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Rules for the 2015 Ohio Galaxies FC Youth Festival of Soccer

Tournament Headquarters:
Athletes in Action 
1197 South Detroit Street
Xenia, OH 45385
Phone: 937-352-1000

Tournament Director: 
Nancy Shields
P.O. Box 72
Alpha, OH 45301

REGISTRATION AND TEAM ELIGIBILITY:

Registration Check-in: The Ohio Galaxies FC Youth Festival of Soccer requires teams to register on-line by Monday, March 16, 2015.  There will be no on site check for teams on the weekend of the tournament.  Click on the "Check-In" link for more information.
 

Coaches must bring Travel Permits (if outside OSYSA), signed medical and liability release forms, approved roster and player passes. Coaches should bring player passes and medical release forms to every game.

TEAMS FROM THE UNITED STATES – For teams from the United States:

1. The Players must present picture identification cards issued by the team’s Federation Organization Member (USYS, ASYO, other).
2. Teams must provide proof of approval of the team’s participation from the team’s Federation Organization Member.
3. Teams from outside the State Association where the tournament is located must provide proof of permission to travel. Teams must be in good standing with their Federation Organization.

PLAYER AGE AND ELIGIBILITY:

Boys and Girls teams in separate divisions
U8:   Born between 8/1/2006 – 7/31/2007
U9:   Born between 8/1/2005 – 7/31/2006
U10:  Born between 8/1/2004 - 7/31/2005
U11:  Born between 8/1/2003 - 7/31/2004
U12:  Born between 8/1/2002 - 7/31/2003
U13:  Born between 8/1/2001 - 7/31/2002

U08, U09 and U10 teams will play 6 v 6 format.
U11-U12 teams will play 8 v 8 format.
U13 teams will play 11 v 11 format.

Team rosters will be limited to 12 players for teams playing the 6 v 6 format . Team rosters will be limited to 14 players for teams playing the 8 v 8 format. Team rosters will be limited to 18 plaeyrs for teams playing the 11v 11 format.  The Roster submitted online with Tournament Registration will be the official Roster for the Tournament and may not be altered. A player may only play for one team.

Unlimited guest players will be allowed per team for U08-U13 teams. Guest player Rosters (yours and ours) should be validated by your state association/country federation (if required by your association). Prior to the start of each game, the Field Marshal or Referee shall check that each team has the following: current Federation player and coaches passes, Medical Release forms and approved guest roster (if applicable).

TEAMS:

The first team listed in the tournament program (and website) is the home team. A maximum of 3 coaches are permitted on the coaches’ side of the field. All coaches will remain within 20 yards of the centerline on their half of the field, on the side opposite of both team’s spectators. Field Marshals will communicate which side is the coaches’ side if questions arise. Spectators are not permitted behind the goals.

PLAYER CREDENTIALS AND UNIFORMS:

1. Player picture identification cards are to be present and available at all matches.
2. Identification cards are required to be checked by the Field Marshal prior to each match.
3. All shirt numbers of each player must be different.
4. If a jersey color conflict occurs, the home team must change jerseys.

LAWS OF THE GAME:

International Rules (FIFA/USSF) apply with the following exceptions:

1. Substitutes must be at the mid-field line.
2. Substitutions may be made with consent of the referee
a. After a goal by either team.
b. Before any goal kick.
c. Before a throw-in by either team provided the team taking the throw-in is making a substitution on the throw-in.
d. At the beginning of any period of play.
e. After an injury, by either team, when the referee stops play.
f. After a caution, the cautioned player may be substituted for.
3. 6v6 offsides (U8/U9 only) -although no offsides will be called at this level, the referee has the discretion to call “unsporting behavior” and award an indirect kick for blatant offside infractions. U10 age groups and above will be calling offsides.

GAME FORMAT:

Each team will play three games with a group champion named based on the results.  No championship games will be played. U8, U9 and U10 teams will play (2) 25 minutes halves and U11 and U12 teams will play (2) 30 minute halves.   Ball size: 4.  ll play (2) 30 minute halves.  Ball size: 5.

FORFEITS:

Failure to complete a match, or a team leaving the field during play, will result in forfeiture. No team that has forfeited a game will be declared a wild card or group winner. The team winning by forfeit will be awarded one goal, or remaining team will have the score recorded at the time of walk off (whichever is higher). The opponent’s score will be zero. This score will be the official score in case goal differential is necessary. The Tournament Officials reserve the right to decide all matters concerning a forfeit. A team must have 5 eligible players to start a game for 8 v 8, 4 for 6 v 6 and 9 for an 11 v 11 match. A team will be required to forfeit if they do not have the minimum number of players 10 minutes after the scheduled start time of the match.

SCORE:

Scores will be posted as quickly as possible on the tournament website.  Coaches should report any discrepancies to Headquarters prior to their next game. Scores are reported to Headquarters by the Field Marshal and Referee game card.

STANDARDS OF CONDUCT & DISCIPLINE:

Disciplinary action taken against a coach will be levied in the next game in which he/she coaches the team playing at the time of the original infraction, or to the next game coached if the violation occurred during the last game for that team. If additional behavior problems occur, the Directors reserve the right to levy additional discipline up to and including expulsion from the Tournament.

