TOURNAMENT RULES

2023 Penn FC Youth Coppa Classico


The Tournament will be played in accordance with FIFA rules and adhere to USYS age group and number of players rules, with the following additions and exceptions: 


 1.   REGISTRATION: 


Teams must register electronically by uploading the documents listed below to the team’s gotsport account. Further instructions on this electronic registration process will be provided before the tournament. Each team must submit the following documents for approval by to the Tournament Director:


  1. Primary Team Player Passes for team and guest players
  2. An official team roster documenting affiliation with appropriate governing soccer association
  3. A permission to travel form signed by their association (only required for teams from outside USYS Region 1)


Guest Players:

  • U09-U10: 3 guest players per team
  • U11-U12: 3 guest players per team
  • U13-U14: 4 guest players per team
  • U15: 5 guest players per team
  • In the U15 age group only, players who are age appropriate as U15's and who are registered with another team in the competing team's Club will be considered "Club Pass players."
  • Club Pass players must be listed on the team's roster for check in as if they were guest players, but they do not count against the 5 guest players allowed.
  • The Club Pass player allowance ONLY APPLIES TO THE U15 AGE GROUP because this age group is affected by players playing high school soccer. 


Guest players’ names, dates of birth, and pass numbers should be written on the team’s state approved roster prior to uploading for online registration.


Guest players’ passes/registration must be from the same certifying organization as that of the team they are playing with in the tournament. For example, if the team is registered with US Youth Soccer, their guests must have valid USYS player passes.


2.  ELIGIBILITY: 


This tournament is open to boys’ and girls’ teams in the U09 to U15 age groups. 


  • U09 and U10 ages play 7v7 with a maximum roster size of 14 and will be using USYS Standards for play with build out lines.
  • No heading of the ball and no punting will be allowed in these age groups.
  • U11-U12 aged teams will play 9v9 with a maximum roster size of 16 and will be using USYS Standards for field and goal size.
  • Age groups U13-U15 play 11v11 with a maximum roster size of 22 (only 18 players may dress per game). 


No player in any age group may be rostered or play on more than one team during the tournament.


 3. LINE-UP: 


The Referee or Field Marshall may request a coach to surrender player passes and coach passes to the Field Marshal or the referee prior to the start of the game. Should the coach fail to comply prior to the start of the game the team will forfeit that game immediately. The passes will be returned after the game.


 4. UNIFORMS: 


All players on a team must wear the jerseys of the same color and each jersey must be numbered distinctively.


Teams are requested to bring alternate color jerseys in the event that two teams have primary uniforms of similar color or appearance. Where both teams have the same color jersey, the team listed first in the game schedule will be designated as the home team and the home team will be asked to change their jersey. Goalkeeper jerseys must be distinct from the jerseys of the outfield players on both teams.


All players must wear shin guards when playing in a match. Socks must be worn in the pulled up position covering the shin pads or guards and shirts/jerseys must be tucked into the shorts.


 5. GAME DURATION: 


  • U09-U10 two (2) 25 minute halves and 5 minute halftime. 
  • U11-U12 two (2) 30 minute halves and 5 minute halftime.
  • U13-U15 two (2) 30 minute halves and 5 minute halftime.


Teams are expected to be present and ready to play at the scheduled starting time for each game. If a team has seven (7) players available, play will begin. Any team more than ten (10) minutes late will forfeit the game. The other team will be given six (6) points for the win, plus four (4) bonus points for a win by a 3-0 and a shutout.


 6. GAME DELAYS: 


Any game which must be stopped due to unplayable field/weather conditions will be resumed as soon as possible at a time and field location designated by the Tournament Committee.


The referee and Tournament Director are the only individuals that can determine if the field is unplayable. If games cannot be played during the time frame defined by the tournament, the games will not be rescheduled and standings will be determined by all other games played. All games are on a “running” clock. There will be no added time for injuries or other delays.


 7. GAME BALL: 


  • U09 to U12 age groups: Size 4
  • U13 to U15 age groups:  Size 5 


Each team should provide a game quality ball to the referee prior to the start of a game.


 8. SUBSTITUTIONS:


  • Goal kick, Half-time, after a goal is scored: Both teams may substitute players
  • Throw-in: The team in possession may make a substitution. The team out of possession may substitute when the team in possession makes a substitution.
  • Injured Player:  If the referee stops the game due to a player injury, the injured player may be substituted and the opposing team may make a corresponding substitution if the injured player is substituted.
  • Corner kicks, free kicks, drop balls, cautions: No substitutions by either team.


 9. EJECTIONS: 


  • A team whose player is ejected may not replace the ejected player with a substitute, nor may an ejected player return to the game from which he or she was ejected as a substitute for another player.
  • An ejected player or coach must leave the field and may not return to the field for the remainder of the game from which he or she was ejected.
  • An ejected player or coach is ineligible for the next scheduled game and may not be on the bench during the game from which they are suspended.
  • A player or coach ejected for fighting or violent conduct is ineligible for further Tournament participation.


10. CAUTIONS: 


An accumulation of three (3) cautions or an ejection and a caution to a player or coach will result in an immediate dismissal from the Tournament.


 11. REFEREES:


U09, U10, and U11 games will have one center referee. All other games will be, if tournament scheduling allows, officiated under the three (3) referee system (one center referee and two assistant referees).


