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GENERAL INFORMATION
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TOURNAMENT RULES (PDF)
OVERSIGHT
The Tournament Directors' interpretation of all rules shall be final and binding. The Tournament Directors reserve the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the tournament including matters not covered explicitly by the rules and any interpretation of these rules.
ACCEPTED TEAMS
When teams are accepted they will be posted on the tournament information page on the MSC web site (www.manhattansc.org).
SCHEDULES
There will be a link on the home page when the schedules are posted.
REFUND POLICY
If your team is accepted to play in the MSC tournament and later withdraws, the registration fee is non-refundable and sanctions may be placed against your team for participation in future tournaments. Should the tournament be canceled in advance, up to the time of the first scheduled games, Manhattan Soccer Club will refund 100% of the registration fee. If the tournament is canceled after games have begun to be played, no refunds will be given. In the event of cancellation, the registration fee will be returned within 30 days. Manhattan Soccer Club will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team, club or individual if the tournament is cancelled in the whole or part.
FORMAT
In the opening round games, teams are placed into flights and brackets based on the number of accepted applicants. Each team is guaranteed a minimum of three games. Bracket winners will advance to an elimination stage of the tournament – either a final game or semi-final and final games – until one team is crowned champion. Trophies and/or medals will be awarded to all finalists. Most teams will play two games on the first day of the tournament but field limitations and playoffs may require some teams to play one game on the first day and up to three on the second.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event of extraordinary weather conditions, the Tournament Directors shall have the authority to change the format as follows:
- Relocate and reschedule any game
- Reduce by up to 50% the scheduled duration of any game
- Consider a game complete that has been called by the official with 25% or less remaining un-played
- Cancel any preliminary game(s) having no bearing on flight winner selection
ROSTERS
Each team must submit their official roster at registration. U10 teams (8v8) may enter with a maximum of 14 players; U11 teams (9v9) with a maximum of 16 players. All other teams (11v11) may register a roster up to the maximum permitted under their affiliation - USYSA or US Club Soccer. For each game, a team may dress a maximum of 18 players.
Rosters may not be changed during the tournament.
ELIGIBILITY, REQUIRED FORMS, AND REGISTRATION
All participating USYSA teams must be currently registered with their state association. All participating US Club teams must be currently registered with US Club Soccer. All players must be born no earlier than the oldest date for the age division in which they are to compete.
USYSA teams may roster up to the maximum permitted for their age. US Club Soccer teams may roster up to 25 players. A maximum of three (3) guest players will be allowed on a team but only to bring the number of players on the approved roster for the tournament to a maximum of 18. That is, no guest players are permitted on any team with a tournament roster of more than 18. E.g. if a team has three guest players, it may have no more than 15 regularly rostered players.
A "guest player" is a player who is not on the official current roster of the USYSA or US Club team registering him/her for the MSC tournament, who has a player pass from a team other than the one that will compete in the tournament, and who has the proper release from the team with which s/he is currently rostered.
All players must be registered and carded by their state association or with US Club Soccer. A player can play for only one team during the tournament.
At registration all teams must present 1) an official roster (US Club or USYSA) listing each player and their jersey number, 2) a medical release for each player, 3) a pass for each player, 4) a release for each guest player.
For USYSA teams, player passes must be duly authorized by the state registrar and include a photo. Additionally all USYSA teams other than those from ENY, CT or NJ must present a Permission to Travel Form.
Regardless of the number of players on a roster, for each game, a maximum of 18 players are eligible to play. All US Club teams and any USYSA team with a roster of more than 18 players must give a copy of their official roster to the referee for each game to identify which rostered players are eligible. Only players eligible for that game may be on the team sideline.
The Tournament Directors reserve the right to check player cards and rosters during the tournament. A team found at any time to be in violation or attempting to violate the roster or guest player provisos will forfeit all matches played with illicit roster(s) and/or player(s), and sanctions may be placed against the team for participation in future tournaments.
GAME REPORTS
The center referee is responsible for confirming the game result. Both coaches must sign the Game Report at the end of the game. Results must be promptly reported by the referee to the field marshal who will report to the site headquarters.
LIABILITY
All teams are responsible for their own insurance. The Manhattan Soccer Club and its Tournament Directors will not be liable for injury incurred at any time during the tournament including during games or warm-up, nor in travel to or from the tournament.
PROTESTS
No protests will be accepted. All referee decisions are final.
RULES OF PLAY
All games shall be played in accordance with the current FIFA Laws Of The Game and ENYYSA and USYSA laws, except as specifically modified by the tournament rules. As stated in Law 5, “each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws Of The Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed.”
HOME TEAM
Reading left to right, or top to bottom, the Home team appears first on the game schedule. The Visiting team (the team listed second) will kick off at the beginning of the game and the home team will select the end to defend. The home team should make that choice BEFORE the end of the prior game. Both teams should position their equipment and players appropriately so that there is no delay in beginning the game.
Teams must carry alternate jerseys or pinnies to accommodate color conflicts. The Home team will switch if there is a conflict as decided by the referee. In some cases the Visiting team may be asked to switch.
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
All uniforms must be numbered and adhere to FIFA Laws Of The Game, specifically Law 4. All players listed on the roster must have different numbers. In the event of cold weather, it is permissible for field players to wear gloves, soft, brimless headgear, and sweatshirts and/or sweatpants under their team uniform.
U17 to U13 age groups will use size 5 balls. U12 to U9 will use size 4.
OPPOSITE SIDES
Both teams must position their equipment and players on the team sideline and on opposite sides of the midfield line so that there is no delay in beginning the game.
All spectators and persons not listed on the team roster for that game will occupy the side of the field opposite to the teams while the match is being played.
