RULES & POLICIES FOR THE US YOUTH SOCCER REGION II PRESIDENTS CUP October 1, 2014 [UPDATED March 18, 2015]
TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I GENERAL... 3 Rule 101. DEFINITIONS... 3 Rule 102. ESTABLISHMENT AND TITLE... 3 Rule 103. AWARDS TO TEAMS AND PLAYERS... 4 Rule 104. ADMINISTRATION... 4 Rule 105. NOTICES... 4 PART II ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPETITIONS... 4 Rule 201. REGIONAL LEVEL COMPETITIONS... 4 PART III PLAYERS, TEAMS, AND GAME PLAY... 5 Rule 301. APPLICATION/WITHDRAW... 5 Rule 302. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY... 5 Rule 303. TEAM ELIGIBILITY... 5 Rule 304. PASSES, ROSTERS AND UNIFORMS... 6 Rule 305. GAME PLAY... 7 Rule 306. GAME OFFICIALS... 9 PART IV PROTESTS AND APPEALS... 9 Rule 401. PROTESTS AND APPEALS... 9 APPENDIX I DIVISION GROUPING AND PLAYOFF BRACKETS... 11 APPENDIX II DRAFT SCHEDULE... 14 Page 2
PART I GENERAL Rule 101. DEFINITIONS Except as otherwise provided, the following definitions apply to this policy: (1) "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of US Youth Soccer established under Bylaw 411 of US Youth Soccer. (2) "Region II Presidents Cup Committee" means a special committee of US Youth Soccer Region II established for the purpose of administration of the Region II Presidents Cup competitions. (3) "National Presidents Cup competitions" means the competitions established under the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup policy. (4) "Region" means one of those regions established under Bylaw 322 of US Youth Soccer. (5) "State Association" means the States Associations enumerated in Bylaw 322 of US Youth Soccer. (6) "US Youth Soccer" means the United States Youth Soccer Association, Inc. Rule 102. ESTABLISHMENT AND TITLE Section 1. US Youth Soccer Region II shall organize annual Region II Presidents Cup competitions for those qualifying players in the Under-13 through Under-17 age groups as defined by Rule 104 of the US Youth Soccer Policy on Players and Playing Rules. Section 2. There shall be individual, separately conducted Region II Presidents Cup competitions for boys and girls in each of the age groups. Section 3. The title of the Region II Presidents Cup competitions shall be the "US YOUTH SOCCER REGION II PRESIDENTS CUP. Section 4. The titles of the cups presented annually to the championship teams of each boys and girls age group at the Region II level are the following: (1) US Youth Soccer Boys Under 13 Region II Presidents Cup (2) US Youth Soccer Girls Under 13 Region II Presidents Cup (3) US Youth Soccer Boys Under 14 Region II Presidents Cup (4) US Youth Soccer Girls Under 14 Region II Presidents Cup (5) US Youth Soccer Boys Under 15 Region II Presidents Cup (6) US Youth Soccer Girls Under 15 Region II Presidents Cup (7) US Youth Soccer Boys Under 16 Region II Presidents Cup (8) US Youth Soccer Girls Under 16 Region II Presidents Cup (9) US Youth Soccer Boys Under 17 Region II Presidents Cup (10) US Youth Soccer Girls Under 17 Region II Presidents Cup Page 3
Rule 103. AWARDS TO TEAMS AND PLAYERS Section 1. The champion team for each boys and girls age group at the Region II level each year will be given a team award determined by the Region II Presidents Cup Chair. Section 2. The players of each of the two (2) teams that are first and second place teams competing in the Region II Presidents Cup at the regional level in each of the boys and girls age groups shall be awarded individual medals. Rule 104. ADMINISTRATION Section 1. There shall be a Region II Presidents Cup Committee. The Committee Chair shall be appointed by the Region II President. The Committee members shall be appointed by the Committee Chair. The Committee shall be responsible for the entire administration of the Region II Presidents Cup competitions. Section 2. The Region II Presidents Cup Committee reserves the right to make all decisions concerning the Region II Presidents Cup competitions, keeping in mind the best interests of US Youth Soccer, the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup, US Youth Soccer Region II, and the safety and welfare of the players, coaches, administrators, and spectators. Section 3. Unless otherwise provided in this policy, the decisions of the Region II Presidents Cup Committee are final. Rule 105. NOTICES All notices and other communications required to be given under this policy shall be in writing and addressed as the Region II Presidents Cup Committee. PART II ORGANIZATION OF THE COMPETITIONS Rule 201. REGIONAL LEVEL COMPETITIONS Region II shall conduct the US Youth Soccer Region II Presidents Cup competitions consisting of boys and girls age groups. The competitions shall be among the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup teams of the State Associations for the region. These Region II competitions shall determine the teams that represent Region II for each of the boys and girls age groups at the national level of the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup competitions. Page 4
