- General
The Tournament Committee or the host club will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team, club or individual if the tournament is cancelled in whole or in part.
Every effort will be made to play the tournament in full. However, should unforeseen circumstances cause partial cancellation we may offer a credit towards future Tournaments, upon the conclusion of this year’s event weekend.
In the event the tournament is cancelled in whole, partial refunds will be made after Global Team Tournaments pays expenses incurred by the tournament. There is no make-up or rain date planned for the tournament.
The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of these rules shall be final and binding. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament.
Tournaments- First place awards will be presented to Winners in each division.
Showcases- There will be no awards.
Pets are prohibited unless they are service animals
Grills are Prohibited
Failure to follow parking instructions from signage, event staff or facility staff. Global Team Tournaments and/or the host club are not responsible for ticketing or towing.
- Laws of the Game
All games will be played in accordance with FIFA and USYSA laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.
- Eligibility and Registration
All participating teams must be currently registered with their State association. All non-US Club Soccer teams from outside Pennsylvania must have Permission to Travel forms authorized by their State association if required to do so.
A State-stamped roster must be submitted by each team prior to registration.
The team representative must present a player identification card for each participating player that has been approved by the teams Federation Organization Member (US Club, EPYSA, etc.) Failure to present these cards for any player will deny that player the permission to play.
The team representative must present a notarized medical release form for each player.
These documents must be provided via email in a PDF format, no later than 48 hours before the commencement of the tournament.
All teams are responsible for their own insurance. In the case of injury during travel or while participating in the tournament, Global Team Tournaments or the hosting club will not be liable.
- Payment and Scheduling for the Tournament/ Showcase
All teams are required to pay no later than 12 days before the commencement of the tournament. Failure to do so will result in your team’s application being declined and not considered for scheduling.
The tournament committee will always aim to publish a preliminary schedule on or around 10 days before the commencement of the tournament/showcase.
- Withdrawal Policy
Applied Teams Withdraw before Acceptance:
Teams withdrawing from the event before acceptances are issued via e-mail will be issued a full tournament refund. The tournament is not responsible for any hotel or additional costs incurred by the team.
Accepted Teams Withdraw after Acceptance:
Teams withdrawing from the event after being accepted will not be refunded
- Ball Size/Duration of Game
Size 4 ball for ages U09 and U10; games consist of two 25 minute halves
Size 4 ball for age U11 and U12; games consist of two 30 minute halves
Size 5 ball for age U13+; games consist of two 30 minute halves
HOME Team must provide the game ball.
- Inclement Weather
In the case of severe inclement weather, the Tournament Committee shall have the authority to change the format as follows:
- Relocate or reschedule any game;
- Consider as complete a game that has been called by an official once 50% of the game has been played;
- Cancel any preliminary games that have no bearing on the selection of division winners;
- Reduce the duration of any game as needed.
No refunds will be made for cancellation in part due to unforeseen circumstances. In the event of whole cancellation of the tournament, partial refunds will be made after Global Team Tournament expenses have been paid.
- Substitutions
Substitutions may be made without limit, with the permission of the referee as follows: after a goal has been scored, at any goal kick, at any throw in, after an injury, for a yellow carded player. Please note that a team may substitute on the opposing team’s throw in only if the opposing team makes a substitution.
There will be no substitutions for a player who has received a red card. A red-carded player will not be permitted to play in the remainder of the tournament.
- Protests
There will be no protests allowed.
- Games and Equipment
All uniforms must be numbered. In the event of conflicting color jerseys, the home team will be required to change (home team is listed first on the schedule). Players are required to wear shin guards in accordance with the Laws of the Game.
Players wearing a hard cast must have it covered. It will be up to the individual referee’s discretion to make sure the cast is covered properly and will not pose a physical danger to any player. If a referee does not feel the cast is covered sufficiently, then that player will not be able to play. No metal cleats may be worn during soccer games. Players may not wear jewelry on the playing field, including metal hair clips.
Be at your field ready to play 20 minutes before game time.
Referee will toss coin with team captains to start the game and choose goal.
Game reports must be signed by both coaches. Failure to sign the game card will revoke your teams right to the score being modified online.
Mercy Rule- If your team outscores another team by more than four (4) goals, the score reported online will not exceed a four (4) goal difference. This will not affect the tie breaker rules as the maximum goal difference for calculating a tie breaker is four (4) goals.
No player may be rostered or play on more than one team for the duration of the tournament.
- Conduct
Players, coaches and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit and laws of the game. Players, coaches or spectators ejected from a game by the referee will be required to leave the field area. Severe misconduct and/or failure to comply with a referee could result in disqualification from the remainder of the tournament.
If a player is sent off they will be suspended for at least the next game in the tournament.
Players, coaches and spectators of opposing teams shall occupy opposite sides of the field. No one will be permitted behind either end line.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any game sites.
- Failure to Show and Forfeits
There will be a 5-minute grace time allowed for teams not at the field of play at the scheduled time of kick-off. The opponent shall be awarded a 2-0 win for the match. A minimum of seven (7) players is required for play to begin in a 11v11 game. A minimum of five (5) players is required for play to begin a small sided game (7v7/8v8/9v9)
In no event shall a team who forfeits a game be eligible for first place awards. The team with the next best record or point total shall be declared the award winner.
- Determination of Division Winners –
Each win counts for three points, each tie for one point. All games in the initial phase shall carry equal weight, both in-group games and cross-over games. At the end of play, the division champion will be the team with the most win/tie points. In the event of a tie within the division, the following criteria will be used to determine the division champion and finalist, in the following order:
- Head to Head Competition-Head-to-head shall only be utilized in the event of a two-way tie, and will no longer be utilized in the event of a tie among three or more teams.
- Goal Differential –up to plus-4 or minus-4 units awarded per game.
- Accumulated Goals Scored –limit of 4 per game
- Accumulated Goals Against– The team with the fewest goals allowed shall prevail.
- Penalty Kick Shootout– Should a team fail to show up for the scheduled shootout, the tiebreaker will be awarded to the team prepared to participate.
– Each team will designate eleven players to take shots including one goalkeeper. Coin toss winner opts to kick first or last.
– 5 initial shots per team, in an ABABABABAB pattern, until a decisive result is reached.
– If still tied, single alternating penalty kicks, in an AB pattern, until a decisive result is achieved.
– Shootouts may be assigned to a designated area or field.
- Guest Players and Roster Sizes-
Showcase Roster Sizes - U15-U19 Teams may carry a roster of no more than 22 players. 18 players may only be suited per game.
Tournament and Festival Roster Sizes- U13-U16 teams may carry a roster of no more than 18 players.
Tournament Roster Sizes – U9-U12 teams may carry a roster of no more than 14 players
A maximum of five (5) guest players may be used during the tournament. However, a team using guest players can have no more than a total of twenty-two (22) players for a U15-U19 college showcase. No more than a total of eighteen (18) players for U13 - U16 in a tournament/festival and no more than fourteen (14) players for U09 - U12 teams listed on their Roster. Guest players must be 2015 registered players, whose club team is not participating in the Tournament/ Showcase. Teams must present a valid player pass and notarized medical release form for each guest player at tournament registration.
- Cancellation Policy-
In the event of cancellation in its entirety, meaning no games played each day, refunds will be issued after all relevant expenses are covered. If the event is cancelled in part, we offer a credit towards future Tournaments, upon the conclusion of this year’s event weekend.