CATARAQUI CLIPPERS AMBASSADOR CUP
TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Registration Requirements
All teams must be registered with their provincial, national or state association. All teams from outside of the Southeastern Ontario Soccer Association (SOSA) District must supply, no later than one week before the tournament date, a permission to travel form from their home district. All teams from outside of Ontario must present evidence of adequate travel, injury, and liability insurance. The Tournament will not liable for injuries to any participant on or off the fields during the tournament.
All teams must register either Friday evening at the Ambassador Hotel or Saturday morning, at least one hour before their first game, at Woodbine Park. Players are not required to attend registration.
Official player books/cards, with photograph, are to be presented at time of registration, along with a completed copy of the Tournament Roster and five completed game sheets. Player books must be available at all games in case of disputes.
2. Cancellations
Any team that withdraws from the tournament after the entry deadline will not be entitled to a refund of their entry fee.
Neither the Cataraqui Clippers Soccer Club nor the Tournament Committee will be responsible for any expenses incurred by teams, players or parents, in the event of the cancellation of the tournament in whole or in part.
3. Roster
Team rosters will be limited to 18 players for U12-U18 and 14 players for U-9, U10 and U-11. Players may play for only one team in the tournament.
Teams are permitted to use up to three (3) guest players from other clubs. A Temporary Registration Permit from the player’s District Assoc. must be presented, at registration, for each guest player. Players ‘playing up’ from the same club as the team only need to provide evidence (player card or team roster) that they are from the same club. Players may not ‘play down’ (i.e. a Regional/Elite player may not play in an exclusively Premier Division or a Premier player may not play in an exclusively Division 1 group.
Regional/Elite divisions will only be run if there are sufficient entries at that level. If there are not sufficient entries at this level these teams may be moved up an age and /or level to provide fair competition in the tournament.
Teams that play in a provincial league (OYSL/LSEQ) will play up at the highest level in the next higher age group. The tournament committee reserves the right to place any team in the category deemed appropriate by the committee.
4. Weather
If severe thunderstorms occur, coaches and teams must present themselves at the designated tournament control centre at each park or they will forfeit the game. If the referee or Tournament Committee concludes that the conditions are hazardous to the players, play will be suspended until the conditions are judged to be safe.
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to shorten games in order to ensure that all games are played. The Committee may also, if necessary, cancel a game tat does not affect the final standings.
If a game is terminated due to bad weather after the first half has been completed, the score at termination will stand.
Each team must provide, at registration, a contact phone number (cell, hotel) through which the team can be reached during the tournament.
5. Forfeits
A team which is unable to field seven players (or five in U-9, U-10 and U-11) within ten minutes of the official start time will forfeit the game unless a reason acceptable to the Tournament Committee can be presented. The forfeited game will be recorded as a 2-0 win. If a team forfeits its last game of the round-robin series, all games played by that team will be declared void and all their opponents are given a 2-0 win and 3 points. The offending team will be liable for a fine of $100 payable within 30 days. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action being taken.
6. Protests
All protests must be in writing and submitted with a $100 cash bond to the Tournament Control Centre, within 30 minutes of the finish of the game to which the protest relates. The Tournament Discipline Committee will rule on the protest and the cash deposit will be refunded only if the protest is upheld.
All referee’s decisions are final. No protests will be allowed based on referee decisions.
7. Home Teams
The team listed first on the schedule shall be considered the home team. The home team shall provide a suitable game ball for each home game.
8. Tournament Standings
In round-robin competition, 3 points will be awarded for a win and 1 point for a tie. The team with the most points will be declared first in round-robin competition, the team with the next highest points second and so on. In the event of two teams finishing with the same number of points, the following tie-breaking criteria will be used:
1. Winner of the game between the tied teams;
2. Least goals against;
3. Goals for minus goals against;
4. FIFA penalty shoot out.
If three teams are tied after round robin games, the above criteria will be used to
identify the top team out of the three and then the remaining two-way tie will be
broken by reapplying the above criteria, starting, again, with step #1.
9. Substitutions
Substitutions will be allowed on goal kicks, goals, halftime, injuries, and your own throw-ins (or kick-ins for U-9). If a team substitutes on its own throw-in, the opposing team may also substitute at that point. On injuries, substitution will be allowed for the injured player only.
10. Colour Clashes
Each team should have two different coloured sets of shirts. The home team will change in the event of a colour clash.
11. Duration of Games
All games will consist of two twenty-five minute halves, with a five minute halftime break.
Tied games in Semi-finals: Go directly to FIFA penalty rule.
Tied games in Finals: Two five minute periods of Sudden Death Golden Goal extra time with no halftime break. If the game is still tied the FIFA penalty rule will be used.
12. Rules for Mini-Soccer (U-9, U-10, U-11)
U-9: There are no offsides. All free kicks are direct. Kick-ins rather than throw-ins.
U-10: There are no offsides. Free kicks are direct. Throw-ins are used.
U-11: Offside rule is used. Throw-ins are used. Free kicks can be direct or indirect.
NOTE: All three (U-9. U-10, U-11) divisions will play seven aside.
13. Discipline
If a player receives a red card, he/she will be ejected and automatically suspended for the next game. A red card for violent conduct will result in a three game suspension. If a player receives two yellow cards during the same game he/she will be ejected and suspended for the next game. Three yellows during the tournament will result in a one game suspension. If a team official is asked to leave the field of play, he/she will automatically receive a next game suspension.
All suspensions will be reported to the team’s home District Association and to the OSA.
14. Tournament Format
The Tournament Committee, if deemed necessary, reserves the right to change the format of the tournament.
15. Equipment
Shin pads and proper uniform attire are mandatory.
Ball size: U12 and under will use a size 4 ball.
U13 and over will use a size 5 ball.
16. Participation awards will be limited to players listed on the roster sheet at registration.
