a. The tournament Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any team application.
b. All applications must be done on-line; no paper applications will be accepted.
c. The tournament fee is $250 for the U9, $320 for U13. The tournament fee must be paid on-line. If a team is not accepted, the amount will be refunded in full.
d. No team shall be deemed accepted unless written notification has been sent from the Tournament Director. This can be either e-mail or U.S. postal service mail.
e. Once accepted by the Tournament Committee, the application fee is non-refundable.
f. Upon acceptance, all teams will be provided a time-line for paperwork submission. If required paperwork is not received, participation in the tournament may be jeopardized.
g. Accepted teams are required to have a 2009-10 ORIGINAL STATE ROSTER and two copies, 2009-10 year player passes, and current year medical release forms. The medical release form does not have to be notarized, and may be the form you use for league play. Guest players may use their 2008-09 player pass if they have not yet been rostered to another team.
h. Teams that are members of organizations of the United States Soccer Federation but not members of US Youth Soccer (such as AYSO, SAY, US Club Soccer) DO NOT have to have a US Youth Soccer Application to Travel form (although that team’s organization may require that the team have permission). An approved team roster does need to be provided to tournament officials, along with current player passes from its organization.
i. Completed and approved Permission to Travel forms are required for all out of state teams. NOTE: Region One teams with the exception of New Jersey and Connecticut do not require a permission to travel. USYS Connecticut and New Jersey teams must provide permission to travel. US Club Soccer teams are not required to have USYS permission to travel forms, but must be in good standing with their association.
j. Teams are required to register at the fields 1 hour prior to tournament play. Registration check-in procedures including a complete listing of required player and team documentation will be included in the tournament acceptance letter.
2. Roster and Player Documentation: Teams must participate with their 2009-2010 roster. A participating player may only play for one team. Any team who violates this will forfeit their games.
a. U9 teams are limited to 12 players, identified at Registration.
b. U13 teams are limited to 18 players, identified at Registration.
Players must have been born during, or subsequent to, the divisional year, as defined by US Soccer Guidelines. Player registration cards duly authorized (2009-2010) by State/Provincial or National Association will be required as proof of age.
Age groups:
Under 13 (August 1, 1996 and younger)
Under 9 (August 1, 2000 and younger)
3. Guest Players: Guest players are to be written on a copy of the official roster (NOT ORIGINAL) to be provided at registration. There may be a maximum of 4 guest players for U9 and 5 guest players for U13. Guest players must have valid player pass, medical release, and permission to travel. Note: A guest player from another state association must have a permission to travel from their appropriate State association.
4. Player Equipment:
a. Teams should bring a primary and alternate jersey of different colors. When the color of the jersey is similar or identical, the designated home team (the team listed first in the schedule) will change jerseys.
b. All players must have uniforms with individual numbers on the jersey.
c. The jersey number must match what is on the tournament roster.
d. No jewelry may be worn by any player (earrings, watches, necklaces, etc.)
e. It will be at the Referee’s discretion to determine the safety and suitability of player equipment including the wearing of an orthopedic cast or hard brace.
f. Shin guards are mandatory and must be worn at all times by all players.
g. All referee decisions are final regarding player equipment.
5. Substitutions:
a. Substitutions are unlimited, but may be made only at the following times:
i. After a goal has been made
ii. At the beginning of the second half of play
iii. Prior to the beginning of an overtime period
iv. At a goal kick by either team
v. Prior to a throw-in by the team in possession of the ball. The opposing team may substitute as well if the team in possession is making a substitution.
b. Limited substitutions may be made, with the referee’s permission:
i. In case of stoppage of play for an injury
ii. To replace a cautioned player
c. Under no circumstances may substitutions be made on corner kicks or after the game has ended in a tie and FIFA penalty kicks will be required to determine a winner.
6. Game and Score Reporting: A team official from the winning team of each game will deliver the Score Card, completed and signed by the Referee, to the appropriate Headquarters tent promptly at the conclusion of each game.
