2018 Minnesota State Cup Rules

Transcription

1 2018 Minnesota State Cup Rules 1. Introduction The following rules govern the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association requirements for the operation and administration of the US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup Championships. Additional requirements for regional and national competition are contained in the rules for those competitions and are binding on all teams participating in the US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup Championships. Hereafter in this document, the event is referred to as the Minnesota State Cup. Refer to the Region II web site for Regional Championship policies and rules ( and to the US Youth Soccer website for Policy on the US Youth Soccer National Championships ( 2. Eligibility a. Team: The Minnesota State Cup shall be open to any US Youth Soccer affiliated team provided such team is in compliance with ALL of the following requirements: i. Be comprised of players properly registered with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association and listed on the official league roster; ii. Be in good standing with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association; iii. Compete in at least a 4-team approved league during the current seasonal year in its State Association, US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League or US Youth Soccer National League or with its State Association s permission in another State Association, except for the U19/20 age group for boys and girls. The league competition must consist of a minimum of one game against each of 3 different teams participating in the league. Whether participation in any amateur league shall qualify a youth team for Championship competition under this policy shall be determined by each State Association; iv. Roster only 22 players (U13 - U19/20); v. NOT over roster players; or vi. NOT use any guest or play-up players. b. Players: In order to participate in the Minnesota State Cup each player must: i. Rule 22. Player Eligibility- Section (2) of the National Championship Policy; A youth player may be on the National Championships roster of only one team at each level of the National Championship competitions during any seasonal year; provided, however, that a youth player who was rostered to a team of a club at a National Championship competition level that has been eliminated and does not advance to any level of the competition and who has been issued a club pass of that club in

2 accordance with this policy may be rostered to another team of that club at the next level of the National Championship competitions. ii. A team may have on its team roster only players of the following age groups for the seasonal year in which the team is participating in the National Championships: iii. For team competition in the U13 and U14 age groups, each player on the teams must be (A) of the age of the age group competition in which the team is participating in that seasonal year, or (B) of the age in either of the next two (2) younger age groups of that age group competition in which the team is participating in that seasonal year. iv. For the teams competing in the U15 - U19 age groups, each player on the team must be (A) of the age of the age group competition in which the team is participating in that seasonal year, or (B) of the age of any younger age group, through the U13 age group, of that age group competition in which the team is participating in that seasonal year. v. A player may only play for ONE TEAM during any segment of the National Championships Series which can include: The Minnesota State Cup, the Region 2 Championships, and the US Youth National Championships. vi. Have a current US Youth Soccer Member Digital Playing Card with a current photo vii. Players will serve their suspension in the league in which the suspension was given; viii. Be listed on the Minnesota Youth Soccer official league roster. c. Use of Ineligible Players i. Any team found guilty of using an ineligible player shall not be eligible to compete further and shall forfeit any fees paid. ii. Any coach, manager or official found guilty of using an ineligible player shall not be eligible to compete further in the current and subsequent seasonal year. iii. A player found guilty of submitting falsified birth information shall not be eligible to compete further in the current and subsequent seasonal year. iv. The inadvertent use of an illegally substituted player will be handled by the Minnesota State Cup Committee. d. Team Officials (Coach, Assistant Coach, Trainer or Manager) i. In order to participate in the Minnesota State Cup, each coach and assistant coach(s) must be in good standing, have a current US Youth Soccer Member Digital Playing Card with a current photo. ii. They must be properly registered with their club and there may be only four team officials (coach, assistant coach, trainer or manager) per team in the technical area and all must carry a valid US Youth Soccer Member Digital Pass from the club of the team involved in the game. Those individuals who do not possess the proper credentials will be asked to leave the technical area by the Minnesota State Cup Committee. The four team officials must conduct themselves accordingly. 2

