TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS

Contact Person: Joe Wuest (513) 379-6770 

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CONCUSSION LAW

In order to protect young athletes, the State of Ohio has passed a concussion law, commonly called the “Return to Play” law. Therefore, all Ohio Tournaments are responsible to monitor and track compliance with the concussion training requirements of the Return to Play law. Each coach (head coach and assistants)
must receive approved concussion training,. See O.R.C. 3707.511(C)(1). Tournaments are required to collect and maintain certificates of compliance from the coaches.

1. All coaches MUST complete the Concussion Training Course from either NFHS (preferred) or CDC and submit a COPY of the completed certificate to the tournament. Both online courses are FREE of charge! See the links for the Concussion Form after you CONFIRM acceptance (using your WFC #) on the forms list.
2. Coaches must also carry their certificate COPY of compliance with them during the event. 
3. Coaches are also required per Ohio law, to have distributed a COPY of the Parent Concussion Information Sheet to the parents of their team players. 

If these 3 items are not satisfied, those coaches will NOT be able to coach at this event. If a player is believed, by either a coach, referee or tournament official, to exhibit the signs, symptoms or behaviors of concussion during the tournament, that player shall be prohibited from continuing to play that same calendar day
and may not play until they have received clearance to “return to play” by a physician or other authorized medical personnel.

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TEAM ELIGIBILITY
The Tournament is open to teams that are registered to and affiliated with their state or national organizations which, in turn, are affiliated with FIFA.  Applications are invited from teams that are duly registered with their State, Provincial, or National Associations. All teams and players accepted will have their rosters and players verified by their State, Provincial, or National Associations. Only approved players with player passes shall be allowed to play. The number of players on any one team shall be consistent with the maximum number allowed for that team's age group. 

Falsification of player registration forms, team rosters, player passes or other records used in the tournament shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including disbarment for the individual(s) involved and disqualification of the teams involved.  All teams will determine the age of their players as of the most recently completed August 1st . Teams from outside of the United States must also conform to these guidelines.


*ALL OUT OF TOWN TEAMS MUST STAY AT A TOURNAMENT APPROVED HOTEL


PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
A player must be legally registered to his team in accordance with his national registration requirements with a current and valid player pass that verifies his team and
date of birth, including current player photo ID. Player passes will be presented to the referee or tournament official before each game. All player passes will be checked by the credentials committee prior to the tournament. Any guest players must have current player passes to participate in the tournament. Players may play on only one team during the Tournament. No switching of teams will be allowed.

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TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION

We will be utilizing GotSport online registration process only.  Be sure to confirm your method of registration (US Club Soccer or US Youth Soccer) and follow the instructions on the registration page.  

Medical Releases

In compliance with the USYSA Youth Soccer Tournament/Games Hosting Agreement, it is mandatory that medical authorizations for each player be available on the sideline of each game by the team representative or coach. No player may play without a valid medical release under penalty of forfeiture of the game played in. These medical release forms do not need to be notarized.

Failure to register your team could result in removal from the tournament and forfeit of your application fee.


ALL OUT OF TOWN TEAMS MUST STAY AT A TOURNAMENT-APPROVED HOTEL

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PRE-MATCH CHECK-IN

Prior to the start of each match, the Field Marshall shall check that each team has the following: current player and coaches passes, Medical Release Forms, and approved guest roster (if applicable). The referee or tournament official will verify the identity of the players versus the team roster and/or player passes. The player's equipment will be checked by the referee or assistant referee. The home team will change their jersey in the case of color conflict. The home team is listed first on the schedule. In no event will a player be allowed to participate if said player is not on the tournament approved roster. A player who arrives at the playing field after the pre-game procedure may not enter the game until after being checked by the referee or assistant referee for player pass and equipment.

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RULES OF PLAY

All matches of the Elite Soccer Invitational shall be played according to FIFA "Laws of the Game" with the following modifications:

GAME FORMAT

    

Age Division	Roster Size	Prelimin/Semi Games	Final Games	Overtime Periods*	Halftime
U8	10	40 minutes	40 minutes	Two 5 minute periods	5 minutes
U9-10	16	50 minutes	50 minutes	Two 5 minute periods	5 minutes
U11	16	60 minutes	60 minutes	Two 5 minute periods	5 minutes
U12	16	60 minutes	60 minutes	Two 5 minute periods	5 minutes
U12-U15 11v11	18	60 minutes	60 minutes	Two 5 minute periods	5 minutes

* Final games only. No golden goal rule. If the games are still tied at the end of the second overtime period, they will be decided by penalty kicks according to
FIFA Laws of the Game.


The game clock will not be stopped because of injury to any player, except if deemed necessary by the referee. Due to the time allowed for the completion of all games, the clock should run continuously.

**NEW RULES AS PRESCRIBED BY US SOCCER PLAYER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES (PDI) EFFECTIVE 8/1/17 will be in place for our tournament.  Two key additional we would like to provide additional information:

U09 and U10 (7v7) BUILD OUT RULES:

“Build Out” lines are to be drawn on each side of the field halfway between the Penalty Area line and the Halfway Line.  Once a goal kick is awarded or the goal keeper takes possession of the ball with the hands, the opposing team must move outside the “Build Out” area line and remain there until the ball is put in play.

