Rules

Official 6V6 Rules | Official 8V8 Rules | Official 11V11 Rules

Official 8V8 Rules

FIFA Laws will apply with the following exceptions and additions:

I REGISTRATION

All teams must be registered prior to the tournament. Registration will be held Friday evening at the time and place designated in the acceptance package and as posted on the tournament website (www.nashuaworldcup.org). At registration each team must present an approved team roster, player passes (U11/U12), player medical release forms and, for out of state teams, the approved permission to travel form.

II PLAYER ELIGIBILITY / ROSTERS / EJECTIONS

Only 16 players may play in any one game and no player may play for more than one team within the same age group. Once the tournament begins, no roster changes are permitted.

Proof of age is determined by player passes or certified league roster. Any team using ineligible players (i.e. players not on the roster, players who have received a red card in a previous match, etc.) will be disqualified from the tournament.

Any player ejected from a match (red card) shall not be eligible for his/her next scheduled match, including any play-off game. At the discretion of the tournament director, a deliberate, serious foul or any violent conduct by a player may result in the ineligibility of that player for the remainder of the tournament.

III START OF MATCH PROCEDURES

Before the start of every match, each coach will provide the referee with a team roster, indicating the team name, tournament number, and each player’s name and jersey number. A league roster will be acceptable. Blank roster forms may be picked up at the registration table or the referee tent.

Teams must field at least 6 players within ten minutes of the scheduled start of the match or they forfeit. Winners of forfeited matches shall be credited with a 3-0 win.

Coaches, substitute players, and spectators are required to remain 3 yards behind the touch line and the penalty area lines. Teams will be on one side of the field, and spectators must remain on the opposite side.

Coaches will be responsible to insure that all of their players are equipped with shin guards and proper footwear. No jewelry or hard casts of any kind are allowed.

IV BALL SIZE AND MATCH PLAYING TIMES

U-11/U12 size 4

All matches in the group phase, for all age levels, shall consist of two periods of 25 running-minutes each.

Quarterfinal and semifinal matches of all age groups will be 25 running-minute halves, similar to the rules of the group phase.

Championship matches will be as follows:

U-11/U12 (2) 30 running-minute halves

V SUBSTITUTIONS

With the consent of the referee, unlimited substitutions may be made:

A: prior to a throw-in by either team

B: prior to a goal kick by either team, or

C: after an injury, or

D: at half time, or

E: after a goal is scored

All substitutes must enter and leave the field at the mid-field mark, and only after the referee signals to do so.

VI END OF MATCH PROCEDURES

At the end of each match, each coach shall verify and sign the referee’s official game report. The tournament Field Marshal shall help facilitate this process, but each team’s coach has the responsibility to meet with the referee following each match and sign the official game report. Failure to do so will negate any grounds by a coach or team representative for protest for incorrectly posted scores.

VII DETERMINING DIVISION WINNERS AND WILDCARD TEAMS

Points:

In the group phase (qualifying round), points shall be awarded as follows:

· three (3) points for a win

· one (1) point for a tie

· zero (0) points for a loss

In the group phase, ties at the end of regulation are not broken.

Qualifying games:

A. 4 or 5 team divisions. Only the top two teams advance to play in a final match.

B. 8 team division (two groups of four)

The top two teams from each of the two groups in the qualifying round will advance to the semi-finals. Second place team from one group will play the first place team from the other group in the semi-finals, with the winners advancing to the finals.

C. 10 team division (one group of four, two groups of three)

The top team from each of the three groups in the qualifying round will advance to the semi-finals. One "wild card" team (the team with the highest point total among the remaining teams regardless of group) will also advance to the semifinals. The two winners of the semi-final matches advance to the finals.

D. 12 team division (three groups of four)

E. 14 team division (two groups of four, two groups of three)

The top team from each group (total of four) in the qualifying round will advance to the semi-finals. The two winners of the semi-final matches advance to the finals.

F. 16 team division (four groups of four)

The top team from each group (total of four) in the qualifying round will advance to the semi-finals. The two winners of the semi-final matches advance to the finals.