3 iii. If a team official is dismissed from the technical area by the referee that team official will be suspended for the team s next US Youth Soccer National Championship Series competition game as a minimum; if a team is finished in the competition the team official will serve that suspension at a future US Youth Soccer National Championship Series competition determined by the Minnesota State Cup Committee. 3. Registration Procedures a. Official Minnesota State Cup Roster i. The names on the official roster must appear the same way as on the US Youth Soccer Member Digital Pass and proof-of-age documents. First and last names are required; middle names and initials are not. Nicknames are not acceptable (must match proof of age documents). ii. A Minnesota Youth Soccer Association player registration number from the US Youth Soccer Member Digital pass is required. iii. The team s official roster will be frozen on a date assigned by the committee. However, players need not participate in the first game. If listed on the official roster, they can participate later in the competition. Once the Minnesota State Cup Roster is frozen, no activity can occur with respect to the roster. Season ending injuries cannot be replaced once the official roster is frozen. iv. There should be at a minimum two registered team officials in the technical area for all games. The team officials should be the same staff that will accompany players to regional and national play if winning the US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup Championship. b. Game Roster The game roster shall have a maximum of eighteen (18) players and a minimum of seven (7) players. Every player listed on the game roster must be included on the team roster to be eligible to participate with the team. Coaches will need to notify the referee crew prior to each game which 18 players will be dressing for that game. c. At the time a team names its National Championship team roster it may not have more than five (5) previously rostered (transferred) players who were previously rostered during the current seasonal year with a club other than the club of which the current team is a member. Example: If a player moves from Club 'A' to Club 'B', that is considered a transfer. If a player moves from Team 'A' to Team 'B' within Club 'A', that is NOT considered a transfer. d. Residency: In accordance with Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Policies & Rules, a player must reside and attend school in Minnesota for six months prior to the beginning of the playing season. The Competitive Committee, may make exceptions to the above state residency requirement on a case-by-case basis. i. Players that transfer from other states must obtain a release from any state in which they have registered during the current year. ii. Players may only play in one State Cup competition in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. A player s home state association may be contacted to verify that the player has not participated in that state s competition and is therefore eligible to participate in the Minnesota State Cup. 3

4 iii. Any youth player wishing to play on a team of a member of a State Association other than the State Association where the player is registered, must receive written permission from 1. the State Association where the player is registered; and 2. the other State Association of the team on which the player wishes to play. 3. Permission must be obtained each seasonal year. e. Proof-of-Age: Team admin or parent must submit one copy of the proof-of-age documents per player. i. Only those proof-of-age documents per US Youth Soccer Rule 204, PROOF-OF-AGE will be accepted. This proof of age documentation must be reviewed and verified by the Minnesota State Cup Committee. Coaches must also have appropriate documentation available for all players at State, Regional and National competition if there is any challenge to a player's age. ii. Teams must be ready to provide the original proof of age documentation within 24 hours if the copy of the proof of age is challenged by the Minnesota State Cup Committee. In these circumstances a player will not be allowed to play until the original proof-of-age document is provided to the Minnesota State Cup Committee. iii. Teams that challenge an opposing player s proof-of-age are required to post a $100 bond which will not be returned if the proof-of-age document is verified as correct by the Minnesota State Cup Committee iv. Proof of age documents written in a foreign language must have a certified English translation attached. v. If a player has had a legal name change from the name on the birth certificate, then copies of appropriate documentation must also be provided. 4. Format: Each age group will be determined by the number of teams that register. There is no guarantee on the number of games a team will play. 5. Seeding: Teams will be seeded and placed into brackets according to the following criteria: a. Previous Year s State Cup Finish (1, 2, 3 for 12 team brackets & 1, 2 for 8 team brackets) b. Current National League Teams c. Current MRL Teams d. Current Premier I teams using past results e. Current Premier II teams using past results f. Current Classic 1 teams using past results g. Current Classic 2 teams using past results h. Current Classic 3 teams using past results i. At 13U, the results of the most recent MYSA Fall Competitive League will be used to seed the teams. If there are unranked teams after using those results, then the results of the most recent MYSA Summer Competitive League will be used to seed the remaining teams. 4