A. All participants in the Ohio Galaxies FC Youth Festival of Soccer will be expected to maintain high standards of conduct during their stay in the Dayton area. These standards are expected of players, referees and other guests in the hotels and motels; keeping noise in the hallways to a minimum, refraining from kicking soccer balls inside any of the buildings and being respectful of the property of others. Should it come to the attention of the Tournament Director that a person (or persons) has failed to observe these guidelines; the Director reserves the right to take remedial action. Said action, depending upon the circumstances, may range from a warning, a reduction in points in the standings or banning that team and/or all teams in its club from future participation in the Tournament.
B. There shall be no dissent between players and/or coaches and the referee. Questioning a referee is considered dissent. All coaches are responsible for the actions of his or her spectators, specifically verbal abuse of referees. Such abuse will not be tolerated! Violation may result in forfeiture of the game and/or expulsion from further play.
C. Any player or coach ejected from a game will be ineligible to participate in the next scheduled game (a minimum of one game suspension depending upon the severity of the offense). The player/coach pass is to be turned in to the referee headquarters immediately following the initial suspension game. If dismissed in the last game, the card will be returned to the coach unless it was for assault, fighting or spitting in which case it will be returned to the appropriate state association. Records of all dismissals will be sent to the appropriate association.
D. Any player or coach who receives an accumulation of three (3) yellow cards must sit out the next game.
E. Spectators may be ejected from the park for improper conduct, at the discretion of the tournament officials. Artificial noise makers are not permitted.
F. Any disciplinary action will be reported to the team’s governing organization and for CONCACAF teams will be reported to USSF.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH FIFA POLICY:

1. There shall be no dissent between players and/or coaches and the referee. Questioning a referee’s call is considered dissent. All coaches are urged to solicit the support of their fans in monitoring and enforcing this policy.
2. Any player or coach ejected from a game will be ineligible to participate in the next (at a minimum of one game) scheduled game. No substitution will be allowed for the ejected player.

Game Scores: The center referee will keep the official game card, which he shall receive from the designated field marshal prior to each game. The center referee shall obtain the signature of each linesman and each participating head coach at the conclusion of each game. The referee will be responsible for returning the game card to the designated field marshal at the conclusion of each game.

Standings and Tie Breaks: As follows.

1. Game Points –

A. Points will be awarded for each game in accordance with the following schedule:
1. Six points for a WIN
2. Three points for a TIE
3. Zero points for a LOSS
4. One point for a SHUT-OUT (including 0-0 game)
5. One point for each goal scored, up to three maximum, regardless of win or loss.

2. Tie Breaking Within A Bracket/Division Or For Wild Card Team--

In the event of a points tie, places will be determined as follows:
A. Head to head.
B. Goal differential (maximum of 5 goal difference per game).
C. Most goals scored (maximum of 5 goals per game).
D. Least goals allowed.
E. If a tie still exists, the two teams will be declared Co-Champions.

PLAYER EQUIPMENT:

1. Shin guards are mandatory and must be covered by a sock.
2. No cutoffs under or in lieu of uniform shorts are allowed.
3. Shirts/jerseys will be tucked into players shorts at all times.
4. Hard casts are not permitted. Soft casts are permitted with the permission of the Referee.

CANCELLATIONS:

If the Tournament is cancelled due to events beyond the control of the Tournament Committee, the Tournament will not be required to make any financial remuneration.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

The Tournament Director shall have the authority to make the following changes if deemed necessary:
A.   Shorten the duration of the games.
B.   Suspend temporarily or permanently any games in progress.
C.   Cancel any or all games if necessary. Northern Warren County Soccer Alliance, Athletes in Action, the Showcase Committee, any of our sponsors, advertisers, and supporters are not responsible for any expense incurred by cancellations of scheduled games.

•    Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear on the field of
      play ready to play as scheduled.
•    Only the Tournament Director or his/her designee can cancel or postpone a match.
•    The safety of the players and spectators will be the first concern in making any
      weather decisions.
•    Should a match's progress be terminated due to severe weather conditions, the game will be considered official.
•    Teams should not leave the complex until the event committee has determined the status of their match.

AIA COMPLEX RULES
•    No alcoholic beverages are permitted.  Anyone found with alcohol (player, coach or
      spectator) will cause the entire team with which they are associated to be asked to
      leave the complex.
•    The complex speed limit is 10 MPH.  Observe directional signs and obey instructions of parking directors.  Park in designated areas only.
•    No pets are allowed at the complex.
•    No smoking or verbal abuse at the complex.

GENERAL:

1. Coaches are required to bring player cards and medical release forms to every game.
2. The tournament director’s interpretation of the foregoing rules/regulations shall be final.
3. The tournament director reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the Fazoli’s Festival of Soccer.
4. The Fazoli’s Festival of Soccer will supply game balls for all Tournament matches.
5. Rosters are frozen at registration.
6. No protests will be heard.