G. 18 team division (three groups of four and two groups of three)

The top team from each group (total of five) in the qualifying round will advance to the semi-finals. Three "wild card" teams (the three remaining teams with the highest point totals) will also advance to the quarter finals. The qualifying wildcard team with the highest number of points shall be identified as “Wildcard #1” on the playoff schedule. The qualifying wildcard team with the fewest points among those three teams that qualify as a wildcard shall be identified as “Wildcard #3” on the playoff schedule.

H. 20 or 22 team divisions (five groups of four, or four groups of four and two groups of three)

The top team from each group plus either two or three “wild cards” (the three remaining teams with the highest point totals). These teams will advance to a quarterfinal match. The wild card teams will be ranked from one to two or three and will be given that corresponding number for the match. The tournament director has final say in pairings and rankings.

H. 4 or 5 team divisions. Only the top two teams advance to play in a final match.

(Sequential rules until tie is broken) If, at the end of the group phase, teams within a given age group and division (and for wild card positions) earn the same point total, the steps below will determine the final order of standing.

1. Winner of head to head competition (only if two teams ties)

2. Team with fewest goals against

3. Team with most shut-out victories

4. Highest goal differential (maximum differential of three per game)

(a) example 1 6-2 = 4 (+3)

(b) example 2 3-2 = 1 (+1)

5. Team with most wins

6. Penalty kicks (FIFA Rules apply)

NOTE: If more than two teams are tied, the sequence will be followed until a team is eliminated. The remaining teams will then restart the sequence at Point “2” above until the tie is broken.

VIII TIE BREAKER PROCEDURES IN PLAYOFF GAMES

Play-off games will use the following method to determine a winner, when teams are tied after regulation time:

U-11/U12: Two full 5 minute halves played or golden goal, whichever occurs first. If no winner, then FIFA "kicks from the penalty mark". If a goal is scored at anytime during either of the overtime halves the match shall terminate immediately with the game being awarded to the team scoring the “golden goal”.

IX SUSPENDED AND TERMINATED GAMES

Fitness of playing conditions will be determined by the field marshal and referee.

Preliminary games, suspended because of weather or serious injury, will be official if at least 20 minutes of playing time has elapsed. Any game stopped prior to the first 20 minutes being played will be recorded as a 0-0 tie. Play-off and championship games that have been delayed for more than 30 minutes for the above reasons, may, with the consent of the referee and the field marshal, result in the termination of the game. In the event of a tie the winner will be determined as described in section VII of the tournament rules. Every effort will be made to complete these games.

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of the parents and fans of their teams. For any sportsmanship problems concerning the coaches and/or spectators, the referee will direct the offender(s) to leave the area. If the offenders fail to leave as directed, the referee will terminate the match and report the incident to the tournament director, who will award a 3-0 victory to the non-offending team.

X CONDUCT

The Nashua World Cup Columbus Day Invitational Tournament has been organized to promote healthy competition among players in the game of soccer. Players, coaches, managers and supporters are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit as well as the letter of the law. Coaches are reminded that they are responsible for the behavior of their players and supporters. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to disqualify any team from competition for gross misconduct on the part of the team’s players, coaches or supporters. Displays of temper, derogatory comments or gestures against opponents or referees may be cause for ejection from a game.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on fields or in parking lots.

XI PROTESTS

There are no protests. All decisions are final

XII Wild Cards

Wild card teams will not play a team from the pool that they came out of in a semifinal or quarterfinal match. The teams will be moved in order to prevent this. The Tournament Director has the right to change these teams as needed.

Coaches will be notified at registration of any rule changes.

XIII Checking Scores and Playoff Postings

It is the sole responsibility of the Coaches or team representative to keep an eye on posted scores at Mines Falls Park Head Quarters in Nashua. Teams will have 30 minutes from posting of playoff groupings to notify tournament staff of an error due to incorrect reporting of scores, if not the posting stands as is. NO PHONE CALLS will be taken you must have a representative available at Mines Falls. PLEASE double check score cards to make sure the scores are correct.

Playoff pairings will be posted on Sunday afternoon for groups finishing up on Sunday and by 7pm on Sunday night for those playing on Monday.

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