35th ANNUAL
TAMPA BAY SUN BOWL INTERNATIONAL SOCCER TOURNAMENT
A FLORIDA YOUTH SOCCER ASSN. APPROVED TOURNAMENT
AFFILIATED WITH F.I.F.A., U.S.S.F., AND US YOUTH SOCCER
DECEMBER 28 - 31, 2012
TOURNAMENT COMPETITION RULES
- TEAM ELIGIBILITY - Teams must be registered to and affiliated with their National Organizations which are in turn affiliated with FIFA. United States teams may be affiliated with any USSF member, including a US Youth Soccer State Organization, US Club Soccer, AYSO, or the Super Y-League. Applications are invited from teams that are duly registered with these respective organizations. All teams and players accepted must have their rosters and players verified by their organization. Only approved players with player passes shall be allowed to play. Neither ODP nor Tournament teams will be allowed to compete.
The maximum number of players on any one team shall be 22, with a maximum of 18 named per game. Players may play on only one team during the Tournament; no switching of teams will be allowed.
Falsification of any information provided in the application process will result in the withdrawal of the invitation to compete.
In such a situation there will be no refund of any application fee that may have been paid. Additionally, the proper controlling organization will be advised of such conduct.
As a condition of acceptance, all teams, other than those from the local area, are required to make their hotel reservations through the Tournament’s designated travel agent.
- PLAYER ELIGIBILITY - A player must be legally registered to his team in accordance with his respective organization and must have a current and valid player pass that verifies his team and date of birth, including current player photo ID. Player passes will be presented to the referee before each game. All player passes will be checked by the credentials committee prior to the tournament.
Realizing that the tournament takes place over the Christmas Holidays, and not all members of a team may be able to participate, the Tampa Bay Sun Bowl committee has authorized a maximum of FIVE guest players for this tournament. The guest players must have current US Youth Soccer, Super Y-League, AYSO, or US Club Soccer player passes or permission from their National association. Guest players must be from the same National Association as the team they are guesting with (ie: Guest players to US Youth Soccer teams must play on US Youth Soccer passes, etc.)
All Guest Players-Replacement Players must meet the following criteria: (1) must be approved for participation by their respective governing body [USA teams] or by their National Federation [international teams]; and (2) must be registered with the appropriate state association or governing body [USA teams]+.
In addition, all international teams must provide at registration, in a format to be determined by the tournament, satisfactory evidence of insurance to cover any medical expenses that they, or their players, might incur.
For this tournament, the age classifications are as follows:
U – 19 Born on or after 8/1/94
U - 17 Born on or after 8/1/95
U - 16 Born on or after 8/1/96
U - 15 Born on or after 8/1/97
U – 14 Born on or after 8/1/98
U – 13 Born on or after 8/1/99
All teams are required to present player picture identification cards that have been issued by their governing body at registration and at all matches. The player's shirt number must be the same as the shirt number on the tournament roster. If the numbers are not the same, the referee is instructed not to let the player take part in the match until tournament officials resolve the matter.
3. PREGAME PROCEDURE - Before the game may begin:
A. 1. The coach of each team will present the team's roster, approved by the
tournament, and player and coaches passes to the referee.
2. The referee, or assistant referee, will verify the identity of the players with the
team roster.
3. Player’s equipment will be checked by the referee or assistant referee.
4. The home team will change their jersey in the case of color conflict. The home
team is listed first (on the left) in the schedule.
B. In no event will a referee allow a player to participate if said player is not on the tournament-approved roster.
C. A player who arrives at the playing field after the pre-game procedure may not enter the game until after being checked by the referee or assistant referee for player pass and equipment.
- LAWS OF THE GAME - All games shall be in accordance with the FIFA "Laws of
the Game", except as modified below.
LAW II - BALL SIZE - All participants will use size 5 balls, 27-28 inches in circumference, 14-16 ounces. Each team will be given a game ball at Tournament check-in, which is to be used for all games.
LAW III - NUMBER OF PLAYERS –
A. A player may be substituted on at a stoppage of play with the permission of the referee (NOTE: Tournament regulations may limit when substitutions may be made by specifying specific stoppages in play when substitutions can be made (ex: at goal kicks and corner kicks, on your team’s throw-ins, when a player is cautioned); otherwise substitutions may be made at any stoppage only with the permission of the referee
B. If the age group is 15 & under, free substitution is allowed. For age groups 16 years and older, free substitution is allowed providing the tournament is not an official competition (but a friendly club tournament) and the age category does not include matches between national teams of CONCACAF member countries.
