ALL TOURNAMENT GAMES WILL BE PLAYED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE GAME UNLESS MODIFIED BY THE FOLLOWING RULES.

GENERAL RULES

The Tournament Committee of the Pemberton Soccer Club (PSC), a subcommittee of the PSC Executive Board will refund at least 80% of a team’s entry fee if the tournament is cancelled before the start of the tournament.

·         The Tournament Committee of the Pemberton Soccer Club (PSC), a subcommittee of the PSC Executive Board, and/or NJSYSA will not be responsible for any other expenses incurred by any team, club, or individual if the tournament is cancelled after it begins in whole or in part.

·         The Host Club, PSC, is not liable for any accidents or injury occurring during the Tournament.

·         The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide all matters pertaining to the Tournament and its decisions are final.

·         Notarized medical release forms must be presented at registration and must be available for review at the fields upon request.

·         A copy of official rosters must be given to the Tournament Committee at registration before the games in the original, as well as player passes, and must be available for review at the fields upon request.

·         Only tournament staff may operate a golf cart and they must have a valid NJ driver’s license.

·         Refunds will not be given to any teams who withdraw after acceptances and/or rejections have been mailed.  (Forfeiting a game will remove you from Tournament standings).

RULE 1:  TEAM ELIGIBILITY

Competition is open to teams composed of a maximum of eighteen players (11v11) or a maximum of fourteen players (8v8) who are registered with the State, National or Provincial Associations.

Division I to IV may register two guest players as long as the total number of players rostered with the guests does not exceed 18 players.  Division V teams may register two guest player to bring the total number of players rostered to fourteen. 

No secondary player passes will be accepted.

No indoor passes will be accepted.

NO PASS, NO PLAY, NO EXCEPTIONS. Do not bring a player with out a pass, they WILL NOT PLAY.

Each out-of-state team must have an approved Permission to Travel Form.

 Player passes authorized by State, National, or Provincial Associations will be verified at team registration and prior to each game. 

Rule 2:  AGE

A Player’s age level is determined by the age as of August 1^st.  For example, a team with the oldest player born on August 15,  1994 will be playing U-14.  Every attempt will be made to divide teams by age group.  Final team bracketing will be according to the number of entries in each age group.  The Tournament Committee reserves the right to combine teams into divisional play should it become necessary.

RULE 3:  SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions shall be unlimited and only made upon proper notification of the referee through

the assistant referee, and receiving the referee’s permission at the following times:

·         After a goal by either team.

·         Before a goal kick by either team.

·         At the beginning of the second half.

·         At the referee’s discretion in case of injury - if substitution is made for the injured player, both teams will be allowed unlimited substitutions.

·         Following a yellow card - the opposing team will be allowed to substitute one (1) player for                        each player cautioned.

·         Prior to a throw-in in ANY teams favor.

·         There will be NO substitutions for an ejected player.

RULE 4: DURATION OF PLAY

Two equal halves will be played in all games with a five (5) minute half-time interval.

·         U-16/U-15 two 30 minute halves

·         U-14/U-13 two 30 minute halves

·         U-12/U-11 two 30 minute halves

·         U-10/U-9 two 25 minute halves

RULE 5:  BALL SIZE

Each age group will be given and are to use their game ball.  Balls are the following sizes:

·         U-16 to U-13 size 5

·         U-12 to U-9 size 4

RULE 6:  CODE OF CONDUCT

Players, coaches, and team officials ejected from the game (red card) must sit out the remainder of that game plus their team’s next tournament game.  No substitutions may be made for an ejected player during the game in which the offense occurs.  Two yellow cards given to the same player in the same game,  equals a red card.  Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, bench and spectators at all times.  Referees, in addition to the authority vested in the pursuant to FIFA Laws, are instructed to award a yellow card to the bench and stop play for five (5) minutes for unruly or abusive behavior on the part of the spectators.  A second yellow card issued for the same reason, to the same bench, will automatically terminate play.  The Tournament Committee will determine if the game is to be replayed, continued from the point of interruption, or forfeited by the offending team.   Red cards issued after the end of regulation play as a  result of physical assault are subject to review by the Tournament Committee and a  more strenuous penalty may be imposed.

