2023 AYSO REGION 418 SOCCERFEST
Rules & Procedures
Saturday & Sunday, June 10-11
1. Game Duration: Each match is started by the ref as close to the stated time as possible. Teams must be ready to play as soon as the field is cleared from the prior match. If a team remains unready 5 minutes after the referee’s attempt to start, then the match is forfeited - (to be scored as a 0-1 result). Each match lasts 26 1/2 minutes [two 13 minute halves and 30 second halftimes for substitutions]. All matches are to end simultaneously at the sound of the synchronized air horn. The ONLY EXCEPTION is when a penalty kick is called prior to the horn but not yet taken. In this case, the kick must be taken and the match ends after the completion of the kick. In the event of an aerial ball, the Center Ref will determine scoring based upon whether or not the ball has completely crossed the plane of the goal by the conclusion of the air horn blast. Referee decision is final!
2. Playing Time: All players shall have similar playing time! Coaches MUST play every player at least half of each match in which a player is in attendance, provided they arrive before the start of the second half. No player can play Goalkeeper for more than 1/2 of a match. Failure to follow this rule will result in a forfeit of that match. Planned substitutions are at the half only! If a player is injured at any point during a half: 1) the team may play short until the injured player recovers and is available return to the match, or 2) the coach may substitute for the player, who then stays out for the remainder of the half. Injured player must wait for a referee invitation to return to field.
3. Ready to Play: There are only 3 1/2 minutes between matches. Coaches and players must arrive at their assigned field at least 15 minutes before their scheduled match time and be ready for inspection by the referee. Due to time constraints, there will be NO coin toss. The team listed first (home team) will choose which goal to attack; the team listed second will kick off to start the first half.
4. Scorecards are required for each match: Scorecards for refereed matches will be held by the referee! Immediately after match, both coaches report to the center referee to verify score. The Ref will confirm the match card and a winning team coach shall deliver the completed scorecard to the ASYO Tent at adjacent Field 5 within 15 minutes after match completion. If a match is a draw, the HOME team is responsible for bringing the scorecard to the tent. Failure to deliver match cards on time could yield a 0-0 result in pool play calculations.If your team is playing in a Non-Refereed Flight, the home coach will need to pick up the scorecards at the SoccerFest tent prior to the match. Cards will be returned by the match winner, or by the home team in the event of a draw. Check with SoccerFest Tent personnel if you have any questions with this process!
5. Minimum Player Quantity Rules: U10 matches are 7v7 (minimum 5 players), U12 matches are 9v9 (minimum 6 players) and U14 are matches 11v11 (minimum 7 players). In the event a team is short sided, and keeping in mind the SoccerFest format, the OTHER TEAM MAY PLAY AT FULL STRENGTH and SHALL NOT BE DISCOURAGED from doing so. For SoccerFest, there is NO BORROWING OR GUEST PLAYERS. Only registered AYSO players on their assigned team may participate.
A violation in player quantity or qualification will result in forfeit of that match. If a team does NOT have the minimum number of players, then the match will be scored as a forfeit (0-1) in favor of the squad with sufficient players AND the teams are encouraged to quickly balance the teams and play a friendly. We want all kids to have fun on the pitch, let them play. Scorecard must still be delivered to tent by the winning coach
6. Flights & Medals: U10 and U12 teams are divided into flights. Every team will play three Pool Play matches; two matches on Saturday and one match on Sunday. All teams will play one Medal Match on Sunday. The Champions of each flight will be awarded an AYSO medal. For U14, teams will play two Pool Play matches; there will be a first place match for the two teams receiving the most Pool Play points. All U14 matches are played on Saturday. The Champions team will receive a medal.
7. Pool play standings will be determined based on awarded points for all Pool Play matches. A maximum of 7 points per match will be awarded as follows:
a) 3 points will be awarded for a win, 1 point for a tie, and zero points for a loss.
b) 1 point for each goal scored up to a maximum of 3.
c) 1 point awarded to the winning team for a shutout (NO Bonus points awarded for 0-0 tie).
d) A forfeit will be recorded as 1-0 victory for the winning team (5 points).
e) Point Deductions: Sportsmanship Yellow or Reds Cards can be assessed against a team for unsportsmanlike behavior by Coaches, Spectator or touchline players. A Sportsmanship Yellow Card (i.e. excessive yelling, language, poor behavior) results in a 1 point deduction in the points earned for the match. A Sportsmanship Red Card (i.e. second offense issues, disruptions deemed inappropriate or offensive to the youth sport environment) results in a 3 point reduction in the points earned for the match. Example, a 1-0 victory for a team with a Sportsmanship Red Card will yield 5 points earned and 3 points lost for a net of 2 match points. Negative points are also possible and would adversely impact your pool play results. [Note: Sportsmanship infractions are independent of active player infractions-there are no point deductions for player on-field infractions, normal card consequences apply]. A team penalty will be reported to the coach by the referee. Ultimately, poor sportsmanship will not be tolerated. Coaches and parents need to maintain a positive and supportive culture for our youth players.
8. Tiebreakers for pool standings are applied in the following order; (1) total number of matches won, (2) head-to-head competition, (3) most shutouts won, (4) most goals earned in aggregate, (5) Least goals conceded in aggregate (6) highest tournament seeding.
9. Medal Round matches are set per the team's performance in pool play. The team with the highest point-total will play the team with the second-highest point total from the same flight; third highest plays fourth, etc., on through the complete scheduled final-round matches.
