1 Gloucester Invitational Soccer Tournament Official Rules Note: This tournament will be run in accordance with the published rules, policies and procedures of the Eastern Ontario Soccer Association, Ontario Soccer Association, Canadian Soccer Association and FIFA, except for changes herein after provided. * Updated June 26, 2018 ELIGIBILITY 1. TOURNAMENT AGE GROUPS Mini (Festival) Born on or after Youth Born on or after U9 January 1, 2009 U13 January 1, 2005 U10 January 1, 2008 U14 January 1, 2004 U11 January 1, 2007 U15 January 1, 2003 U12 January 1, 2006 U16 January 1, 2002 Adult Born on or after U17 January 1, 2001 Seniors Open U18 January 1, 2000 2. TIER CLASSIFICATIONS The tournament will be comprised of generally two (2), but up to three (3) tiers per age group, subject to a minimum number of entries. U9-U12 Festival (one day only) U13-U18 and Senior - Tier 1 styled as the Black group: The tournament s top tier of play is designed for: Ontario based teams playing at Level 4 or the new District Competitive 1. Québec teams playing at the AA level. Ontario Level 3 and Québec AAA teams are permitted to play in the tournament but must play in Tier 1 of the next highest age bracket. U13-U18 and Senior - Tier 2 styled as the Green group: The tournament s second tier of play is designed for: Ontario based teams playing at Level 5 or the new District Competitive 2. Québec teams playing at the A level. Recreational teams that are carded to play competitively. Teams that qualify to play at the Tier 2 Level may elect to play at the Tier 1 Level (space permitting). Divisions comprised of multiple age groups are styled as the White group. * For placement questions please contact jfaris@ogschornets.ca
2 REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS On-line registration is mandatory and available at www.ogschornets.ca. Notification of acceptance will be ongoing (subject to receipt of fees) with final acceptances provided within one week of the tournament deadline. Teams must be registered with their provincial, state or national association. Teams from outside the Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association (EODSA) must submit an authorized travel permit from their home district. Teams outside of Ontario must submit proof of injury and liability insurance from their governing body. The Ottawa Gloucester Soccer Club, Ottawa Gloucester Hornets and the GIST will not be liable for injuries to any participant on or off the fields during the tournament. Teams will be required to register on the Friday evening prior to the tournament - between 6:00pm and 8:00pm at the Hornets Nest (Pavilion Eric Danis Clubhouse). A team official will be required to attend and provide official player books/cards with photographs, and one completed copy of the official GIST Roster sheet (available on Hornets website). Team rosters can be modified up until the time of registration. Only one team official is required to register the team. 3. CANCELLATION OF PARTICIPATING TEAMS Any team that registers and withdraws prior to the registration deadline will be subject to a $50 fee. After the registration deadline, there will be no refunds. Should the tournament be cancelled in whole due to unforeseen circumstances, a minimum of 50% of the paid entry fee will be refunded to all participating teams. However, should cancellation occur after the commencement of the tournament, no refund will be issued. The Ottawa Gloucester Soccer Club, Ottawa Gloucester Hornets, the GIST and the EODSA are not liable for any other expenses such as travel costs (i.e. non-refundable plane tickets, etc.) or pre-paid accommodation costs as a result of such cancellation. 4. PLAYER & TEAM OFFICIALS BOOKS / PLAYER ID CARDS / ROSTER Approved player and team officials books/id cards must be presented at the team s Registration session for tournament teams (U13 and above). In the event of a dispute concerning player eligibility, the GIST Committee's decision will be final, with no appeal rights. Teams are required to have all player and team official books/cards readily available at the field for each game. The stamped GIST Roster (from Friday s Registration evening) shall be presented to the referee for each game (the referee will return the document after the game, barring any red cards; should that happen the roster can be picked up at the Convenor office/tent prior to the offending team s next game). Should a player be deemed ineligible to play, the referee will report it on the game card. The GIST Committee will determine if the ineligible player has played in any previous tournament games and if so, that team will forfeit the game by a 3-0 default score and the team will be disqualified from the tournament.
