TOURNAMENT RULES

Tournament Format 

1. DIVISIONS WITH 4 TEAMS:  Three matches guaranteed. Teams will play each other in a round robin format. Based on points accumulated from round robin play, the first place team will play the second place team in the fourth game for the championship. Ties will stand in the preliminary games.

2. DIVISIONS WITH 5 TEAMS:  Four matches guaranteed in a round robin format. The champion and runner-up will be determined by a point system using Rules A and B. Ties will stand in all games.

3. DIVISIONS WITH 6 TEAMS (two brackets times three teams):

a. Teams A1-A3 will play 3 cross division preliminary round matches against B1-B3.

b. At the conclusion of all preliminary round matches, all teams will be ranked by points and the top 2 teams will play a Championship match.

4. DIVISIONS WITH 8 TEAMS:  Three matches guaranteed. Teams are divided into 2 groups (A and B) with each team playing three matches within its group. Ties will stand in the preliminary games. The top team in each group advances to the Championship Game.

Team Check In

• Please see the Check-In Information page for complete guidelines on check-in requirements.

• Teams must have rosters, passes and medical waiver forms on field at every game.

Game Specifications

As per the agreements set forth between your Host Club and NCYSA you are permitted to participate in this event but must adhere to the tournament guidelines as set forth by NCYSA.  A copy of these guidelines are included in the tournament rules and may be found on our website – www.trianglefc.org

Goal Kick Rule:  When a team is awarded a goal-kick, the opposing team must have ALL of their players BEHIND the mid-field stripe and back onto their own side of the field before the goal-kick is taken.

Offside Rule:  At the 6v6 level, we have asked the referees to only call the "brutally obvious, cherry picker" offside calls, but other than those blatantly obvious calls just to let the game flow.

All games shall be played in accordance with the FIFA Laws.

3 game minimum is guaranteed.

All games will be officiated by one referee.

 Length of Game

• 9-10 Divisions will play 2 x 25 minute halves, 6 vs 6 with keepers

• All age divisions will be limited to a 5 minute halftime.

• The clock will be stopped for player injuries, cautions and ejections and time will be added to the end of the half at the discretion of the referee.

Ball Size

• Size 4 soccer ball. 

• A Tournament ball is provided by referees until stock runs out. If the ball is lost, kicked over a fence or in the woods, etc., an acceptable ball must be provided by the home team (team listed first on the schedule is the home team) to avoid delaying the game.

Scoring Point System

• Win - 3 points

• Tie - 1 point

• Loss - 0 points

• Bonus Points - Max 5 per game (subtract "goals allowed" from "goals scored")

Tie Breaking Procedure

• 4 or 6 team group – used to determine playoff seeding

• 5 team group – used to determine champion  

If there are more than two teams tied #1 is thrown out, the tiebreaker will return to number 1 only after a team has been eliminated from the tie, proceed #2-5.             

1 - Head to Head
2 - Most goals scored up to 5
3 - Points for goal differential (determined by subtracting "goals allowed" from "goals scored", up to 5 per game)
4 - Fewest Goals allowed
5 - Most shutouts (includes 0-0 ties)
6 - FIFA penalty kicks (reduce to equate FIFA Law will apply)

Tie Breaking Procedure (Semi-Finals and Finals)

• Five minute break before play resumes

• Referee will again toss a coin for choice of direction of play

• Two full five-minute overtime periods will be played.

• If still tied, FIFA Penalty Kicks - best of 5 then rotate 1 for 1 (any player on team may take kick).

 
Forfeits

Unless superseded by a ruling from the Tournament Director or his/her designee, there will be a maximum grace period of 10 minutes allowed after the scheduled kick-off time before the team not showing forfeits the match. The game clock will begin at the scheduled time of the match and the game will begin play no later than the ten-minute mark.

• 9-10 must have five (5) or more players present in order to begin a match.

• Score of a forfeited match will be 5-0.

