Check-in
Teams must check-in at the MANDATORY REGISTRATION. Mandatory registration is on Thursday, August 4, 6-9pm, for U9-U14 Girls and Friday, August 5, 6-9 pm, for U15-17 Girls, at the:
Mustang “Muscle Milk” Soccer Complex
4680 Camino Tassajara
Danville, California 94506
925-648-4121
Failure to check-in will result in automatic disqualification (without a refund of the fee) from the tournament. At the discretion of the Tournament Director, a team may be allowed to compete as a “Guest Team” (See Guest Team Rule). Games not played will be classified as “Forfeits and Byes.”
Credentials
At the Mandatory Registration (check-in), teams must provide the required credentials including signed Medical Release forms and birth certificates if applicable.
Birth Certificates are not required by US Club affiliated teams or USYSA teams. Please contact us if there are any questions regarding Birth Certificates.
All teams must have rosters input into their application within 30 days of their application or they can lose their place in the application process.
All U.S. Club affiliated teams must provide laminated US CLUB Player I.D. Cards and Rosters and Medical Releases..
All USSF affiliated teams must provide Player I.D. Cards with photographs, Rosters and Medical Releases.
Teams from outside CYSA-North (USYSA) or international teams must also provide approved Travel Papers, which must include a roster listing all players authorized to travel by that team’s state or national association. All Travel Papers must be presented to the Tournament staff at check-in. Any player not listed on the Travel Papers, including any amendments, properly executed by that team’s state association, will not be allowed to play in the tournament.
Proper Player Loan forms will be required at Registration along with other required credentials, as required by the team’s national or state association.
All teams must provide the US Club Rosters or USSF Affiliate Player I.D. Cards from the national or state association listed on their tournament application or by written notification to the Tournament Director. There will be NO mixing of affiliation per team.
Rosters
Teams may register a maximum of eighteen (18) players. A team may use up to seven (7) guest players but is still limited to the eighteen players. There will be a guest player pool available at the tournament if notified ahead of time.
Rules of Play
FIFA Laws of the Game will apply as modified by USSF and US CLUB as described herein.
Game Check-In Conduct
At least thirty (30) minutes prior to the start of each scheduled game a team representative must present to the Field Marshal the team’s Player Passes and Game Roster (to include the Mustang Stamp from Team Check-In), so that the team may be checked in to play and the game started as scheduled. The Field Marshal will retain the Game Roster and the team’s Player Passes until completion of the game. Each team manager or representative will be required to initial the game card for that game before the Player Passes will be returned. A team who fails to properly check-in with the Field Marshal will forfeit that game.
Players Equipment
Casts: All players, parents, coaches, and referees are required to act as a reasonable person concerning player safety, including protecting players from wearing any equipment or device that is dangerous to the player wearing the equipment or device or to any other player. Dangerous equipment and devices include but are not limited to orthopedic casts, air splints, or metal splints. Players wearing any dangerous equipment or device including orthopedic casts, air splints, or metal splints, shall not be eligible to participate in any Mustang tournament game.
Braces:It is strongly recommended for the safety of the player, that a player does not wear a brace during tournament play. Braces are allowed as long as the referee decides that the brace will not or cannot hurt the player wearing the brace or any other player and that all metal, metal like or plastic brace supports are properly covered for the duration of the match. Elastic-type supports without any metal, carbon fiber, and hard plastic or like devices are permitted provided the referee does not deem the support to be potentially harmful to other players.
Shinguards: Shinguards are required for all tournament play. Theymust be worn properly and shall be professionally manufacturedand unaltered. Shinguards must cover a minimum ¾ of the shin, except they do not have to be longer than 10”. The shin runs from the ankle to the knee. Players wearing shinguards that are too short will not be allowed to play.
Eyeglasses: Players who must wear eyeglasses are encouraged to wear sports goggles. Players must wear glasses that are safe. Lenses must be unbreakable and frames must be unbreakable plastic or sturdy metal.
Jewelry: Absolutely no jewelry including earrings, bracelets, Lance Armstrong type rubber bracelets or abnormally long fingernails may be worn while participating in any tournament play. Only Medical Alert Warning Bracelets may be worn; which are to be taped as necessary. Earrings and other piercing cannot be taped.
Substitutions
Free substitution will be allowed in all age groups. However, teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission and only at the following times (including overtimes):
- Prior to a throw-in by either team;
- Prior to a goal kick, by either team;
- After a goal, by either team;
- After an injury on either team;
- At halftime; and
- On a caution, (only the cautioned player may be substituted at that time).
THE TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS, WITH THE REFEREE DIRECTOR, HAVE THE RIGHT TO INSTITUTE UNLIMITED SUBSTITUTION CITING EXTREME CONDITIONS. This must be notified to coaches at the beginning of each game.