5 6. Play-in Games a. Age groups are limited to twelve teams. In age groups where thirteen or more teams apply, play-in games will be conducted. These teams will be identified by the Cup Committee seeding process. b. Teams that participate in a qualifying game must submit a roster prior to their qualifying match. Once a player is entered onto a qualifying match roster, they cannot play on another team during State Cup, should their team lose. c. The team losing the play in game will receive $600 back from their tournament entry fee. 7. Group Standings: Teams with the most total points will advance to elimination rounds based on the following criteria. One or two teams will advance from each group depending on the format of the tournament and number of teams registered. a. Points: In group play, each team will be awarded: i. Three points for a win or a game forfeited to them ii. One point for a tie iii. No points for a loss. b. Tie in points: In the event of a tie within a group, the following criteria will be used to determine the leader: i. Head to Head competition (In the event of a tie among three or more teams this criterion will not be used), then ii. Most wins, then iii. Goal Differential (goals scored minus goals against, with a maximum of four (4) goals differential per game), then iv. Fewest Goals allowed, then v. FIFA "Kicks from the Penalty Mark" (following the last round robin game or at least 60 minutes prior to the schedule play-off round game) c. Second Place Teams: In group play of 6 to 11 teams, the second place team from each group with the most total points will advance. In the event of a tie within second place teams, the above criteria will be used to determine which team will advance. d. Wildcards: In group play of 12 teams, the second place team from each group with the most total points will be designated the wildcard and will advance. In the event of a tie within second place teams, the above criteria will be used to determine which team will advance. e. Elimination Games i. Games ending in ties will remain ties in group play. ii. Age groups playing in a single elimination format, play-in, semi-final or championship games that cannot end in a tie must be determined by overtime play of two even periods based on the age group of the teams: 1. U13 - U14 two each 10-minute overtime periods 2. U15 - U19 two each 15-minute overtime periods iii. The team that is leading at the end of the two even overtime periods will be declared the winner. If the game is still tied after the two even overtime periods, FIFA "Kicks from the Penalty Mark" rules will apply in order to determine a winner. 8. Semifinal Games: The semifinal games will be scheduled as follows: 5

6 a. 2 Groups i. Winner of Group A will play the Second Place team of Group B ii. Winner of Group B will play the Second Place team of Group A b. 3 Groups i. Winner of Group A will play the Wildcard ii. Winner of Group B will play the Winner of Group C iii. If the Wildcard comes out of Group A the following schedule will be followed: 1. Winner of Group A will play the Winner of Group C 2. Winner of Group B will play the Wildcard c. 4 Groups i. Winner of Group A will play the Winner of Group D ii. Winner of Group B will play the Winner of Group C 9. Additional Policies & Rules a. Minnesota State Cup games shall take precedence over all other youth games. However, rescheduling league games must follow any requirements specified in the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Policies and Rules. b. The Minnesota State Cup Committee and/or Minnesota Youth Soccer Association will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or in whole of this tournament or for any travel incidental to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series competition. c. The Minnesota State Cup Committee shall decide on all US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup matters. d. Teams need to be familiar with Regional and National Championship Series rules. e. Any affiliate member must pay such fines before they may renew affiliation for the next year. f. The Minnesota State Cup Committee with referral to the Board of Directors must review the circumstances surrounding the forfeiture as soon as possible. The Board of Directors may take further action against the affiliate member, coaches and players associated with the offending team including placing some or all of those associated with the team in bad standing with Minnesota Youth Soccer Association. In such a case the team or players would not be allowed to compete in other league or sanctioned activities until such time as the Board of Directors removes the condition of bad standing. g. There will be no pets allowed. h. Fines: Any fines assessed against Minnesota Youth Soccer Association due to failure of a qualifying team to compete in one or more regional or national games shall be assessed against the offending team. If not paid by the team, the team's affiliate member must pay such fines. The following fines will be levied as required: i. Withdrawing from the competition after the seeding has been completed. - $ and forfeiture of the registration fee. ii. Failure to provide a team representative at the Mandatory Team Rep Meeting - $350.00* iii. Forfeiture of a US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup game - $

7 iv. Failure to clean up the sidelines at a US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup game - $50.00 v. Note: * - these fines must be paid prior to the first scheduled US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup game i. Alcohol & Illegal Drugs i. Players in State Competition are prohibited from consuming alcohol or using illegal drugs. Players are also prohibited from using any form of tobacco at the playing site of the US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup Championships. Penalty for violation by player participants is disqualification from the state competition. ii. This is a tobacco free event. iii. This is a drug and alcohol free event. j. Sportsmanship: In the interest of sportsmanship and fair play, the Minnesota State Cup competition prohibits conduct by coaches, team officials and players that call the game or competition into disrepute. The competition requires exemplary sportsmanship at all times. Therefore, it is the expectation that all coaches, team officials and players will participate in the Minnesota State Cup games in good faith and fairly, observing the laws of the game and exemplifying the highest level of sportsmanship as registered members of the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association. Unsporting behavior may subject those engaging in it to disciplinary actions. If the Minnesota State Cup Committee determines that a particular action by a team or any of its players, coaches, team officials or spectators is deemed unacceptable for any reason, the team may be disqualified, sanctioned, requested to play another qualifying game against the next highest ranking team that would otherwise be eligible to advance, and/or face forfeiture of one or more games. Examples of such action include, but are not limited to: suspected forfeiture or otherwise determining the outcome of a game with the design or purpose of controlling the advancement of any team from its own group or any other group, intentionally losing a game, or unnecessarily running a score up for no purpose other than to humiliate opponents. This is not an all-inclusive list of unsporting behavior and final determination will be made by the Minnesota State Cup Committee. k. The Technical Area: The technical area will be marked on all fields. Players and team officials will remain in the technical area at all times except when a game rostered player wishes to warm up. Players are allowed to warm up along their half of the touchline but are not allowed to use a ball anywhere along the touchline. i. The numbers of persons permitted to occupy the technical area are all players listed on the game roster and team officials. Team officials include the coach, manager, trainer, (a total of four) and any rostered player not active on the game roster. ii. Only one person at a time is authorized to convey tactical instructions and must return to their position after giving these instructions. 7

