General Rules

The Tournament Committee, Berkeley Soccer Association, and/or NJYSA will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team, club or individual if the tournament is cancelled in whole or in part.

The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of these rules shall be final and binding.

Decisions of the referees are final and binding.

Notarized medical releases must be presented at registration, and must be available for review at the fields upon request.

Refunds

Refunds will not be given to teams who withdraw after rejections and/or acceptances have been mailed.

Eligibility

The competition is open to accepted teams composed of a maximum of 18 players (14 players for U9/U10) meeting the age limit of the specified division.  Each team must be registered with a National Soccer Association and with a league affiliated with the USSF or National equivalent.  Players may have current passes for the 2008-2009 year or be part of a Recreation Program at an affiliated Soccer League.

Out of state teams must have “permission to travel” form approved and signed by a USSF or state representative.

Player passes and team rosters will be checked at registration.  BSA requires a copy of your roster to be kept on record.

Guest Players

Guest players will be allowed up to a maximum of 3 players (2 players for U9/U10) with the purpose of maintaining a team’s competitiveness.

Laws of the Game

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

Fields and Game Equipment

The size of the field will be whatever the physical arrangements permit.

Players and coaches from both teams will take positions on the same side of the field.  All spectators will take positions on the opposite side of the field from the teams.

Coaches must remain within specially designated areas, which will be drawn on the sides of the field extending 10 yards in each direction from the mid-field line.

Teams must wear uniforms with individual numbers on the shirt.  Uniform numbers must coincide with the listing on the team’s official approved roster.  Where uniform colors are similar or identical, the designated home team will change colors.

Home team is the team listed first on the official tournament schedule.

Equipment/Other

No jewelry will be worn by players (earrings, watches, necklaces, combs, metal barrettes, etc.).  Eyeglasses should be either sports goggle type or made of safety glass or plastic and must be held in place with some type of elastic band.

Orthopedic or other casts must be wrapped with soft foam padding.  Players will only be allowed to compete at the referee’s discretion.  His/her decision is final.

Berkeley Soccer Association will provide game balls.  Home team shall be responsible for game ball.

Teams will be required to be at the game site 30 minutes before scheduled kickoff time.  Instructions for check in at the field were previously provided.

In the event of a crossover game, the higher number team is the home team.

Inclement Weather

Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams MUST appear on the field of play, ready to play as scheduled.  Failure to appear will result in automatic forfeiture of the game.  Only referees and/or tournament directors can cancel a game.

In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Committee shall have the authority to change games as follows:

a. Relocate or reschedule any game(s).
b. Change the duration of any game(s).
c. Cancel any game(s) which will have no bearing on the determination of division winners or runners-up.
d. Recommence or restart a game that has had less than one-half played.

Should inclement weather force the cancellation of a game after one-half of play has been completed, the game shall be considered official and the score at that point shall be considered the final score.

Substitutions

Substitutions may be made without limit, with the permission of the referee as follows:
 
a. After a goal has been scored.
b. At the beginning of the second half.
c. At either team’s goal kick.
d. At a throw-in by either team.
e. In the case of injury to a player, if a substitution is made for the injured player. The other team may also make a substitution.
f. After a player has received a yellow card, a substitution must be made for the carded player.  The player may re-enter the field of play at the next allowable substitution.
g. There will be no substitution for player who has received a red card and has been ordered from the field by the referee.

Special Note

In accordance with NJYS rules, all U-10 and younger games are non-results oriented.  There will be NO playoffs.  All ties will stand.  There will be NO overtime and there will be NO penalty kicks shootout.

Protests

There are NO protests.  The referee’s decision is final.

Conduct

Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the game as well as the letter of the law.

The Tournament Committee encourages the exchange of patches between teams.  This can be done in a continuation of good sportsmanship and good conduct by the players at the handshake following the end of each game.

Players, coaches, or spectators ejected from a game by the referee must leave the field area.  Referees will report all yellow/red cards to the field coordinator.  Anyone receiving a red card will be ineligible for the next scheduled game.  Anyone receiving a red card for fighting will be ineligible for any remaining tournament play.

