Rules and Regulations

All matches will be played under the FIFA Laws as amended by USYSA and as noted below.

TEAM AND PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

All teams must be currently registered with their state, national or provincial association.  Teams from outside of Indiana will need to provide travel permission forms.  Teams may carry a roster of no more than the number of players listed below under “Maximum roster size”.  Each team is allowed three (3) guest players.  Players may not be double rostered on any teams.  All players must have a valid USSF/USYSA id card.  NO roster changes may be made after the team roster has been approved at tournament registration.

AGE DIVISIONS

Players must be born on or after August 1 of their respective year.  U9 – 2001, U10 – 2000, U11 – 1999, U12 – 1998, U13 – 1997, U14 – 1996, U15, 1995, U16 – 1994, U17 – 1993, U18 – 1992, U19 - 1991.  The tournament committee reserves the right to combine divisions.

MATCH FORMAT AND DURATION OF MATCHES

Home team is required to provide appropriate match ball.  The home team is listed first.  The clock shall be a running clock for all matches.  The clock will not stop except for serious injuries.  The matches will be played using FIFA Rules as modified by Indiana Youth Soccer Associations including modifications listed below:

Age

Match Format (1)

Maximum Roster Size

Ball Size

Match Length (2)

Offside Called?

Goalkeeper Distribution

U9/U10

6 v 6

12

4

Two 25 minute halves

No

Restricted (3)

U11/U12

8 v 8

14

4

Two 30 minute halves

Yes

FIFA Rules

U13 and Up

11 v 11

18

5

Two 35 minute halves

Yes

FIFA Rules
  • The number of the players on the field includes the goalkeeper.
  • All matches will include a five (5) minute halftime.
  • For U9 and U10, if the Goalkeeper puts the ball, the ball must touch the ground or another player before crossing the midline.  Restart is an Indirect Free kick from the midline of the opponent.

 

UNIFORMS

Each player must wear appropriate shin guards and an official uniform with a number on the back.  No team may have players with duplicate numbers.  The home team should wear their light colored jersey and the away team their dark colored jersey.  When uniform colors are similar, the home team will change colors.  Home team is listed first.  Goalkeepers must have a different color jersey from their team and the referees.

REFEREES

The referee assignor will make every effort to provide a center referee and 2 Assistant Referees for all matches (U11 and above).  Midwest Soccer Classic Tournament Committee, (MSCTC) reserves the right to use a one (1) man system for U9 and U10 games.

START OF MATCH


The referee will call captains and a coin will be flipped.  The team winning toss will choose which end of the field they wish to attack.

SUBSTITUTIONS

  • Unlimited
  • Before a throw-in in your favor.  If the opposing team is also on the line, both teams can enter
  • After a goal by either team
  • Before a goal kick by either team
  • At half-time or before a start of any overtime period
  • In case of injury or stoppage in play – with the referee’s permission

SEND OFFS AND EXPULSIONS
Any player sent off or coach expelled from a match will be ineligible for that team’s next match.  At the time of the send off no substitution will be allowed for the sent off.  Anyone fighting can be subjected to ineligibility from further tournament participation.  Coaches and player passes will be retained by the tournament staff and returned to the team once the coach/player has served his/her suspension.  The team coach is responsible for picking up the pass once the suspension is completed.

FAILURE TO SHOW AND FORFEITS
A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a U13 and above team, six (6) players for an U11 or U12 team and four (4) players for a U9 or U10 team.  A five minute grace period will be extended beyond kick-off time before a forfeit will be declared.  The Tournament Directors will make a final decision as to whether a forfeit will declared depending on extenuating circumstances that may have prevented a team from making a match on time.  If a forfeit is determined, the winning team will be awarded a score of 4-0 and will receive the appropriate points for that match.  At the discretion of the Tournament Director, a team forfeiting a match may be eliminated from qualifying for the trophy match.

PROTESTS
Protests must be submitted in writing to the tournament headquarters within one hour of the match completion.  It must be accompanied by a $100 bond that will be refunded should the protest be upheld.  A referee’s judgment or decision is not basis for a protest.

