Tournament Rules

Tournament Registration Requirements:

A. Participation in the Penn Fusion-Summer Classic is open to boys and girls teams composed at the U09 (2011) through U14 (2007) age groups playing the below format(s):

Format(s):

  • U08, U09, & U10:  7v7

  • U11 & U12:  9v9

  • U13-U14:  11v11

Roster Size(s) & Restrictions:

  • U08, U09,  & U10:  7v7 (12)

  • U11 & U12: 9v9 (16)

  • U13-U14: 11v11 (22) (limit to 18 players 'dress' per game)

  • No player may play on more than one team for the duration of the tournament.

Age Groups:

  • 2007 U14 (players born in 2007 or younger)

  • 2008 U13 (players born in 2008 or younger)

  • 2009 U12 (players born in 2009 or younger)

  • 2010 U11 (players born in 2010 or younger)

  • 2011 U10 (players born in 2011 or younger)

  • 2012 U09 (players born in 2012 or younger)

B. At registration each team must present a USSF organization approved roster. Authorized USSF players passes will be required as proof of age. A player may play for only one team in the tournament.

C. Standard medical release forms for each player on a US Youth Soccer affiliated team must be presented at registration and with the team at all games.  Medical release forms are not necessary for USCS Affiliated teams.

D. Non-US Youth Soccer Region 1 teams [along with teams affiliated with NJYSA (New Jersey) & CJSA (Conn.)] must have a copy of the Permission to Travel Form approved and signed by a duly authorized State Association representative. This is not required for USCS teams.

E. Guest Players: 

  • U09-U10 (7v7) a total of 4 guest players allowed per team.

  • U11-U12 (9v9) a total 4 guest players allowed per team.

  • U13-U14 (11v11) a total of 5 guest players allowed per team.

  • Teams must present as valid player pass and medical release (US Youth Soccer only) for each guest player at tournament registration.


Laws of the Game: 

All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified in the following rules. Once a game starts all decisions made on the field by the referee are final.

Duration of Games and Ball Size: 

U09 & U-10 will be 50 minutes in duration, consisting of two 25 minute halves.  U11, U12, U13 games will be 60 minutes in duration, consisting of two 30 minute halves. U14 games will be 70 minutes in duration.  U-09 through U12 will play with a number four ball. U13-U14 will play with a number five ball.  All games will be played with a running clock.


U09 & U10 (7v7) Specific Modified Rules:

Heading: Deliberate heading is NOT allowed in 7v7 games.If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.

Build Out Line: The build out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting.When the goalkeeper has the ball, either during play (from the opponent) or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play.Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punting is not allowed). After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal.If a goalkeeper punts the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the punt occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred. Offside Rule:The build out line will also be used to denote where offside offenses can be called.Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build out line. Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the build out line and goal line. 

U11 & U12 (9v9) Specific Modified Rules:

Heading: Deliberate heading is NOT allowed in U11 games.If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.Heading is allowed in U12 games without limitations.

 
Field and Game Equipment Rules: 

A. Players (excluding the goalkeeper) must wear numbers on the back of their uniforms and these numbers shall coincide with those listed on the roster presented at tournament registration.

B. All players are required to wear shin guards, in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the game.

C. Home team wears light colored uniform.  Away team wears dark colored uniform. Where uniform colors are similar, the team designated as the home team on the schedule will be required to change to an alternate color.

D. Players and coaches from both teams will share one side of the field, while parents and fans will position themselves on the opposite side of the field. Participants and spectators must remain in an area at least one yard from the touch line, between the lines donating the 18 yard line at either end of the field. No fans will be allowed to stand within 10 yards of the end lines. Failure to abide by this rule can result in removal from the game at the discretion of the referee.

E. Teams are expected to check in with the Field Marshal 20 minutes prior to scheduled kick-off time.

F. (U09/U10/U11 Only) When requested by the referee, teams must provide a linesperson, whose only responsibility will be to indicate when the ball has passed over the touch line.  U12-U15 age groups will have a 3-man crew referee system.

G. Each team must provide an alternate game ball. In case the official game ball is ruled unplayable by the referee.

Substitution Rules:

A. Unlimited substitutions may be made, with the referee’s permission.

  1. After a goal has been scored.

  2. At the beginning of the second half of play or prior to the beginning of an overtime period.

  3. At a goal kick by either team.

  4. At a throw-in by the team in possession.

  5. At a thrown-in for the opposing team, the team not in possession of the ball may substitute player(s) if the other team is making substitutions.

B. Limited substitutions may be made with the referee’s permission:

  1. In case of stoppage of play for an injury [one-for-one basis for the injured player(s)].

Game Reports: 

The field marshal will ensure that the game report forms are properly completed, with final game score, jersey number of players cautioned or sent off by the referee during the game and signatures of both coaches and the referee at the end of each game. It is the responsibility of BOTH coaches to sign the official game report. This is the only chance you will have to verify the games outcome. Once the game report is recorded by the tournament staff, further changes will not be allowed.