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team’s spectators.  Any misconduct by spectators will result in a yellow or red carding of the coach(es) responsible.

Incidents of misconduct will be reported by the Berkeley Soccer Tournament Committee back to the team’s respective league or affiliation as well as to the New Jersey State Youth Soccer Association.

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to suspend any player, coach, or team from the tournament for unruly conduct.

Games and Score Reporting

The field coordinator is responsible to see that the scores of each game are reported on a timely basis to the tournament headquarters.

Each coach will be responsible for verifying the accuracy of the game report prepared by the referee before the field coordinator leaves the game site and reports the results of the match.  No changes will be accepted once the game report has been filed.

Protection

Girls will be permitted to protect their chests while trapping the ball.  If hands or arms are used to propel or redirect the ball, an illegal use of hands will be called with the appropriate free kick being awarded.

Forfeits or Failure to Show

Teams shall be awarded a 10-minute grace period after the scheduled kick off time before the game is awarded to the opponent.  A minimum of 7 players constitutes a team and if 7 players are present, the game may not be delayed past the scheduled starting time.

In no case shall a team that has forfeited a game be declared a division winner.  A forfeit shall be awarded as two points for the win.  For tie breakers, the score for the forfeit game shall be set as the team’s average of goals scored, rounded up to the next whole number, against the average of goals given up rounded down to the next whole number.

Division Winners

All teams will play every other team within their specific division.  Each team will be awarded three points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss.  In accordance with NJYS rules, there will be no division winners for the U10 and younger teams.

The division winners and runners-up will be those teams with the most points and second most points.  In the event that two or more teams are tied for first and second place, the following tie-breaking rules will apply:

a. Head to head competition (does not apply if more than two teams are tied).
b. Bonus points – the winning team will be awarded bonus points for goal differential to a maximum of three points.  Thus, a team winning 3-0 or 6-3 or 5-1 would receive the maximum of three (3) bonus points.
c. Least goals scored against.
d. Most wins.
e. FIFA penalty kick procedure – To be taken on a designated field at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.  There will be no penalty kicks for U10 and younger teams.

Play-offs

The Berkeley Soccer Tournament Committee determines play-offs.  Head coaches will be notified of all details no later than registration (prior to the start of the tournament).  Semi-finals and finals will be played, if possible.  Some divisions may require a final only, eliminating the semi-final.  In accordance with NJYS rules, all U-10 and younger games are non-results oriented.  There will be NO playoffs.  All ties will stand.  There will be NO overtime and there will be NO penalty kicks shootout.

Play-offs – Overtime

In case of ties, two ten-minute overtime periods will be played.  Teams will change sides after the first 10-minute period.  If the game is tied after the overtime, FIFA penalty kick procedures will apply.  In accordance with NJYS rules, all U-10 and younger games are non-results oriented.  There will be NO playoffs.  All ties will stand.  There will be NO overtime and there will be NO penalty kicks shootout.
Sidelines

Players and coaches from both teams will take positions on the same side of the field.  All spectators will take positions on the opposite side of the field from the teams.

Coaches must remain within specially designated areas, which will be drawn on the sides of the field extending 10 yards in each direction from the mid-field line.  No coaching is allowed from the goal line.

Recreational soccer rules differ in that no coaches spectators behind goal and must stay on their side of the field near mid field.
Teams and parents must be situated on the same side of the field, Home Team and Parents on one side,
Visiting Team and Parents on opposite side of the field.

Golf Cart Policy

No person shall operate a golf cart without a valid NJ driver’s license.

Tournament Cancellation Policy

If the tournament is cancelled for any reason before the start of the tournament, 80% of a team’s entry fee will be refunded.  The reason for cancellation might include weather, field usage, or sponsoring organization management decision.

If the tournament is postponed or rescheduled, all teams that intend to withdraw from the revised date must respond in writing within 10 days of the notice date in order to qualify for a full refund of their entry fee.  All change notices will be sent via email in order to assure consistent notification of change.

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO VIEW A COPY OF THE TOURNAMENT APPLICATION.