 

U9 AND U10 GAMES
Each U9 and U10 team will play a festival format.  Each U9 and U10 team will play in a four (4) game round robin format with no championship match (weather and field conditions permitting).  MSCTC may use the one (1) man referee system for all U9 and U10 games.

TEAM SCORING FORMAT
The following procedure will be used to determine a group winner.  Three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) points for a loss.  In the event of ties in the final point standings the following sequence will be used:

  • Head to head competition between teams that are tied (skip to #2 if three (3) or more teams are tied;
  • Best goal differential for all matches – up to four (4) per match;
  • Fewest goals allowed;
  • Most goals scored – up to four (4) per match
  • Kicks from the penalty mark per FIFA procedures.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Should the championship match end in a tie at the end of regulation, two (2) five (5) minute overtime periods will be played.  In the event of a tie at the conclusion of the two (2) overtimes, then kicks from the penalty mark will determine the winner.  Per FIFA procedures, kicks from the mark will start with five (5) players from each team and if still tied will continue until sudden death penalty kick.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
MSCTC will make every effort to play all matches in full.  However, MSCTC has the right to either shorten and/or to cancel matches due to climactic conditions or other acts of nature that are beyond our control.  In the event of a severe delay or unplayable fields and the match cannot be completed, all matches that have reached halftime shall be considered complete.  Otherwise, all incomplete matches that did not reach halftime or could not be played shall be considered a 0-0 tie.  Vigo County Youth Soccer Association, (VCYSA) has an early lightening detection system and will alert the facility with a loud blast of an air horn.  Two loud blasts will signal the all clear to return to the fields.

CANCELLATION POLICY
If the tournament is cancelled due to events beyond the control of MSCTC, the tournament or VCYSA will not be required to make any financial remuneration.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AND SEVERE WEATHER
MSCTC will make every effort to play all championship matches in full.  However, MSCTC has the right to either shorten and/or to cancel championship matches due climactic conditions or other acts of nature which are beyond our control.  If a championship match cannot be completed due to severe weather or unplayable fields, the mach shall be considered complete at any time the match is terminated and the champion declared.  MSCTC reserves the right to use kicks from the penalty mark as an emergency method to determine a champion if the fields are not playable, or use a tie-breaker system as determined by the MSCTC.  There will be no refunds for championship matches shortened or cancelled due to climatic conditions or other acts of nature which are beyond our control.

COACH/PLAYER/SPECTATOR CONDUCT
All participants in the Midwest Soccer Classic will be expected to maintain high standards of conduct during their stay in the Terre Haute area.  These standards are expected of players, coaches, spectators, referees and other guests in the hotels and motels, keeping noise in the hallways to a minimum refraining from kicking soccer balls inside any of the buildings and being respectful of the property of others.  Should it come to the attention of the MSCTC that a person (or persons) has failed to observe these guidelines the MSCTC reserves the right to take punitive action.  Said action depending upon the circumstances, may range from a warning, a reduction of points in the standings or banning that team and/or all teams in its club from future participation in the tournament.  There shall be no dissent between players and/or coaches and the referees.  Such abuse will not be tolerated.  Violation may result in forfeiture of the match and/or expulsion from further play.  Any player or coach ejected from a game will not be eligible to play in the next scheduled match.  If dismissed in the last match, the card will be returned to the manager after the referee fills out the red card report.  All coaches will remain twenty (20) yards of the centerline on their half of the field, on the side opposite the team’s spectators.  Spectators will remain a minimum of six (6) feet from the touchline.  Spectators may be ejected from the match site for improper conduct at the discretion of MSCTC or the referee.  Artificial noisemakers are not permitted.

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE
MSCTC will enforce rules as written, but the committee reserves the right to amend any rule as necessary to accommodate unanticipated problems before and during the tournament.  The decision of the committee will be final.

ADDITIONAL CLUB SAFETY RULES

  • VCYSA is a tobacco free facility
  • No alcohol, or profanity is allowed at the VCYSA facility
  • No climbing on nets or goals
  • No grills are allowed at the VCYSA facility
  • Park only in designated areas
  • Do not set up sun tents in overflow parking areas
  • Parents are responsible for their children at all times
  • No golf carts
  • NO PETS ALLOWED