NORDIC CUP TOURNAMENT RULES & POLICIES:
Table of Contents REGISTRATION .................................................................................................................................... 2 RULES ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 AGE GROUPS/ROSTER SIZE/FORMAT OF PLAY/GAME LENGTH ................................. 2 TOURNAMENT SECTIONS ............................................................................................................... 3 NUMBER OF GAMES/GAME LENGTH ........................................................................................ 3 GAME SCHEDULES ............................................................................................................................ 3 OFFICIATING ......................................................................................................................................... 3 INCLEMENT WEATHER .................................................................................................................... 4 SUBSTITUTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 5 MAXIMUM GOAL DIFFERENTIAL ................................................................................................. 5 FORFEITS ............................................................................................................................................... 5 ADVANCEMENT TO CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY ............................................................................ 5 SEMI-FINALS ......................................................................................................................................... 6 CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES .................................................................................................................. 6 PLAYER SAFETY ................................................................................................................................. 6 UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT ........................................................................................................ 6 FIELD MARSHALS .............................................................................................................................. 7 TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND COMMITTEE ......................................................................... 7 PROTESTS ............................................................................................................................................. 7 REFUND POLICY ................................................................................................................................. 7 DISCLAIMER .......................................................................................................................................... 7 1
NORDIC CUP TOURNAMENT RULES & POLICIES:
REGISTRATION
Teams must register at the mandatory registration. The registration will be held on
Friday, June 17th from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM at:
Best Western Plus Windjammer Inn and Conference Center
1076 Williston Road, South Burlington, Vermont, 05403
OR teams can register at their field one hour prior to their first game. Please check in
with the site director.
RULES
FIFA Laws are in effect, with modifications as published below. Website rules
supersede all other published Tournament Rules.
AGE GROUPS/ROSTER SIZE/FORMAT OF PLAY/GAME LENGTH
The age group structure as established by US Soccer will govern. All players (including
guest players) must have been born on or after the specified date for their age
classification.
Age Group
Roster Max
Format
Length
U10: August 1, 2005
14
7v7
25-minute halves
U11: August 1, 2004
15
8v8
25-minute halves
U12: August 1, 2003
15
8v8
25-minute halves
U13: August 1, 2002
22 (18 dress)
11v11
30-minute halves
U14: August 1, 2001
22 (18 dress)
11v11
30-minute halves
U15: August 1, 2000
22 (18 dress)
11v11
30-minute halves
U16: August 1, 1999
22 (18 dress)
11v11
30-minute halves
U17: August 1, 1998
22 (18 dress)
11v11
30-minute halves
U18: August 1, 1997
22 (18 dress)
11v11
30-minute halves
U19: August 1, 1996
22 (18 dress)
11v11
30-minute halves
ROSTER AND PLAYER PASSES
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Current player passes for all players must be presented and verified against the team
roster at tournament registration or at any time as requested by the referee or
tournament committee. Teams should be prepared to present player passes at any time
during the tournament.
• A valid roster (from US Youth Soccer or other Soccer Organizational Member)
must be presented at registration.
• Teams must maintain medical release forms for all players in a form adequate for
use at the site of the tournament. They must be presented at registration, and
kept at the field during all team activities.
• Players may only be rostered to ONE team entered in the tournament.
• Each team is allowed three (3) guest players. The total number of guest players
may be waived by the tournament director in advance of Nordic Cup. Guest
players may only appear on ONE roster.
TOURNAMENT SECTIONS
There will be multiple divisions at each age level: Premier and Club Teams.
NUMBER OF GAMES/GAME LENGTH
Subject to weather and other conditions beyond the control of the Tournament
Committee, each team entering the tournament is guaranteed 3 qualifying games
(unless a team forfeits). Qualifying and playoff game length is listed above, with one 5minute half time interval. There will be no extension of time for substitutions, injuries or
balls out of play, mandated water breaks – the play clock will run continuously. At the
conclusion of each game the two coaches and the referee will sign the scorecard
attesting to the game score. If any game is terminated after one half of play, the score at
the time will stand and the game will be considered official. Teams named first in the
schedule will be considered the home team. Home team must change to an alternate
jersey in the event of a color conflict.
