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Rules for the 2008 Front Range Invitational
No Protests Or Appeals Will Be Accepted Or Considered
I. GENERAL
A. TYPE OF TOURNAMENT
The Front Range Invitational Tournament (FRIT) is sanctioned by the United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as a Class 1 tournament open to competition from affiliated U.S. teams in good standing with their respective associations. Player passes with pictures are required. Travel papers are required if required by the organization with whom the team is affiliated.
B. MEDICAL ATTENTION
Emergency medical trainers on contract to the FRIT are available at the playing fields throughout the competition to assist with minor injuries of players and spectators. More serious injuries may be attended to at emergency center facilities in Colorado Springs. Any services performed at the Academy Hospital must be paid for with cash or check prior to discharge. No insurance billing is provided at the Academy.
C. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
All participants in the FRIT are expected to maintain high standards of conduct during the tournament as specified in the FRIT Code of Conduct. Any team that does not observe these guidelines may be subject to remedial action. This action, depending on the circumstances, may range from a warning, a reduction in points in the current standings, or banning that team and/or all teams in its club from participation in future tournamenta.
D. SITE OF THE TOURNAMENT AND FACILITIES
The United States Air Force Academy graciously provides access to its incomparable facilities for this annual event. It must be expressly understood, however, that everyone must abide by the rules of the Academy. Be particularly aware of speed limits on Academy roads, restricted area signage, and parking only in designated areas. Any violations could jeopardize tournament participation.
E. SAFETY/SEVERE WEATHER
In the event of a severe thunderstorm or other dangerous weather, the Tournament Director may suspend play. If the games are suspended, all players, coaches, and spectators must leave the fields and immediately take cover in the nearest available shelter (most likely automobiles and vans) as there is a possibility of lightning strikes on our playing fields during severe storms. Play will be resumed when “all clear” is signaled by the Air Force Academy and communicated to the Tournament Director.
NO ONE IS TO RETURN TO THE FIELDS UNTIL THE ALL CLEAR HAS BEEN SIGNALED!
All teams will remain in the tournament area until a decision has been made concerning the resumption of play. See the section titled “Reschedules” in the Game Information section for shortened/cancelled game procedures.
F. PLAYING CONDITIONS
1.1. Games may be cancelled or temporarily suspended when the fields are in unplayable condition.
2.2. The Tournament Director is responsible for deciding game cancellation, temporary suspensions or reschedules. All decisions are final.
3.3. At the discretion of the referee, all preliminary games will be terminated five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the next game regardless of the amount of time played in each half up to that point. A game is “complete” upon completion of one half of play regardless of the circumstance of termination during the second half, with the results based upon the score at the game termination. Exceptions may be made due to inclement weather.
4.4. The Colorado Rush Pikes Peak Soccer Club will not be held responsible for any reason that affects the game format. In the event of tournament or division cancellation due to acts of God, inclement weather or other reasons beyond the control of Pikes Peak Soccer Club, entry fees will be forfeited.
G. MATTERS NOT PROVIDED FOR
The USYSA Administration Rule Book and the Tournament Director shall govern any situation or question on the rules of competition that are not covered herein. The Tournament Director decisions are final.
II. TEAM INFORMATION
A. AGE DIVISIONS
Boys - U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17
Girls - U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17
B. TYPES OF TEAMS
1.1 U11-U14: Open to all competitive/advanced teams who are NOT playing in a CSYSA Elite or Premier Division, or their State League's top division for Spring 2006 season.
2.2 U15-17: Open to all competitive/advanced teams who are NOT playing in a CSYSA Elite or Premier I Division, or their State League's top division for the most recent season of play. (CSYSA Premier II teams may play in the Gold Division.)
3.3 Each team may have a maximum of six (6) guest players, but may not exceed tournament roster size of eighteen (18) players. No guest players may be selected from teams which are not eligible to play in the FRIT. (U11-U14 No guest players from Elite or Premier teams or their State League's top division teams. U15-U17 No guest players from Elite or Premier I teams or teams from top division in State League.) Guest players must be named at initial team check-in and listed on the FRIT Guest Player form or State League Guest Player form. NO players may be added or tournament roster changed after the team checks in.
C. CREDENTIALS
Each team will present its Certified Roster, applicable travel and guest player authorizations and player documentation at check-in for the tournament. Each team will be provided with an approved FRIT Tournament Roster for presentation to the referee prior to each match. All teams must check-in before playing their first game. All teams must provide a player pass, signed Medical Release forms provided by the tournament and copies of birth certificates for each player and guest player.