8 iii. The coach and other officials must remain within the confines of the technical area except in special circumstances; for example, a coach or trainer entering the field of play, with the referee s permission, to assess an injured player. If a team official must leave the technical area they should notify the assistant referee or fourth official prior to departure and upon their return. If a team official arrives after the start of the game and the referee team has not seen the team official's US Youth Soccer Member Digital Pass, the team official must surrender the US Youth Soccer Member Digital Pass to the assistant referee or linesman as soon as possible. iv. The coach and other occupants of the technical area must behave in a responsible manner. v. Game rostered players in the technical area must wear a pennie, warm up suit, or unique shirt different from the uniform of players on the field until they enter the field of play. All game rostered players in the technical area must be wearing the same item. l. Control of Sideline i. The Minnesota State Cup Committee will designate one sideline for the sole use of the players, coaches and team officials with one team on one side of the midfield line and one team on the other side of the midfield line. Only those players, coaches and team officials listed on the blue roster are allowed on the team side. Teams must remain on the same side of the field and spectators must be on the opposite side of the field or the game will not start or continue if already started. (The Coach/Manager is encouraged to discuss this requirement prior to the game with spectators). ii. All sideline viewers must remain eight feet from the touchline. Only the field marshals and/or tournament officials are allowed to stand behind the goal or goal line. iii. College coaches will have designated areas on the team side of the field for their use. Spectators, players and managers are not allowed in this area. Coaches will be allowed to talk to college coaches in this area but must vacate that area once discussions are complete. iv. Any other individuals who may be construed as associated with a team, such as relatives and spectators, shall be subject to the authority of Minnesota Youth Soccer Association. The team coach shall be held responsible for the actions of any individual at any match that, in the opinion of the referee or Minnesota State Cup Committee, is a supporter of that team. It is assumed that players, managers, coaches and fans will conduct themselves within the letter and the spirit of the game. The Minnesota State Cup Committee or their designee has the authority and responsibility to remove any person(s) from the tournament for abusive or unsportsmanlike behavior. 8

9 10. Weather and Unfinished Games: Coaches and team representatives will be expected to review this information with the parents and spectators from their team. It is important for the safety of everyone that these guidelines are followed. a. Weather (Pre-event and during the event): If severe weather develops, Minnesota State Cup staff will instruct the referees on any decisions to suspend play and seek shelter. Referees will blow their whistles to stop play and exit the field. The Minnesota State Cup Tournament Staff will activate a long horn blast up to three times indicating play is suspended. The referees will be instructed with the All Clear message when teams can resume play. The Minnesota State Cup Tournament Staff will activate a series of short horn blasts notifying teams to return to the field and resume play. i. When games are stopped due to weather, the decision to clear the fields will always be based on the safety of players, coaches, referees and spectators. Therefore, if the decision is made by the Minnesota State Cup Tournament Staff to clear the fields, it will be expected that all participants will follow these steps: ii. Parents, fans, players, coaches and referees will seek shelter immediately inside their vehicles. iii. Do not leave the premises until directed to do so by Minnesota State Cup Tournament Staff. Minnesota State Cup Tournament Staff at headquarters will communicate with and direct coaches and team representatives as to the plan. iv. The All Clear indicator will also indicate when the referees should return to their fields and position themselves in the middle of the field. This will indicate that it is safe to resume play. v. The Minnesota State Cup Tournament Staff reserves the right to modify the "Rules of the Game" based on weather conditions or to make any changes to best serve the interests of the tournament as a whole. b. Unfinished Games: i. Unfinished games due to any cause shall be replayed providing the following conditions are met. 1. Neither team is at fault 2. Play has not begun in the second half ii. The game will be considered complete in group play if play has begun in the second half, the score is not tied, and neither team is at fault. The game will not be considered complete in a game where a winner must be declared, unless it is a play-in game. iii. If the score is tied then the game will resume with FIFA Kicks from the Mark unless one team is adjudged to be at fault. iv. Should play be stopped due to one of the teams being adjudged to be at fault, the State Cup Committee, at their discretion, will decide whether the game is to be replayed, declared a forfeit, or resumed as FIFA Kicks from the Mark. 11. Grace Period and Forfeits 9

