The rules of this tournament shall be in accordance with USYSNV, USYSA, FIFA and USSF except as modified and approved herein.
Team Eligibility
The 2008 VEGAS CUP shall be open to all teams comprised of properly registered youth players (as defined by the rules of the affiliated organization) in all age groups indicated on the tournament application form, provided the team is in good standing with its youth association.
It shall be the responsibility of each National and State Association to certify the eligibility of its competing teams and to provide such teams with a certified copy of the roster, permission to travel, and proof of insurance. Other Affiliates of USSF must provide the above plus copies of birth certificates at initial registration.
Foreign team applications must be received ninety (90) days prior to tournament start date.
Foreign teams must have written permission and verification from US Soccer/US Youth Soccer and their federation, indicating authorization to participate in the 2008 VEGAS CUP.
Team Rosters are limited to: fourteen (14) players for U9-U10, eighteen (18) players for U11 through U16 and twenty-two (22) for U17 and U18.
Each team will be allowed to have a maximum of five (5) guest players who are properly registered through their National and State Association, Federation or other USSF affiliated organization.
Hotel Requirements
Teams using hotel rooms are required to obtain them from our approved hotels. The approved hotel list and procedure is available on our web site, www.vegascup.net/hotels.php. If you have special hotel needs that can not be met through the hotels on our approved hotel list, please notify the FC Las Vegas immediately at 702-987-1445. Failure to use one of our tournament approved hotels may result in your team being dropped from our tournament with no refund given.
Player Eligibility
US Youth Soccer Players must be legally registered to US Youth Soccer through their respective State Association in accordance with US Youth Soccer registration requirements. All teams must have US Youth Soccer, or approved organization player passes, or the appropriate National Association pass to participate. Passes must be verified, photo attached, and laminated.
Teams are allowed to have up to five (5) loan/guest players per team. Guest players must have laminated identification cards, medical release forms and appropriate travel and guest player documentation where applicable.
Players may not play for more than one team in the tournament.
Any player that is in bad standing with any State Association or other USSF affiliated organization will not be allowed to play in the VEGAS CUP, even if that player’s team has approval to play in the VEGAS CUP from a different USSF affiliated organization other than which that player is in bad standing. I. E. a player that is in bad standing with their state association can not play for their team that has entered the tournament as a US Club Soccer team. Any team that uses a player that is in bad standing with any State Association or other USSF affiliated organization will forfeit all games.
All foreign teams are required to present passports and a recent photo at registration.
Check-In
Tournament officials shall conduct all credentials checks:
•At initial registration. This will take place on the Friday night of the weekend of the event from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, location to be announced. All teams must present the following at this initial registration:
o Current laminated USYSA player card, or approved USSF Affiliated organization equivalent (i.e. US Club Soccer, AYSO), or the appropriate national organization pass to participate. (all foreign players will need to present passport at registration)
o Medical Release from affiliated organization for every player
o Birth Certificates (if traveling from outside of Nevada)
o Loan Player Forms (maximum of 5 borrowed players/team)
o Travel Papers- Official form from State Association or National Association providing permission to participate and certification of the team roster. (if traveling from outside of Nevada)
o Proof of Insurance from USSF Affiliated organization or National Organization (teams entering tournament as a non USYSA team)
•At the field before each game by the Referee or Field Marshall. The following will need to be presented before each game:
o Current laminated USYSA player card, or approved USSF Affiliated organization equivalent (i.e. US Club Soccer, AYSO), or the appropriate national organization pass to participate.
o Copy of official tournament roster that has been certified by tournament.
In no event will a player be allowed to participate who has not been certified by the Vegas Cup Tournament Credentials Committee.
A player who arrives late at the playing field after the pre-game credential checks may enter the game once the game official(s) and or field marshal verify the player is eligible and with the permission of the center referee.
Games
The first team listed is considered the home team and will need to change uniforms if there is a color conflict.
Visiting teams will have choice of sides and start with the ball.
Both teams will be on the same side of the field, spectators will be on the opposite side. A maximum of four (4) coaches/staff members and eighteen (18) players are allowed on the bench side, all others must be on the spectator side. All coaches/staff members and players must be registered with their home association and have a valid pass. It is the responsibility of the coach to make sure their spectators or fans are not on the team side of the field.
Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team and supporters.
Laws of the Game
All games shall be in accordance with the FIFA “Laws of the Game”, except as modified below.
The Ball
•U9-U12, size #4
•U13 and older, size #5
Number of Players
•U9-U10- Eight (8) per side
•U11 and older- Eleven (11) per side per FIFA
Substitutions are unlimited and as follows:
•Prior to throw-in in your favor
•Prior to all goal kicks
•After any goal
•After a yellow card (cautioned player only)
•Injury, one for one (injured player only)
Player’s Equipment
•Player equipment must conform to FIFA rules. All players will wear shin-guards (under the socks). Players wearing permanent orthopedic cast shall not be eligible to participate in any game.
•Teams will wear uniforms of matching design and color with a minimum of six (6) inch numbers affixed to the back of the uniform shirt. No two players may have identical uniform numbers while both players are playing on the field at the same time.