Coaching
All Coaches have total responsibility for the conduct of their players, substitutes, friends and spectators at all times. Coaching from the sidelines (giving direction to one’s own team on points of strategy and position) is permitted, provided:
- No mechanical devices are used;
- The tone of the voice is instructive and not derogatory;
- Each coach or substitute remains within 10 yards on either side of the halfway line;
- No coach, substitute, or spectator makes derogatory remarks or gestures to the referees, other coaches, players, substitutes, or spectators;
- No coach, substitute, or spectator uses profanity or incites, in any manner, disruptive behavior.
- Noisemakers are allowed but up to the discretion of the tournament staff and referee, if they are felt to have a negative impact on the game at hand.
Cautions & Ejections
A player or coach receiving two cautions (Yellow Cards) in a single game is considered to have been given an Ejection (Red Card) for the purposes of awarding points for the Tournament competition. A player who has been ejected (sent off), will not be replaced. A player or coach who has been ejected for violent conduct or serious foul play (Red Card) will not return for that game and will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game. The Tournament Director, with the disciplinary board, may extend this ejection due to the severity, up to the remainder of the Tournament. Any player or coach who assaults a referee will be expelled from the tournament. For the purpose of this tournament, a coach can be carded. A team will be disqualified from the tournament if any player or coach fails to comply with the provisions of this section.
Suspended & Terminated Games
If in the opinion of Tournament officials a game must be suspended (for reason), the game may be resumed but is subject to being ended not less than five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the next game. If in the opinion of Tournament officials, a game must be terminated for misconduct of players, bench coaches, or spectators, the offending team could be suspended from further play and forfeits that game and all remaining games. All previous points earned remain as played. Additionally, the home league, State Association and/or US Club will be contacted as appropriate. If a game is terminated due to problems associated with the fields, including lighting for a night game, or due to the serious injury of a player (see the next section entitled “INJURY”) the resumption of play for that game will be at the discretion of the Tournament officials. Tournament officials may at their option conclude the game, require completion of the game or utilize penalty kicks to determine the winner of the game depending upon the circumstance and taking into account the potential effect of the game results on the standings of the teams.
Injury
Delays of the game will only be allowed for an injury requiring professional medical attention and the inability to remove the injured player from the field until medical attention is provided to the player. The delay will result in appropriate time being added to the full game time, based on the judgment of the referee. Otherwise, each game will be played with a running clock and no suspension of the clock time. However, all preliminary games will be terminated not less than five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the next game. The failure to complete any game due to a serious injury requiring suspension of the game play shall be controlled by the preceding section, “SUSPENDED AND TERMINATED GAMES.”
Duration of Games, Overtime & Game Ball Size
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Division
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Prelim* /Qtrfinals
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Semi-Finals
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Finals
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Overtime**
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Ball Size
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U19
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35 Minutes
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35 Minutes
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40 Minutes
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10 Minutes
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5
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U17
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35 Minutes
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35 Minutes
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40 Minutes
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7 Minutes
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5
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U16
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35 Minutes
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35 Minutes
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40 Minutes
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7 Minutes
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5
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U15
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30 Minutes
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30 Minutes
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35 Minutes
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7 Minutes
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5
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U14
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30 Minutes
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30 Minutes
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35 Minutes
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7 Minutes
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5
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U13
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30 Minutes
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30 Minutes
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35 Minutes
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5 Minutes
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5
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U12
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30 Minutes
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30 Minutes
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30 Minutes
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5 Minutes
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4
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U11
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25 Minutes
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25 Minutes
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25 Minutes
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5 Minutes
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4
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U9-U10
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25 Minutes
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25 Minutes
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25 Minutes
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5 Minutes
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4
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Half time will be exactly 5 minutes. The Tournament Director reserves the right to extend the time in excessive (i.e., extreme heat) conditions.
**Quarter final, semi-final and final games will use the “Golden Goal format” after regulation time and will play two equal overtime halves (if a goal is scored in this time frame a winner is declared). If a tie still exists after overtime halves, FIFA Kicks from the mark will determine who advances or is awarded the championship trophy. Kicks from the mark will immediately follow the game.
Determining Winners
Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:
- Three (3) points for each Win
- One (1) points for each Tie
- Zero (0) points for each Loss
- Zero (0) point for each goal scored.
- Zero (0) point for each shutout
- MINUS ONE (-1) FOR EACH PLAYER OR COACH EJECTED
- A scoreless tie (0-0) will be scored as 1 point for each team (1 for tie, 0 for shutout).
In the event of a tie in points at the end of bracket play; the teams to advance will be determined as follows:
- The winner in head-to-head competition.
- Fewest goals against.
- Goal differential (maximum 3 goals per game).
- Most total wins.
- Most shut outs.
- If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 5, FIFA Penalty Kicks will be taken fifteen (15) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the Semifinal game.
- If a three-way tie exists within a bracket after steps 1 through 5, a three-way coin flip will be conducted. The teams that tie in the coin flip will compete in FIFA Penalty Kicks to eliminate one team prior to proceeding to FIFA Penalty Kicks with the third team. The coin flip and time of the FIFA Penalty Kicks will be determined at the fields.
