TOURNAMENT RULES

2024 Penn FC Youth SPRING WARM UP


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


1. REGISTRATION:


Teams must register electronically by uploading scanned images of their player passes, roster, and Permission to Travel (if needed) to gotsoccer.com. Further instructions on this electronic registration process will be provided one month before tournament. Each team must submit their credentials to the Tournament Director to include:


  • Primary Team Player Passes for team member participating and for any guest player
  • For U09-U12 teams, 3 guest players are allowed*
  • For U13-U19 teams, up to 5 guest players are allowed*
  • An official team roster documenting affiliation with appropriate governing soccer association including any guest players
  • Guest players should be written in at the bottom of the roster with name, DOB and pass number included
  • *All primary and guest player passes must be from the same certifying organization as the team's Official Roster. For instance, if the roster is a USYS roster, the passes must be USYS passes. Similarly, if the roster is a US Club roster, all passes must be US Club passes.  No mixture of passes will be permitted.
  • A permission to travel form signed by their association (teams outside of Region 1 only)


2. ELIGIBILITY:


This tournament is open to boys and girls teams in the U9 to U19 age groups.  U9/U10 ages play 7v7 with a maximum roster size of 14 players and will be using USYS Standards for play with build out lines, no heading, and no punting, U11/U12 age teams play 9v9 with a maximum roster size of 18 players and will be using USYS Standards, and remaining age groups U13-U19 play 11v11 with a maximum roster size of 22 (only 18 players may dress per game).  No player may be rostered or play on more than one team competing in 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 same colored jerseys and each jersey must be numbered distinctively with no number being repeated. Teams are requested to bring alternate jerseys. 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. 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. Goalkeeper jerseys must be distinct from the jerseys of the outfield players on both teams.


5. GAME DURATION: 


  • U9-U10 two (2) 25 minute halves
  • U11-U14 two (2) 30 minute halves
  • U15-U19 two (2) 35 minute halves (Showcase Format*)


Teams are expected 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.


*Showcase Format: Teams will play three games on the weekend with no final. Each team will play a single game on one day of competition and two games on the other day of competition. 


6. GAME DELAYS: 


Any game which must be stopped due to unplayable field 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.


7. GAME BALL: 


A size 4 ball will be used for U9 to U12 games; U13 to U19 age groups will use a size 5 ball.  Each team should provide a game quality ball to the referee prior to the start of a game.


8. SUBSTITUTIONS: 


Updated 2/23/2002:  Referees may, at their discretion, allow either team to make substitutions at any stoppage of play.

 

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 play.

                                                                                                                                                                       

10. REFEREES:


U9, 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.

 

11. 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 reasonably 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.


12. 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 tournament start. If the tournament is cancelled prior to the start a full refund minus $150 (cancellation fee for incurred administrative costs) will be provided. A prorated refund at the discretion of the Tournament Committee will be provided if the tournament is cancelled after it begins.


In the event it in necessary to issue refunds, the refund will be sent to the person listed as the primary team contact in your team’s gotsoccer account. If the tournament is cancelled, a credit to a future Penn FC Youth tournament may be offered. 

 

13. BRACKETING and ADVANCEMENT: 


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. Medals will be awarded to U9 – U14 Teams Champions and Finalist.


U15 – U19 Showcase Format


Teams will play three games on the weekend without a playoff or final game. Each team will play two games on one day of the competition and two games on the other day of competition.

 

14. 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) points 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.
  • One (1) point subtracted for each red card received.


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 1 team through tie-breakers “B”, “C”, and “D”, the head to head tie breaker is NOT used. There is no reverting back to tiebreaker “A” in a 3-way tie.
  2. Goal differential, maximum margin of +3 per game (team wins 4-0, only counts as 3, not 4 in goal diff.)
  3. Fewest goals against, maximum margin of -3 per game (team loses 0-4; goal difference counts as 0-3).
  4. Most shut outs.


If a tie still exists after steps (A) through (D), Penalty Kicks will be taken fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the Semi-Final or Final game. 

 

15. Penalty Kick Procedure for Tie Breakers

 

Prior to the start of penalty kicks used as a tie breaker to determine semi-final placement:

 

  • Teams will designate a line-up of eligible players corresponding with the team size for their age group.
  • U09-U10 will designate 7 eligible players, including one goalkeeper
  • U11-U12 teams will designate 9 eligible players, including one goalkeeper
  • U13 and older teams will designate 11 eligible players, including one goalkeeper
  • Suspended players may not be included in the group eligible to take penalty kicks in the tie breaker
  • Teams will enter the field of play, and eligible players may not exit the field of play until the end of the shootout.
  • Players who are not designated as eligible players must exit the field and remain in their team’s technical area for the duration of the shootout.
  • Penalty kicks will be taken at one end of the field using FIFA’s approved process and rules for Kicks from the Penalty Mark.
  • The FIFA process for Kicks from the Penalty Mark can be found here.


Tournament Director may alter the time and location of penalty kicks as a tie breaker based on field availability and tournament needs.

 

15. PLAY-OFF GAMES: 


For play-off games and finals, all games that are tied a full time will proceed directly to a penalty shootout (described above) to determine the winner. Only the players on the field at full time are eligible to participate in the shootout. Penalty Kick Procedure will follow the process laid out in Section 15.


16. AWARDS: 


U9 – U14 Individual player awards will be provided to the Champion and Finalist team in their Division.


17. WEATHER: 


In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director will have the authority to change games as follows:

  • 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


18. 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.


19.  VENUE RULES:


The Spring Warm-Up 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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