2007 Dragons 6v6
RULES AND PROCEDURES

Region 1 Policy Regarding Application To Host A Tournament

Region I has established the following policy concerning permission to travel when attending USYS sanctioned tournaments in Region I.  The purpose of this policy is to make it as simple as possible for the US Youth Soccer Region I teams to travel to tournaments within Region I.

The new policy states that any USYS State Association teams within Region I that is accepted into a tournament in Region I do not need permission to travel papers. Permission to Travel is not required in friendly games within Region 1.  Note is to be taken on the two (2) states that have an exception to this policy (Connecticut & New Jersey).

National State Associations in Region I:
*Connecticut Jr Soccer Assn - Must provide Permission to Travel
Delaware Youth Soccer Assn
Eastern New York Youth Soccer Assn
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Assn
Soccer Maine
Maryland Youth Soccer Assn
Massachusetts Youth Soccer Assn
New Hampshire Soccer Assn
*New Jersey Youth Soccer Assn – Must provide Permission to Travel
New York State West Youth Soccer Assn
Pennsylvania West State Soccer Assn
Soccer Rhode Island
Vermont Soccer Assn
Virginia Youth Soccer Assn
West Virginia Soccer Assn

I. COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY

1. The tournament is open to all travel, recreational and recreational challenge teams (U9 through U19 Coed and Girls) based on Fall Season rosters for the 2006-2007 soccer year with the following age divisions:

2. Each team must be in good standing with their state association and be   registered with a league affiliated with the USYSA or its national equivalent for the Fall Season, 2006.
3. Five guest players per team will be permitted as long as they are currently USYSA registered and possess a Recreational / Travel player pass card.
4. Official Club approved roster (signed by appropriate registrar) plus two copies, recreational / travel player pass cards and medical release forms (signed by the legal guardian) for each player must be presented at registration and available at the field of play at all times. Approved Permission to Travel forms must be received for all teams traveling from outside the state of Virginia.
5. Roster
   Teams may register and play up to 10 players.
6. No player may play for more than one team during the tournament.

II. TOURNAMENT RULES

1. All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA laws of the game, except as specifically superseded by these rules.
2. Team Size:
   6-aside Teams will play with 5 field players and 1 goal keeper for all divisions.

C. Ball Size:               U9 to U12 – Size 4
                               U13 to U19 – Size 5

D. Game Duration:       U9 – U11 – 24 minutes (12 minute halves)
                               U12 – U13 - 30 minutes (15 minute halves)
                               U14 to U19 – 36 minutes (18 minute halves)

Halftimes shall be 2 minutes. The referee is the official timekeeper to the match.

There will be no time allowance for substitutions or injuries or other compensating time. The referee will start the clock at the beginning of each half and run it continuously until the conclusion of the game. The only time the referee may stop the clock is if the game has to be stopped in order for a player to be removed from the field.

III. PLAYER EQUIPMENT

A.  Shoes must meet FIFA specifications.

2. All players must wear shin guards.
3. No metal-rimmed glasses allowed (other glasses must have safety straps).
4. No hard or semi-hard casts or splints.
5. All players on a team must wear similar uniforms with each jersey being numbered distinctly.
6. Socks must cover the shin guard completely and jerseys must be tucked into shorts.
7. If a uniform conflict occurs, the home team (listed first on the schedule) must change jerseys, unless the visiting team offers to do so.
8. A medical release for all players must be available at the game site

IV. SUBSTITUTIONS

     All substitutions are on the fly.  The player leaving the field must completely exit the field at the half line nearest the team bench before the substitute may enter.  The entering player must enter the field at the half line and wait until the exiting player crosses the touchline before entering the field. 

V. CONDUCT

1. If a player receives a red card or two yellow cards during a match, that player must sit out the rest of that match and also their next match. No substitution may be made for the player sent off during the match in which the red card was issued.
2. Coaches or other authorized bench personnel sent off during the match (as a result of a red card or two yellows cards) must leave the field immediately upon being sent off, and must remain away from the field during the team’s next match.
3. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, parents, and guests on the sideline. No team or club official may enter the field of play unless that person has been given permission to enter the field of play by the referee.
4. Coaches and players committing breaches of the law may be ejected from the tournament at the discretion of the Tournament Director.
5. Any player, coach, or spectator found in possession of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, or weapons in the park or the parking lot at any of the games sites shall be banned from the tournament ad appropriate notifications will be made to local law enforcement authorities.
6. A report will be sent to the state association and league/club of the teams whose players or coaches receive yellow/red cards or where other serious matters involving the conduct of a team are concerned.
7. Any case of referee assault will be reported immediately to the Virginia Youth Soccer Association in accordance with USSF Rule 1108.

IV. FORFEITS / REFEREES / SCORECARDS

A.  A team that cannot field four (4) players within five minutes of the start of the match will forfeit its game. The team forfeiting the match shall be declared the loser by a score of 3-0.  There will be no time allowance for a late start.

2. If there is no referee at the start of the match, the teams must wait for the referee or seek a rescheduling of the match.   

VII. TOURNAMENT FORMAT

A.  Divisions with four teams. Three matches will be guaranteed, with the top 2 teams advancing to a Championship Match.

2. Divisions with 5 to 7 teams. Four matches will be guaranteed in a round robin format, with the Champion and Finalist being determined by the point system outlined below. In Divisions with 7 teams the head-to-head tiebreaker will not be used if the top two teams did not play each other.
3. Divisions with 8 teams. Three matches will be guaranteed. Teams will be assigned to two groups with each team playing 3 matches within its group. The winners of each group will advance to the Championship Match.
4. Rules for Advancement:

Teams will play within their respective division.

1. Each team will be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and zero (0) points for a loss. All ties will stand in the preliminary games.
2. Ties for the first and second place in the divisions will be broken according to the rules below.

Tie Breaking Rules:  If teams are tied after all preliminary rounds, the following criteria will be used to determine the teams order of finish and/or placement in the Championship Match:

3. Results of head-to-head competition (not used if more than two teams are tied).
4. Goal Differential
5. Goals For
6. Goals Against
7. Coin Toss

VIII. RESOLVING TIES IN SEMI-FINAL AND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES  

1. If a Championship Match is tied at the end of regulation time, the teams will be given a 2-minute rest. The following will decide the match:

1.      Overtime will be 2-five minute periods with substitutions allowed.

2.      Overtime will be sudden death.

3.      If teams remain even at the end of overtime the game will be decided by FIFA style penalty kicks using only the players remaining on the field at the end of overtime.

IX. INCLEMENT WEATHER

A.  The Tournament Director reserves the right to make the following changes in the event of inclement weather:

· Relocate and/or reschedule a match

· Reduce scheduled duration of a match

· Change a division structure

· Cancel a match

2. In the event of inclement weather forcing play to be halted and preventing the match from being completed during the scheduled time, the score shall stand if at least one-half of the match as been completed. The tournament director will have the final decision on field closure.

X. GENERAL

1. All decisions of the referee and Tournament Director are final. No protests or appeals will be allowed.
2. During games, players and coaches from both teams shall remain on one side of the field (between the halfway line and the goal area.) The spectators shall remain on the other side. Harassment of the officials from coaches, spectators or players will not be tolerated.
3. The Dragons Soccer Staff and Ashland Youth Soccer League are not responsible for the behavior of players, coaches, and spectators off the field or damages resulting from such behavior. They also are not responsible for any injuries that may occur to any players, coaches, or spectators as a result of their participation in the tournament. Application fees will not be refunded in the event that weather or any other circumstances force the cancellation of tournament games.
4. Individual awards will be awarded for division champions and finalists (1st and 2nd place).