GAME SCHEDULES
Qualifying games will be played on Saturday and Sunday between 8:00 AM and 7:30
PM with semi-final and championship games on Sunday when applicable. Coaches
may coach more than one team as long as each team has a different, credentialed
Assistant Coach. Once the schedule has been published, no further changes will be
made (unless a team drops out, field conditions change, or other issues as determined
by the Tournament Committee come up that require a schedule change).
OFFICIATING
Qualified officials will officiate each game. Most if not all games will be officiated by a
referee and 2 assistant referees in the U13 – U19 brackets, although the availability of
qualified referees might necessitate the use of fewer linesmen at some games played
by the youngest age groups. For U10-12 games you should expect only one official for
games. Nordic Cup Tournament Zero Tolerance Policy is in effect for the duration of
the tournament.
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INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the case of inclement weather every attempt will be made to play all scheduled
games in the tournament. At the sole discretion of the Tournament Director and
Committee, some games may be declared a 0 - 0 tie and not be made up. The following
priority will be given to games needing to be made up:
• Teams that have not yet played a game in the tournament
• Teams that have only played one game in the tournament
• Games that will have a material impact on the final standings; however, all play is
considered final even if games cannot be scheduled for a makeup.
• All other games
If inclement weather affects a game and it is rescheduled by the tournament, the time
and field location then becomes final. Failure to play the game will result in a forfeit.
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 at least half of a regulation game has been played, the game shall be
considered official and the score at the point of cancellation shall be recorded as the
final score. If 5 minutes or less remain in the first half and the score has a 2 or more
goal differential, the game will be declared official and the score shall be recorded as
the final score. If the game had not reached 5 minutes or less before half time, (in other
words 24 minutes into a 30-minute half), every attempt will be made to make up the
game. If a game must be stopped before halftime, the Tournament Director and
Committee will rule on its rescheduling or other resolution. Such a game may be
temporarily halted or recommenced, picking up where play was halted. Regardless of
weather conditions, it is the responsibility of all affected teams to monitor the status of
their games (via the tournament website) and to appear with their team ready to play as
scheduled by the Tournament Director if games are recommenced. The referee,
Tournament Director, or field marshal may postpone any game. Once the decision is
made to cancel a game, that decision is final. Teams that continue to play may be
suspended from tournament. In all cases, the Tournament reserves the right to
abbreviate or shorten all games in order to adjust to weather or other complications that
may occur.
Play will not resume until 30 minutes after the last visible lightning/thunder is seen
(regardless of the estimated distance from the field). When play is resumed the
scheduled game closest to the time play is to resume will begin. For example, if play is
stopped at 2:50 pm and restarted at 5:20 pm the teams scheduled to play closest to
5:20 pm will play, NOT the teams scheduled to play at 2:50 pm. Every attempt will be
made to make up the 2:50 pm game at a later date and time.
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SUBSTITUTIONS
Eligible players from the roster shall be allowed to substitute for players on the field
subject to permission and signal by the referee. Substitutions may be made at any
stoppage of play subject to the Referee's Discretion. Less than 2 minutes of play
remaining in the game it will solely be up to the Referee's Discretion. In the event of a
cautioning, only the player(s) cautioned may be substituted for, (not mandatory):
opposing team is entitled to a like number of substitutions at that time. In the event of
injury, both teams may substitute freely.
MAXIMUM GOAL DIFFERENTIAL
For qualifying games, in the event of a strongly one-sided game, the maximum goal
differential that will be recorded will be 4 goals even if the margin of victory was greater
than 4 goals.
FORFEITS
All teams are expected to be at the appropriate field at the time when they are
scheduled to play. In the event of a team not appearing at the scheduled time, a 4-0 win
may be awarded to the opponent after consultation with, and at the discretion of, the
Referee and Tournament Committee. All decisions of these committees are final. Any
team that does not play all 3 games will be ineligible for the playoffs. (In other words,
even if you qualify for the playoffs after 2 games, you need to play your 3rd game).
