1. LAWS OF THE GAME

All games shall be played in accordance with F.I.F.A. rules as observed by the Ontario Soccer Association. The following additions will be in effect:

A. All teams must be correctly registered with their District Association.

B. All teams from outside Huronia Region must provide, at time of Registration, the appropriate “permission to travel” from authorized by their governing association. Please mail copy with full payment or before April 15th, 2010.

C. All teams may register: U11 and up 18 players. U9-10 14 players.

D. All players must have a current player registration book and photograph and be registered with their team through their District. Age eligibility is based on January 1 date as published by the Ontario Soccer Association (O.S.A.) in which their team is entered in the tournament. Only those players registered on the Master Roster are eligible to play. Only the tournament chair, the tournament registrar and the game official are authorized to make a request to view Player books or roster.

E. Teams and players unable to provide acceptable registration documents will not be allowed to play in any tournament games.

F. Up to 3 guest players are allowed on each team. Guest players must be registered with the same club as the team they are playing for. No player may play for more than 1 team in the tournament.

G. The U9-U10 divisions will play on mini fields. The U11 & Up divisions will play on full-sized fields.

H. U7, U8, U9 and U10 divisions will use throw ins .

I. There will be no offsides for U7, U8, U9, U10.

2. DURATION OF GAMES

A. No overtime will be played in the preliminary round. Half time in all games will be 5 minutes. Preliminary rounds: U7-U10-20 minute halves /U11 & up-25 minute halves.

B. Length of Semi-final and Final games will be: U7-U10-20 minute halves and U11 & up-35 minute halves. If the game is tied after regulation time, rule 3B will apply.

C. Games will be scored: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie.

3. EXTRAORDINARY WEATHER:

A. In the event of severe weather, (i.e. continuous heavy rain, flooding, lighting, excessive heat or humidity), only a Tournament official or the City Parks Department may cancel a game. The Tournament Committee has the authority to change the duration of the games or any other function of the tournament, including such things as the following:

• Relocate and/or reschedule any game(s)
• Reduce, by up to 50%(percent), the duration of any scheduled game
• Cancel any game in the preliminary round, which has no bearing in deciding group winners.

B. A game is considered complete if 50%(percent) or more of the playing time has elapsed in a game terminated by the referee for causes as noted above.

C. In cases where a game has been cancelled or altered in any way, it is the responsibility of the teams involved to contact Tournament Headquarters for verification of these changes.

4. TIE-BREAKING AND OVERTIME RULES

A. In the event of teams being tied in preliminary round standings, the following procedure will be used to declare winners.
• Winner of game between tied teams
• Goal differential, (goals scored minus goals against)
• Least goals scored
• Most goals scored
• Most wins during preliminary round
• Best of 5 penalty kicks by 5 players on each team
• Alternate penalty kicks by balance of team, until a decision has been reached

B. In the event of tied games in Quarter-finals, Semi-finals or final rounds, the following procedure will be determined game winners.
• 2 /10 minute halves of “Sudden Death” will be played. First goal wins
• If still tied-5 penalty kicks by 5 players from each team
• If still tied-alternate penalty kicks, by balance of team until a decision has been reached.

NOTE: ONLY PLAYERS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY AT THE END OF THE OVERTIME PERIOD WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PENALTY KICKS.

5. WILD CARD TEAMS

A. Wild card teams will be the teams with the most points, exclusive of group winners in preliminary round standings.

B. If teams are tied in points, the same procedure used to determine group winners (4.A) will be used to determine wild card teams.

6. FAILURE TO SHOW AND FOREFEITED GAMES

A. A team shall be allowed a 10 minute grace period from the scheduled kick-off time if there is less than 7 players (5 for U7-U10) before the game is awarded to their opponent.

B. If a team forfeits a game, their opponents will be awarded a 3-0 victory and given 3 points.

Number of goals awarded would be determined at the conclusion of preliminary round standings by dividing goals scored by number of games played to the nearest whole number.

C. If a team forfeits a game, a fine of $100.00 will be assessed. If the fine is not paid with 10 days, the appropriate District Association and the Ontario Soccer Association will be notified.

D. A team who has been accepted to play in the tournament and withdraws during the tournament shall forfeit their entry fee and reported to the appropriate associations.

7. PLAYERS UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

A. Players must wear numbers on the back of their shirts. Each player shall have a different number and this number must coincide with the player’s name and number as shown on the game sheet and team roster. In the event that team colours clash, the home team will change uniform. (Home team is the first listed team on the schedule). The home team is required to provide suitable game balls. All equipment is subject to the referee’s approval.

B. Shin pads are mandatory.

8. SCHEDULING AND REFEREEING

A. Scheduling and refereeing will be the responsibility of the tournament
committee.

9. SUBSTITUTION

A. No limit to the number of substitution to be made during games, but
substitutions can only be made:
• After a goal has been scored
• At any goal kick
• On your own teams throw in (kick in) or when the opposing team initiates a substitution-based on referees discretion
• At the beginning of the second half or the first and second half of overtime
• At the referee’s discretion in the event of injury
• No substitutions will be allowed for a player ordered from the field by the referee except in mini-soccer divisions U7, U8, U9, U10.

10. SUSPENSIONS

A. Any person send off will miss the next game.

B. A player who receives two yellow or one red card in one game will be suspended from the next game.

C. A player who receives 4 yellow cards or 2 red cards during the tournament will be suspended from the tournament Note: Any player or team official ordered from the field by the referee shall be suspended for the next game.

D. The tournament committee may require the player or game official to appear before a Discipline committee. Failure to attend a requested hearing will result in the immediate suspension from the Tournament.

11. PROTESTS

A. All protests must be in writing and be in the hands of the field Convenor or delivered to the Tournament Headquarters as designated by the tournament committee, together with a fee of $50.00 within one hour of the completion of the game to which the protest relates. The referee is the sole time-keeper of each game. No protest on a referee’s decision will be entertained.

12. LIABILITY AND MEDICAL INSURANCE

It is the responsibility of each team to carry their own medical and liability insurance coverage. Also a member of your staff Eagles Spring Kick Off Soccer Tournament does NOT provide this insurance. Also a member of your staff should have First Aid Training. Medical personnel may not be readily available at all playing fields.

13. GENERAL

All game sheets MUST be handed to the field referee 15 minutes prior to each game. Game sheets must be signed by one team official from each team.

A. The Tournament Committee, Host Club interpretation of the foregoing rules and regulations shall be final.

B. All Yellow cards, Red cards and Ejections will be reported to their club and to their District Association.

C. The Tournament Committee, host Club and/or the Huronia Soccer Association will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team if the Tournament is cancelled in whole or in part.

D. The Tournament Committee, Host Club reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament.

E. Harassment and intimidation of the referee and/or Tournament Official will not be tolerated. Failure to comply with this could result in Team Officials and/or the team being suspended from tournament play.

F. Harassment and intimidation of the referee and/or Tournament Official, will not be tolerated. Failure to comply with is could result in Team Officials and/or the team being suspended from tournament play.

G. Travel Permit must be received 7 days prior to the first day of the tournament from each team outside Huronia District.