Calgary Spring Kick-Off Tournament Rules 1) COACHES/MANAGER INFORMATION a) All elements of the team, including parents, coaches and players are expected to maintain themselves in accordance with the highest standards of good conduct. Instances of unsportsmanlike conduct will be investigated and addressed without delay. b) Coaches are responsible for reminding team supporters that good sportsmanship rewards exceptional play regardless of who makes the play. Good sportsmanship does not detract from the game but rather makes it more enjoyable for all. While competition is a healthy part of the game, supporters should never lose sight of respect for the game or their competitors. c) The organizing committee reserves the right to adjust tiers and groups as needed to provide balanced pools or ensure teams are competitively balanced. d) These rules are intended to be as inclusive as possible; however, in the event of unforeseen circumstances the tournament committee reserves the right to make binding decisions upon all participants. 2) GENERAL RULES a) A maximum of four (4) coaching staff members are permitted in the team s technical area during the time of play. i) One of the staff members must be the same gender as the players. b) Players are only permitted to play on one team in this tournament. c) Players must be of the appropriate age group as outlined in ASA rules, but may include players from a lower age group. Teams or players can play up an age group, however the Tournament Committee will be the final arbiter of the tier in which a team will play. d) No player or team may play down an age group. 3) SECTION 2: ELIGIBILTY OF COACHES/PLAYERS a) All coaching staff and players must be currently registered with a youth soccer association recognized by ASA or CSA for the 2018 Outdoor season to participate in this tournament. b) Player cards and Coach cards, where mandated for regular play, are not required for this tournament, however must be shown upon request by tournament officials. c) Please note: Failure to produce any of the above identification (if requested) may result in the forced forfeit of the game(s) being played by the team. 4) TEAM ROSTERS a) All teams from U9-U19 are required to register their completed roster no later than Monday March 19, 2018. b) No changes to a team s roster can be made after said team s first tournament game. c) Players not on the team roster prior to the team s first tournament game are deemed ineligible. 5) GAMES a) Format of Match Play: i) The length of games will be as follows:
ii) U9-U10: 2 X 25 minute halves iii) U11/U12: 2 X 30 minute halves iv) U13-U19: 2 X 40 minute halves v) All games will have a 5 minute half-time break. vi) Injuries occurring that require on-field medical attention will not result in additional makeup game time being allocated. vii) There will be no additional time added to games. viii) Games may end in a tie during Round Robin play. However, a game that requires a result will go to Kicks from the Penalty Mark. ix) Each team will play a minimum of four (4) games x) The Mercy Rule will apply to this tournament. No team will be given more than a five (5) goal differential. Tie-breaking procedures will use results after the mercy rule is applied. For example, if a team wins 7-0, they will only receive credit for a 5-0 win, regardless of the actual score. xi) All games will have ASA certified officials or equivalent, assigned by the tournament referee assignor. Referee decisions, including their interpretations of the Laws of the Game, are final and cannot be appealed. xii) Any issues with officiating should be brought up to the Tournament Committee. xiii) Substitutions are made at the discretion of the referee. Coaches should discuss with the referee on what exact procedure will be used for each game. b) Tournament Pool Format i) Round Robin format will have NO play-off games within a pool or between pools. All tied games in Round Robin play format will stand. ii) Play-Off pool format will have play-off games scheduled within a two- sided pool or between pools. Ties will stand in the first round of game for two-sided pools and/or the first round of pools that play off against another pool. iii) Championship Games are defined as the final games in a two-sided pool or between pools that play-off against one another, whose results determine Champions. If a Medal Game results in a tie at the end of regulation time, the Kicks from the Penalty Mark procedure will be used to determine the winner of the match. c) Game Sheets i) Referees will have the game cards and will get a signature from each coach/team representative after the game confirming the score. ii) The winning team will take the game card within 30 min to the Tournament Headquarters after each game. Scores and team stats will be posted on the official tournament website, and on information boards at tournament headquarters. iii) The team mentioned first on the schedule is deemed the Home team. iv) The home team will be required to change jersey colours if a conflict exists d) Required Equipment / Team Colours i) The home team is required to provide a minimum of two suitable game balls, as determined by the game official, which is as follows: ii) U9-U12 SIZE 4 iii) U13-U19 SIZE 5 iv) Teams are reminded to carry alternative jerseys or pinnies. In the event of a jersey colour conflict (which will be at the referee s discretion), the home team will change jerseys or wear pinnies. Please also make allowances for goalkeepers. e) Point System i) A win entitles a team to three (3) points.