5. TEAM COMPOSITION 3 U9 - U10 division team rosters are limited to twelve (12) players (7v7 play) and maximum of 100 minutes of play per day; U11 U12 division team rosters are limited to sixteen (16) players (9v9 play) and maximum of 140 minutes; U13 - U14 team rosters are limited to eighteen (18) players (11v11 play) and maximum of 150 minutes; and U15 - U18 and Senior division team rosters are limited to eighteen (18) players (11v11 play) and maximum of 180 minutes. Teams in the U13 and above age groups may include up to six (6) guest players, to a maximum of three (3) guest players from another club, provided the players meet eligibility criteria. A guest player may only play down up to one level (ie. L3 playing on an L4 or District Competitive 1 (DC1) team or L4/DC1 playing on an L5 or District Competitive 2 team). Ontario teams must obtain from the guest player s team, an OSA Team Roster Report (TRR) for all guest players borrowed from their own club. Ontario teams must obtain from their respective district, a Temporary Eligibility Permit (TEP) for all guest players borrowed from other clubs. Other teams must obtain an equivalent document from their respective provincial or national association and a letter of approval from the team coach of the borrowed guest player. Any team with an ineligible player will forfeit all games where such a player participated by a 3-0 default score. They will also be reported to the appropriate governing organization for disciplinary action. CONDUCT OF THE TOURNAMENT 6. FIELD LOCATIONS Depending on the number of registered teams, the games may be played at the following locations: Hornets Nest Potvin Fields at Shefford Sports Park North Vineyard 7. DURATION OF GAMES U9 & U10 Tier 1 Festival will consist of two (2) games of two (2) equal halves of 25 minutes U9 - U10 Tier 2 Festival will consist of three (3) games of two (2) equal halves of 16.5 minutes U11 & U12 Tier 1 Festival will consist of two (2) games of two (2) equal halves of 30 minutes U11 U12 Tier 2 Festival will consist of three (3) games of two (2) equal halves of 23 minutes U13 U14 division games will consist of two (2) equal halves of 25 minutes o There will be a minimum of one hour between each game played by any team U15 U18 & Senior division games will consist of two (2) equal halves of 30 minutes o There will be a minimum of one hour between each game played by any team Each team will be entitled to a 5-minute rest period at the half. The referee is the only timekeeper of the game. Should any of the semi-final or final games end in a tie after regulation time, the teams will switch sides and there will be an overtime of two (2) 5 minute periods each with a sudden death rule (the first team to score wins).
4 Teams will switch ends between overtime periods, without a break. If, at the end of the overtime periods, no goal has been scored, the game will be decided by penalty kicks, taken in accordance with the regulations laid out in the FIFA Laws of the Game. 8. GAME CARDS Game Cards will be provided to the game referee by the GIST Convenor. The referee will enter the goals scored and note any cautions or ejections on the game card. The game card will be placed by the referee in the designated case on the field. Please do not remove game cards or their case from the field. This information will be collected by GIST Convenor staff. 9. SUBSTITUTIONS Unlimited substitutions will be allowed at the following times: on goal kicks; after a goal has been scored; at the beginning of the second half; and on a team s own throw-in, at which time the other team may also make a change. In the event of an injury, substitution will be allowed for the injured player only. 10. POSITION OF TEAMS / SPECTATORS Teams (including coaches and managers) will take up position on the same side of the field within the marked technical box. Up to four (4) team officials will be allowed in the technical box. Teams must restrict their movement within the technical box along the touchline. Officials must remain in the technical box for the duration of the game, including during the half-time break. Spectators will take up position on the opposite side of the field across from their respective team. All spectators must remain behind the spectator line. 11. EQUIPMENT Each team should have two sets of different coloured jerseys. In the event of a conflict of jersey colours, the first team listed on the schedule (home) will be required to change. The goaltender's jersey must be distinct from their team, the opposing team and the referee. It is the responsibility of the referee to change jersey colour in the case of a conflict. All players must wear shoes which conform to the requirements of FIFA Law IV. Shin guards are mandatory. U9-U12 division games will be played with a size four (4) ball. U13-U18 and Senior division games will be played with a size five (5) ball. Game balls will be provided for each match by the home team.