LAW IV - PLAYER EQUIPMENT - All equipment must conform to F.Y.S.A. rules due to insurance regulations.
A. Casts and Braces: A player wearing an orthopedic cast shall not be eligible to participate in any game. A soft brace may be allowed if the player has a written statement from a physician stating that, in his/heropinion, the brace is necessary and that no further injury is likely to occur to the joint which is supported by the brace. The referee for each match will be the sole judge as to whether a brace is considered safe for that match.
B. Protective Equipment - All players in every age group will be required to wear FIFA approved protective shin guards at all times while actively participating in a game.
LAW V - REFEREES - The referee shall complete and submit the completed game report to the Site Director immediately following the game.
In the event that the assigned referee fails to appear, the senior assistant referee assigned shall become the referee. In the event that the referee and assistant referees fail to appear, the Site Director, together with the managers and/or coaches of the two teams, must find acceptable alternates. The game will be played as scheduled and will be deemed official. When any of the assigned officials fail to appear, the Site Director shall notify the Tournament Director as soon as possible.
LAW VI – ASSISTANT REFEREES - Two assistant referees will be used. In the event an assigned assistant referee fails to appear, the referee, together with the Site Director, must find a suitable alternate. The game will be played as scheduled and will be deemed official.
LAW VII - DURATION OF THE GAME - The duration of all round robin games, will be:
AGE GROUP GAME
Under - 13, 14 2 x 35’ = 70'
Under - 15, 16 2 x 40’ = 80'
Under - 17, 19 2 x 45’ = 90'
All round robin games will have ten (10) minute half time interval.
DURATION OF THE GAME - PLAYOFFS ONLY:
AGE GROUP GAME OVERTIME
Under –13 and 14 2 x 35’ = 70’ Direct to PKs
Under - 15 and 16 2 x 40' = 80' Direct to PKs
Under –17 and 19 2 x 45' = 90' Direct to PKs
All playoff games will have fifteen (15) minute half time interval.
In any FYSA sanctioned match a break will be given at the midpoint of each half of regulation time and at the end of each overtime period (if played) for player hydration. This break will be given at a normal stoppage of play and it is mandatory for any FYSA sanctioned match during which the air temperature is or is expected to reach eighty-five (85) degrees. Violation may result in charges under FYSA’s Code of Ethics. Game clock will continue to run during the breaks.
LAW VIII through LAW XVII - NO CHANGE
- CONTROL OF SIDELINE CONDUCT - Players, reserve players, managers, coaches, assistant coaches and fans are expected to conduct themselves within the letter and spirit of "THE LAWS OF THE GAME". The Site Directors have the authority and responsibility to remove any person(s) from the tournament for abuses of good conduct, in addition to any specific disciplinary action brought about by any other authority. In addition to good manners, the following rules will apply in this tournament:
A) While the game is in progress, the Manager/Coach and the reserve players must remain on their respective benches and not roam the sidelines.
B) Managers/Coaches will be responsible for the behavior of their fans.
C) Any serious complaints involving the misconduct of a team, its players, coaches or fans will be recorded by the Tournament Committee. This information will be reported to the controlling organization and the home club/league of the team, player, coach or fan involved, except that all matters regarding referee assault will, in accordance with USSF Rule 1108, be referred to the controlling organization and to the FYSA.
D) The controlling organization and the home club/league of the team, player, coach or fan involved will, except in the case of referee assault and/or abuse, have the responsibility for imposing, should the circumstances warrant, additional sanctions, within their respective jurisdictions, with regard to any matters arising from this tournament.
- POST GAME PROCEDURE - We ask that, as a mutual courtesy, both teams meet at center
circle and congratulate each other for a game well played.
A) Referees will insure the return of player passes (except for any player or coach ejected) to the respective manager/coach.
B) Managers/coaches of both teams will insure that their sideline area is clean and that all trash is in containers.
C) Referees will complete the game report and deliver it to the Site Director.
D) Referees will deliver an ejected player's or coach's pass with an infraction report to the Site Director.
E) Managers/Coaches of both Teams will sign the game report and or supplemental thus verifying the score and any misconduct as applicable.
