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FIFA rules will apply except as modified by these rules and procedures:

1.  Credential Check: All players must be properly registered on AYSO or US Club Soccer affiliated teams for the 2007-2008 playing season. Teams must be duly constituted according to rules of the sanctioning organization, i.e., players must have played at least half of the primary season. A maximum of 3 guest players are allowed. A guest player is defined as follows: A player on a team who comes from a different team or region/league than the team entering the tournament. A signed letter of approval to participate from the player’s Regional Commissioner (home region/league) must accompany the roster stating in which tournament(s) the guest player may participate. Each AYSO team shall be certified by its Regional Commissioner and shall have appropriate printed roster, medical releases, and player passes with photos. Each US Club Soccer team shall have appropriate printed roster, medical releases and player passes with photos. Handwritten rosters are not acceptable. Coaches shall have a medical release for each player on the team – without exception. The Tournament Registrar or his designate will review and verify each team’s credentials at Tournament Check-In at Hilton Concord. Players may only be registered and play on one team.

Rosters, player passes (with photo), and players’ equipment will be checked prior to each game by the Field Marshal. At the referee’s discretion, player passes may be rechecked prior to the start of the game.

2.  Length of each half of games shall be as follows:

     Division               Length of Half

       U10                        25

       U12                        30

       U14                        35

       U16                        40

       U19                        45

There will be no extra time in the event of a tie in any preliminary-round game.

If a tie exists at the end of regulation play for semi-final and championship games, two 10-minute overtime periods will be played. Games tied at the end of the second overtime period shall be decided by kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with FIFA rules. Only the 11 (or fewer) players on the field at the end of the game may participate in the penalty kick tiebreaker.

All substitutions must be approved and recognized by the referee.

·         Free substitutions are allowed in the U16 and U19 age brackets under the supervision of the tournament staff and at the discretion of the referee during normal stoppage of play:

·         For U10 through U14 age brackets, substitutions shall be allowed approximately mid way through each half.  Every player must play a minimum of one-half of the game.

·         Substitutions may be made for injured players.  For the U16 and U19 age brackets, injured players may not return until the next normal stoppage and then only at the discretion of the referee.  For the U10 through U14 age brackets, pl;ayers may return at the beginning of the next mid-half break or at the half (exception: an injured player not replaced may return to play at any time with the referee’s permission).

·         Substitutions in overtime periods will be at the beginning of the periods only.

Under 10 games shall be 7v7, Under 12 games shall be 9v9 (including goalkeeper) and MAY be played on smaller fields with smaller goals.

3.  Protests: All games are considered final. NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED.

4.  Points: Teams earn points based on results of each game. Points will be awarded as follows:

     ·    6 for a win,

     ·    3 for a tie and

     ·    Zero for a loss.

     ·    In addition, each team will receive 1 point for each goal it scores to a maximum of 3 per game.

     ·    Winning team holding an opponent to zero goals during a game will receive 1 additional point for the shutout (a 0-0 tie results in 4 points per team).

     ·    In the event of a forfeit, the winning team will receive 8 points (a 1-0 score). If both teams forfeit, there will be no points awarded for the game.

     ·    For the first yellow card issued to a player on a team during a game, no point will be deducted.

     ·    For the second and subsequent yellow cards issued to a player on a team during a game, 1 point will be deducted for each yellow card. (For example: Player #11 is issued a yellow card--no point deducted. During the same game, a yellow card is issued to Player #8--1 point deducted. Player #4 is then issued a yellow card--1 more point deducted.)

     ·    For each red card issued to a player on a team during a game, 3 points will be deducted. If the red card is issued as a result of a player receiving a second yellow card, 1 point will be deducted for the second yellow card and 3 points will be deducted for the red card.

     ·    For each caution given to a coach, 2 points will be deducted.

     ·    For each ejection of a coach, 3 points will be deducted.

     ·    One point will be deducted from any team that wins a game by more than 6 goals (i.e., 7-0, 8-1 or higher).

     ·    Deduction of points can result in negative points for a game.

5.  Tie breaking procedures after preliminary-round games: winner will be determined by the following sequence.

     A.  Head-to-head competition.

     B.  Difference between goals for and goals allowed to a maximum of 3 per game (total for all games).

     C.  Least goals allowed (total for all games).

     D.  Team with fewest point deductions for yellow and red cards.

     E.  Coin toss.

6.  Game Start: All games will start at the scheduled time.

Teams and referees shall report to the Field Marshal 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. If a team cannot field 7 eligible players (5 for under 10 or 6 for U12 teams) at the scheduled start time, the game will be declared a forfeit.

7.  Home Team:  Home team is listed first and will provide three game balls to the Center Referee or to the Field Marshal. In the event of jersey color conflicts, the home team shall change jersey color.

8.  Sportsmanship/Sideline Behavior. The Concord Cup has a No Tolerance Policy, to ensure appropriate behavior by coaches, players, and spectators. Specifically, the Concord Cup’s No Tolerance Policy provides that:

     ·    It is inappropriate for anyone to contest, orally or otherwise, a referee’s decision; concerns should be voiced in a civil fashion at the appropriate time by the team captain or the head coach only.