10. Tied/Draw Matches: In the event of a tie in any Medal Round match, Coaches shall immediately clear the field and connect with the referee and a SoccerFest Official. The winner of the match will be decided by 5v5 Kicks from the Penalty Mark. These penalty kicks may be taken on a separate goal on Field 4 setup exclusively for tie-breakers. If tied after five rounds of kicks, pairs of alternating kicks will be taken until one team scores and the other team does not. All eligible players on a team must kick before any player on that team kicks twice. No overtimes will be played in any Medal Round match.
11. Match Suspension: Any match suspended during halftime or during the second half will be considered a full match and the score at the time of stoppage will be recorded as the final score. Any match suspended before or during the first half is considered canceled. Canceled matches will result in a 3-3 tie and both teams will receive 7 points for the match.
12. CONCUSSION Policy – At their discretion, either the center referee or a player’s coach have the authority to remove a player from a match who has received a blow to the head or is exhibiting concussion symptoms. Any player removed from a match due to a suspected concussion or for demonstrating concussion symptoms may not play again in the tournament without submitting to SoccerFest officials a signed AYSO Player Participation Form (which demonstrates that the player has been cleared to play by a medical professional). Headers are allowed in 14U only.
13. Referee rulings on the field shall stand. NO EXCEPTIONS.
14. SOCCERFEST LIGHTNING / THUNDER POLICY - It is the policy of AYSO Region 418 that, in the best interest of the health and safety of our youth soccer players, no matches may be played for a period of THIRTY MINUTES (30 minutes) after any sighting of lightning or hearing of audible thunder. For the purposes of AYSO Region 418 SoccerFest play, this policy will be enforced as follows:
(a) THE CENTER REFEREE of any match shall stop play immediately upon any sighting of lightning, or reliable (in the Center Referee's discretion) report of a lightning sighting, and IMMEDIATELY REPORT such stoppage of play to the SoccerFest Officials. The Center Referee shall also stop play immediately if the SoccerFest Officials signal a weather-related stoppage of play by sounding THREE LONG BLASTS of the SoccerFest air horns. Once stopped, such match shall be deemed completed (see item (d), below), and ONLY THE SOCCERFEST OFFICIALS or the REGIONAL COMMISSIONER may cause any or all of the SoccerFest matches to re- commence.
(b) THE SOCCERFEST OFFICIALS shall stop ALL Matches immediately upon any sighting of lightning, any report of a lightning sighting from any Center Referee of a currently-schedule match, any other reliable (in the SoccerFest Officials discretion) report of a lightning sighting or upon the direction of the REGIONAL COMMISSIONER. The SoccerFest Officials shall signal such stoppage of play by sounding THREE LONG BLASTS of the SoccerFest air horns. Upon any such stoppage of play, the SoccerFest Officials shall cause all matches to remain stopped for a period of time no shorter than THIRTY MINUTES (30 minutes) after the time of the last sighting of lightning, BUT either the SoccerFest Officials or the Regional Commissioner MAY, in their sole discretion, suspend play for a longer period of time.
(c) The REGIONAL COMMISSIONER has ultimate authority to suspend, stop and/or re-start play for any match or all matches, or over-rule any such suspension, stoppage or re-commencement, in his or her SOLE DISCRETION, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this policy. The Regional Commissioner may, in his or her sole discretion, temporarily delegate this authority to any other Region 418 Board Member for any periods of time where the Regional Commissioner is not able to be present at the SoccerFest. In addition, the Regional Commissioner shall have ultimate authority to interpret this policy. ALL DETERMINATIONS OF THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER (OR HIS DELEGATE) UNDER THIS POLICY ARE FINAL.
(d) Upon any stoppage of play or match cancellation under this policy, such stopped or canceled match shall immediately be deemed completed. For clarification, if a penalty kick is awarded but not yet taken, and play is stopped under this policy, then the penalty kick SHALL NOT be taken. BUT, ANY POINT DEDUCTIONS UNDER THE SOCCERFEST RULES ACCRUING PRIOR TO THE STOPPAGE SHALL BE APPLIED TO THE APPLICABLE TEAM'S SOCCERFEST STANDINGS POINT TALLY (e.g., any Sportsmanship Point deductions accruing prior to the stoppage shall be applied to the team's overall point tally).
(e) Upon any stoppage of play or match cancellation, each TEAM COACH AND ASSISTANT COACH shall be responsible for moving their players OFF THE FIELD IMMEDIATELY and to appropriate shelter.
(f) Upon any stoppage or play or match cancellation, the SOCCERFEST OFFICIALS, all COACHES (head and assistant), all REFEREES, all SOCCERFEST VOLUNTEERS, all REGIONAL BOARD MEMBERS and the REGIONAL COMMISSIONER shall work together to ensure that ALL PLAYERS remain OFF OF ALL FIELDS and under SHELTER for the duration of the stoppage, including U5, U6 and U8 players and fields. For clarification, standing under a tree is not considered appropriate shelter under this policy. If players cannot get in their families’ cars, then they should be encouraged to find shelter in other families’ cars, the Tunnel or Margate Fieldhouse.
(g) This policy shall be implemented by all referees, coaches, SoccerFest Officials, Region 418 Board Members and the Regional Commissioner mindful that the overriding principle and concern is the health and safety of the youth soccer players in Region 418. WHEN IN DOUBT, STOP PLAY! Have fun, play fair and remember that this tourney is about our kids of the 418.