- DISCIPLINE - A player or coach ejected will have an automatic one game suspension, and punitive measures as required by F.Y.S.A. Rule 502 will be imposed. Depending upon the severity of the unacceptable conduct, the Tournament Director may suspend the offending manager/coach/player for the duration of the tournament and/or recommend further disciplinary action by the appropriate controlling organization.
- DETERMINATION OF CHALLENGE ROUND - GROUP WINNERS - In group play, quarter finals and semifinals there will be no overtime games. Standings in a group, or the determination of wild card teams, if necessary, will be determined by the following method:
FIRST - Game points - 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. (Crossover games, if any, will be counted as games played).
SECOND - Head to head competition (including crossover games), if applicable.
THIRD - Net goal differential with a maximum of three goals for a game.
FOURTH - Least goals allowed.
LAST - Penalty kicks
To determine wild card teams selected from groups of different sizes, comparisons will be made using averages. That is, dividing game points, least goals allowed, and net goal differential by the number of games played within each group.
The Tournament Director will make all determinations of teams advancing; site directors
will not make them.The Tournament Director, to insure that two teams from the same group
will not play each other in the opening game of the subsequent round, will adjust schedules.
- DETERMINATION OF QUARTER FINAL, SEMI FINAL AND FINAL GAME WINNERS - In head-to-head competition, if the game is not decided after full time, penalty kicks will be taken in accordance with FIFA "Taking of Kicks From the Penalty Mark" (Knock-out competitions - obtaining a result). No overtimes will be played.
- FORFEITS - A team shall be allowed a fifteen (15) minute grace period from the scheduled kick-off time before awarding the game to their opponents. Once tournament play has begun, games not played for a team’s failure to show for a scheduled match, will be scored as a forfeit and result in disqualification from the remainder of the tournament by the team failing to show. For all purposes of this tournament, including Section 8 of these rules, a forfeit shall be counted as a game played, with a final score of 3-0. The Tournament Director, however, may reschedule a game under Section 13 of these rules, if appropriate. In accordance with the Laws of the Game, a team must have a minimum of seven (7) players for a match to be played or continued.
- PROTESTS / APPEALS - All protests will be ruled on by the Protest Committee, which will be
chaired by the Tournament Director. For a protest to be considered, the following procedures
will be followed:
A) No protest on referee judgment or discretion calls will be accepted. The referee's decisions on points of fact are final.
B) Verbal notification of intent to protest must be given to the Site Director and the referee of the match immediately following the game (within one hour).
C) All protests must be submitted in writing to the Site Director within two (2) hours following completion of the game.
D) All protests will be acted on as soon as possible.
E) The decision of the Tournament Protest Committee will be final.
- EXTERNAL CONDITIONS, WEATHER, ETC. - In the event adverse conditions, not limited to weather, necessitate rescheduling, curtailment, or cancellation of games, the Tournament Director, or his designee, shall have absolute authority to make these changes to best serve the interests of the tournament as a whole, keeping in mind the need to successfully identify winners within a certain time period.
13. REFUNDS OF ENTRY FEES - Refunds of entry fees, in whole or part, will be made in accordance with the following timetable:
· Refund within 5 days of cancellation of the tournament.
· A full refund within 5 days of notification of non-acceptance.
· A full refund, if withdrawal is before acceptances are posted on our website.
· A refund, less an administrative fee of $400, for withdrawals postmarked after acceptances are posted on our website, but before November 1st.
· A refund, less an administrative fee of $600, for withdrawals postmarked after November 1st, but before November 15th.
· No refunds for withdrawals after November 15th.
In order to fairly administer this refund policy, withdrawals must be in writing, not emailed, and must be POSTMARKED by the respective dates above. POSTAGE METER DATES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.
- GENERAL
A) The Tournament Committee will not be responsible for any expense incurred by any team
due to the cancellation in whole or part of this tournament.
B) The Tournament Committee's interpretation of the foregoing rules and regulations shall
befinal.
C) The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all tournament matters.
15. TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS
The tournament headquarter location will be published on our website and included in the teams’
notice of acceptance. The Director of the Tournament is Mike McIver; he can be contacted by
16. TOURNAMENT CHECK-IN AND COACHES MEETING
Each team is required to be present at the Tournament check-in and Coach’s meeting on the
evening, December 27th. Location will be included in team’s acceptance package and posted on
