TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS

Posey-Hartman Soccer Complex 
1438 Route 42 
Lebanon OH 45036 

Contact Person: Joe Wuest(513) 379-6770 


TEAM ELIGIBILITY 
The Bradford Cup 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. 


TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION 

We will be utilizing online registration process only.  Be sure to confirm your 
method of registration (US Club Soccer or US Youth Soccer) and follow the instructions for 
team registration below.  Please be sure that you include all the necessary forms which can be 
found at the bottom of this page.


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

Teams should include the following official team information for registration: 

A. TEAMS FROM THE UNITED STATES - For teams from the United States: 
1. The Players must present picture identification cards issued by the team's Federation
Organization Member (USYS, AYSO, other) 
2. Teams must provide proof of approval of the team's participation from the team's 
Federation Organization Member. Copy of Roster (validated by your state association)
3. Teams from outside the State Association where the tournament is located must 
provide proof of permission to travel. Teams must be in good standing with their
Federation Organization.
4. Guest player form (if you have a guest player)
5. Medical Release Forms completed and signed. (every player)
6. Tournament Liability Form completed and signed. (signed by every parent on team)
7. Hotel Information Form ***Remember you must stay at one of the approved hotels and
 present this hotel form 


B. INTERNATIONAL TEAMS - For a team coming from a CONCACAF nation: 
1. Teams are required to have and present player picture identification cards. 
2. Teams must have a completed form from its Provincial or National Association 
approving the team's participation in the tournament. Copy of Roster (validated by your
association)
3. Guest player form (if you have guest players)
4. Medical Release Forms completed and signed. (every player)
5. Tournament Liability Form completed and signed. (signed by every parent on team)
6. Hotel Information Form ***Remember you must stay at one of the approved hotels and 
present this hotel form


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


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. 


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

* 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 when (1) a Goal Kick leaves the penalty area (2) The goal keeper places
the ball on the ground and it is kicked (3) the goal keeper 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.

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. 


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

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.

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 U8-U12
age groups, and two complete ten-minute overtime periods for U-13 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 overtime 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. 



PROTESTS 
Protests will not be allowed.


WEATHER 
If the Site Director determines that the fields should be cleared, 3 long blasts on an air horn will signal that
everyone should go to their cars. A signal of 3 short blasts will indicate that you may return to the fields.
Games will be considered completed if the first half has concluded and play is stopped by either the Field
Referee or the Tournament Directors. The score at stoppage of play will be the final game score. If the first half
has not been completed and the game is stopped, every effort will be made to complete the game, or play to
complete at least the first half and record the score as final. If the game is cancelled before it starts efforts will
be made to reschedule the game. It is the responsibility of the coach to check the Tournament Headquarters
for reschedule information. If rescheduling is not possible, and game cancellation creates a situation where
teams within the division are unable to play equal number of qualifying games, the group winner will be
determined on the basis of awarding the average tournament points earned in the other games, to the teams
unable to complete an official game, followed by the tie breaking procedure if necessary. The team with the
highest average points will be declared the winner of the group. IF there is a tie that cannot be resolved by
point averaging, the advancing team will be determined by a coin toss, or penalty kicks, per FIFA as directed
by the Tournament Directors. If the tournament is cancelled due to events beyond the control of the Committee,
the tournament will not be required to make any financial renumeration. 


PARTICIPANT CODE OF CONDUCT 
- Be respectful of the hotels and motels, keeping noise in the hallways to a minimum, refrain from kicking soccer
balls inside any buildings and be respectful of others property. Should it come to the attention of the Directors
that a person or persons has failed to follow these guidelines, the Director reserves the right to take immediate
action. Said action, depending on the circumstances, may range from a warning, to a reduction in points in
standing, to banning that team and/or team in its club from future participation. 
- All coaches will remain within 20 yards of the centerline on their own half of the field. 
- Spectators may be ejected from the park for improper conduct at the discretion of the tournament officials. 
- NO ARTIFICIAL NOISEMAKERS ARE ALLOWED (INCLUDING AIR HORNS). 
- NO PETS AND NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE ALLOWED 


NOTE - The final interpreter of the foregoing rules and regulations and also any matters not provided for in these
rules will be the Tournament Directors, whose decision shall be final.