D. DISCIPLINE
1.1. Any player or coach who is ejected from a match due to a red card offense or two yellow cards in a single game is ineligible to participate in the next game, including semifinals or finals. A player or coach who is ejected from a game must remove themselves at least 100 yards from the playing area within two minutes of ejection and may not communicate with anyone on or near the field by any means, including cell phones, or the game may be forfeited to the opposing team.
2.2. Any player or coach who accumulates three yellow cards during the course of tournament play is ineligible to participate in the next game, including semifinals or finals.
3.3. The referee is responsible for clearly recording all Red/Yellow cards issued on the tournament game card. The referee will ensure that an ejected player’s or coach’s pass is submitted to the tournament committee, where it will be held at the tournament headquarters until the individual is eligible to participate. Referees will take note of all ejections as furnished by the tournament committee prior to game time and ensure that any such ineligible individual does not participate.
4.4. The coach is responsible for the actions of his/her spectators, specifically verbal abuse of referees, opposing players, or opposing fans. Such abuse will not be tolerated, and may result in forfeiture of the game and/or expulsion from further play. The referee may suspend play when necessary due to spectator or participant interference until the individual creating the disturbance leaves the playing area to a minimum of 100 yards form the field.
5. 5. The Tournament Director will make note of cards issued and the offenses in order that a written report may be made to the player’s home association. Abuse of a referee, team, league official, or spectator prior to, during, or after the playing of any FRIT game is prohibited. Any individual who violates this prohibition shall be subject to disciplinary action by the Tournament Director. The Tournament Director reserves the right to impose sanctions he/she deems appropriate for infractions of the above rules, or any action detrimental to the FRIT, PPSC, or the local soccer community, including deduction of tournament points, suspension, or expulsion of a player, coach, spectator, team, or club.
E. TEAM AND PLAYER REQUIREMENTS
1. A player may play for ONLY one team during the tournament.
2. A coach may coach more than one team during the tournament; however, we cannot guarantee schedule modification for this situation. In the event a conflict occurs, it is strongly recommended that each team have an assistant coach on the roster to avoid a forfeit. Any disciplinary action taken against a coach will be enforced with the team being coached at the time the offense occurred. For example, if a coach is coaching more than one team and is ejected from a game, the coach is ineligible to participate in the next game of that particular team.
3. Teams must have an approved FRIT Tournament Roster and valid passes for all players to submit to the referee prior to each match. Any team who fields an improperly registered player will forfeit that game, and will be subject to further disciplinary action as determined by the Tournament Director. If a team is unable to produce a tournament certified roster before a game, the game may still be played if both coaches agree to continue. A certified roster must be produced within an hour of completion of the match, or the game will be forfeited. No player may participate unless a valid player pass is presented to the referee prior to the game.
4. All passes and rosters are to be returned to the coach or manager of each team at the conclusion of the game unless a player or coach is ejected for misconduct. It is the responsibility of the coach to retrieve the passes and roster at the conclusion of the match. The referee will submit the game card to the field marshal after each game, along with the passes of any ejected individuals. The field marshal will report the game results, including scores and cards issued, to the tournament committee, who will record and compile the results.
F. UNIFORMS
All teams shall have two sets of uniforms of different colors. All team members (excluding the goalkeeper) must wear the same color shirts, shorts, and socks, and each player will be identified with a different number. If a player wears a number different than noted on the certified roster, the coach must notify the referee of this change before the start of the match. Players may not switch jerseys during a match. If the referee determines that there is a conflict in uniform color prior to or during the match, the home team will switch to their alternate uniforms. (The home team is the team listed first on the schedule.) Each player must wear appropriate shin guards, with socks pulled up over the shin guards. The field referee has final authority on the appropriateness of uniforms and equipment.
III. GAME INFORMATION
A. TEAM DIVISIONS (GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE)
Teams will be seeded according to team strength based on information received on the application and supporting documents. Every effort will be made to provide as wide a geographic variety of opponents and evenly matched opponents as possible for each participant. The FRIT reserves the right to combine age groups when there are not enough teams entered in a particular group. Team Divisions (Gold, Silver and Bronze) will be formed based on the team seeding and total teams registered. Some age groups may not have all divisions.
B. GAME SCHEDULE STRUCTURE
Divisions (Gold, Silver, Bronze) with greater than 4 teams shall be split into groups. Games shall be round robin play within each group with opponents selected based on team seeding. However, cross play between groups may be necessary. Each team is guaranteed to play at least three games. After pool play is complete, semi-final and final matches are played. The teams for the semi-final matches are determined as follows:
Divisions With One Group:
U11-U14 Boys and Girls: For divisions with 4 teams only, no semi-final matches are played. Top two teams play for 1st and 2nd. Lower two teams play for 3rd and 4th.