The ball is back in play on (1) a Goal Kick when the ball is kicked and clearly moves (2) Goal keeper possession, when the goalie places the ball on the ground (3) Goal keeper possession, when the goalie throws or rolls the ball.  Once the ball is in play the opposing team may enter the defending team’s “Build Out” area.  If the defending team takes the Goal Kick early or the Goal Keeper releases the ball into play before the opposing players move outside the “Build Out” area, play will continue.  The defending team has chosen to skip the “Build Out” advantage.

The goal keeper shall not punt nor drop-kick the ball.  The goal keeper has 6 seconds to release the ball into play once the opposing team has moved beyond the build-out-area.

We will be calling offside in the 7v7 matches even with one referee.  Please understand that it will be up to the opinion of the referee whether an offside infraction has occurred

5v5 (U08) rules:

 

7v7 CPL rules with the below exceptions:

·        Offsides will be called if in the opinion of the referee an offside offense has occurred

·        Goal Kicks may be taken from anywhere inside the penalty area

·        Explain calls to players as you see fit

·        Allow a re-throw or re-kick if there is a violation

PENALTY KICK ELIMINATION           

For 11v11 matches, the players on the field at the end of the match are eligible to take penalty kicks.  For 9v9 and 7v7 matches, all players eligible to play at the end of the match are eligible to take penalty kicks.  If a team has less than 10 eligible players, then both teams will be reduced
to the same number of kickers.

The coaches will select 5 players to take kicks in the first round and provide the kicking order. If after the fifth kick the teams are tied, then the coaches will select a different set of 5 players and the order in which they will take kicks.  If penalty kicks continue to rounds 11 thru 15, the coaches can pick 5 players from all eligible players and provide the kicking order.  In rounds 16 thru 20, those who kicked in rounds 11 thru 15 are ineligible.

Both teams will partake in the first 5 rounds of kicks unless a team has scored more goals than the opponent can score (ie up 3-0 with 2 kicks left).  After the 5^th round, all subsequent rounds are sudden-death.  As soon as a team finishes a round with more goals than the other the match is ended.


POST-MATCH REQUIREMENTS
At the end of each game, the Referees and each coach will sign the official game cards verifying that the score shown on the card is correct, and turn it in to Field Marshall. Once signed, the score becomes official. Once the card is received at the headquarters tent, the failure of a coach to sign a card shall constitute a waiver of any error therein and the score shall be deemed official.


PLAYER EQUIPMENT

1. Shin guards are mandatory and must be covered by a sock.
2. Shirts/jerseys will be tucked into the player's shorts at all times. 
3. In the event of a color conflict, the home team (first team listed on schedule) will change color.

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SCORES and STANDINGS

Scoring summaries can be obtained at the headquarters tent of each site and on the internet at: www.cutournaments.com

Bracket standings, leading to championship play, will be determined on the following "accumulation of points" basis.

FORFEITS - Any team that fails to complete a match or leaves the field during play shall be scored as having forfeited that match.  No team that has forfeited a match will be declared a wild card or group winner. The team winning the forfeit will be awarded the average number of goals per match that they have scored in their other preliminary matches, rounded DOWN to the nearest whole number. The opponent's score shall be zero. This score shall be the official score, in case goal differential is necessary to decide the group winner. The Tournament Officials reserve the right to decide all other matters concerning a forfeit.


POINTS - Winners of division play will be selected on the basis of the most total points after pool play is complete. Scoring will be on a 3-1-0 system. Each team will be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) for a tie and zero (0) points for a loss.

In the event of ties in the group standing, the following will determine the winner/leader:

1. Team with the most wins (if tied go to step 2)
2. Winner of the game played between the tied teams. (If three or more teams are tied for the group lead, Step 2 is by passed, go to Step 3) 
3. Highest number of total NET goals (goal differential). The maximum goal differential is three (3) per match. Example: for a score of 4-1, goal differential is +3 for the winner and -3 for the  loser. For a score of 5-1, goal differential is also +3 and -3 as above).
4. Fewest total goals allowed (gross) 
5. Most shutouts 
6. Penalty kicks (according to FIFA laws of the game) - when the results would allow a winner to advance to a semi-final, or championship match.
7. Coin toss - when the winner would advance to a 2nd place vs. 2nd place, or 3rd place vs. 3rd place match (3rd match). 

Tie Breakers in Semi-Final or Finals Matches - Two complete five-minute overtime periods for U-10 & U-11 age groups, and two complete ten-minute overtime periods for U-12 and older age groups. If the game is still tied after the second overtime period, penalty kicks will prevail.


PENALTY KICK ELIMINATION
Only players on the field at the end of the second over time period are eligible for penalty kicks.  Coin flip will determine who will go first (visiting team calls the coin toss, winner of the coin toss has the decision to shoot first or second). Five penalty kickers per team. After the first round of 5 kicks, the team will continue to alternate shooters until there is 1 unmatched goal between opposing players. After all eligible players on the field of play have taken kicks, teams will start  with their first kickers again and in the same order.


AWARDS
Team and individual trophies for 1st and 2nd place in all divisions.

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PROTESTS 

Protests will not be allowed.