10 a. Grace Period: A ten-minute grace period shall be extended beyond the scheduled game time if seven players are not available at the scheduled kick-off time. i. A team of seven players must start the game as soon as seven players are at the field after the originally scheduled start time. ii. At the end of the ten-minute grace period, if there is not the required seven players in attendance for one team, the referee shall note the failure of the required seven players in attendance on the game lineup report and give it to the field marshal. The field marshal will notify headquarters. The referee will also verbally notify the Referee Assignor of the failure of one team to not have the required seven players. The game will be considered a forfeit and the opposing team will be awarded 3 points. The score will be reported as 4-0. b. Forfeits or Failure to Compete i. Any team or club intending to forfeit a game must give written notice of such intention to the Minnesota State Cup Committee within 72 hours of the scheduled start time of the game. Such notice shall include the reason for the forfeit. Teams that intend to forfeit a game on a scheduled US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup date will be deemed as a "Refusal to Play". The team will be fined $400. ii. Forfeits and failure to compete in the Minnesota State Cup by a team or club shall be a matter for review by the Minnesota State Cup Committee and will include referral to the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Board of Directors which shall have the authority to take such action against the team or Affiliate Member as it deems appropriate. iii. Any team or club failing to give notice of intention to forfeit may, at the discretion of the Minnesota State Cup Committee with referral to the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Board of Directors, have additional sanctions levied against it, including fines and denial of eligibility to compete in the following year's US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup Championships. iv. Any team that advances to Midwest Regional or National Championships that withdraws from the competition within 60 days prior to the start date, shall be fined $1, If a team withdraws within 14 days prior to the start date, the fine shall be $3, Further sanctions, including denial of eligibility of team or club to compete in the following year s US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup Championships, may be levied against them. The Minnesota State Cup runner-up will be asked to be the State s Representative at the Midwest Regional Championships 12. Laws of the Game: All games shall be in accordance with FIFA, US Soccer, and Minnesota Youth Soccer Association constitutions, by-laws, rules and regulations and US Youth Soccer National Championship Rules except as noted below for US Youth Soccer Minnesota State Cup Championship play. All rules conform to FIFA laws with exceptions added. a. LAW 3 - THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS i. Limited Substitution Policy: 10

11 1. For the Under 13 & 14 age groups, unlimited substitutions shall be allowed 2. For all other age groups (U15 - U19), a maximum of 7 substitutions for each team shall be allowed in each game during each half of play and during overtime play. After leaving the game during a half of play, the substituted player may not re-enter the game during that same half of play. After leaving the game during overtime play, the substituted player may not re-enter the game. ii. Substitutes may be made, with the consent of the referee, at any stoppage in play. iii. Players that are not listed as active on the Blue Roster for a game will be considered Team Officials. b. LAW 4 UNIFORM i. A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself/herself or another player (including any kind of jewelry). ii. All teams must wear uniforms that conform to acceptable standards for National Championship Series play. Compulsory equipment of a player is: 1. jersey: an official uniform of an accepted soccer style jersey with a six-inch minimum size permanent number on the back of the shirt. Each number must be different. Numbered jerseys for goalkeepers are optional. The jerseys must have finished sleeve openings and enclosed sides. The goalkeeper must wear colors that distinguish them from other players, the referee, and assistant referees. All teams must have a primary and alternate color jersey (if thermal under garments are worn, they will be the same basic color as the shirts or white or black and all players wearing under garments must wear the same color); 2. shorts: (if thermal under garments are worn, they will be the same basic color as the shirts or white or black and all players wearing under garments must wear the same color); 3. stockings: All teams must have a primary and alternate color stockings; 4. shin guards: must be covered by stockings, made of suitable material, that provide a reasonable degree of protection 5. footwear; and 6. Players must wear a shirt during warm ups prior to competition. iii. Players may not decorate their hands, faces, hair, shoes or uniforms. iv. The referee, the Minnesota State Cup Committee or selected designee may suspend games, if in his or her judgment; uniforms worn by the team are not acceptable for competition. The team shall be given an opportunity to change uniforms. The Minnesota State Cup Committee or designee shall declare the game a forfeit if the referee agrees the uniforms are unacceptable. v. In the event of a color conflict, the home team shall change to an alternate set of uniforms. This shall include the shirt, stockings or both. The 11