If ties exist in the determination of a wild card team, criteria 2 through 7 will be applied.
Home Team, Jerseys & Game Balls
The Home Team will be the team, which appears first on the game schedule. The Home Team will be required to switch to alternate jerseys to accommodate a color conflict as declared by the referee. If the Home Team cannot supply alternate jerseys, the Home Team will forfeit the game.
Teams will play from the same side of the field, with the Fans on opposing sides.
Game balls will be provided for the tournament. However, in the event that a game ball is required (i.e., game balls are not available), the Home Team will supply the game ball subject to referee approval.
Forfeits & Byes
All teams who forfeit will have the game(s) scored a 0-1 loss. The winner will be awarded 3 tournament points (three for the win) Teams failing to report ready to play within five minutes of the scheduled kick off time will forfeit. Home Teams unable to supply alternate jerseys, or teams failing to check in at the Mandatory Registration or for taking actions, which cause a game to be terminated, will forfeit. Byes will be scored and tournament points awarded the same as a forfeit.
Protests
NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED.
Disputes
Game conduct is under the jurisdiction of the referee and the tournament will not overrule a referee’s decision.
Guest Teams
The Tournament may accept a team as a “Guest Team” in order to fill a late vacancy in a Flight. Guest Teams cannot advance out of their Bracket. Guest Team game results are predetermined to be a 1-0 against the Guest team. The opposing team is awarded eight points.
Inclement Weather or Acts of God
In the event of inclement weather, or act of God, once the games have begun, winners will be decided based on points earned up to that point, with any tie breakers being determined using the protocol outlined in the section entitled, “DETERMINING WINNERS”. In case of cancellation due to inclement weather, the tournament officials retain the right to keep up to one-third (1/3) of the team fee to cover expenses. There will be no make-up games due to inclement weather.
In the case of extreme heat, the Tournament Director, along with the Referee Director may deem on a case-by-case basis that a three (3) minute water break is provided in the middle of each half. The time required for this break will be taken from playing time and each coach will be advised of this action, prior to the start of the game.
Tournament Play
Eight Team Divisions:
Eight team divisions will consist of two (2) Flights of (4) teams each. Each team will play the others within its Flight for a total of three (3) preliminary games.
Flight A winner will play Flight B 2nd Place finish. Flight B winner will play Flight A 2nd Place finish.
The winner of semi-final winners will meet for the championship.
Twelve Team Divisions:
Twelve team divisions will consist of three (3) Flights of four (4) teams each. Each team will play the other teams within its Flight for a total of three (3) preliminary round games.
Quarter finals will then be played with the following scenario:
Flight winner with the most point will play the wild card #2 in quarter final #1.
Flight winner with the second most points will play wild card #1 in quarter final #2.
Flight winner with the third most point will play 2nd place finish team with the third most points in quarter final #3.
The 2nd place finish team with the most point will play the 2nd place finish team with the 2nd most point in quarter final #4.
Note: If the wild card teams or the 2nd place team with the fewest point and/or tie breakers come from the same group as the preliminary rounds based on the above scenario, they will be moved so not to play a team from their original group in a quarter final game. The Tournament Director’s placement will be final.
Winner of quarter final #1 will play winner of quarter final #4 in a semi-final game.
Winner of quarter final #2 will play winner of quarter final #3 in a semi-final game.
The semi-final winners will play for the championship.
Fourteen Team Divisions:
Fourteen Team divisions will consist of four (4) groups. Two groups of four (4) teams each, and two groups of three (3) teams each. Four group teams will play the other teams within its group for a total of three (3) preliminary round games. Three group teams will play all teams in the other bracket (cross bracket play) for a total of three (3) preliminary round games.
Quarterfinals will then be played with the following scenario;
Group A winner will play Group B 2nd place in Quarterfinal #1.
Group B winner will play Group A 2nd place in Quarterfinal #3.
Group C winner will play Group C 2nd place finish team in quarterfinal #2.
Group D winner will play Group D 2nd place finish team in quarterfinal #4.
The tournament director’s placement will be final.
Winner of quarter #1 will play winner of quarterfinal #2 in a semifinal game.
Winner of quarter #3 will play winner of quarterfinal #4 in a semifinal game.
The semifinal winners will play for the championship.
Sixteen Team Divisions:
Sixteen team divisions will consist of four (4) Flights of four (4) teams each. Each team will play the others within its Flight for a total of three (3) preliminary games.
The winners of Flight A will play the 2nd place finish team in Flight D in quarter final #1, The winner of Flight B will play the 2nd place finish team in Flight C in quarter final #2, The winner of Flight C will play the 2nd place finish team in Flight B in quarter final #3, and the Flight D winner will play the 2nd place finish team in Flight A in quarter final #4.
Semi-Finals: Quarter Final #1winner will play Quater Final #2 winner. Quarter final #3 winner will play Quarter Final #4 winner.
Semi-final winners will meet for the championship.