PART III PLAYERS, TEAMS, AND GAME PLAY Rule 301. APPLICATION/WITHDRAW Section 1. Each State Association may enter one male and one female team in each of the following age groups: U13, U14, U15, U16 and U17. Section 2. The Presidents Cup fee shall be established by the Region II Presidents Cup Chair. This fee shall be paid to Region II by the State Associations. Section 3. A State Association may withdraw any team(s) from the Region II Presidents Cup up to 60 days prior to the start of play without penalty; however, the entry fee shall not be returned for teams that withdraw. Any State Association that withdraws teams from the Regional Presidents Cup less than 60 days prior to the start of the Region II Presidents Cup shall be fined $500 for each team that withdraws. Any State Association that withdraws teams 10 days or less prior to the start of the Region II President Cup shall be fined $1,000 for each team withdrawn. All fines will be paid to Region II and monies collected will be forwarded to the State Association who provides the replacement team. Section 4. Any State Association that does not pay the fine(s) assessed by Region II shall be considered in bad standing, and no teams from that State Association shall be permitted to participate in future Region II Presidents Cup games until the fines are paid. The State Association shall be responsible for collecting any fine(s) from the teams that are penalized by fines. Rule 302. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY Section 1. A player must be properly registered and rostered in accordance with the rules of US Youth Soccer (Policy on Players and Playing Rules, 201 and 209) and the State Association. Section 2. A team that is found guilty for any reason of having an ineligible player on its roster or using an ineligible player forfeits each game involving the ineligible player. Section 3. A player who has been suspended may play after the player s term of suspension has expired. Rule 303. TEAM ELIGIBILITY The Region II Presidents Cup competitions shall be open to any team whose players are registered with US Youth Soccer through a State Association if the team is in compliance with all of the following requirements: (1) The team must be comprised of properly registered and rostered youth players (as defined by US Youth Soccer). Page 5
(2) The team must be in good standing with its State Association and must be in compliance with, and has not violated any of the bylaws and policies of US Youth Soccer. (3) In State Associations where player registrations are 25,000 or larger during the immediate preceding seasonal year, teams who participate in the round of 16 or one of the top 16 teams in a US Youth Soccer National Championship Series State Cup competitions, or participated in the National League, or the most competitive division of the Midwest Regional League are not eligible to participate in the Region II Presidents Cup. (4) In State Associations where player registrations are 25,000 or less during the immediate preceding seasonal year, each State Association may designate any team as the representative from their state to the regional level of the National Presidents Cup. Rule 304. PASSES, ROSTERS AND UNIFORMS Section 1. At the Region II Presidents Cup competitions, each player and team official listed on the team s roster must carry a US Youth Soccer member pass. The member pass issued to a player shall identify the club by name or other appropriate means of identification. The US Youth Soccer member pass must carry a current photograph of the player or team official, as the case may be and be signed by the appropriate official of the State Association. Section 2. No more than seven (7) days before the date of the first scheduled game of the Region II Presidents Cup competitions, each team in the competitions shall submit a roster with not more than 22 players; however, a team must have on its roster at that time at least nine (9) players that were on its roster at its state qualifying event. NOTE: Additional players for this event are not limited to club pass players. All information listed on the roster must be verified by the appropriate official of the State Association and signed by that official for each level of the US Youth Soccer Region II and National Presidents Cup. Section 3. Uniforms: (a) The team s Region II Presidents Cup roster and the US Youth Soccer member s passes must be available at the game site at all times. The game roster shall include the number of each player s jersey. NOTE: If jersey numbers are different for home/away jerseys, the correct jersey number must be listed for each game. (b) Each player shall have a number on the player s jersey. The number shall be affixed to the back of the jersey and shall be clearly visible. Each player on a team must wear a number different from the number of every other player on the team including goalkeepers. (c) At every level, including the regional level of the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup competitions, a player or team official at a game site to participate in a game or associated activity of the competitions may only have on their outer wear a name, logo, or other identifying mark of a youth soccer organization that is a member of US Youth Soccer. 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 or associated activity. Page 6
