Tournament Rules
Tournament Rules and General Information
A. General Information
B. Eligibility
C. Tournament Format
Points will be awarded as follows:
Tiebreakers
If there is a tie in points in the standings at the conclusion of the group stage, tiebreakers will be used in the following order to determine which team advances:
Playoff Rules (semifinals and championship)
In the event of a tie, a 5-minute golden goal will be played. If there is no winner at the end of that period, a penalty kick shootout will take place in accordance with the rules below.
D. Tournament Rules of Play
All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.
A. General Information
- Restrooms will be available on the playing grounds; showers will not be available.
- Water and limited snacks will be provided throughout the tournament to participants.
- Official DC SCORES Holiday Classic team shirts will be provided to all participants; they are to be worn during all tournament games.
- Shin guards are required. Teams are expected to bring any necessary goalkeeper equipment. Game balls will be provided.
B. Eligibility
- All players must be 21 years of age or older by December 11, 2010 to be eligible to play in the tournament and attend any tournament functions.
- Players are only allowed to be listed on a single roster.
- Players must be listed on their team’s final roster to play in any tournament matches.
- All players must sign a waiver of liability before participating in any matches. Waivers are due at the same time as their team’s final rosters are due.
- Each player must present proper identification if requested by tournament administration. Any player that is unable to produce proper identification will not be allowed to play in any tournament matches. Ineligible players who have already participated in tournament matches will have those team’s matches forfeited and will not play in any remaining matches.
- Tournament Team Shirts given out by the tournament are the only authorized uniform for tournament play. Any color socks or shorts may be worn with team shirts.
C. Tournament Format
- 12 teams will be divided into two six-team groups. The first round of play will be round-robin style. Each team will play three other teams within its group.
- Standings will be based on each team’s win-loss-tie record throughout the preliminary games. At the completion of the preliminary games, the top two teams based on points from each group will advance to the semifinals.
Points will be awarded as follows:
- 3 points for a win
- 1 point for a tie
- 0 points for a loss
Tiebreakers
If there is a tie in points in the standings at the conclusion of the group stage, tiebreakers will be used in the following order to determine which team advances:
- Head to Head: Team 1 and Team 3 have the same amount of points in a given group; however Team 1 beat Team 3 during the preliminary round. Team 1 will advance. (Does not apply if three or more teams are tied and didn't all play each other.)
- If the teams are still tied, the team that allowed the fewest goals over the first three games will advance.
- Goal Differential: the team with the higher goal differential (goals scored minus goals allowed) in the games will advance.
- If teams are still tied, a penalty kick shootout will determine who advances.
Playoff Rules (semifinals and championship)
In the event of a tie, a 5-minute golden goal will be played. If there is no winner at the end of that period, a penalty kick shootout will take place in accordance with the rules below.
- From the team of players that is on the field at the end of overtime, five (no more than three of either gender) will be chosen to kick.
- If at the end of these five rounds of kicks the teams have scored an equal number of goals, sudden death rounds of one kick each are used until one side scores and the other does not. No player may kick again until every player who ended the game on the field has taken a kick.
- The penalty kick session will only include players that were on the field at the end of regulation play.
D. Tournament Rules of Play
All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.
- Teams will be coed with at least two members of each gender on the field of play at all times. Teams may not play unless two members of each gender are on the field of play to begin a match. Players will not be allowed on the field until they have turned in a signed player waiver.
- Teams will consist of 7 players maximum and 4 players minimum with one player designated as the goalkeeper.
- All players must wear proper equipment to play in all matches.Shinguards must be fully covered by proper socks/stockings. Any items that have hard plastic or metal parts are considered dangerous and not allowed to be worn during play. Tournament administration will make the final determination in all matters of safe/unsafe equipment.
- If a team is unable to field a proper team within 5 minutes of the scheduled start time of the match, that team will forfeit the match and the opposing team will be awarded a 3-0 victory. If neither team is able to field a proper team on the field, both teams will forfeit the match to be recorded as a 3-0 defeat for each team.
- Each game will consist of two 20-minute halves with a 3-minute halftime. The schedule may be condensed for weather related reasons.
- The offside rule will not be enforced. However, in the spirit of the game, persistent cherry-picking will not be allowed. The referee will use discretion to warn these players of unsportsmanlike behavior.
- Teams are allowed unlimited substitutions so long as two of each gender remains on the field.
- Both teams may substitute on kickoffs and goal kicks. No substitutions by either team on corner kicks. Only the throwing team may substitute on throw-ins.
- Goalkeepers may not throw, punt, or drop-kick the ball directly beyond the half-line. Infractions will result in an indirect free kick from the point where the ball crossed the half-line.
- Goal kicks may not directly cross the half line.Infractions will result in an indirect free kick from the point where the ball crossed the half-line.
- Slide tackling is not allowed, except by the goalkeeper inside their own penalty area, and can be considered either a foul or playing in a dangerous manner as determined by the referee.
- Yellow cards are not cumulative and do not carry over from previous matches.
- Referees reserve the right to send players who have received yellow cards off the field for a brief "cool down" period.
- Any player receiving a red card shall be ejected from current game and is not eligible to play in his/her team’s next match. Any player receiving a second red card during the tournament shall be banned from all remaining matches.
Guarantee Your Spot Now!
For More Information:
To learn more about the DC SCORES Holiday Classic or to enter a team, contact Jake Lloyd at [email protected] or 202.393.6999 x301.