 
Awards

Awards (on-site) and website recognition will be given in each age group, for the following:

• Champion – team and individual awards

• Finalist – individual awards

Substitutions

Unlimited substitution may be made at the following times:

• Prior to a throw-in, (your favor)

• Prior to a goal kick by either team

• After a goal is scored

• At half-time

• Prior to an overtime period

• Substitutions at the end of a stoppage for an injury, with the permission of the referee, is unlimited for either team

• At the time of the infraction, a yellow-carded player may be substituted with the permission of the referee

Conduct

Players ejected from a contest (for non-violent behavior) may remain on the team’s bench but must not be involved in the game in any sense unless in verbal support of their team.  If the player violates this condition they may be asked to remove themselves from the immediate playing area.  Any player ejected from a game will be required to sit the next match in the tournament.  

Coach(es) or Director(s) of Soccer who is/are involved with multiple teams and who is/are ejected from a game must leave the immediate playing area until the game involving the ejection is completed.  They are not allowed at that team’s next game but may return to the tournament during the suspension time and attend the games of the other teams to which they are rostered or carded.

Spectators who are ejected from a contest must leave the complex for the remainder of that game and return only to pick-up their child after the game has concluded. 

Players, coaches and/or spectators ejected for fighting or other violent behavior will not be allowed to participate or spectate further tournament games.

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and spectators and may be warned for their inappropriate behavior.

The Tournament Director or his/her designee has the right to ask anyone to leave the complex for unsportsmanlike behavior.

Bench Areas

Player and Coaches must be on the opposite sideline from the spectators. 

Inclement Weather

• Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear on the field of play ready to play as scheduled. Failure to appear will result in a forfeiture of the game.

• Only the Tournament Director or his/her designee can cancel or postpone a game.

• The safety of the players and spectators will be the first concern in making any weather decisions.

• The Tournament Director or his/her designee may move the location of a game to another field or complex.

• Inclement weather before the game:  In case of severe weather conditions before play begins, the Tournament Director or his/her designee may reduce the length of the game.

• Inclement weather during the game: Should a game's progress be terminated due to severe weather conditions, the game will be considered official and the score at the time will stand.

• TEAMS SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE COMPLEX UNTIL THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE HAS DETERMINED THE STATUS OF THEIR GAME.

• During severe weather all of the players and spectators should seek shelter in their vehicles. Please have only one representative from your team communicate with tournament officials as to the status of games.         

For field updates due to weather call:  (919) 640-6145

Player Equipment

• If color of jerseys is similar or same, home team changes colors. 

• No plastic or metal jewelry of any kind (except corrective glasses) may be worn.

• Each player except goalkeeper must have individual numbers on uniform shirts.

• Shin guards are required for all players. Goalkeeper's mouthpieces are strongly recommended.

• Casts - players who are wearing protective casts are allowed to play if the following conditions are met:

  • Cast is wrapped in foam or other protective material that will protect other players.

  • The player with the cast does not attempt to use the cast to an advantage or in such a way as to put others in danger.

  • The referee approves the cast protection and such approval will not be unreasonably withheld.

• No Equipment changes may be made after the referee's equipment check without his/her permission. Changing to illegal equipment is a yellow card offense.

General

• All decisions of the referee that do not conflict with the tournament rules are final and binding.

• The Tournament Committee, TFCA, NCYSA and US Club Soccer will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team or club if the tournament is cancelled in whole or in part nor will any refunds be made.

• The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament and its judgment is final. 

• NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED

Emergencies

For any and all emergencies, please contact Tournament Director Pete Sadin (919) 696-2026.

Scores and Standings

To be posted by 9:00pm Saturday and Sunday evening - www.trianglefc.org

To help us make sure we have every score recorded, please have your team manager email the score to:
KOCscores@gmail.com.  Put the division name (ex 13 Girls White) in the subject.  Thank you.

Hotels

All teams who need accommodations must book hotel reservations through Anthony Travel, Inc. to insure their place in the 2016 TFCA Kickoff Classic. Any teams that do not comply will be at risk of forfeiting their acceptance. 

 

Tournament Cancellation Policy

Should the tournament be cancelled in part or in whole due to any act of nature or for any other reason, no refunds will be guaranteed. TFCA is not liable for any expenses incurred by any party due to tournament cancellation, including tournament registration fees.