12. ASSISTANT REFEREE 5 Official assistant referees (ARs) will be provided for full field 11 v 11 games only. 13. UNFAVOURABLE WEATHER / UNUSABLE FIELD CONDITIONS Under normal conditions, every game will be played at its scheduled time and location. If inclement weather conditions or unusable field conditions occur, the location and kick-off time may be changed. Teams are to appear for all games times or risk forfeiting the game. The referee will make the final call on weather related issues, according to their own rules. Under no circumstances may teams withdraw from the playing field area during game play, until the referee advises them to do so. If a game is abandoned, Tournament officials will rule on that game s status. When 50% or more of a game has been played, and play cannot continue due to weather and/or field conditions, the game will be suspended and considered to have been completed. The score at the time of the suspension of the game will be final. During the round-robin series, the GIST Committee reserves the right to shorten the length of any game in an effort to ensure that all games are played. Further, if necessary due to inclement weather, the GIST Committee may cancel any game. If the game cannot be rescheduled appropriately, the result will be determined by FIFA penalty kicks, at a location and time be determined by the GIST Committee. The result will be recorded as 1-0. 14. DECISIONS AND PROTEST The referee's decision in matters concerning the application of the rules of the game will be final and with no appeal rights. Protests on other matters must be in writing and submitted to the GIST Convenor, along with a cash fee of $50.00, within one (1) hour of the conclusion of the game to which the protest relates. The tournament organizers will immediately convene a Review Committee to consider such protests. The fee will be refunded only where a protest is upheld. 15. DISCIPLINE AND BEHAVIOUR All discipline matters will be administered in accordance with the OSA Discipline Policies. All offences directed at game officials or dealing with registration will be forwarded within 24 hours to the appropriate district association. Please note that Decision by Review cannot be appealed. All players expelled from a game will have the right to request a hearing within 30 minutes of the completion of the game. Should the referee issue a caution or expel a player, the following rules will be in order: one (1) caution in a game = no action. two (2) cautions in a game = immediate ejection, and next game suspension. three (3) cautions in the tournament = next game suspension. one (1) expulsion = next game suspension. two (2) expulsions in the tournament = player will be suspended for balance of the tournament.
6 DISCIPLINE AND BEHAVIOUR (continued) The GIST relies on coaches and team officials to set an example of conduct and sportsmanship and to exercise all necessary control over their players and associated parents and spectators. The GIST Committee reserves the right to eject any person (player, coach, team official, parent, spectator or referee) exhibiting inappropriate behaviour from the immediate playing areas. When a game is abandoned for disciplinary reason(s), all roundrobin games for the offending team will be eliminated and all of their opponents will receive a 3-0 victory and three (3) points. 16. FORFEITS If a team is unable to field five (5) players for U9-U10 games, six (6) players for U11-U12 games or seven (7) players for U13-U18 and Senior games at least 10 minutes after the scheduled starting time, the game will be forfeited, unless the offending team is able to present a suitable explanation to the GIST Committee. For the U13-U18 and Senior games the forfeited game result will be recorded as a 3-0 score. Again, for U13-U18 and Senior games if a team forfeits any game in the round-robin series, all round-robin games played or to be played in the tournament by that team will be eliminated and all of their opponents will receive a 3-0 victory and three (3) points. The offending team will be assessed a $100.00 fine which will be payable within 30 days. In the event the fine is not paid, the appropriate district association and the Provincial association will be notified of the team s performance and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. The GIST Committee will also take disciplinary action. 17. STANDINGS U9-U12 (Festival) - as part of the Long Term Player Development model no scores will be posted and standings will not be kept. U13-U18 and Senior divisions Points will establish team standings in the round-robin series: o WIN 3 points o TIE 1 point o LOSS 0 point 18. TIE BREAKING PROCEDURES In the case of a tie at the conclusion of the round-robin stage, the standings will be determined according to the following priority order: 1. Head to head winner 2. Most wins 3. Goal differential, to a maximum of five (5) goals per game 4. Least goals against 5. Most goals for 6. Least red cards 7. Least yellow cards 8. FIFA penalty kicks (round robin format for three or more teams)
TIE BREAKING PROCEDURES (continued) 7 In the event that more than two teams are tied after round-robin, the first tie break (19.1) will not apply. All other tie break procedures will apply in the same order, until playoff standings can be determined. If, for example, three teams are tied and rule 19.5 eliminates one of the three teams, the process does not start over, but instead continues to next rule (19.6), until the next team is eliminated. 19. ADVANCEMENT OF TEAMS Divisions with four (4) teams - one group for the round robin and play each team once (3 games) top two teams advance directly to a final next two teams play a consolation final Divisions with five (5) teams - one group for the round robin and play each team once (4 games) top two teams will advance directly to the final Divisions with six (6) teams - two (2) groups of three (3) teams each for the round robin (Pool A/Pool B) o teams will play each team in the other Pool once (3 games) top four (4) teams based on points will advance on the basis of 1 v 4 and 2 v 3 Divisions with eight (8) teams - two (2) groups of four (4) teams each for the round robin (Pool A/Pool B) o teams will play the teams in their Pool once (3 games) top two (2) teams in each pool will advance on the basis of 1A v 2B and 1B v 2A 20. SCHEDULE The GIST Committee will make best efforts to publish the schedule up to two weeks prior to the tournament, but reserves the right to make necessary changes, to accommodate teams and account for unforeseen circumstances.