Tournament Rules and General Information
NOTE: All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified by these rules. Format Teams are guaranteed three games.
A. General Information
Facilities
Food
Uniforms
Equipment
First Aid
Fair Play Award
Giveaways, Trophies
Trophy & Award Presentation
B. Eligibility
C. Tournament Format
Standings
Standings will be based on each team’s win-loss-tie record throughout the preliminary games. At the completion of the preliminary games, points will be added to determine which teams will continue into the playoffs. Using a 10-point scoring system, 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
D. Rules of Play
Substitutions
Unlimited substitutions may be made with the referee's permission:
Limited substitutions may be made, with the referee's permission:
No substitutions can be made (1) on corner kicks or (2) after the game has ended in a tie and FIFA penalty kicks will be required to determine a winner.
Kick-ins
No Punting OR dropkicks
Referees
A. General Information
Facilities
- Restrooms will be available on the playing grounds; showers will not be available.
Food
- Water and food will be provided throughout the tournament to participants.
Uniforms
- Official DC SCORES Cup team shirts will be provided to all participants; they are to be worn during all tournament games.
Equipment
- Shin guards are required. Teams are expected to bring any necessary goalkeeper equipment. Game balls will be provided.
First Aid
- Sport and Spine Rehab athletic trainers will be present throughout the tournament.
Fair Play Award
- At the conclusion of the tournament, referees and DC SCORES staff will nominate one team for the Fair Play Award. The team with the most nominations will be awarded Fair Play Award winner. Fair play includes respectful conduct towards the rules, referees, opponents, and DC SCORES staff and volunteers.
Giveaways, Trophies
- Participating teams in the tournament will receive 15 tickets to the June 25 D.C. United game at RFK Stadium.
Trophy & Award Presentation
- The Shootout Cup will be awarded to the winning team. Each year, the trophy will rotate from the previous year’s champion to the current winning team whose name will be engraved on the trophy after the championship game and presented as the current DC SCORES Cup Champion.
- The 2011 DC SCORES Cup Champion will be recognized during halftime of the June 25 D.C. United game at RFK Stadium.
B. Eligibility
- All players must be 18 years of age or older by June 11, 2011 to be eligible to play in the tournament.
- 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
- At the end of round robin play, the group winners and XX wild cards —depending on how many groups there are — [determined based on: (in order) points, head-to-head, goals allowed, total goal differential, and tie-breaker penalty kick shootout if necessary] will advance to the Quarterfinals.
- The playoffs will take place immediately following round robin play Saturday afternoon.
Standings
Standings will be based on each team’s win-loss-tie record throughout the preliminary games. At the completion of the preliminary games, points will be added to determine which teams will continue into the playoffs. Using a 10-point scoring system, points will be awarded as follows:
- 6 points for a win;
- 3 point for a tie;
- 0 points for a loss;
- 1 point per goal (3 Maximum);
- 1 point for a shutout.
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 highest points in a given bracket; however Team 1 beat Team 3 during the preliminary round. Team 1 will advance.
- 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
- 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. Rules of Play
- Field Dimensions Fields will be approximately 75 x 52.5.
- Teams will play 7v7 including a goalkeeper.
- Teams may have no more than five players of either gender on the field at any one time. Players will not be allowed on the field until they have turned in a signed player waiver.
- Unless medically necessary, jewelry shall not be brought onto the field of play by any player or goalkeeper. Any medical bracelets must be taped down to the wrist. In order to play, necklaces, all other bracelets, earrings, wristwatches, any metal piercings, or hard metal/plastic hair clips must be removed prior to entering the field. Players wearing any of the above illegal equipment shall be required to substitute out by the referee.
- Each game will consist of two 20-minute halves with a 5-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.
- THERE IS NO SLIDE TACKLING. If a player slide tackles and the slide results in a foul, a direct free kick will be awarded, and if warranted, a yellow/red card will be issued. If there is a slide tackle committed without a foul, an indirect freekick will be awarded to the opposing team and a warning will be issued to that player for the first infringement, and a yellow card will be issued to that player for any further slide tackles.
Substitutions
Unlimited substitutions may be made with the referee's permission:
- After a goal has been made;
- At the beginning of the second half of play;
- Prior to the beginning of an overtime period;
- At a goal kick by either team;
- At a kick-in by the team in possession.
Limited substitutions may be made, with the referee's permission:
- In case of stoppage of play for an injury;
- To replace a cautioned player.
No substitutions can be made (1) on corner kicks or (2) after the game has ended in a tie and FIFA penalty kicks will be required to determine a winner.
Kick-ins
- There will be no throw-ins. The throw-in will be replaced by a kick-in. All kick-ins will be indirect free kicks.
No Punting OR dropkicks
- Goalies are not allowed to punt or dropkick the ball. They must throw the ball or play it from the ground. If a goalie punts/dropkicks the ball, the opposing team will be awarded an indirect freekick from the spot of the kick.
- Goalie throws of the ball AND goal kicks cannot cross the midfield line in the air -- the ball must bounce or be played within the same half as the goalie before crossing midfield. If a throw OR goal kick goes over the midfield line, the opposing team will be awarded an indirect freekick from where the ball crossed the line.
Referees
- All games will be officiated by USSF and/or VHSL certified referees. A majority of the referees during the tournament have donated their time to DC SCORES.