A team’s coaches and players are restricted to their half of the team sideline between the penalty box and midfield. No one (coach, player, or spectator) may sit or stand behind either goal line.
The Field Marshall shall manage the positioning of the teams and spectators if not done by the referee crew for the game.
DURATION OF THE MATCH
The U12-U16 division games will consist of two 30-minute periods. The U10 and U11 divisions will have two 25-minute periods. Half-time (from whistle to whistle) will be no more than five (5) minutes. There will be 5 minutes from the end of one game to the start of the next game. Teams must be ready to take the field immediately after the end of the prior game. Playoff games, if tied at the end of regulation time, will go directly to penalty kicks. The Tournament Directors reserve the right to shorten halves to 28 minutes to account for time constraints.
Because of tight time considerations, referees will be directed not to add any injury time to matches.
If a team fails to appear or fails to have the minimum number of players within a 10-minute grace period, the referee will declare the game a forfeit, and the field marshall will report the forfeit to the official scorer as a 1-0 win (by forfeit) for the team that shows up at the field.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions may be made without limit, from the midfield line on the players’ side, with the permission and at the discretion of the referee, as follows:
- After a goal is scored
- On a goal kick
- On a throw-in by either team
- At restart of play after the half
- On a corner kick by either team {allowing it on free kicks is too easy to abuse}
- For a yellow carded player
- For an injured player who is bleeding and must leave the match for treatment. (The opposing team may also substitute one player.) The injured player may return after treatment only after being checked by the referee or assistant referee.
- There will be no substitutions for a player who has received a red card and has been ordered from the field by the referee.
- During the last 5 minutes of a match the referee may restrict substitutions if s/he considers the substitution to be time-wasting.
CONDUCT
Players, coaches and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the game as well as the letter of the Laws Of The Game, specifically Law 12. Coaches are responsible for their conduct and for the conduct of their players and spectators.
It is expected that each team will participate in the customary handshake. Teams are encouraged to exchange patches or pins following each game.
Coaches who are ejected from a game and spectators ordered away from the pitch by the referee must leave the field area until the next match begins. Players who are ejected shall be removed from the team side of the field provided a responsible adult can supervise the player. If an adult is unavailable, the player shall remove their jersey – to be clear they are no longer eligible players - and may remain in the bench area.
Any player receiving a straight red card or any coach who is ejected from a game will be ineligible for the next scheduled game.
For players receiving a second yellow card or spectators removed from the grounds, the Tournament Directors will determine the sanction.
One bonus point will be deducted for each straight red card issued to any player, and for any coach ejected from the game or from the event. The Tournament Directors may take further action against the individual(s) or the team(s) receiving red cards or being ejected from a game.
Dogs are not permitted on any field nor within any tournament field area.
Alcoholic beverages and smoking are strictly forbidden at game sites.
RULES GOVERNING COMPETITION
PRELIMINARY ROUND
In the preliminary round, teams will play three games (two games in 6-team flights) within their own bracket in a round robin format. Ties will stand during the preliminary round. Forfeiting a game makes a team ineligible for the finals.
DETERMINING BRACKET WINNERS
Teams will be awarded primary points on the following basis:
- Three (3) points for a win (including a win by forfeit)
- One (1) point for a tie
- Zero (0) points for a loss
In the event of a tie on primary points within a bracket, the following criteria will be used to determine the team that advances:
1. Head to head result (not used if three (3) or more teams are tied)
2. Bonus Points (*see below)
3. Most Wins
4. Fewest Goals Allowed
5. Most goals Scored
* Bonus Points: In the event of a tie after head to head competition, Bonus Points will be awarded for the following:
- Goal differential to a maximum of three (3) Bonus Points per game
- One (1) Bonus Point for each shutout (no Bonus Points are awarded in a 0-0 tie)
Example 1: A 5-2 win would result in three (3) bonus points based on goal differential.
Example 2: A 3-0 win would result in four (4) bonus points based on goal differential (3) and shutout (1). Four Bonus Points would be the maximum amount awarded per game.
Note: One Bonus Point deducted for each straight red card given to a player or substitute player. One Bonus Point will be deducted for each coach ejected from a game or from the event.
In the event of a tie on Primary Points among three (3) or more teams, if the above procedure reduces the number of tied teams but does not produce a clear winner, the procedure is started again from the first tie-break (i.e. head to head competition) with those teams still tied. If a tie between two teams cannot be resolved, a coin toss administered by a tournament official or referee will determine the bracket result. If three or more teams remain tied, use a sequence of coin tosses, two teams at a time taken in alphabetical order to resolve the tie.
PLAYOFFS
At the end of the preliminary round, an elimination stage will include either a final match or two semi-finals and a final, depending on the number of teams in a flight.
In a 4-team flight, the finalists will be the first and second place teams.
In a 6-team flight, the semi-final matches will be played between the first place teams in each bracket versus the second place teams in the opposite bracket. The winners of the semifinals play in the final. There will be a consolation match to provide the third game for the last place teams in each bracket.
In an 8-team flight, the finalists will be the first place teams in each bracket.
In a 12-team flight, the semifinalists will be the first place teams in each of the three brackets plus the best second place team. Semi-final winners play in the final. There is no third place game.
PLAYOFF ROUND TIES
If the score is tied at the end of regulation time in a playoff game, the match will be determined by kicks from the penalty mark under FIFA rules for Procedures To Determine The Winner Of A Match.
Players may not leave the field at the end of play. Because of time constraints, the referees will be instructed to complete the taking of PKs as rapidly as possible.
Only players on the field may take a kick. If one team has more players on the field, that team must reduce their number on the field to equal their opponent. Each team designates five players and the order they will kick. If after both teams have taken five kicks, the score is tied, kicks continue to be taken until one team has scored a goal more. Each kick is taken by a different player and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick.
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