7. Conduct:
a. Teams and spectators will exhibit reasonable conduct at all tournament venues, especially as regards all referees, tournament personnel, opposing players, coaches and other spectators.
b. It is the responsibility of the team’s coach or the person acting in the coach’s behalf to control the conduct of its parents and other spectators. Failure to do so may result in a warning to the coach or the person acting in the coach’s behalf by the referee. If unacceptable conduct continues, the referee may eject the teams’ coach, or the person acting in the coach’s behalf, from the game.
c. Players, coaches and team officials ejected from a game by the referee shall be ineligible to participate in the next scheduled game. Two yellow cards in the same match equal an ejection and the player will sit out his/her next immediate match.
d. In accordance with US Youth Soccer Tournament Hosting Agreement, all red and yellow cards and other matters involving team conduct will be reported to the home club and State/Provincial Association of the team involved as well as the US Youth Soccer National Office
8. Send-offs: If a player receives a red card or two yellow cards during a match, that player will sit out the rest of that match and also their next match. Players serving red card suspensions are allowed to sit on the bench during their team’s next game, but are not allowed to be in uniform. A coach or other authorized bench personnel sent off during a match must leave the field immediately upon being sent off, and must remain away from the field during the team’s next match.
9. Team and Spectator Field Positions: Players and coaches will occupy one side of the field. The home team (listed first in the schedule) will have choice of their bench area. Coaches will remain in their technical area and be restricted to the area between their side of the center line and 18 yard line. Spectators will occupy the side of the field opposite the player’s bench area. Home and visiting spectators shall occupy areas opposite their team benches. Spectators shall remain in the area between the 18 yard lines. No spectators will be permitted to sit/stand in the immediate areas behind the goal lines with the exception of photographers.
10. Referees: In the event of a shortage of Assistant Referee, club linesman will be used.
11. Tournament Duration/Play: Each team is guaranteed a minimum of three (3) games, except in cases of inclement weather or other unforeseen events. The tournament will provide the official game ball.
Age Group Ball Size Format Length of Game Half-time
U9 4 7 v 7 two 25 minute halves 5 minutes
U13 5 11 v 11 two 30 minute halves 5 minutes
The tournament does not require the referee add time for substitutions, normal injuries, or stoppages. The official clock will not stop for any reason unless, in the judgment of the referee, removing an injured player from the field would endanger the physical well-being of the player. However, all games will be terminated not less than five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the next game.
12. Game Results/Standings:
a. Three (3) points will be earned for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and no points are earned for a loss.
b. There will be no championship or consolation game in this scrimmage fest.
c. Results of games will be posted at the site and on the webpage. No awards will be given in this scrimmage fest.
d. When required to break a tie for standings within a division, the following order will be used to determine the placement:
i. Head to head competition (in the event of a tie among three (3) or more teams, this criterion will not be considered), then
ii. Most wins, then
iii. Fewest goals against, then
iv. Goal differential (positive only, maximum of 3 per game), then
v. Most goals scored (up to 3 per game), then
vi. FIFA kicks from the penalty line (at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled playoff round games)
13. Forfeits:
a. A forfeit shall be awarded if a team is not present and prepared to play within ten minutes of the scheduled commencement time. Seven players constitute a team for full 18 player roster, and five for U9 rosters.
b. Playing a “red-carded” player in the game following the receipt of a red card or its equivalent is grounds for a forfeit.
c. It is requested that teams be present 30 minutes in advance of the scheduled start of a match to aid in the timely start of play.
d. A forfeit will be scored one for the winner, and zero for the forfeiting team.
14. Inclement Weather:
a. The Festival Committee reserves the right to make the following changes in the event of inclement weather:
i. Relocate and/or reschedule a match
ii. Change a division structure
iii. Reduce scheduled duration of a match
iv. Cancel a match
b. Should a match be terminated due to weather conditions after 30 minutes of play, the match will be considered official and the score at the time will stand. NO REFUNDS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE EVENT OF CANCELLATION. Note: Your online application constitutes agreement with these rules and this paragraph.
15. Laws of the Game: All tournament matches will be played in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game except as modified herein. All decisions by the Tournament Directors are final.
16. No protests are allowed. All officiating decisions are final.
17. General Prohibitions: Alcoholic beverages, smoking, pets and noise makers are prohibited.
18. Team Contact Information: Each team, upon checking in at registration, must sign a sheet providing contact information for the team’s coach, assistant coach, or team manager, so that these individual(s) may be contacted in the event that circumstances require such. All inquiries/questions with the Tournament Committee should be from the Team Contact/Coach and not numerous parents from the team, as this only delays response.
19. General: Under no circumstances will the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, Inc., the Virginia Soccer Association, the “Step It Up!” Committee, or any of their official representatives be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team. This includes a situation whereby the Tournament or any game(s) is cancelled in whole or part. The Tournament Committee’s or their official representative’s interpretation of the rules shall be final pertaining to this Tournament.