U15-U17 Boys and Girls: For divisions with 4 teams only, no semi-final matches are played. Top two teams play for 1st and 2nd.
Divisions With Two or More Groups:
For divisions with 2 groups, the top 2 point winners in each group play in the semi-finals.
For divisions with 3 groups, the top point winner in each group and 1 wild card team with the next highest points from all groups play in the semi-finals. (Wild card team will play the top point winner of a different group or as determined by the FRIT committee.)
For divisions with 4 groups, the top point winner in each group play in the semi-finals.
AWARDS
U11-U14 age groups: For each division: Medals and team award for 1st place team. Medals for 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams.
U15-U17 age groups: For each division: Medals and team award for 1st place team. Medals for 2nd place team. No awards for 3rd and 4th place teams.
C. GAME LENGTHS MINUTES PER HALF
U11-U12 Pool play & semi-finals:25 minutes: Finals 30 minutes
U13-U14 Pool play & semi-finals:30 minutes: Finals 35 minutes
U15-U17 Pool play & semi-finals:35 minutes: Finals 35 minutes
D. SCORING
Team standings will be based on the following point system:
- Win = 6 points, Tie = 3 points, Loss = 0 points
- Shutout = 1 point
- Goals Scored = 1 point for each (up to 3 max)
If a team forfeits, their opponent will be awarded 9 points for the game. (The game may be considered forfeit if a team is not ready to play 5 minutes after the scheduled start time, or if a team has forfeited due to improper paperwork or other disciplinary action.)
The highest score is 10 points/game (6 points win, 1 point shut-out, 3 points for goals scored).
A score of 0 - 0 will be counted as a tie (3 points) and a shutout (1 point) for each team. A total of 4 points is awarded to each team.
E. TIE BREAKERS
No tie breakers are played for preliminary games. If at the conclusion of preliminary play, two or more teams are tied in points, the semi-final participants and group standings shall be determined by:
- Head to head competition (if applicable)
- Goal differential (Goals scored minus goals allowed)
- Fewest goals allowed
- Most goals scored up to 3 per game
- Penalty kicks, per FIFA
If a semi-final game is tied at the end of regulation time, no overtime will be played. The game will be decided by penalty kicks per FIFA rules.
If a championship game is tied after regulation, up to two overtime periods will be played. This overtime will be conducted as “Golden Goal”, with the first team to score declared the winner and the overtime ends at that point. If the game is still tied after the overtime periods, the game will be determined by penalty kicks per FIFA. The overtime periods will be of the following durations:
- U11 – U14: Two five minute halves
- U15 - U17: Two ten minute halves
F. SIDELINE ORGANIZATION
Depending on field orientation, teams will occupy either the south or west side of the playing field, with the home team taking the right side of the half line. Only players, coaches and trainers may occupy this side of the field. Spectators will occupy the other side of the field.
G. BALL
The home team is responsible for supplying 2 game balls. U11-U12 will use a size 4 ball, U13 and older will use a size 5 ball.
H. GAME OFFICIALS
1.1. It is the intent of the FRIT to provide a three-person referee system for all tournament matches. However, the Commissioner of Referees has been given the authority to conduct matches with two licensed referees if necessary.
2.2. The field referee shall have the authority to determine the fitness of field conditions for all matches. In other respects, the duties are defined in the "Laws of the Game."
I. RULES OF PLAY
The rules of play for the FRIT shall be the "Laws of the Game" as published by FIFA with those modifications stated herein.
J. SUBSTITUTIONS
1. 1. Unlimited substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee.
2. 2. Players should enter/leave their side of the field at the half line.
3. 3. Teams may substitute on their own throw-in, any goal kick, any kickoff, and on a 1 for 1 basis for injured players (both teams).
K. RESCHEDULES
1. If there is a stoppage of play for any reason and that stoppage lasts longer than 30 minutes, and the Tournament Director has determined that the orderly progress of the tournament is threatened, the Tournament Director may take any or some, but is not limited to, the following actions:
- Resume games in progress from the point of stoppage
- Resume games in progress for a shortened period of play
- Cancel games in progress. Any game that has completed one full half of play will be treated as a completed game. Others may be resumed for a shortened second period or rescheduled.
- Shorten and/or reschedule subsequent games
2. While the tournament will make every effort to continue and complete games, the decisions of the Tournament Director are final. However, in the event that rescheduling is not possible, and the game cancellation creates a situation where teams within a group and/or division are unable to play an equal number of qualifying games, the winner will be determined on the basis of average tournament points for games played. In the event there is a tie that cannot be determined by point averaging, the winner/advancing team will be determined first by head to head competition, then by penalty kicks per FIFA.
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