by the goalkeeper with the ball in his/her hands, must be thrown or rolled to another player. It cannot be punted, drop-kicked, or put down and passed or dribbled.

RULE 7: Penalty Kicks – PKs shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction. Penalty kicks are direct kicks taken from the top of the goalie's box. The infraction does not automatically result in a red card.

RULE 8: Goal Scoring – A goal can be scored from anywhere on the field. Kick-ins, goalkeeper throws/rolls, and free-kicks are indirect.

RULE 9: 5 Yard Rule – In all dead-ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal is closer than five yards, the ball shall be moved back so that it is five yards from the goal line.

RULE 10: Substitution — Subs may be made only during dead-ball situations, regardless of possession. Teams must gain the referee’s attention and players must enter and exit at mid-field.

RULE 11: Goalkeepers — The goalkeeper may use his/her hands when inside the box and has 5 seconds to put the ball back in play. The goalkeeper must distribute with his/her hands by throwing or rolling the ball to another player. The goalkeeper cannot punt, drop kick, or put the ball down and play with their feet. There is no restriction on how far the goalie can throw, but a goalie throw is considered indirect. The goalkeeper can use his/her feet on any pass back (can play to a goalie’s feet just like in outdoor soccer), but cannot use their hands on an intentional pass back.

RULE 12: Offside – There is no offside.

RULE 13: Slide Tackling – Slide tackling directly toward the opponent is NOT permitted. If a player slides and makes contact with an opponent or as part of a tackle, a free kick shall be awarded. A player may slide to save a ball from going out-of-bounds, over the goal line, or to intercept a pass so long as they do not come in close contact with opponent.

RULE 14: Handling – Deliberate handling of the ball that denies a team of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (at the discretion of the referee) will result in a penalty-kick and may include a yellow or red card given to the player committing the hand ball.

RULE 15: Protests of Rules – Protests will not be accepted. You are welcome to complain in your car on the way home as much as you like.

RULE 16: Game Balls – Home team is responsible for providing game ball(s) unless agreed upon with opponent for ball of higher quality.

RULE 17: Field Dimensions – The playing field shall be approximately 84 feet long by 50 feet wide. The goals are 2 meters high and 3 meters wide.

RULE 18: Delay of Game – A player may be cautioned with a yellow card if it is deemed by the referee that the player is intentionally wasting time, such as by delaying an opponent’s restart or taking more than 5 seconds to restart.

RULE 19: Forfeits – Teams are given five minutes from scheduled game time, or from delayed start time due to unforeseen circumstances, before the Ref issues a forfeit. Any team forfeiting one game during the playoffs may be removed from the tournament.

RULE 20: Sportsmanship – Coaches will be held responsible for the good sportsmanship of themselves, their players, players’ parents and spectators.

RULE 21: Yellow Cards – Yellow cards may be shown to a player for a single offense or for persistent infringement. Players that receive two yellow cards in one game will result in a red card. (Please see red card rule). Any player accumulating three yellow cards during a tournament will automatically be suspended for their next game (no exceptions).

RULE 22: Red Cards – Refs have the right to eject a player or coach from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending off. If the player receiving the red card was on the field of play, the team must complete the remainder of the game a player short. The player receiving the red card will automatically be suspended for their next game (no exceptions). Players or coaches that are red carded must leave the immediate playing area, including the fan and team areas. If the player delays or refuses to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of opposing team (regardless of the score at the time of the incident). **If player(s) is (are) issued red card(s) for fighting, player(s) will be ejected from the tournament and are subject to removal from the facility for the duration of the event.

RULE 23: Coach/Parent Ejection – Refs have the right to eject a coach or parent from any game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants ejection. Coaches or parents whom are ejected by the referee or tournament official must leave the field and area around the field before play will continue. If a coach or parent refuses to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of the opposing team.

RULE 24: Weather-Related Issues – This tournament is outdoors, so in the event of severe weather, the Tournament Directors reserve the right to modify, reschedule, or cancel the tournament. Team entry fees are non-refundable.

RULE 25a: Standings and Tiebreakers in Qualifying (Pool) Play – Games will be scored according to the following: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. Ties in standings between two or more teams will be broken by: 1) Goal differential (no maximum amount of goals); 2) Fewest goals conceded; 3) Most goals scored (max 5 per game); 4) Best of 3 Penalty Shootout.

RULE 25b: Tiebreakers in Elimination Games – Elimination Games will have a Golden Goal Overtime Period of 5 minutes. The first team to score in overtime wins. If no team has scored in the 5-minute overtime, the winner shall be decided in a shootout with a coin toss to decide team-kicking order. Three players from each team remaining on the field at the end of the overtime period will be the only players to kick for their team. The 3 players will alternate in a sudden death penalty kick format until one team scores unanswered.

RULE 26: Heading – Current heading restrictions that apply in US Youth Soccer (such as no heading at age U11 and under) also apply in futsal.

RULE 27: Uniforms – All players must wear matching colored shirts. In the event of a conflict, the team that changes will be based on a) mutual agreement by coaches; b) rock, paper, scissors; or c) coin toss. Pinnies can be worn to resolve a uniform conflict.

RULE 28: Shin Guards – All players must wear shin guards.

RULE 29: Protective Casts – Players wearing protective casts must receive approval from the Tournament Directors and will be required to check in prior to each game with the referee to be permitted to play. If the referee on the field of play deems a player’s protective cast is unsafe in any way, the player will not be allowed to play until the Tournament Directors and athletic trainer re-approves the wearing of the protective cast.

***The Tournament Director will have final say on all disputes and interpretations of Tournament Rules.***

Patrick Miller

Capital City Soccer Club

www.capcitysc.com

214-293-1349