THE TOURNAMENT WILL FOLLOW FIFA RULES AS AMENDED:
THE PLAYERS:
ELIGIBILITY: Participation is open for U9 to U19 boys and girls registered with a National State Association affiliated with USYS/USSF. Teams will consist of up to seven (7) players. Up to 3 guest players are permitted. Players may only be rostered on one (1) team for the duration of the tournament. Mixed (coed) teams will play in the boys division. There will be no roster changes, substitutions or additions after the start of the tournament. Players may “play up” in age group, but will not be allowed to “play down.” Every effort will be made to place teams in divisions of like ability, in order to make games as competitive as possible.
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: Player registration cards valid for the 2007/2008 seasonal years will be required as proof of age. Each team must provide two copies of its tournament roster and medical release forms at registration. Medical release forms are available at
www.nicolecup.com under applications. Player passes and medical release forms will be checked at registration. One copy of the roster will be turned in at registration.
Guest players cannot be from another team participating in the tournament. Travel player passes, rec passes (for non-travel players) must be presented for all guest players.
Out of state teams must have a Permission to Travel Form signed by their association. The only exception is some teams from Region 1 (see details below)
Region 1 Policy Regarding Application To Host A Tournament
Region I has established the following policy concerning permission to travel when attending US Youth Soccer sanctioned tournaments in Region I. The purpose of this policy is to make it as simple as possible for the US Youth Soccer Region I teams to travel to tournaments within Region I.
The new policy states that any US Youth Soccer State Association teams within Region I that is accepted into a tournament in Region I do not need permission to travel papers. Permission to Travel is not required in friendly games within Region 1. Note is to be taken on the two (2) states that have an exception to this policy (Connecticut & New Jersey).
National State Associations in Region I:
Connecticut Jr Soccer Assn - Must provide Permission to Travel
Delaware Youth Soccer Assn
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Assn
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Assn
Soccer Maine
Maryland Youth Soccer Assn
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Assn
New Hampshire Soccer Assn
*New Jersey Youth Soccer Assn – Must provide Permission to Travel
New York State West Youth Soccer Assn
Pennsylvania West State Soccer Assn
Soccer Rhode Island
Vermont Soccer Assn
Virginia Youth Soccer Assn
West Virginia Soccer Assn
Note: Teams that play in the Washington Area Girls Soccer League (WAGS), National Capital Soccer League (NCSL) and Old Dominion Soccer League (ODSL) are Region 1 teams and DO NOT need Permission to Travel forms.
RULES OF PLAY
Except as modified herein, the FIFA “Laws of the Game” will apply to all games.
NUMBER OF PLAYERS: Seven (7) is the maximum number of players on a team; four (4) field players and three (3) substitutes. Four (4) players are on the field at a time. Minimum number of players on the field is (3). There are no goalkeepers.
PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS: Substitutions will be allowed at any dead-ball situation, regardless of possession. The referee will grant permission for all substitutions and players are to enter and exit at mid-field.
PLAYER EQUIPMENT: All players must wear shin guards and appropriate soccer boots. All players must wear a matching jersey with a number. If both teams are wearing the same color jersey, the team listed as the home team on the tournament schedule will be required to change jersey colors.
GAME DURATION: The game will consist of two (2) 15-minute halves separated by a two-minute half-time period. Games tied after regulation shall end in a tie except in championship play.
THE FIELD OF PLAY:
FIELD DIMENSIONS: The minimum playing field will be 22 yards wide by 30 yards long. Goals are 4’x 6”.
PENALTY BOX: Arc Rule: There will be no ball contact allowed within the goal box; however any player may pass through the goal box. If the ball comes to rest in the goal box, a goal kick is awarded regardless of who last touched the ball. The line is considered the goal box and any infractions of the goal box will be a foul. If a defender touches the ball in the goal box, a penalty kick is awarded to the attacking team. If an offensive player touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.
BALL SIZE: U9 – U12 will use a size four (4) ball. U13 and above will use a size five (5) regulation ball.
GOAL SCORING: A goal may be scored from anywhere on the field. Ball changes possession after a goal is scored.
RESTARTS: All restarts are indirect kicks with the exception of the Penalty Kick.
KICK OFF: All kick offs will be an indirect kick and may be taken in any direction.
THREE (3) YARD RULE: The defending team must stand at least three (3) yards from the ball for all restarts, dead ball situations and kick offs.
KICK-INS: There will be no throw-ins. The ball will be kicked into play from the sideline. Defending player must adhere to the three (3) yard rule on kick-ins.
GOAL KICKS: Goal kicks may be taken from any point on the touchline but not in the goal box.
PENALTY KICKS: A penalty kick will be taken from midfield to an open goal. There will be no defending player allowed to contest the penalty kick. All non-kicking players must be behind mid-field. A penalty kick shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by the infraction. This will be a dead-ball kick. If the goal is not scored, the defense will be awarded a goal kick.
OFFSIDES: There will be no offsides in the tournament.
SLIDE TACKLING: There will be no slide tackling allowed in the tournament.
THE TOURNAMENT:
FORMAT: Each team will be play at least three (3) games.
GAME DURATION: The game will consist of two (2) 15-minute halves separated by a two-minute half-time period. Games tied after regulation shall end in a tie except in championship play. At the discretion of the referee, a game will be deemed a forfeit if teams are not present at game time.
SCORING GAME POINTS: Game points will be awarded as follows: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.
TIE BREAKERS: For teams that are tied in game points, the following tiebreaker steps will be followed:
First Head-to-head
Second Fewest disciplinary pts
(yellow=1, red=3)
Third Fewest Goals Allowed
Fourth Bonus point for shut out
Fifth Goal differential, max 4 per game
Sixth Coin toss
OVERTIME: Tournament championship games that end in a tie will play one 5-minute overtime period. A coin toss will determine the kickoff possession. If after the completion of the overtime period the match remains a tie, then the champion will be determined by penalty kicks.
PROTESTS: No protests will be allowed. All referee decisions are final.
FAIR PLAY: Players, coaches and spectators are expected to act in the nature of “Fair Play” at all times. Abuse of the referees or opponents will not be tolerated. Any instance of such conduct will disqualify the responsible team from the tournament.