ADVANCEMENT TO CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY
Standings will be determined on the basis of points earned as follows:
• 3 points for a win
• 1 point for a tie
• 0 points for a loss
In the event of a tie in standings points, advancement will be determined according to
the following:
1. Head to Head
2. Most Wins
3. Goal Differential (subject to maximum +4 goal differential rule stated above)
4. Goals For (number of goals your team has scored – subject to maximum goal
differential rule, 4 goals per match)
5. Goals Against (number of goals your team has let in –NOT subject to maximum
goal differential rule)
6. Most Shutouts
7. Coin Toss
In the event that more than two teams are tied, the above rules will be applied until one
team is eliminated. The process then repeats (starting at Criteria 1 each time) until only
one team is left.
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If a winner cannot be determined the following procedure will be used: under the
supervision of the Referees’ Committee and/or Site Director will complete a coin toss.
SEMI-FINALS
The number of teams advancing to the semi-finals is dependent upon the final schedule
of the tournament and when applicable. Semi-final games will be the same length of
time as group play within that age group. There will be a five-minute interval between
halves unless the tournament committee determines that semi-final games need to be
shortened due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. No overtime. In the event
of a tie, FIFA knockout competition rules for the “Taking of kicks from the penalty mark”
shall apply.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
Championship games games will be the same length of time as group play within that
age group. There will be a five-minute interval between halves unless the tournament
committee determines that championship games need to be shortened due to weather
or other unforeseen circumstances. No overtime. In the event of a tie, FIFA knock-out
competition rules for the “Taking of kicks from the penalty mark” shall apply. In the event
the game is still tied, FIFA rules for the “Taking of kicks from the penalty mark” shall
apply. Teams will alternate kicks at the same goal, with the goal selected by the referee.
Best of five, (or more, if necessary), kicks shall prevail. All eligible players, including the
goalkeepers, must kick before any player may repeat. Only players on the field at the
conclusion of time will be eligible to take kicks, these players must remain within the
field of play after the conclusion of time.
In the event that one of the two teams qualifying for the championship game declines to
appear, at the discretion of the Tournament Committee, the next highest ranked team in
that division, based upon tournament record, may be substituted for the team declining
to appear.
PLAYER SAFETY
It is expected that coaches will keep players who have sustained injuries off the field.
Players wearing a PERMANENT CAST SHALL SHALL BE ELIGIBLE to participate in
any game with with WRITTEN approval from a doctor, and judgment as to safety is at
the discretion of the referee. In addition, soft braces can be worn, with WRITTEN
approval from a doctor, and judgment as to safety is at the discretion of the referee.
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
A player’s uniform will consist of shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards, and footwear. Team
uniform shirts must have a number on the back. Each player shall have a different
number and this number must be the same as listed on the official tournament
roster. In the event of a color conflict, the home team will change color. The home team
is the first team listed on the schedule. Goalkeepers shall wear colors that distinguish
them from the other players on both teams and from the referee.
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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 complex area.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AND COMMITTEE
In the event of conditions beyond the Tournament Committee's control, final decisions
with respect to game cancellations, shortenings or terminations shall lie solely with the
Tournament Director and Committee. The Tournament Director and Committee, in
conjunction with the Referees' Committee, reserves the right to change field
assignments. In addition, the Tournament Director and Committee reserves the right to
change sectional and divisional assignments in the interest of fair and balanced
competition.
PROTESTS
No protests will be considered.
REFUND POLICY
Refund When Withdrawing Team
If a team withdraws after registration/applying for the Nordic Cup Tournament:
1 month before the tournament = The team will receive 50% amount refunded
3 weeks before the tournament = The team will receive 25% amount refunded
Within 3 weeks before the tournament = The team will receive zero amount refunded
GENERAL PROHIBITONS
Alcoholic beverages and smoking are prohibited at any tournament location, including parking areas.
DISCLAIMER
The Tournament Director, members of the Tournament Committee, Nordic Soccer Club,
its members and board of directors, any participating associations, colleges,
advertisers, school districts and recreation departments, and related municipalities will
not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team, player, or spectator nor will
they be held liable for any injury of any player, coach, or spectator that may result from
the participation in, or travel to and from the tournament. Each team will be responsible
for its own medical and liability insurance. The tournament director and committee
reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the conduct and administration
of the tournament and their judgment shall be deemed as final.
UPDATED: 6/14/16
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