Eligibility and Registration
- Divisions: Teams may register into any one division for which all players on the roster are eligible to participate in. Divisions with fewer than four teams registered are subject to combination with other divisions or cancellation. The available divisions are:
| 2015 Boys | 2015 Girls |
| 2014 Boys | 2014 Girls |
| 2013 Boys | 2013 Girls |
| 2012 Boys | 2012 Girls |
| 2011 Boys | 2011 Girls |
| 2010 Boys | 2010 Girls |
| 2009 Boys | 2009 Girls |
| 2008 Boys | 2008 Girls |
| 2007 Boys | 2007 Girls |
| 2006 Boys | 2006 Girls |
| 2005 Boys | 2005 Girls |
| Adult Coed – Recreational | Adult Coed – Competitive |
| Adult Men | Adult Women |
- Eligibility: Individuals qualify for divisions based on age and gender. Divisions follow the birth year registration mandate as promulgated by the US Soccer Federation. Age group eligibility is determined using the 2022-23 age matrix. All individuals are eligible for Adult Coed and each division below that is more restrictive based on age and gender. For example, a female born in 2007 may play in any of the following divisions: 2006 Girls, 2005 Girls, Adult Coed – Recreational, Adult Coed – Competitive, or Adult Women.
- Registration: Teams may be registered up until May 26, 2023, or as may otherwise be advertised by organizers. A team is not legally registered until they receive an email confirmation from us acknowledging successful receipt of payment.
- Rosters: Teams may register prior to having a finalized roster. Finalized rosters are due at 7:30 am on the first day of the tournament (June 3, 2023).
- Roster Size: Teams must have a minimum of three. There is no maximum roster size, but rosters lock at the start of your first match of the tournament. No player may be on multiple rosters in the same division.
- Waivers: Each participant must have a waiver on file prior to any play.
- Multiple Teams: Participants may be on more than one roster (just not in the same division). However, we cannot guarantee scheduling to accommodate such play and all other rules including eligibility and forfeitures still apply.
- Coed Divisions: Teams registered in coed divisions must have one member of each gender on the field at all times. Exceptions may only be granted by Tournament Director.
- Adverse Weather: This event is scheduled to be held regardless of weather conditions, until such conditions pose threats to player safety. Every attempt will be made to play all scheduled matches during June 3 & 4, but there will be no make-up matches outside of these dates. Refunds will not be offered for any unplayed matches because of weather.
- Refunds: All refunds are at the sole discretion of the Tournament Director.
- Discipline: Any player that is sent off (red card) is suspended for the duration of the tournament. A replacement player may be added to the roster for the match following the offence. Eligibility rules apply to any replacements. Any player that receives two cautions (yellow card), in the aggregate, during the tournament is immediately suspended for duration of the match and remaining tournament. Suspended players are not permitted in the park vicinity.
Tournament Format
- Saturday Group Play: Divisions will be randomly broken into groups of between 3 and 5 teams. Teams will play two games against opponents within their assigned group on Saturday. The outcome of group play shall determine the seeding within brackets for elimination play.
- Seeding System: Points shall be awarded to teams as follows: 3 points for a win, 1 point for tie, and zero points for a loss. In the event that multiple teams end with the same points, the tiebreaker shall be (in order) 1] the results of head-to-head play, if applicable, 2] total goal differential up to +/- 10 goals per game, and 3] total goals. Note that points are only awarded during group play.
- Sunday Bracketing: Points will determine the order and opponents structure for Sunday matches. Divisions with teams greater than 8 may be divided until “upper” and “lower” for bracketed play.
- Elimination: This is a single elimination tournament, not counting group play. Therefore, each team is guaranteed three matches (two Saturday, one Sunday). Winners of their first match on Sunday will continue to play for the Division Championship.
Laws of the Game
- Field of Play: Each match shall be played on a rectangle field, 30 yards in length, and 20 yards in width. Centered along each goal line is a six foot by six-foot penalty area. Tangent to each goal line, centered shall be a goal six feet wide by three and a half feet tall.
- Ball: The size of ball in each match is dependent on age group. 8-U shall play with a size 3 ball (23-24 inch circumference), 10-U and 12-U shall play with a size 4 ball (25-26 inch circumference), and 14-U and above shall play with a size 5 ball (27-28 inch circumference). All balls and any spares shall be inflated to the satisfaction of the match referee.
- Players: A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of three on the playing field. There are no goalkeepers. A match may not start or continue if a team has fewer than two players on the field. If a team cannot field two players at any point during a match, the opposing team shall be awarded one goal for every minute the situation persists. There are unlimited substitutions of eligible players and shall be performed “on the fly” with no stoppage of play required. It is at the discretion of the referee to determine that substitutions are not interfering with active play.
