2009 Rules
(2010 rules will be posted as the tournament draws near)

Game Play

FIFA Rules Will Apply Unless Amended By A Specific Rule Below
1.     Eligibility – All teams and players must be properly registered and affiliated with their state or
national association.  All players must be born in the year of their age group or a later year.
All teams must present a team roster at registration, which is certified by the Club President,
Registrar or designated officer.  All teams must have player passes available at all games.
Tournament passes will be issued at registration for qualified players without LIJSL or other
league passes.

4. Uniforms – Uniforms must be numbered and must coincide with the team roster. 
In cases where uniform colors conflict (in the judgment of the referee), the home team
(listed first on the schedule) will change uniform colors.

5. Duration of Games – All games with the exception of the U-8, U-9, U-10 and U-11
(Small Sided) divisions will consist of 2, thirty-minute halves with a five-minute half-time
intermission.  The U-8, U-9, U-10 and U-11 (Small Sided) divisions shall play 2,
twenty-five minute halves with a five-minute half-time intermission.  The tournament
committee reserves the right to shorten game times to keep on schedule.

6. Inclement Weather – Coaches and players must appear on the field of play,
ready to play, regardless of weather conditions.  Failure to appear will result in a forfeit of the game.
a) Inclement Weather During Game – Should a game progress be terminated due to weather
conditions after twenty five minutes of play, the game will be considered official and the score
at the time the game was terminated shall stand.
b) Inclement Weather Before Game
     1) Game Not Canceled – In case or severe weather conditions or impending severe
        weather conditions, the referee and or the Tournament Director or his designee may
        reduce the length of the game by fifty percent.
    2) Game Canceled – Only the Referee, Tournament Director or his designee can cancel
        or postpone a game.  Every attempt will be made to reschedule the game.  Any game,
        which can not be rescheduled, will be considered a 1-1 tie.

7) Team Field Position – Both team’s players and coaches must take a position on the same
side of the field.  Both sets of parents on the opposite side of the field.

8) Protests – There shall be no protests.  The judgment of the referee cannot be contested.

 9) Linespersons – Unless provided for by the tournament, each team is required to provide
a linesperson for their side of the field.

10) Substitutions – Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee at any
stoppage of play.  A substituted player may reenter the game.

11) Ball Size – U-8 through U-12 – Size 4. All other divisions – Size 5.

12) Cards and Ejection’s – A player, coach or spectator receiving a red card will be ejected
from the game and may not participate in the next scheduled game.  The team may not
replace an ejected player on the field of play.  The Tournament Committee further reserves
the right to eject any player, coach or spectator from the tournament for flagrant violations
of the rules of play.  Any Player, Coaches or Parents receiving a red card in the 5^th and
final game of the tournament and therefore unable to serve the one game suspension will
be reported to the LIJSL or their own home leagues for disciplinary action.

13) Failure to Appear & Forfeits – A team shall be allowed a 5-minute grace period after
the scheduled kick off time before the game is awarded to the opponent.  A forfeited game
shall be declared a 2-0 score, with no bonus points for tie breaking purposes.

     A) Awarding of Points: Points will be awarded on the results of each game according to
the following protocol:
Three points for a win.  
One point for a tie.  
Zero points for a loss.                    

Canceled game will be recorded as a 1-1 tie.

Forfeited game will be recorded as a 2-0 loss.

Ranking is based on sum of points earned.

 B) Tie Breaking:
These conversions apply only after the final game.
If a tie should exist after the teams have been ranked, the following tiebreakers will be used in
 the following order:
     1. Head to head competition. (Does not apply if 3 or more teams are tied.)
     2. Most wins.
     3. Least goals allowed.
     4. Bonus points: 1 bonus point will be awarded for each 2-goal increment above the opposing team.
         Example: 2-0 = 1 bonus point            4-0 = 2 bonus points
         No more than 2 bonus points will be awarded in any one game. 
         No bonus points are deleted for losses.
     5. Most Shutout Wins.
     6. Most goals scored (maximum of 4 above each opponent counted.)
      7. If teams are still tied after tiebreakers, a coin toss shall be used to decide the ranking.

15.) In the event of a ONE-SIDED GAME, COACHES ARE REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERATE OF THE SCORE.

16) Trophies/Awards

 6 Team Divisions – Trophies will be awarded to 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place after Round Robin play
in accordance with the above listed rules. Trophies will be awarded to 1^st & 2^nd place in the
U-15, U-16 and High School divisions.

17 Cancellation of Tournament
Cancellation prior to tournament weekend: All entry fee money will be returned less
expense incurred to date.
Cancellation during tournament weekend: No entry fee refund can be made for cancellation of the
tournament in whole or part due to conditions outside the control of the hosting club,
 i.e. inclement weather.

18) General: The tournament committee reserves the right to decide all matters pertaining to
the tournament, including interpretation of the rules and regulations.

All applications must be entered on-line on our web site.
We will not be certain where each group will be playing or who they will be playing until we have
accepted all of the teams for competition.  We reserve the right to place your team in the bracket
we believe to be appropriate and that may result in your team playing up one year in age.

Because of the size of the tournament and the number of locations used, we will make the attempt
to, but cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate the scheduling needs of an
individual coaching more than one team. 

Be sure to provide all of the information requested in the application form. You should include
a description of the structure of competition in your State association (e.g., Premier, Major,
Intermediate, Minor, etc.) In addition, please let us know if you are State or Regional champions.

We are using the Polo Fields at Bethpage State Park again this year. These fields are some
of the very best soccer pitches available on Long Island.   We will supply Three Parking Passes
per day to each team scheduled to play at that facility.  All other vehicles will be subject to
the $6.00 per day State Parks Vehicle Access Fee.  The Park Commission uses these fees
to keep the fields well maintained.  To reduce costs it is recommended that all Coaches,
Team Players and Parents arrange to car-pool to minimize the impact of the Fee. 
If you already have one, the New York State Park Season Passes (Empire Pass) will be honored
 at the tournament.