AGE AND ELIGIBILITY

Participation in the GFSC Vanessa Ilana Pean (VIP) Memorial Tournament is open to Travel Teams (no Recreational Teams). Accepted teams will be composed of a maximum of eighteen (18) players for U17 and U19, a maximum of eighteen (18) players for U-13 through U-16, and a maximum of fourteen (14) players for U-9, U10, U11 and U12 meeting the age limit of the specified division; Players must have been born during, or subsequent to, the divisional year, as defined by US Soccer Guidelines; Player registration cards duly authorized by State/Provincial or National Association will be required as proof of age.

*Age groups:

Under 19 (August 1, 1989 and younger)
Under 17 (August 1, 1991 and younger)
Under 16 (August 1, 1992 and younger)
Under 15 (August 1, 1993 and younger)
Under 14 (August 1, 1994 and younger)
Under 13 (August 1, 1995 and younger)
Under 12 (August 1, 1996 and younger) **
Under 11 (August 1, 1997 and younger) **
Under 10 (August 1, 1998 and younger) **
Under 9 (August 1, 1999 and younger) **

* Combining of age groups will be done at the Tournament Committee’s discretion, if needed.

** The U-9 and U-10 age groups will play 7v7 and U11 and U-12 will play 8v8, all on smaller fields.

A. No “house” all-star, recreational, or ODP teams will be permitted to play. Each team accepted must be registered with a National State Association affiliated with the USYS/USSF or national equivalent and must present a valid State or Provincial roster. Teams that are members of organizations of the United States Soccer Federation but not members of US Youth Soccer (such as AYSO, SAY, or Super Y Leagues) DO NOT have to have a US Youth Soccer Application To Travel form (although that team’s organization may require that the team have permission). An approved team roster does need to be provided to tournament officials, however, along with current passes (2008-2009) from its organization. A maximum of Three (3) guest players may be used on a Tournament Team Roster. However, a team using guest players must have no more than a total of eighteen (18) players for U-13 through U-19 and a maximum of fourteen (14) for U-9, U-10 U-11 and U-12 on said roster. Guest players must be current USYS/USSF or national equivalent players whose team for which they are registered is not participating in the Tournament. Guest players may be recreational players provided they obtain certification comparable to a player registration card.

B. All Player Passes must be for the 2008-2009 year

C. All players must have current, 2008-2009 Player Registration Cards, Team Rosters, Medical Release Forms, Permission to Travel Forms, and Quantico Indemnification Forms, if applicable.

LAWS OF THE GAME

All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.

DIVISIONS, SUB-DIVISIONS and FLIGHTS

Divisions: The Tournament will make available divisions according to competitive level. Divisions may be deleted, combined or added at the Tournament Committee's discretion.

Sub-divisions: Each Division may be further divided into sub-divisions at the Tournament Committee's discretion.

Flights: Flights are a subcategory of a Division or Sub-division.

DURATION OF GAMES

The duration of tournament games shall be in accordance with the following:

Preliminary games:

U-9 and U-10 -- two 25 minute halves, no overtime period
U-11 through U-14 -- two 30 minute halves, no overtime period
U-15 through U-19 -- two 35 minute halves, no overtime period

Semi-final and final games:

U-9 through U-10 -- two 25-minute halves, two 5 minute overtime periods
U-11 through U-12 -- two 30-minute halves, two 5 minute overtime periods
U-13 through U-14 -- two 35-minute halves, two 5 minute overtime periods
U-15 through U-19 -- two 40-minute halves, two 5 minute overtime periods

All games will be played with a running clock. The referee may stop the clock for serious injuries or other incidents. The referee is the official timekeeper and therefore all decisions regarding game duration are solely at the referee’s discretion and shall not be protested.

FIELD CHECK-IN TIME AND FIELD AND GAME EQUIPMENT

PLAYER REGISTRATION CARDS AND THE OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTER, APPROVED BY THE GFSC/VIP STAFF, MUST BE AVAILABLE AT THE FIELD 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO A GAME AND FOR THE DURATION OF THE GAME.

Players must wear numbers visible on the back of their uniforms.

Players shall wear shin guards in accordance with FIFA laws.

No metal cleats will be allowed, and no jewelry will be allowed.

Where opposing team’s uniform colors are similar, the designated home team will change colors. The designated home team is listed first on the schedule.

When requested by the referee, each team must provide a referee assistant.

A #5 ball is used for U-13 through U-19 play; and a #4 ball is used for U-9 through U-12 play.

Players and coaches of both teams will take the same side of the field. All other supporters will take the opposite side. Only three team officials are permitted on the sidelines with their players.

FORMS, DOCUMENTATION and TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS

1. Each team, on checking in at registration, must provide a local phone number and name/location of hotel, if applicable, of the designated contact person who can be reached at any time, should the necessity arise.

2. All players must have current, Medical Release forms or equivalent, 2008-2009 Player Registration Cards, Team Rosters.

3. Teams must provide 2 copies of their Roster at check-in.

PROTESTS

THERE WILL BE NO PROTESTS ALLOWED.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Unlimited substitutions may be made with the referee's permission:

• After a goal has been made;
• At the beginning of the second half of play or prior to the beginning of an overtime period;
• At a goal kick by either team; or
• Prior to a throw-in when the ball is in possession of the team substituting. The opposing team may substitute as well if the team in possession is making a substitution.