(d) The home team is listed first in the game pairings. The visiting team will have choice of jersey color. If in the opinion of the referee there is a conflict, the home team will change. (e) No jewelry may be worn. Rule 305. GAME PLAY Section 1. The playing rules of the US Youth Soccer Region II Presidents Cup competitions shall conform to the FIFA Laws of the Game except as provided by this rule. Section 2. Length of games, ball size: (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the length of games, overtime periods, ball size, ball circumference and ball weight for each age group shall be as follows: Age Group Game Length Halftime Over Time Ball Size Weight Under 13 Two 35 halves 10 min 2x10 min #5 14-16 ozs. Under 14 Two 35 halves 10 min 2x10 min #5 14-16 ozs. Under 15 Two 40 halves 10 min 2x15 min #5 14-16 ozs. Under 16 Two 40 halves 10 min 2x15 min #5 14-16 ozs. Under 17 Two 45 halves 10 min 2x15 min #5 14-16 ozs. (b) Game balls will be provided by the Region II Presidents Cup Committee. In the event a ball is not provided, the home team will be asked to provide the game ball. (c) Preliminary round games may end in a tie. (d) If the score of a final game is tied at the end of regulation time, there will be two (2) overtime periods played in their entirety. (See length of overtime periods listed above.) If neither team scores during the two (2) overtime periods, the winner will be determined by FIFA Kicks from the Mark. (e) If consolation games are scheduled and played and the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the game will be declared a tie. There will be no overtime periods or FIFA Kicks from the Mark for consolation games. (f) Teams are required to be at the field no less than 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the game. Referees will abandon the game and the Cup Director may issue a forfeit if a team is not at the field and prepared to begin 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of the game. Extreme extenuating circumstances may be considered before declaring a forfeit. (g) If, as determined by the Region II Presidents Cup Committee, inclement weather affects the Region II Presidents Cup competitions, the following rules may apply regarding play and applied in the following order: (1) If play is suspended in the first half or the start of play is delayed, the Committee may eliminate overtime periods. (2) If the championship game is tied at the conclusion of regulation time, the game may go immediately to FIFA Kicks from the Mark. (3) The game length may be reduced up to 10 minutes per half. Page 7
(4) If the game is terminated beyond these times, the result of the game will stand. If the game is tied or does reach those times, then advancement in the competition will be determined by FIFA Kicks from the Mark. (h) A team may have not more than four (4) individuals designated as team officials in the technical area. The Region II Presidents Cup Committee will issue bench pass credentials to the team officials at team check-in. Only those team officials who are properly listed on the team roster and present proof of concussion management training will be issued a bench pass and allowed in the team technical area. (i) There shall be no limit on the number of substitutions. Substitutions can be made at the following times with the consent of the referee: (1) Prior to a throw-in in your team s favor (unlimited for both teams if both teams wish to substitute) (2) Prior to a goal kick by either team (3) After any goal (4) At half-time (5) At half-time of any overtime period (6) When the game has been stopped due to an injury (7) When a caution (yellow card) or send-off (red card) is issued Section 3. Any player or team official who is sent off from any Region II Presidents Cup game is prohibited from participating in the next game immediately following the game in which the player or team official was ejected. (a) Any player dismissed must be seated on the team bench for the remainder of the game in progress. Players serving a suspension for additional game(s) are permitted to sit on the team bench in street clothes (no uniform) and will be held responsible for their actions the same as any other participant. If an ejected player becomes disruptive from the bench, he/she will be escorted to headquarters and an adult member of the team management MUST accompany players from the field and remain at the designated waiting area until the conclusion of the game. A member of the tournament staff will escort the ejected player/coach