     ·    It is the coach’s responsibility to control spectators associated with the coach’s team. Failure to do so will result in the coach and/or spectator(s) being directed to leave the field of play area.

     ·    Coaches, players, and spectators shall show proper respect for all referees, field marshals, and other Concord Cup volunteers.

In the event any of the following incidents occur, the Referee, the Field Marshal, or Tournament Staff may invoke the No Tolerance Policy following a single warning by the Referee:

     ·    Failure by a coach to control the spectators related to the coach’s team.

     ·    Verbal abuse by a coach, player, or spectator directed at the Referee, Assistant Referees, or Field Marshals.

     ·    Coach or spectator entering the field of play during a match without the referee’s permission.

Referees will report instances of violations of this policy to the Field marshal and ultimately the Tournament Committee. Offending coaches and/or spectators may be subject to additional sanctions, including removal as coaches or prohibition from attending future matches by the offending spectator.

The Tournament Committee expects that coaches will ensure that players and affiliated spectators are aware of and abide by this policy. Spectators that are not affiliated with any team will be monitored by the Referee and Field Marshal and appropriate action taken in accordance with the Zero Tolerance Policy.

It’s expected that good sportsmanship will prevail at all times. Coaches are responsible for the actions of their players, parents and spectators and for enforcing Rule 9. Coaching is restricted to the area 10 yards each side of the halfway line on side of the field only. Teams are limited to 2 coaches. Coaches can be cautioned and/or ejected for inappropriate behavior (see Rule 4 for consequences). “Recruiting” players during the tournament is not allowed; coaches doing so risk forfeiture of games.

Where field conditions allow, teams will be assigned to opposites sides of the field by the Field Marshal. The home team shall indicate its preference to the Field Marshal at the time of check-in. Each team’s spectators will be required to be on the same side of the field as their respective team.

Spectators are not allowed in that area of the field starting from the goal line to the 18-yard line of the penalty area.

9.  Prohibitions on alcoholic beverages and pets. Coaches are responsible for ensuring adherence to this rule.

     A.  ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE PROHIBITED at all fields and parks by City of Concord ordinance — no exceptions!

     B.  PETS:  For the safety of players, referees and spectators, bringing pets to the general area of the fields of play is discouraged. The Referee has the discretion to restrict pets from the general vicinity of the field. Failure to adhere to the Referee’s instructions may invoke the use of the Zero Tolerance Policy.

10. Ejections. Players and coaches ejected from a game will automatically be suspended from their team’s next game. Ejections will be reviewed by the Tournament Committee and may result in more severe penalties up to and including suspension from all games remaining to be played, especially if violent conduct, fighting, or harassment or verbal abuse of officials has occurred. Each ejection will result in a deduction of points in accordance with Rule 4. Referee will give the Player Pass and Send-Off Report to the Field Marshal.

11. Cooling Off Period. A player receiving a yellow card should be removed from the field of play by the coach, for a cooling off period, at the approval of the referee. The length of time will be at the discretion of the coach.

12. Game Cards. Field Marshals shall provide the game card for each game. Each team will complete its part of the game card, as necessary, and give it to the referee. The Field Marshal initials on the card will indicate that the teams and players have been properly checked in prior to the start of the game. The referee will give the card to the Field Marshal after the game. Both coaches will sign the card after the game.

13. Awards. Medals will be provided to all rostered players on first-place and second-place teams up to 18 medals for Under 12 through Under 19 teams and 14 medals for Under 10 teams.

14. Disqualification.

     ·    Ineligible players. A player found to be not properly registered will be disqualified from further play and games played to that point will be declared forfeit.

     ·    Medical casts. Players wearing any type of cast or splint are ineligible to play.

     ·    The use of knee braces by players will not be prohibited; provided the brace is adequately covered and padded in the judgment of the referee, so as to eliminate the possibility of its causing injury to the other players on the field of play.

     ·    Fighting or persistent misconduct will not be tolerated and will be cause for ejection from the tournament.

     ·    Use of alcoholic beverages or drugs at any park or field site by spectators, participants or parents will be grounds for ejection from the tournament.

15. Bleeding/Wounds. When the referee observes a player is bleeding while on the field, the referee will direct the player to leave the field for appropriate medical attention. That player shall have the referee’s permission to return to the field. A player will not be allowed to return to play if the bleeding has not stopped.

16. Rain Out Procedures. When, in the opinion of the Tournament Committee and referees, fields remain playable and they are not closed by the City, games will be played, even in wet weather. The Committee may shorten the length of any or all remaining games. Substitute fields may be used at the discretion of the Committee.

When weather or other conditions force the cancellation of games, the Tournament Committee will decide if a flight has been completed sufficiently to award trophies. In such a case, standings will be based on games played until the cancellation occurs. Standings will be determined based on an equal number of games played by all teams in a flight.

17. The Tournament Committee will settle any issue not provided for elsewhere in these Rules and Procedures. Its decision will be final.