Limited substitutions may be made, with the referee's permission:

• In case of stoppage of play for an injury; or
• To replace a cautioned player.

Under no circumstances may substitutions be made (1) on corner kicks or (2) after the game has ended in a tie and FIFA penalty kicks will be required to determine a winner.

GAME AND SCORE REPORTING

The field marshal will deliver the completed and signed Score Card by the referee to the appropriate Site Official (Division Coordinator/Site Coordinator) promptly at the conclusion of each game.

CONDUCT

Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the LAW as well as the letter of the LAW. Displays of temper or dissent are cause for ejection from the game and the surrounding field area. Repeated violations may result in the suspension of the team from the tournament as decided by the Tournament Director.

Players, coaches and team officials ejected from a game by the referee shall be ineligible for the next scheduled game.

It is the responsibility of the team's coach or the person acting in the coach's behalf to control the conduct of its parents and other spectators. Failure to do so may result in a warning to the coach or the person acting in the coach's behalf by the referee. If unacceptable conduct continues, the referee may eject the team's coach, or the person acting in the coach's behalf, from the game.

In accordance with the USYSA Tournament Hosting Agreement, all red and yellow cards and other matters involving team conduct will be reported to the home club and State/Provincial Association of the team involved as well as the US Youth Soccer National Office.

Artificial noise. making devices are prohibited.

Smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any of the field sites.

POINTS, FLIGHT WINNERS, AND WILD CARD TEAMS

In the preliminary games, each team will be awarded three (3) points for a win or a game forfeited to them, one (1) point for a tie, and no (0) points for a loss. At the end of the preliminary rounds, the flight winner will be the team with the most points in their flight. In the event of a tie within a flight, the following criteria will be used to determine the winner:

1. Head to head competition (in the event of a tie among three (3) or more teams, this criterion will not be considered), then
2. Most wins, then
3. Goal differential (positive only, maximum of 4 per game), then
4. Least goals allowed, then
5. Most shutouts
6. FIFA penalty kicks (at least thirty minutes prior to the scheduled playoff round games)

In the event of a tie among three (3) or more teams, once a tie is broken by the above system, and if ties among remaining teams still must be decided, those ties would be broken by starting again from the top (i.e. head-to-head competition) of the tie-breaking procedure. In the event that a wild card team must be selected for a semi-final game, the above procedure will be used across the entire division.

SEMI-FINAL AND CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

Winners of each flight advance into either the semi-final or championship game depending on the number of flights in a division.

In Divisions of 3 flights, the winners of Flights A and C will play each other for semi-final match #1. The winner of Flight B will play the “Wild Card” team with the most points, excluding the flight winners. If the Wild Card team is also from flight “B”, then the Wild Card team will play the winner of Flight A; and Flight Winners B and C will play the second semi-final game.

Overtime will be played in case of a tie at the end of regulation time only in the semi-final and championship games. The winner (Champion) will be determined as follows:

If the score is still tied after ten (10) minutes of overtime, FIFA penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner. All players on the field must kick before any player may kick a second time.

Awards are provided only to the division winner (Champion) and runner-up team (Finalist). These are the two teams that play in the division's Championship game.

FAILURE TO SHOW AND FORFEITS

A team shall be allowed a ten (10) minute grace period after the scheduled kick off time before the match is awarded to their opponent. A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team and if (7) players are present, the game will not be delayed.

A. In no case shall a team, which forfeits a game be declared a flight winner or a wild card team. If an apparent flight winner forfeits a game, the team in that flight with the next best record shall be named the flight winner. In addition, in divisions where the second place team of one flight plays the first place team of another flight in the semi-final game, in no case shall a team which has forfeited a game be declared the second place team in a flight. The team with the next best record in the flight shall be declared the second place team and play in the semi-final game.

B. If a team is the cause for termination of a game, that team will be considered to have forfeited that game. The determination as to which team is the cause for the termination shall be at the sole discretion of the referee on the field and the decision may not be protested.

C. A forfeit in the preliminary rounds shall be awarded as three (3) points for a win and the score will stand at the time of the forfeit. If the score is 0-0 at the time of the forfeit, the score will be recorded as 1-0.

D. Forfeits of a semi-final or championship game shall be recorded as 1.0.

E. Any team forfeiting a championship game will not be entitled to individual trophies or team awards.

F. Failure to produce either duly authorized Player Registration Cards or an official Tournament Team Roster to the appropriate Field Marshal or Tournament Official thirty (30) minutes prior to scheduled game time is grounds for a forfeit.

G. Playing a “red-carded player” (a player receiving either a red card or two yellow cards in one game) in the game following the receipt of a red card is grounds for a forfeit.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director or official representative(s) will have the authority to:

A. Relocate or reschedule any game(s);
B. Change the duration of any game(s);
C. Cancel any game(s);
D. Consider any game terminated by game or Tournament Officials after one half of play as official as of the time of termination; and
E. Determine the format for advancement.

GENERAL

Under no circumstances whatsoever will the Virginia Youth Soccer Association, Inc., the Great Falls Soccer Club, the GFSC/VIP Tournament Committee, or any of their official representatives be responsible for any expenses (including the Tournament entry fee) incurred by any team. This includes a situation whereby the Tournament or any game(s) is canceled in whole or part.

The Tournament Committee's or their official representative's interpretation of the rules shall be final pertaining to this Tournament.