ii) A draw entitles each team to one (1) point. iii) A loss entitles a team to zero (0) points. iv) NO extra points will be awarded for shutout games. f) Tie-Breaking Procedures: i) 2-Way Tie (1) Head to Head (2) Goal Differential (3) Least Goals Against (4) Most Goals Scored (Mercy Rule scores are in Effect) (5) Kicks from the penalty mark ii) 3-Way Tie (1) Goal Differential (2) Least Goals Against (3) Most Goals Scored (Mercy Rule scores are in Effect) (4) Kicks from the penalty mark g) Forfeiting Games i) If one team fails to appear within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time, or a team forfeits during play, 3 points will be awarded to the opposing team for the forfeited game. For standings purposes, the score for a forfeited game shall be recorded as 5-0, unless the team forfeits during play, in which case the score will be the greater of 5-0 or the current score at the time of forfeit. ii) Should both teams fail to appear within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time, they both forfeit the game, the final score will be recorded as N/S (no score), and no points will be awarded. h) Inclement Weather Extraordinary Weather and/or Unusable Field Conditions: i) The safety of players, coaches, tournament management, spectators and referees is the primary concern in any weather event that may occur during the tournament. ii) Severe weather is unpredictable and beyond the control of the tournament organizers. The Tournament Committee has the authority to relocate or reschedule any game, reduce game time, or cancel any game. Any games cancelled due to weather are not subject to refund. iii) Unless otherwise notified by the Tournament Committee, teams must appear at the scheduled location and time. iv) The field conditions will be monitored by tournament organizers. If the playing surface is considered too dangerous for play, or to prevent severe turf damage, then the game may be rescheduled or cancelled. Tournament organizers will have the final say if a game will proceed due to inclement weather. If needed, the decision to play the game may have to be decided right at game time. v) As Introduced last year Canada Soccer s new approach to thunder and lightning, and unless otherwise notified, tournament organizers will be following this rule and suspending matches if thunder is heard. vi) For more information please see: https://albertasoccer.com/wpcontent/uploads/2016/11/lightning-policy-e.pdf vii) A game is considered complete if one half of the game has been completed before being cancelled due to adverse weather. viii) If one half of the game has been played before inclement weather, the game will count and the score will stand. Tournament organizers reserve the right to shorten games due to inclement weather and if needed games will go directly to kicks from the mark to determine a winner.
ix) If a game is cancelled before one half of the game is played, and the option for kicks from the mark does not exist, the score will be set at zero and the match declared a tie. x) In cases where a game has been cancelled or altered in any way, it is the responsibility of the teams involved to contact the Tournament Committee for verification of changes. Frequent updates and game status will also be posted to the tournament webpage. xi) The Tournament Committee reserves the right to cancel the tournament in whole or in part due to inclement weather or unplayable fields and no refund will be issued. Individual games may also be cancelled outright and no refund will be issued. 6) RULES OF PLAY / DISCIPLINE / PROTESTS a) Rules of Play: i) This tournament follows the IFAB Laws of the Game and the current CMSA/ASA rules. In particular, the following age-group specific rules are in effect for this tournament: ii) U9/U10 EMSA U9 Rules for Outdoor (7 v 7 format) iii) U11/U12 Alberta Soccer Rules for Outdoor (8 v 8 format) Note that we will be using the 1/3 line as the offside line. iv) U13-U19 IFAB Laws of the Game v) The Tournament Committee reserves the right to amend parts of these laws as outlined within these tournament rules. vi) All players, coaching staff, assisting personnel and team supporters are expected to obey the laws of the game and respect all tournament officials. vii) Game officials reserve the right to exercise use of the laws of the game for the time period beginning immediately before, during and immediately after the game and said authority extends to the area immediately surrounding the field of play and includes the bleachers. viii) Foul or abusive language will not be tolerated. Threats and/or assaults made towards any tournament officials during this tournament will generate an immediate suspension pending the ASA Discipline Committee action in accordance with ASA Rules and Regulations b) Discipline for U11-U19 teams i) No Cards for U9-U10 ii) Red Cards, in addition to the immediate suspension, are an automatic minimum one (1) game suspension. Two yellow cards in a single game will result in a minimum of one (1) game suspension to be served the following game. iii) If a player receives a second red card in the tournament, that player must report, with the affected teams coach, to Tournament Headquarters immediately after his or her team s game. The player will not be permitted to participate in any further tournament play and may face further disciplinary action. iv) It is the coach s responsibility to ensure that their players serve their discipline during the tournament (failure to do so could result in disqualification from the tournament). v) Players receiving or serving a red card game suspension must immediately leave the area of play and are not permitted in the team s technical area during the game(s) they are suspended from. vi) If the nature of the suspension warrants, or for all other offences, the Discipline Committee (will convene, determine the number of games suspension based on the Referee Report, and advise the coaching staff of its findings. The regular process of appeals remains available if needed. vii) Protests viii) Protests of any tournament game results will be reviewed provided that the protest is in writing and submitted to tournament headquarters accompanied by a fee of $100.00
payable by cheque to Apex Soccer, which is refunded if the appeal is successful. The tournament headquarters must receive written submissions within two hours of the protested game s completion. The Tournament Director will make a decision within 2 hours after the protest is filed. The decision of the Tournament Director cannot be appealed. Protests in reference to the laws of the game and protests of decisions by game officials will not be accepted. ix) Playing ineligible players will result in the forfeit of any game the said player participated in. Affected teams will be awarded a 1 to 0 score as well as three points. 7) KICKS FROM THE PENALTY MARK a) In the event of a tie where a result is needed (Champions determination), Kicks from the Penalty Mark as per ASA and IFAB Rules will be the determining method used to break the tie game. Affected teams are provided 1 minute to select 5 players from those on the field of play at the end of the match, select the order in which they will take the kicks, and prepare the goalkeeper.