•In case of similar team colors, the designated home team will be required to change to a color accepted by the referee.
•The uniform of the goalkeeper must be distinctly different in color from the basic colors of the competing teams and the referee.
The Referee
•Referees are required to submit a completed official USSF game report to the Site Director containing any information relating to any game incidents involving players/coach, spectator misconduct, or injuries.
•Referees will not be paid before any required post game reports have been submitted.
•In the event, the assigned referees fail to appear and the assignor and/or Site Director fails to provide a replacement, the senior assistant referee shall assume the duties and shall find and alternate assistant. The game will be played as scheduled and will be deemed official.
The Assistant Referee
•Two assistant referees will be used. In the event, the assigned assistants fail to appear; the referee must find suitable replacements. The game will be played as scheduled and be deemed official.
The Duration of the Match
•Under 9 - Under 10 will player 50 minute games with a 5 minute half time.
•Under 11 – Under 14 will play a 60 minute game with a 5 minute half time.
•Under 15 and above will play a 70 minute game with a 5 minute half time.
•All finals will be regulation time as per USYSA guidelines.
Post Game Procedures
Manager/coach of both teams will insure their respective sideline areas are clean and that all trash is in container.
The Referee or Field Marshals will insure the return of all player passes to the coaches of the participating teams at the end of the match with the exception of any players or coaches sent off. A completed game report will be submitted to the tournament director complete with supplemental report for any send offs, injuries or special circumstances that need explanation.
Schedule
All teams are guaranteed at least three games (weather permitting). Bracket size for each age group will determine format for semi-finals and finals where applicable. Single age brackets will be used where possible. The tournament committee will determine brackets.
Determination of Group Winners
In group play, there will be no overtime games. Standings in a group will be determined by:
Game Points:
Win: 6 points
Tie: 3 points
Loss: 0 points
Shut Out: 1 point
Goals: 1 point for each goal with a maximum of 3
1 point will be deducted for each red card
In the event that two or more teams are tied in points at the end of the preliminary games, the following tie breakers shall be applied in the order given until a winner is determined:
1. Head to Head (if all teams played each other)
2. Goal Differential (maximum of four (4) goals per game)
3. Least goals allowed (maximum of four (4) goals per game)
4. FIFA penalty kicks
Forfeits
A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a game. Games should start at the given start time. In case the team does not have seven (7) players present, there will be a maximum of five (5) minutes grace period before awarding the game to the opponent. A forfeit will be scored 3-0.
Discipline
It shall be solely the team’s responsibility to determine the status of its players. Any suspension from a tournament, local league, etc. is the responsibility of the team to notify the Tournament Director of this suspension at the time of the player’s check in.
Red Card: Ejection of current game and next game. Committee reserves the right to impose a stricter penalty for fighting, foul language or any other major infraction. Any coach red carded may be banished from tournament.
Yellow Card: Any player receiving 2 yellow cards in one game will sit out the remainder of the game and the next game. If a player accumulates 3 yellow cards during the tournament they will have to sit out the following game in which the 3rd yellow card was received.
Terminated Game
Games terminated for other than inclement weather, i.e. violent or uncontrollable situations will not be replayed.
The decision as to the score of such games and whether teams advance will be made by the Tournament Director after receiving reports from game officials. The decision of the Director will be final and is binding on all parties. Further disciplinary actions may be taken.
Protests
There will be NO PROTESTS. All disputes will be resolved immediately by Tournament Director. These decisions will be final.
External Conditions, Weather, Etc.
Regardless of weather conditions (unless for safety reasons), players and coaches must be on the field at the scheduled time, ready to play. The Tournament Director may reduce the length of matches due to weather conditions before the start of a match; all such matches will be considered official. The Tournament Director may also reschedule (time and location) a match before it begins. Only referees or Site Director can suspend a match already started due to weather conditions.
In case of extreme weather (heat/humidity), the referee shall allow brief stoppage of the game to allow players on the field a water break. No time will be added for stoppage.
In the event games are unable to be played because of external conditions, weather, etc., a refund of $125.00 (US Dollars) per game, for every game short of the guaranteed 3 games, will be given to the teams affected. No other refunds for accepted teams will be given for any other reason after the tournament registration deadline date.
Awards
First and Second place medals will be presented at the conclusion of the final game. All participants will receive a tournament gift and program.
General
The VEGAS CUP, the Tournament Committee, United States Youth Soccer Association Nevada and/or the host affiliate will not be responsible for any expense incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or whole of this tournament.
The tournament committee’s interpretation of the foregoing rules and regulation shall be final and reserves the right to decide on all tournament matters.
If not enough teams are realized within a specific age bracket, the Tournament Director shall notify the participants as soon as possible and the participants given the option to play up (if room is available) or to receive a full refund.
The tournament committee has the responsibility to uphold any previous suspension imposed by USYSNV, US Youth Soccer and/or affiliates of USSF; VEGAS Cup and/or FC Las Vegas are not responsible for the behavior of players, coaches, and spectators off the field, or damages resulting from such behavior. Coaches and players committing breaches of the law may be ejected from the tournament at the discretion of the tournament committee.