and adult supervisor from the field of play to the waiting area. (b) Any team official (coaches, managers, trainers, etc.) that is ejected will be escorted to headquarters for the remainder of the game which includes any post game team meeting. Ejected team officials will serve additional game suspensions away from the park/complex. (c) All ejections will be reviewed by the Region II Presidents Cup Committee. A player or team official may receive more than a one-game suspension if the offense is deemed egregious by the Committee. If a player or team official is sent off in a final or consolation game, that player or team official will be referred to the player s or team official s State Association for appropriate disciplinary action. Section 4. Scoring (a) 3 points for a win (including forfeits and score will be reported as 4-0) (b) 1 point for a tie Page 8
(c) 0 points for a loss (d) Team with the most points advances (see Appendix I) Section 5. Tie Breakers: In the event that teams are tied on the basis of points earned, the team s placement will be determined in accordance with the following tie breaker steps to be applied in the order listed: (a) Winner in head-to-head competition (not used if more than two teams are tied.) (b) Highest goal difference (goals for minus goals against) with a maximum of four (4) goals allowed per game. For example, if the score were 8-3, the calculation would be +4 goals for the winning team, -4 goals for the losing team. If the score were 6-4, the calculation would be +2 goals for the winning team and -2 goals for the losing team. (c) Total goals allowed. Team with the fewest total goals allowed advances. (d) Kicks from the Mark. (e) If, in the opinion of the Region II Presidents Cup Committee, additional steps to assure the safe conclusion of the Presidents Cup competition are needed, those decisions will be communicated to all affected teams before they are implemented. Rule 306. GAME OFFICIALS Section 1. For Region II Presidents Cup competitions, the Regional Representative to the Referee Committee, or the Regional Representative s designee, shall appoint the game officials. Section 2. Any referee appointed to officiate in any Region II Presidents Cup competition game may not be a past or present member of either of the competing teams. Section 3. The scale of charges for referees shall be as set by the Region II Presidents Cup Chair. Section 4. The referee has the authority to deal with players and team officials as provided by the FIFA Laws of the Game. Section 5. The referee must forward to the Region II Presidents Cup Committee Chair, or the designee of the Chair, the official game report form with the results of the game, a list of the players participating in the game, and all particulars related to the game. PART IV PROTESTS AND APPEALS Rule 401. PROTESTS AND APPEALS Section 1. All questions relating to the qualifications of competitors, to interpretation of the rules, or any dispute or protest concerning the Region II Presidents Cup competitions, shall be referred to the Region II Presidents Cup Committee regarding games at the regional level. Page 9
Section 2. Protests (a) To be valid and eligible for consideration at the regional level of the competitions, each protest: (1) must be orally lodged by a team official listed on the team roster involved in the game with the referee and with the opposing coach at the game site before entering the field of play or leaving the game site, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section; and (2) must be filed in writing with the Region II Presidents Cup Committee within two (2) hours after the completion of the game being protested, accompanied by: (A) a $350 protest fee in cash, State Association check or club check. If the protest is upheld, the protest fee will be returned to the party submitting the fee. (B) two (2) written copies of the protest, which must include full particulars of the grounds on which the protest is lodged; and (C) two (2) written copies of any information to be presented by witnesses. (b) Any protest relating to the fields, goal posts, bars, or other appurtenances of the game shall be entertained only if a verbal objection has been lodged with the referee and the opposing coach prior to the start of the game and written objection submitted to the Region II Presidents Cup Director within two (2) hours of the completion of the game. (c) The Chair of the Region II Presidents Cup Committee shall immediately upon receipt of the protest notify the team against which the protest is made and shall provide a copy of the protest and all particulars to that team, which will then have the right to defend its case, with or without witnesses. Section 3. Appeals (a) A decision made by the Region II President Cup Committee may be appealed as provided by US Youth Soccer. Any such appeal must be filed within two (2) hours of receiving the decision of the Committee. (1) The appeal must be presented