Conduct Rules:

Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit and letter of the Laws of the Game. Displays of temper or dissent are just cause for removal from the game and tournament.  Players, coaches, and team officials ejected from a game by the referee are ineligible for the next scheduled tournament game. For disciplinary offenses deemed 'serious' by the tournament director, a longer suspension may be issued at the discretion of the tournament director(s). Players ejected more than once during the course of the tournament are ineligible for all remaining games. The tournament staff will report all yellow and/or red cards issued to the players’ home State Associations. In the case of an assault or abuse of a game official, a judiciary hearing shall immediately be convened at a Tournament site to be designated by the Tournament Director. All teams described in the USSF Official Administrative Rule Book - Misconduct toward Game Official - shall apply. In any event, a player or coach or other team official who is charged with assault or abuse of a game official is suspended indefinitely from participation in games played at WCUSC-PFSA fields.  Alcoholic beverages and smoking are not permitted at any of the tournament venues.

Division Winners and Wild Card Teams:

A. Game points will be awarded as follows: Teams will be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) points for a loss.

B. At the end of the preliminary rounds, the divisional winner shall be the team with the most game points in their division. In the event of a tie within a division, the following criteria shall be used to determine the winner:

  1. Head to head competition. (In the event of a tie among three (3) or more teams, this does not apply).

  2. Goals Differential

  3. Goals Against

  4. Goals For

  5. Penalty kicks twenty minutes prior to the scheduled playoff round games.

C. In the event of a tie among three (3) or more teams, the elimination procedure begins with rule B step 2. If two (2) teams remain tied through rule B step 3 that tie will be broken, based on head to head play, rule B step 1 and if still tied at that point by penalty kicks.

D. In a three bracket division, a wild card team will be selected for the playoff round, based on the criteria and procedure outlined in playoff rounds, sections A and B as applied across the entire division.

E. The venue coordinator, acting within the parameters of these rules, will determine the teams to advance into the final rounds.

Playoff Rounds:

A. Tournament winners will be decided by playoffs, except in the case of a five team division. Bracket winners will advance to the championship game. If an age division is composed of a single bracket, the first and second place teams at the end of the preliminary round will advance to the championship game.  For a five team division, all teams will play the other teams for a total of four games each, then the division champion and runner-up will be determined by game points.

B. Should game remain a draw after regulation time, FIFA penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner (no overtime). The best of five penalty kicks taken alternately by each team will determine the winner. Only those players on the field at the end of overtime may compete. If the penalty kick score is tied at the end of five kicks, teams will continue to take penalty kicks, alternately, until there is a winner. All players on the field must take a penalty kick before any player is allowed to kick a second time.

Failure to Show and Forfeits: 

A. A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team by FIFA rules. A team representative is required to check in 20 minutes before scheduled kickoff time. In order to check in at least seven (7) players from the team must be present at the field. Teams without a minimum of seven (7) players present at kickoff time will forfeit the game. The start of the game will not be delayed.

B. In no case shall a team that forfeits a game be declared a division winner or wild card team. If an apparent division winner forfeits a game, the team from that division with the next best record shall be named the division winner.

C. If a referee is forced to terminate a game due to gross misconduct by players, coaches, or spectators, the team that causes the game to be terminated will forfeit the game.

D. In the case of a forfeit in the preliminary rounds the opposing team will be awarded three (3) points for the win. For tie-breaking purposes, teams winning by forfeits will be awarded 3 bonus points for a shutout.

E. Forfeits of games shall be recorded as 1-0 games.

F. Failure to produce authorized Player Passes or State approved Roster at the request of the game referee or field marshal by kickoff time is grounds for forfeit.

Inclement Weather: 

In case of severe weather or unplayable field conditions the Tournament Committee will have the authority to change games as follows:

  1. Relocate or reschedule any game(s).

  2. Change the duration of any game(s).

  3. Cancel preliminary game(s).

  4. Preliminary games terminated by Game or Tournament officials after one half of play is completed shall be considered official as of the time of termination.

  5. Determine changes in format for advancement.

  6. Cancel the tournament.

Refund Policy: 

Full refunds will be given to all teams not accepted into the tournament. Refunds will not be issued in the case of a team withdrawing from the tournament after being accepted. There will be no refunds for partial cancellation of the tournament for any reason. In the event of a full tournament cancellation (no games played), WCUSC-PFSA intends to make partial refunds of team application fees. The amount to be refunded, if any, will be determined at that time.  In the event of a full tournament cancellation the WCUSC-PFSA would love to be able to provide significant refunds to all teams. Unfortunately, non-refundable expenses incurred by WCUSC-PFSA prevent the club from providing significant refunds to the teams participating in the tournament.

General Tournament Rules:

A. Under no circumstance whatsoever will the Tournament Committee, WCUSC-PFSA, the Tournament sponsors and EPYSA be responsible for any expenses (including the Tournament entry fee) incurred by any team. This includes a situation where the Tournament or any game(s) is cancelled/terminated in whole or part.

B. The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of all of the above rules shall be final. If a team is judged to be in violation of any of these rules, they shall be disqualified from the tournament, without refund of their entry fee.