1. General
The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of these rules shall be final and binding. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament.
All teams are responsible for their own insurance. In the case of injury during travel or while participating in the tournament, Rage Soccer Club and the Tournament Committee will not be liable.
An approved, stamped roster must be submitted by each team at registration.
First and second place awards will be presented to winners and runner-ups in each division.
Be at your field ready to play 20 minutes before game time.
Referee will toss coin with team captains to start the game and choose goal.
Game reports must be signed by both coaches.
It is expected that each team will participate in the customary handshake and exchange of patches at the completion of each game.
2. Age and Eligibility
Participation in the FLASH TOURNAMENT is open to accepted teams composed of:
- Max 18 players: Under 12– Under 19 (11 v 11)
- Max 14 players: Under 09 - 11 (8 v 8)
Players will each meet the age limit of the specified below:
- U-19 (August 1, 1991 and younger)
- U-17 (August 1, 1993 and younger)
- U-16 (August 1, 1994 and younger)
- U-15 (August 1, 1995 and younger)
- U-14 (August 1, 1996 and younger)
- U-13 (August 1, 1997 and younger)
- U-12 (August 1, 1998 and younger)
- U-11 (August 1, 1999 and younger)
- U 10 (August 1, 2000 and younger)
- U 09 (August 1, 2001 and younger)
Players must have been born during, or subsequent to, the divisional year. Each team accepted must be registered with a National State Association affiliated with the USYS/USSF or national equivalent and must present a valid State or Provincial roster. CURRENT, DULY AUTHORIZED MEMBER PASSES, MEDICAL RELEASE FORMS AND OFFICIAL APPROVED ROSTERS MUST BE PRESENT AT THE FIELD FOR THE DURATION OF THE GAME.
Teams that are members of organizations of the United States Soccer Federation but not members of US Youth 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.
US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel – Region I Teams: US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel forms are not required for Region I teams accepted into the Flash Tournament. The only exception being NJSYS and CJSA Teams.
US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel – Non Region I Teams: All non US Youth Soccer Region I Teams must obtain an approved US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel Form, approved and signed by a duly authorized State or National Association representative, to attend the Flash Tournament.
A maximum of four (4) guest players may be used and should be written in on the bottom of the approved team roster. However, a team using guest players must have no more than a maximum of fourteen (14) players for U-9, U-10 and U-11 age groups (playing 8 v 8) and a maximum of eighteen (18) players for U-12 through U-19 age groups (playing 11 v 11) on said roster. Guest players must be current USYS/USSF or national equivalent players whose team for which they are registered is not participating in the Flash Tournament. No player may be rostered on more than one team during the tournament.
3. Laws of the Game
All games will be played in accordance with FIFA laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.
4. Ball Size/Duration of Game
Size 4 ball for ages U09 and U10; games consist of two 25 minute halves
Size 4 ball for age U11, U12; games consist of two 30 minute halves
Size 5 ball for age U13, U14; games consist of two 30 minute halves
Size 5 ball for age U15; games consist of two 35 minute halves
Size 5 ball for age U16, U17, U18; games consist of two 40 minute halves
All games will be played with a running clock. The referee may add time for serious injuries or other incidents, including, but not limited to, deliberate time wasting. The referee is the official timekeeper and therefore all decisions regarding game duration are solely at the referee’s discretion.
5. Field and Game Equipment
Players (with the exception of the goalkeeper) must wear numbers visible on the back of their uniforms.
Players shall wear shin guards in accordance with FIFA laws.
No metal cleats will be allowed.
No jewelry will be allowed.
Hard and soft casts are permitted with the approval of the referee.
Where opposing team’s uniform colors are similar, the designated home team will change colors. The designated home team is listed first on the schedule.
When requested by the referee, each team must provide a referee assistant.
The designated home team is responsible for supplying a FIFA game ball acceptable to the referee. A size 5 ball is used for U13 and older; and a size 4 ball is used for U9 through U12 play.
Players and coaches of both teams will take the same side of the field. All other supporters will take the opposite side. No one is permitted behind either end line. Only three team officials are permitted on the sidelines with their players.
6. Inclement Weather
In the case of severe inclement weather or other force majeure, the Tournament Committee shall have the authority to change the format as follows:
Relocate or reschedule any game
Change the duration of any game
Consider as complete a game that has been called by an official once 50% of the game has been played
Cancel any game
No refunds will be made for cancellation in whole or in part due to severe inclement weather or other force majeure. There is no make-up or rain date planned for the tournament.
7. Substitutions
Unlimited substitutions may be made, with the referee’s permission, at the following times:
After a goal has been made.
At the beginning of the second half of play or prior to the beginning of an overtime period.
At a goal kick by either team.
Prior to a throw-in when the ball is in possession of the team substituting. The opposing team may substitute as well if the team in possession is making a substitution.
Limited substitutions may be made, with the referee’s permission, in case of stoppage of play for an injury (one-for-one basis for the injured player(s)).
8. Protests
There will be no protests allowed.
9. Conduct
Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the LAW as well as the letter of the LAW. Displays of temper or dissent are cause for ejection from the game and the surrounding field area. Repeated violations may result in the suspension of the team from the tournament as decided by the Tournament Director.
Players, coaches and team officials ejected from a game by the referee shall be ineligible for the next scheduled game.
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 team’s coach, or the person acting on the coach’s behalf, from the game.
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.
Artificial noise making devices are prohibited.
Smoking, alcoholic beverages, and verbal abuse of anyone are not permitted at any of the field sites.
10. Failure to Show and Forfeits
There will be no grace time allowed for teams not at the field of play at the scheduled time of kick-off. The opponent shall be awarded a 1-0 win for the match. A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team and if seven (7) players are present, the game will be played.
In no event shall a team who forfeits a game be eligible for first or second place awards. The team with the next best record or point total shall be declared the award winner.
11. Determination of Division Winners
Each team will be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and no (0) points for a loss. For each preliminary game, the winning team will be awarded bonus points for goal differential up to a maximum of 3 points. Thus a team winning 3-0 or 7-3 would receive the maximum of three (3) bonus points. Also, one additional Bonus point will be awarded for any shut-out during the preliminary round. No shut-out bonus points are awarded for a 0-0 tie.
At the end of the preliminary rounds, the group winner shall be the team with the most points in their group. In the event of a tie within a group, the following criteria shall be used to determine the winner.
- Head to head competition. (In the event of a tie between more than two (2) teams, this criterion will not be considered).
- Fewest Goals Allowed.
- Best Goal Differential
- FIFA penalty kicks.
In the event of a tie among three (3) or more teams, the elimination procedure begins with #2 noted above. If two (2) teams remain, the tie shall be broken by repeating the above elimination procedures beginning with #1.
12. Determination of Playoff Winners
Overtime will be played in case of a draw at the end of regulation time in the playoff rounds. The winner will be determined as follows:
Two overtime periods, five minutes each, with teams changing ends after the first period.
Should the game remain a draw after the overtime play, FIFA penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner. The best of five penalty kicks taken alternately by each team will determine the winner. Only those players on the field at the end of the overtime period may compete. If the penalty kick score is tied at the end of the five kicks, the teams will continue to take penalty kicks alternately until there is a winner. All players on the field must kick before any player may kick a second time.
