Tournament Rules

PittwaterRSLFC
 Tournament Rules

1.       GENERAL RULES
A.      NO protests.
i.        All decisions made by the referee are final.
B.      Under no circumstances will the Tournament Committee, PittwaterRSLFC, MWFA or  FootballNSW Soccer be responsible for any expenses (including tournament entry fee) incurred by any team; including situations in which the tournament or any game(s) is canceled in whole or part.
C.      The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournaments, and all interpretations of the rules are final.  If a team disregards any decision by the tournament committee (including the inclement weather policy), all remaining games will be forfeited and therefore disqualified from the tournament.
D.      Non-local teams are required to use the tournament’s hotel booking service.  Any team who does not use this system will be subjected to a fine of $250 or refusal of entrance to any future tournament.
E.      First and second place awards will be presented in each division.
 
2.       LAWS OF THE GAME
A.      All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.
 
3.       AGE  AND ELIGIBILITY
A.      Participation is open to accepted teams meeting the roster limit and player age limit as defined by Football NSW Soccer Guidelines and the tournaments’ permission to host. 
i.      U10, U11 and U12 will play full-sided  (11 V11) with a maximum roster of Eighteen (16) players, depending on the Round listed on the application.
ii.      U13 through U16 will play full-sided (11 v 11) with a maximum roster of eighteen (18) players

B.      Each team player must be registered with a Football NSW Soccer Association affiliated teams. 
i.        Player registration cards authorized by the state / local or national association if available will be required as proof of age.  Players who do not present a valid player pass will not play.  All player passes must be present at the field for the duration of the game.
ii.      Rosters submitted at tournament registration shall govern.  Each team shall have a roster properly stamped by its association present at every game.  Rosters may be inspected by the field marshal at the request of either coach or on the decision of the referee. 
C.      No player shall play for more then one team during the tournament.
D.      . A maximum of two (2) guest players will be allowed during the tournament.
 
4.       UNIFORM, EQUIPEMENT, AND FIELDS
A.      Players must wear numbers on the back of their uniforms and these numbers shall coincide with the numbers listed on the team’s official  Roster.
B.      Players are required to wear shin guards in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game.
C.      When the uniform colors are similar, the designated home team will change colors.  The home team is listed first on the schedule.
D.      When requested by the referee, each team must provide a linesperson.
E.      Teams must be at the fields 20 minutes prior to the scheduled kick-off.
F.      Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and teams must appear on the field ready to play as scheduled.  Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the game, as only the referees and / or tournament committee can postpone or cancel a match.
 
 
5.       INTERCHANGE
A.      Interchanges without limit may be made during any stoppage of play with the referee's
permission and discretion.  This can include throw-ins by either team in possession, goal and corner kicks, etc.
 
6.       DURATION OF GAMES
A.      The following table shows the length of game halves for the tournament’s preliminary, semi-final, and final matches.  There is no overtime for this tournament.  If a match is tied at the end of regulation in a semi-final or final, the game will proceed straight to FIFA Penalty Kicks to decide the winner.
 
Age Group
 Age Group
 
 
Preliminary
 
Semi-finals and finals
 
 
           
B.      In the event of inclement weather forces a cancellation of a game after at least 20 minutes have been played, the game shall be considered official; the score at the point of cancellation will stand as the final score.  If the game is halted before 20 minutes has passed, the match will be rescheduled for complete replay, or recommenced at the discretion of the tournament Committee. 
 
7.       FAILURE TO SHOW AND FORFIETS
A.      A game may not start with fewer then seven (7) properly uniformed players on each team for any full-sided match.  Once a game has started, it may not continue with fewer then league minimum.  If a match can not start or continue because of a team having fewer then the minimum, that team shall forfeit the game.
B.      A team shall have a five (5) minute grace period from the scheduled kick off before the match is awarded to their opponent as a 3-0 forfeited win.
C.      If a team is the cause for a termination of a game, the match will be awarded to their opponents as a 3-0 forfeit win.
D.      Teams that have forfeited a game may not advance beyond the preliminary rounds without the approval of the tournament committee.
 