to the Region II Presidents Cup Committee Chair who shall immediately notify the Chair of the National Presidents Cup Committee; or (2) if a decision of the National Presidents Cup Committee shall immediately notify the Board of Directors. (b) Each appeal filed under subsection (a) of this section must be accompanied by: (1) a fee in an amount determined by the Board of Directors; and (2) two (2) written copies of the appeal. Section 4. Any party to a protest or appeal shall be accorded the right to be assisted in the presentation of the party s case at the protest or appeal proceeding. Section 5. A plea of ignorance to the rules and regulations of the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup competitions is not sufficient grounds for a protest or appeal. Violators may expect appropriate action by US Youth Soccer. Page 10
APPENDIX I DIVISION GROUPING AND PLAYOFF BRACKETS In the event of an odd number team bracket forming based on state advancements, a wildcard team will be selected to form an even number team bracket. If a wildcard team is not available, a team from the local host club that meets all other eligibility requirements may enter. In the event there are more than eight (8) teams in an age group, the schedule may require more than one game to be played per day. FOUR TEAM DIVISION Group A A1 A2 A3 A4 Round One Round Two Round Three 1. A1 vs. A2 3. A4 vs. A2 5. A1 vs. A4 2. A3 vs. A4 4. A3 vs. A1 6. A2 vs. A3 Championship 7. Winner of Group A vs Second Place team in Group A SIX TEAM DIVISION Group A A1 A2 A3 Group B B1 B2 B3 Round One Round Two Round Three 1. A1 vs. B1 4. A1 vs. B2 7. B3 vs. A1 2. A2 vs. B2 5. A2 vs. B3 8. B1 vs. A2 3. A3 vs. B3 6. A3 vs. B1 9. B2 vs. A3 Championship 10. Team with the most points vs Team with second highest points. Advancing teams may come from the same group. EIGHT TEAM DIVISION Group A A1 A2 A3 A4 Group B B1 B2 B3 B4 Page 11
Round One Round Two Round Three 1. A1 vs A2 5. A4 vs A2 9. A1 vs A4 2. A3 vs A4 6. A3 vs A1 10. A2 vs A3 3.B1 vs B2 7. B4 vs B2 11. B1 vs B4 4. B3 vs B4 8. B3 vs B1 12. B2 vs B3 Championship 15. Winner Group A vs Winner Group B TEN TEAM DIVISION Group A Group B Group C A1 B1 C1 A2 B2 C2 A3 B3 C3 A4 Round One Round Two Round Three 1. A1 vs A2 6. A4 vs A2 11. A1 vs A4 2. A3 vs A4 7. A3 vs A1 12. A2 vs A3 3. B1 vs C1 8. B1 vs C2 13. C3 vs B1 4. B2 vs C2 9. B2 vs C3 14. C1 vs B2 5. B3 vs C3 10. B3 vs C1 15. C2 vs B3 Semi Finals 16. Team with highest points from Group B/C vs Team with second highest points from Group B/C. Advancing teams may come from the same group. Championship 17. Winner A vs Winner Game 16 TWELVE TEAM DIVISION Group A Group B Group C Group D A1 B1 C1 D1 A2 B2 C2 D2 A3 B3 C3 D3 Page 12
Round One Round Two Round Three 1. A1 vs. B1 7. A1 vs. B2 13. B3 vs. A1 2. A2 vs. B2 8. A2 vs. B3 14. B1 vs. A2 3. A3 vs. B3 9. A3 vs. B1 15. B2 vs. A3 4. C1 vs. D1 10. C1 vs. D2 16. D3 vs. C1 5. C2 vs. D2 11. C2 vs. D3 17. D1 vs. C2 6. C3 vs. D3 12. C3 vs. D1 18. D2 vs. C3 Semi Finals 19. Team with highest points from Group A/B vs Team with second highest points from Group C/D 20. Team with highest points from Group C/D vs Team with second highest points from Group A/D Championship 21. Winner Game 19 vs Winner Game 20 FOURTEEN TEAM DIVISION Group A Group B Group C Group D A1 B1 C1 D1 A2 B2 C2 D2 A3 B3 C3 D3 A4 B4 Round One Round Two Round Three 1. A1 vs A2 8. A4 vs A2 15. A1 vs A4 2. A3 vs A4 9. A3 vs A1 16. A2 vs A3 3. B1 vs B2 10. B4 vs B2 17. B1 vs B4 4. B3 vs B4 11. B3 vs B1 18. B2 vs B3 5. C1 vs C2 12. D2 vs C2 19. C2 vs C3 6. D1 vs D2 13. D3 vs D1 20. D2 vs D3 7. C3 vs D3 14 C3 vs C1 21. C1 vs D1 Semi Finals: 22. Winner A vs Winner C 23. Winner B vs Winner D Championship 24. Winner Game 22 vs Winner Game 23 Page 13
APPENDIX II DRAFT SCHEDULE Historically, this event has hosted eight (8) teams in each age group. This schedule is only a draft and will be changed to accommodate the actual number of teams that participate in each age group and may be adjusted to accommodate schedule challenges presented to the Cup Committee for consideration (ie. coach with multiple teams, SAT testing, etc.) All special scheduling requests will be reviewed by the Committee and may be accepted for inclusion in the final schedule. There is no guarantee that any special request will be honored. NOTE: The final schedule may not be released until all teams have submitted their commitment to participate form. Day 1 Boys U13 12:00 PM Girls U13 12:00 PM Boys U14 1:30 PM Girls U14 1:30 PM Boys U15 3:00 PM Girls U15 3:00 PM Boys U16 5:00 PM Girls U16 5:00 PM Boys U17 7:00 PM Girls U17 7:00 PM Days 2 & 3 Boys U13 8:30 AM Girls U13 8:30 AM Boys U14 10:30 AM Girls U14 10:30 AM Boys U15 12:30 AM Girls U15 12:30 AM Boys U16 2:30 PM Girls U16 2:30 PM Boys U17 4:30 PM Girls U17 4:30 PM Day 4 Boys U13 8:00 AM Girls U13 8:15 AM Boys U14 10:00 AM Girls U14 10:15 AM Boys U15 8:30 AM Girls U15 8:45 AM Boys U16 9:00 AM Girls U16 9:15 AM Boys U17 9:30 AM Girls U17 9:45 AM Page 14