- Players’ Equipment: Players may not wear anything deemed dangerous to other players. This is at the discretion of the Tournament Director and match referees. Hard casts, knee braces containing metal, and any adornments on the wrist are not permitted. Players competing in 18-U divisions and below must wear shin guards completely covered by socks. Cleats are not required, but any cleats worn must not have a toe cleat (baseball style) or be metal studs.
- Referee: Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the laws of the game. Decisions of the referees are not appealable. Referees have full authority to supervise or indicate the start of play, allow play to continue when infringement occurs but benefits the infringed upon team (“play advantage”), take disciplinary action against players, and otherwise enforce order upon matches.
- Tournament Director: The Director has full authority of the Tournament, including overriding referee decisions, expelling players or teams, or otherwise providing for the general welfare of all.
- Duration of the Match: A match shall last for two periods of 15 minutes. The clock shall not stop for any reason. In the event of a draw, except for in the seeding match, a three-minute overtime period shall immediately follow. If at the end of the three minutes there is still a draw, the game shall proceed to penalty kicks as described in 10 below.
- The Start and Restart of Play: A kick-off from the center mark shall start each match. The team to take this kick shall be determined with a game of rock, paper, scissors. After a goal is scored, the opposing team shall take the kick-off from the center mark. Opponents must be at least five yards away from the center mark upon kick-off. A goal may be scored directly from kick-off. If the referee must stop play for any reason other than a goal or ball out of play, the restart shall be a dropped ball.
- The Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play when it wholly crosses either of the touchlines or goal lines, or when play has been stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times, including if it rebounds off an official and remains in play.
- Determining the Outcome of the Match: A goal is scored when the ball wholly crosses over the goal line, between the goal posts, under crossbar, and was last touched by any player on the scoring half, provided that no offense or infringement of the laws has been committed by the team scoring the goal. The team scoring the greatest number of goals at the end of the match wins. Draws shall be allowed in the Seeding Match, but otherwise shall be determined with a two-minute overtime and then penalty kicks. If penalty kicks are required, kicks shall be taken from the center mark with no goalkeepers. The best of three kicks wins the match; if additional kicks are required, it shall be one for one and each member of each team is required to kick before restarting with the first kickers.
- Offside: There shall be no traditional offside rule. Instead, offside is touching the ball inside the 6 foot by 6-foot penalty box in front of each goal. If a team infringes upon this rule, the opposite team will be awarded an indirect kick from the spot of the infringement. The exception to this rule is if the ball becomes stationary inside the penalty area, in which the restart shall be a kick-off from center by the defending team. If a defending team denies an obvious goal (i.e. blocks a clear goal scoring shot), then the referee shall award a goal for the opposing team.
- Fouls and Misconduct: A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:
- Charges
- Jumps at
- Kicks or attempts to kick
- Pushes
- Strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)
- Tackles or challenges
- Trips or attempts to trip
If an offense involves contact it is penalized by a direct free kick or penalty kick.
- Careless is when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or acts without precaution. No disciplinary sanction is needed.
- Reckless is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned (yellow card).
- Using excessive force is when a player exceeds the necessary use of force and endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off (red card).
A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences:
- Handles the ball deliberately
- Holds an opponent
- Impedes an opponent with contact
- Spits at an opponent
An indirect free kick is awarded if a player:
- Plays in a dangerous manner
- Impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made
- Commits any other offence, not mentioned in the Laws, for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player
A player is cautioned (yellow carded) if guilty of:
- Delaying the restart of play
- Dissent by word or action
- Failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick, or kick-in
- Persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game
- Unsporting behavior
A player who commits any of the following offences is sent off (red carded):
- Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball
- Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the opponents’ goal by an offence punishable by a free kick
- Serious foul play
- Spitting at an opponent or any other person
- Violent conduct
- Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language and/or gestures
- Receiving a second caution in the same match
- Free Kicks: Direct and indirect free kicks are awarded to the opposing team if a player guilty of an offence or infringement. All kicks are taken from the spot of infringement.
- The Penalty Kick: Penalty kicks are only taken in the event of a competition game ending in a draw. Kicks are taken from the same spot as kick-off, or shorter distances as adjusted for age.
- The Kick-in: A kick-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole ball passes over the touchline, on the ground or in the air. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick-in. Kick-ins must be taken from on or behind the touchline. Another player, other than the one taking the kick, must touch the ball in the field of play prior to the kick taker taking another touch. Opponents must be at least 5 yards from the place of the kick-in.
- The Goal Kick: A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored. A goal may not be directly scored from a goal kick. Goal kicks are taken from any spot inside the penalty area, including on any of the lines. Another player, other than the one taking the kick, must touch the ball in the field of play, and outside of the penalty area, prior to the kick taker taking another touch.
- The Corner Kick: A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored. A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick. The kick will be taken from within 1 yard of the corner of the field.