Note: The Tournament reserves the right to adjust referee coverage for games as needed. For any reasons beyond the Tournament's control, any and all referee assignment(s) may be adjusted -- including the type of referee system. 


 12. REFUND POLICY: 


No refunds will be issued after a team is accepted into the tournament. If a team must withdraw before the acceptance list is posted, a refund equal to the tournament fee minus $50, will be issued to the team as quickly as possible. The tournament reserves the right to issue refunds by check or credit card as it deems appropriate, regardless of the method of payment used to submit the tournament fee.  Any refund checks issued will be sent to the team contact listed in the team’s gotsoccer profile. Please be sure this information is up to date. 

See “Tournament Cancellation” below for further information regarding refunds.


 13. TOURNAMENT CANCELLATION: 


In the event of a forecast of severe weather conditions or other events that would require the Tournament Committee to cancel the tournament, team contacts (as specified on the Registration Form in gotsoccer) will be notified by email and/or phone of the cancellation prior to the start of the tournament. If the tournament is cancelled prior to its start, all teams are guaranteed to have the majority of their registration fee refunded. 


The final refund amount will be determined by the Tournament Committee at the time all unrecoverable costs associated with operating the tournament are paid. The tournament may retain an amount equal to, but not in excess of, $200 from each team’s tournament entry fee. 


If the tournament is cancelled after it has begun, a prorated refund, determined at the discretion of the Tournament Committee, will be returned to each team.


In the event it is necessary to issue refunds, the refund will be sent to the person listed as the primary team contact in your team’s gotsoccer account. 


 14. TOURNAMENT FORMAT


Tournament brackets in all age groups will be organized to provide the best competitive environment possible for all teams. Typically, competition is set up in 4, 5, 6 or 8 team divisions with one or two brackets per division depending on the number of teams and the competitive level of those teams.


All teams are guaranteed 3 games unless weather or field conditions or circumstances beyond the control of the Tournament Director dictate cancellation of games. Teams advancing to a final in their age group will typically play 4 games. 


Teams that are in groups of 4 or 5 will play each team in their division one time in a round-robin format with no final. Winner of the group will be determined based on points earned in the round-robin.


 15. STANDINGS: 


The number of points accumulated will determine the order of finish and bracket placements. The calculation of points by GotSoccer will be the final authority on results.


Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:

  • Six (6) points for each Win
  • Three (3) point for each Tie.
  • Zero (0) points for each Loss.
  • One (1) point awarded for each shutout.
  • One (1) point awarded for each goal scored, up to 3 per game.


In the event of a tie in points at the end of bracket play; the winner for advancement to a Semi-Final or Final will be determined as follows:


  1. The winner in head-to-head competition. In the event of a 3-way tie, even after the elimination of a single team through tie-breakers “2”, “3”, “4”, and “5”, the head-to-head tie breaker is NOT used.
  2. Goal differential, maximum of +3 can be earned per game (Team wins 4-0, only counts as 3, not 4 in goal diff.)
  3. Fewest goals against; no maximum per game.
  4. Most total wins.
  5. Most shut-outs.
  6. Total Goals Scored


If a tie still exists after steps (1) through (6), advancement will be determined by penalty kicks. Penalty kicks to determine advancement will be taken fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the Semi-Final game. Teams will select players for the shootout based on the team size for their age group:


  • U09-U10: 7 players, including goalkeeper are eligible to participate
  • U11-U12: 9 players, including goalkeeper are eligible to participate
  • U13-U15: 11 players, including goalkeeper are eligible to participate


 Tournament Director may alter the time based on field availability and tournament needs.


16. PLAY-OFF GAMES: 


For play-off games and finals, all games that are tied a full time will proceed directly to a penalty shootout to determine the winner. Only the players on the field at full time are eligible to participate in the shootout.


 17. AWARDS: 


Individual player awards will be provided to the Champion and Finalist team in their Division.


18. WEATHER: 


In the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the Tournament Director will have the authority to change games as needed using means including, but not limited to:


  • Relocate or Reschedule any game(s)
  • Change the duration of game(s)
  • Cancel any game(s) which have no bearing on the selection of the divisional winners


Preliminary matches terminated after one half of play because of weather shall be considered final.


 19. PROTEST: 


No protests will be entertained. All penalties will be handled by the Tournament Director of designate, who will have the right to exclude a team, coach, or player(s) not acting in accordance with the Tournament rules. The decision of the Director is final.


20.  VENUE RULES:


The Coppa Classico uses multiple tournament sites, and it is possible that the specific rules for use of some sites will differ slightly from those of others. All teams, coaches, and parents are expected to respect the rules of their site of competition and other sites they might visit during the event. The following rules apply to the use of ALL tournament sites without exception:


  • No alcoholic beverages are allowed at competition sites.
  • No smoking or “vaping” of any kind is allowed at any of the tournament venues.
  • No kicking, throwing or otherwise propelling balls or objects against buildings is allowed.
  • ALL parking rules, posted or otherwise, must be followed.
  • No pets are allowed at competition sites.
  • No foul or abusive language or intimidating behavior toward players, officials, spectators, tournament officials or site staff will be tolerated.

 



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