REGISTRATION
State
roster, player passes and medical release forms for each player must be
presented at
registration.
Teams may have no more than:
U10
to U12's = 14 players max.
U13
to U15's = 18 players max.
U16
+ = 22 players max.
Three
guest players will be permitted as long as they are currently USYSA registered
and possess a stamped player
pass
card in the correct age group. Permission to travel forms must be received for
all teams
traveling
from outside the state of Vermont. Players can only be listed on one team’s
tournament roster.
A.
Ball Size:
U-13
to U-19: Size
5
U-10
to U-12: Size
4
B.
Game Duration:
U13
to U-19 (11v11) 2
x 30 min. halves Half time – 5 min.
U-11
to U-12 (8v8) 2
x 25 min. halves Half time - 5 min.
U10
(7v7) 2
x 20 min halves Half time - 10 min.
Game
clock will not stop for injuries, subs, late arrivals, etc. No extra time
awarded.
C.
Substitutions: Substitutions may be made at any stoppage of
play with the referee’s permission.
D.
Home Team: Team
listed first is the designated Home Team and must change jerseys
when
the referee determines a conflict to exist.
E.
Forfeits: No
grace period allowed. The score will be counted 4-0. Game clock will start
even
if teams are not on the field at their designated time at the beginning of the
1st or
2nd
half.
F.
Inclement Weather: The
Tournament Rules Committee reserves the right to make the
following
changes in the event of inclement weather:
1)
Relocate
and/or reschedule a match;
2)
Change
a division structure;
3)
Reduce
scheduled duration of a match;
4)
Cancel
a match.
In
the event of inclement weather forcing play to be halted and preventing the
match
from
completing during the scheduled time, the score shall stand if at least
one-half of the
match
has been completed.
The
lightning
policy for
the tournament is as follows:
At
the first visible sign of lightning or sound of thunder (regardless of the
estimated
distance
from the field) all play will be stopped and players and spectators will be
asked to
move
to a safe location. For all games that were in progress the game clock will
continue
to
run. If time runs out and the game was at or past half time when play was
stopped the
result
at the time of play being stopped will stand. If the game had not reached half
time,
the
game will be rescheduled or canceled.
Play
will not resume until 30 minutes after the last visible lightning or audible
thunder
(regardless
of the estimated distance from the field). When play is resumed the game
scheduled
closest to the time play was resumed will begin.
When
play is stopped or resumed due to lightning is at the sole discretion of the
referees
and
the tournament committee and strict adherence to the above policy will be
enforced
by
the referees and tournament officials. Personal safety is the number one
concern of the
tournament
and it will supersede any game situation.
G.
Players Equipment: All
players must wear shin guards. Splints or casts will be allowed
if
appropriately padded (with referees’ permission).
H.
Rules for Advancement: Game points - 3 points for a win, 1 point for a
tie, and 0 points
for
a loss. If teams are tied in the standings, the following criteria will be used
to determine
the
team’s order of finish and/or placement in any subsequent playoffs including
Wildcard
draws:
1.
Head
to Head competition (used only if 2 teams tied);
2.
Goal
differential (maximum 4 goal difference per game);
3.
Goals
scored (maximum 4 per game);
4.
Fewest
goals allowed;
5.
FIFA
Penalty kicks
When
the tiebreaker system is used, the criteria are followed from 1 through 5 until
only
one
team remains.
I.
Game Scores: The
referee will turn in scores with game summary. Posting can be
found
at Tournament Central (The Essex Tree Farm) and on the official Nordic Cup
website
—
nordicsoccer.org.
J. Resolving ties in
playoff/championship matches: If the match is tied
at the end of
regulation time, the
teams will be given a five minute rest and then two five minute overtime periods
will be played to completion. This applies to all age groups. If still
tied after the two overtime periods
are completed, the
winner will be decided using the FIFA penalty kick procedure.
K. Divisions: U10s
play four games with no playoffs. Each non-U10 team will play 3 qualifying
round matches followed by
playoffs as defined. Wildcard is defined as “the team with
the most points who has not
qualified for playoffs by winning their group.”
L.
Protests: There
will be no protests. All officiating decisions are final.
M.
Officiating: Qualified
officials will referee each game. Most games will be officiated by
a
referee and two assistants, although availability of qualified officials might
necessitate
use
of fewer linesmen at some games played by the youngest age groups.
N.
Sideline Behavior: Both
teams will sit on the same side of the field. Only coaches and
trainers
may stay on the player’s sideline. Harassment of the officials from coaches and
spectators
will not be tolerated and is grounds for said person to be ejected from the
facility.
O.
Ejection: If
a player or a coach receives a red card or two yellow cards during a match,
that
player or coach will sit out their next match. A coach must leave the field
immediately
upon
receiving a red card or two yellow cards, and must remain away from the field
during
his
team’s next match.
P.
Field Marshals: Field
Marshals will be present at all fields. All participants should be
aware
that the Marshals have the authority and right to remove any unruly or uncivil
spectators
from
the game field perimeter and/or the field site/facility.
Zero Tolerance
Policy
All
individuals responsible for a team and all spectators shall support the
referee. Failure to
do
so can undermine the referee’s authority and create a hostile environment for
players,
coaches,
referees, and spectators. Therefore, the Nordic Cup Tournament has adopted the
following
rule:
No
one is to address the referees during the game.
A.
Individuals responsible for a team (coach and assistant coaches)
Exceptions:
During
the game:
•
Responding to communication initiated by a referee
•
Requesting substitutions
•
Informing a referee of an emergency situation or safety issue
At
halftime or at the conclusion of a game:
•
A coach or assistant coach can ask in a polite manner for a referee to explain
a
law of the game.
Enforcement:
1st
infraction: The
referee shall stop the game to remind the coach or assistant
coach
of Nordic’s Zero Tolerance Policy.
2nd
infraction: The
referee shall stop the game to issue a caution to the coach or
assistant
and show the Yellow Card.
3rd
infraction: The
referee shall stop the game to issue an ejection to the coach or
assistant
and show the Red Card. The referee shall instruct the coach or assistant to
leave
the vicinity of the field. Vicinity of the field is understood to mean out of
sight
and
sound of the match. If the coach or assistant coach fails to leave the vicinity
of
the
field, the referee shall abandon the game.
B.
Spectators
Exceptions:
During
the game:
•
When the referee initiates communication
•
Informing a referee of an emergency situation or safety issue
Enforcement:
1st
infraction: The
referee shall stop the game to have the coach remind the
spectator
of Nordic’s Zero Tolerance Policy.
2nd
infraction: The
referee shall stop the game to have the coach inform the
spectator
that if there is a subsequent infraction, the spectator shall be ejected or the
referee
shall abandon the game.
Nordic Spirit Soccer Club 