RULE 7:  HOME TEAM

The home team will be the first team listed on the tournament schedule. Teams will take position on the same side of the field at either side of the midfield line, with a maximum of four (4) currently carded coaches/trainers.  All spectators will take position on the opposite side of the field.  The home team is to supply the game ball. 

RULE 8:  FORFEITS

A team will be allowed a ten (10) minute grace period after the scheduled kick-off time of a game.  A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team for 11v11 play, while six (6) players is the minimum for teams playing 8v8.  If the required number of players is present, the game must be played.  One of these players is the goalkeeper.  If a team forfeit’s a game, they will receive a (3) three-point deduction and will be ineligible to win a trophy. 

RULE 9:  MERCY RULE

In the spirit of the game, we ask that teams observe the Mercy Rule by not beating a team by more than six goals.  If there is greater than a six-goal differential, the team with the greater score will have one (1) point deducted ( for example a team winning by a score of  8-1 will only receive 2 game points as opposed to earning 3 points).

RULE 10:  RULES FOR DETERMINING GROUP WINNERS

Division and flight winners will be determined by the following point system.  Teams will be ranked in order of the match points.  A win is three (3) points, a tie is one (1) point, and a loss is zero (0) points.  A win by forfeit is also three (3) points.  One point will be subtracted for each player or coach ejected from the game (red card) - any two yellow cards in the same game equals one red card.  The team with the most points finishes first.  If teams are tied the following tiebreaker rules will be applied. 

1.        Winner head-to-head (This criteria will not be used if more than two teams are tied)

2.        Most wins

3.        Fewest goals allowed

4.        One (1) bonus point will be awarded for a three-goal differential per game.  One additional point will be awarded for a shut out.  So for example if a team wins a game with a score of 6-0, that team will be awarded one (1) point for the three-goal differential, plus one (1) point for the shutout, for a total of two bonus points for that game for tie-breaking purposes. 

5.        FIFA Penalty kicks

6.        Mercy Rule - Any team that violates the mercy rule will have a point deducted, and rule 4 above does not apply. 

7.        For a match that has been cancelled by the Tournament Committee, tiebreaker rules 3 and 4 will be based on the average of games actually played.

RULE 11:  TIES

Ties will stand at the end of regulation play for all games.

RULE 12: INJURY

Due to the intensity of the schedule, the referee will not stop the clock for injuries unless in his/her judgment the injuries are severe or the player or team is using said injury as a tactic to delay the match.  However, all games will be terminated not less than five (5) minutes prior to the game scheduled start of the next game.   

RULE 13: UNIFORMS

All teams shall have numbered uniforms.  If you are the home team, you must change your jersey if there is a color conflict.  No jewelry of any kind will be allowed.  All players are required to use shin guards.  No Shin guards, no play!  Metal and plastic frame glasses will be allowed,  if they can be properly secured,  at the discretion of the referee.

RULE 14:   INCLEMENT WEATHER

Teams must appear on the field of play as scheduled, regardless of the weather, unless notified by a member of the Tournament Committee.  Failure to do so will result in a forfeit.

RULE 15:  PETS

NO PETS WILL BE ALLOWED!  The only exception is those animals being used by the visually or hearing impaired. 

RULE 16:  ALCHOLIC BEVERAGES

Consumption of alcoholic beverages on or near the playing fields is prohibited.   Violation of this rule will lead to forfeiture of games. 

RULE 17:  PROTESTS

No protests will be allowed.

RULE 18:  FUNDRAISING

Fundraising is only permitted with prior approval from the Tournament Committee.  The Tournament  Committee is not responsible for vendor items or services not received.

RULE 19:  MISCELLANEOUS

·         All teams are to report to the field coordinator fifteen (15) minutes prior to each match and have player passes, team roster, and medical release forms available for verification. 

·          No coaching or supporting will be permitted within eighteen (18) yards of the goal line, or from behind the goal line. 

·         All teams should exchange patches following the match.

·         Any team disqualified from play will be ineligible for awards.

·         All matches will be played in accordance with the official schedule unless circumstances arise which require alterations at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

·         All FIFA rules apply.

RULE 20:  SMALL-SIDED TEAMS

·         Ties must stand - No shootouts.

·         All players will receive “Participation Awards”