12 Minnesota State Cup Tournament Committee or his/her designee shall determine the home team (listed in the first column on the schedule). vi. At every level of the National Championships competitions, a player or team official may only have on the outer wear of the player or team official a name, logo, or other identifying mark of a youth soccer organization that is US Youth Soccer, a State Association or an organization that is a member of a State Association. A name, logo, or other identifying mark of any other youth soccer organization must be removed, replaced, or covered before the player or team official may continue to remain at the game site for the game. vii. At regional competition, each championship team shall wear the State Champion patch presented to them on the right sleeve of one set of jerseys. Minnesota Youth Soccer Association teams will remove all previously earned State Champion patches c. LAW 5 - THE REFEREE i. Referees are required to submit a completed Score Report Card after each game to the field marshal immediately following the game. ii. If a dismissal or Red Card was issued during a game, the referee is required to bring the pass to headquarters and complete a Ejected Participate Report. iii. Fourth (4 th ) officials will be scheduled on all Semi-final and Championship games. iv. Note: The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his/her discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided that play has not restarted. Concerns regarding referees should be directed to the Referee Assignor d. LAW 7 - THE DURATION OF THE MATCH Age Group Game Length Overtime Period U13-U14 Two each 35 Minute Two each 10 Minute Halves Overtimes U15-U16 Two each 40 Minute Two each 15 Minute U17-U19 Halves Two each 45 Minute Halves Overtimes Two each 15 Minute Overtimes e. LAW 8 - THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY: Each team must present the referee with a copy of the official Blue Roster that will serve as the Game Roster. The home team representative will also give the center referee the Score Report Card which is completed by the referees after the game and turned into headquarters by the field marshal. f. LAW 12 - FOULS AND MISCONDUCT i. Minimum 1 game suspension 1. Sent off by the referee for persisting in misconduct after receiving a first caution. That is, after having received a yellow card, received a second yellow card for one of the following: 12

13 a. unsporting behavior; b. dissent; c. persistently infringing the Laws of the Game; d. delaying the restart of play; e. failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick; f. entering or reentering the field without the permission of the referee; or, g. deliberately leaving the field without the permission of the referee. 2. Sent off by the referee for denying a goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball ii. Minimum 2 game suspension 1. Sent off by the referee for one of the following: a. guilty of serious foul play; b. guilty of violent conduct; c. spits at an opponent or any other person; d. denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick. e. uses offensive, insulting or abusive language. iii. Any player or substitute player who has been sent off with a red card or a coach who has been dismissed, must report to Tournament Headquarters immediately. Failure to do so will result in forfeit for the team of the offending player, substitute player or coach. iv. Red cards issued in league games do not carry over into Minnesota State Cup play. Red cards in Minnesota State Cup play carry over to any subsequent Minnesota State Cup competition and US Youth Soccer Regional and National Championship games until the penalty is served. v. An Ejected Participant Report will be completed for each red card issued. vi. All US Youth Soccer Member Passes of participants that receive an ejection are to be turned into tournament headquarters along with the Score Card identifying the appropriate violation 13. Protests: All questions relating to the qualifications of competitors or any other dispute or protest shall be referred to the Minnesota State Cup Committee. Decisions of the Committee shall be binding on both teams. Any protest must be presented in writing by the coach/assistant coach of the team to the Minnesota State Cup Director or his/her designee within one hour of the completion of the game under protest. All protests must include a $100 bond that shall be returned only if the protest is upheld. Protests of referee decisions shall not be a basis for filing a protest. Any protest involving field conditions or game behavior must be lodged in writing with both the referee and the opposing coach either before (field conditions) or immediately after (game behavior) the game ends. It is the responsibility of the State Cup Committee to investigate a properly protested violation immediately following its receipt. Failure of any club, team or individual to cooperate with such investigation shall result in disciplinary action up to 13

14 and including suspension. The Minnesota State Cup Committee will refer to steps outlined in the Minnesota State Cup Championship Rules Attachment B for investigative and hearing purposes if warranted. 14