8.       DETERMINATION OF DIVISON AND WILD CARD WINNERS
A.      Each team shall be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a ties and zero (0) point for a loss.
B.      The division winner shall be the team with the most points.
i.        In the event that two or more teams are tied with in a division, the following criteria will be used to determine a winner:
(1)     Head to head competition (this does not apply if more then two (2) teams are involved in the tie)
(2)     Most wins
(3)     Bonus points
(a)    Bonus points are awarded for positive goal differential (the difference between goals for and goals against) up to three (3) bonus points per game.  For example, 6-3 and 3-0 scores each ear three bonus points. 
(4)     An additional bonus point is awarded for a shutout.
(5)     Fewest goals against.
(6)     Penalty kicks – FIFA’s penalty kick procedure will be used to determine a winner.
C.      In the event of a tie between more then two teams, once a tie is broken by the above system, and if ties among the remaining teams must still be decided, those ties would be broken by starting again from the top of the tie-breaking procedure. Example: teams A, B and C are tied. It is determined that team A is in first place after the tiebreaker procedure. We will then start from the beginning of the tiebreakers with teams B and C to determine who is in second place.
D.      During a semi-final and final match, if a tie scores exists at the end of regulation, the FIFA penalty kick procedure will be used to determine a winner. NO OVERTIME
 
9.       GAME AND SCORE REPORTING
A.      The field marshal will ensure that the game report forms are properly completed, signatures obtained and scores recorded at the end of each game.
B.      The field marshal will ensure that the scores of each game and subsequent cards are reported to the site and tournament headquarters in a timely manner each day.
 
10.   INCLEMENT WEATHER
A.      In the event of inclement weather, the tournament committee will have the authority to change game as follows:
i.        Relocate or reschedule any game(s);
ii.      Change the duration of any game(s);
iii.    Cancel any preliminary game(s) that have no bearing on the selection of division winners.
B.      In the event inclement weather forces total cancellation of the tournament, teams may be refunded entry fees after costs are covered. Teams will not receive a full refund.
 
11.   CONDUCT
A.      Alcoholic beverages are NOT permitted at game sites.
B.      Smoking is NOT permitted at game sites.
C.      Pets are NOT permitted at any Tournament Fields.
D.      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 and/or dissent are cause for ejection from the game and surrounding field area.  Repeated violations may result in the suspension of the team or person from the tournament and/or future tournaments as decided by the tournament committee.
E.      Both teams (players and coaches) will be on the same sideline.  Spectators of both teams will take the opposite side of the pitch.  No one will be allowed behind either end line.
F.      A player or coach receiving a red card will not be able to participate in the tournament game following the game the card is issued.  The tournament committee reserves the right to suspend any player, coach, or team from the tournament for unruly conduct.
G.     Accumulation of Cards
i.        Any player who receives a third caution (yellow) card during any part of the tournament will not be allowed to participate in the tournament game following the contest in which the third card was issued.
H.      In the event of assault / abuse on a game official, a judiciary hearing shall immediately be convened at a tournament site to be designated by the tournament committee.  Suspension for Assault on an Official, shall apply.  In any event a player, coach, or other team official who is charged with assault on a game official is suspended from further participation in the tournament.
I.        Any teams disregarding a decision by the referees and / or the tournament committee to either suspend or cancel tournament play, can be disqualified for the remainder of the tournament.  A written complaint will be filed both with the Football NSW Association and the team’s state association (if applicable). 

12. CORNER KICKS:
In 10-12 year old age groups inclusive, corner kicks shall be taken from a point 7.5 metres out from the penalty area.
13. GOAL KICKS:
a) 10 year old age group the goal-kick is taken from an imaginary line drawn through the penalty spot parallel to the goal line.
b) From 11-year old age groups and above, goal kicks will be taken from anywhere within the 5.5 metre area.
14. STRIP:
a) Associations to advise Assistant Competition Secretary team names and colours in advance of scheduled tournament. This is required to allow a programme to be produced.
b) All teams must wear numbered strip with no duplication of numbers.
c) Players will not be permitted to participate unless they are wearing approved shin pads.
d) Home team is first team mentioned in draw unless otherwise advised by Competition Secretary and it is the HOME team that will change if deemed necessary by the referee.
e) All teams must have available an alternate strip.
15. PLAYER IDENTIFICATION CARDS:
a) This tournament shall be played under the Photo ID card system.
b) It shall be the responsibility of Managers to inspect their opponent’s team cards.
c) No protests will be accepted re player eligibility if ID cards are not checked.
d) Where a player's ID card has been sent to the P & D C and has not been received or returned by the P & D C. the Chairman may give written authority for the player to play without an ID card. Such player must sign the team sheet in the presence of the opposing team manager. The written authority from the Chairman must include the player's signature; also this authority must be produced when signing the team sheet. 
 
16. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE BENCH & TECHNICAL AREA
a) The Team Manager is responsible to ensure proper conduct of all persons occupying the bench and technical area.
b) Coaching and encouragement in suitable language is permitted from the team bench and technical area but no comments must be directed to or about referees, apposing players or officials c) Abusive or derogatory comments must not be tolerated. Offenders may be ordered from the enclosure by the Match Officials or Tournament Director.
d) With the prior approval of the Tournament Director or 4th Official on duty, a coach may leave the enclosure during a match, however any coaching comments from outside the enclosure must still comply to point ( c ).
e) Only the nominated reserves on the team sheet, the coach, the manager and the trainer shall be allowed within the confines of the bench & technical area.
17. INTERCHANGE PLAYERS:
Unlimited interchanging of all Players listed on the team sheet is permissible at any time during the game.
1. "Interchange zone" will be an area one metre either side of the halfway line.
2. An interchange is one, which is made when the ball is out of play, and for which the
following conditions shall be observed-
(i) The player leaving the field shall do so from sideline, crossing over at the
sector called the interchange zone.
(ii) The player entering the field shall also do so from the interchange zone, but
not until the player leaving the field, has passed completely over the sideline.
(iii)A player, nominated for interchange shall be subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referee whether called upon to play or not.
(iv) The interchange is completed when the player who was off the field, enters the field. From this moment they become a player and the player whom they replaced ceases to be a player.
3. The number of interchanges made during a match is unlimited. A player who has been replaced may return to the field for another player.
4. If, during an interchange, an interchange player enters the field before the replaced player has completely left it, the referee shall ensure the replaced player leaves the field, then caution the interchange player and then restart the game.
5. If, during an interchange, an interchange player enters the field or a replaced player leaves it from a place other than the interchange zone, the referee shall caution the offending player.
6. The interchanging of players will cease, at the completion of normal & extra time. If at this time penalty kicks is required to obtain a result, then the eleven (11) players on the field at the end of extra time are the only players permitted to participate in
the penalty kicks. No interchanging at this time is permissible.
NOTE: If during the taking of the penalty kicks the goalkeeper is injured he may be replaced with another G/K providing the replacement was listed on the team sheet.
18. FORFEITS:
a)10 min, grace from the advised K/O time may be claimed. However, if a team (see team) is not available to take the field of play after elapsed time, they shall be deemed to have forfeited.
b) Should any team forfeit any match in these Championships no points gained by this team during the tournament will be considered in determining the overall Champions.
 
19. PENALTY KICKS:
a) Penalty Kicks shall consist of each team alternatively taking five (5) penalty kicks. At the completion of the five (5) kicks the team having scored the most goals shall be declared the winner. If before both teams have taken 5 kicks 1 team has scored more
goals than the other could (even if it were to complete its 5 kicks) the taking of further kicks shall cease. Only the eleven (11) players from each team on the field at the conclusion of extra time are eligible to take part in the penalty shoot out.
b) If teams still equal they shall continue to take alternate kicks until one misses. Both teams must complete same number of kicks
c) No player is to take more than (1) kick until all of the players on the field have taken part.
d) No member of either team is permitted to leave the field of play until a decision has been achieved.
e) Substitutes & Officials are not allowed onto the field until a decision has been achieved.
For 12 year old down a coach or manager may come onto the field to the centre circle to organize his teams Penalty Kicks.
20. GOAL DIFFERENCE:
For cases where the goal difference is taken into account, the manner in which they shall be arrived at shall be:
The number of goals against shall be subtracted from the number of goals for.
The highest resultant plus figure from such subtraction shall be deemed to have the best goal difference and shall take precedence in determining positions in respect to minus goal difference.
The lowest resultant minus figure from the subtraction shall be deemed to have the best goal difference and shall take precedence in determining positions in respect to minus goal difference.
Own goals - (Where a team scores through their own goal), such goals shall be taken as having been scored by their opponent in determining of teams’ total goals scored. If all other is equal, away goals will be recognized over home goals, e.g.: A v B A home 1-1
B v A B home 2-2 Team A is recognized as the winner as they scored more away goals.
In the case where home and away games are not equal then all other being equal the team scoring the most goals will determine the winner.
EG: Both teams being equal on points equals 20 points each the goal difference in Team: “A” being 14 for and 4 against = 10 difference,
Team: “B” being 11 for and 1 against = 10 difference, team “A” the winner.
21. FINALS:
On completion of the round robin finals teams equal on points then the following will apply.
1) Goal difference obtained in the final series refer (rule 21)
2) If still equal points obtained in premiership round will apply team scoring most points.
3) If still equal then goal difference obtained in premiership round will apply.
4) If still equal then team scoring most goals will apply.
5) If still equal then equal winners will be recognized.
6) In the case of (3) teams contesting finals then 1st, 2nd, & 3rd will be awarded.