RULES OF THE GAME
The following rules have been designed to ensure fair
play for all participants. Each player is expected to understand these rules
prior to their participation in the tournament. Any questions concerning these
rules should be directed to Tournament Staff.
Teams will be placed into divisions based upon age, gender and playing
experience. Any team or player determined by the Tournament Director to have
falsified age or skill level will be dismissed from the tournament. Teams that
span more than one age group will be placed into the division of the oldest
player on the team. Please make sure your team signs up for the
appropriate division. For teams placing
themselves in the incorrect division, Tournament Staff will attempt to rectify
the error, but cannot guarantee proper placement.
Schedule Changes: It is the responsibility of the coach or team captain
to check the schedule for any changes after each tournament game (you will not
be notified of changes).
Sportsmanship: Good sportsmanship is to prevail at all times. Coaches
will be held responsible for the conduct of themselves, their players, players’
parents and spectators.
Number of Players: Six is the maximum number of players on a team: three
field players and three substitutes. (A team must have a minimum of 2 field
players). Players may only play on one team. There are no goalkeepers in 3v3.
Coed teams must have a minimum of one female player on the field at all times
(this only applies to adult teams). Teams that have only one female will
forfeit their remaining games if the female participant is no longer able to
participate.
Player Registration: All players must be registered prior to their first
scheduled game time. Teams cannot add players after their first game has been
started. Tournament officials have the right to demand proof of age for any
player included on the roster. Players are required to carry proof of age
with them at all times during the event.
Falsifying Ages: A team, player or coach determined by
the Tournament Staff to have falsified age, identity, or skill level will be
dismissed from the tournament and potentially future events. This act of
sportsmanship will not be tolerated by the Tournament.
Skill Level: Teams are placed in divisions based on their players’
experience. Teams that should indicate the Highest Division
of play on their team. So if one
player plays Division One and the other players are not, Division One should
still be indicated on the registration form.
Proof of Age: All participants must
provide proof of age if asked by a tournament official (players are required to
have their proof of age at all times).
Age of Participants: The age group of each team is determined by the birthdate of the oldest player on the roster. Age groups for youth participants are
determined on Aug 1. If the oldest
player is 12 on Aug 1, 2007, then the team plays U13.
Coed Rules: A coed team consists of a combination of male and female
players. During play, there must be at least one female player on the field at
all times. Coed teams are allowed to play in Male Divisions, which in this case
the standard coed rules do not apply.
Uniforms/Protective Casts: All players must wear jerseys/shirts during
play and each team must bring both a light and dark colored jersey/shirt. If
both teams are wearing the same color, the home team (listed first on the
schedule) must change. Hard casts will
not be allowed. No jewelry will be allowed, including earrings of any type,
rope necklaces and bracelets. The only exception will be players wearing
medical bracelets.
Tournament Equipment: All players must wear shin guards. Any player
without shin guards will not be allowed to play. Teams are responsible for
providing game balls. Here are the following sizes for each group: U6-U8 = Size
3; U9-U12 = Size 4; and U13 & up = Size 5.
Field Dimensions: The playing field is 40 yards long by 30 yards wide
for ages U9 and higher. U5, U6, U7 and U8 age groups play on 30 x 20 yard
field. The goals are four feet high and six feet wide.
The Goal Box: The goal box is ten feet wide by six foot long located
directly in front of the goal. The goals are four feet high by six feet wide.
There is no ball contact allowed within the goal box, however, all players may
pass through the goal box as long as they do not touch the ball while in the
box. If the ball comes to a rest on/in the goal box, a goal kick is awarded
regardless of who touched the ball last. Any part of the ball or player’s body
on the line or inside the plane of the box is considered in the goal box and an
extension of such. If a defensive player touches the ball after it has entered
the plane, a goal will be awarded to the offensive team. If an offensive player
touches the ball after it has entered the plane, a goal kick will be awarded to
the defensive team. The plane of the goal box extends upward.
Goal Scoring: A goal may only be scored from a touch (offensive or
defensive) within the team’s offensive half on the field. The ball must be
completely on the offensive half of the field, and cannot be touching the
mid-line (Example: kick-off). If a player in their defensive half kicks the
ball across the midline and the ball hits another player (offensive or
defensive) and the ball goes in the goal, a goal will be awarded. If a ball is kicked
from the defensive half and is not touched before the ball rests in the goal, a
goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.
Game Duration: The game shall consist of two 10-minute halves for U5-U8,
and two 12-minute halves (for U9 and above) separated by a two minute halftime
period OR the first team to reach 12 goals, whichever comes first. A coin toss
will determine direction and possession before the start of the game. Games
tied after regulation play shall end in a tie, except in the playoffs. There
are no timeouts and the Game Clock does not stop in 3v3 games. The referee has
the official time on the field and holds the right to take necessary action if
he/she feels that a team is delaying the game.
Forfeits: Teams are given five minutes before a forfeit is issued by the
referee. All forfeits must be approved by the Tournament Director before the
game is considered an official forfeit. The Tournament Director has the option
to replay a forfeited game if deemed necessary.
Substitution: Substitutions may be made during dead-ball situations,
regardless of possession. Teams must gain the referees attention and players
must enter and exit at mid-field. Substitutions shall not be made on the fly!
Delay of Game: Any player may be cautioned with a yellow card if it is
deemed by the referee that the player is intentionally wasting time .e.g.: if a
player intentionally kicks the ball long distances away from the playing field
in order to waste time.
Playoff Overtime: Shall consist of a 3-minute “golden goal” overtime
period with a coin toss to decide kick-off and direction. The first team to
score in overtime is the winner. If no team has scored in the 3-minute
overtime, the winner shall be decided in a shootout with a coin toss to decide
team kicking order. The three players from each team remaining on the field at
the end of the overtime period will be the only players to kick for their team.
The remaining three field players after overtime regulation will rotate,
alternating teams with each kick. The first round of shootouts will consist of
each player kicking once (round of 3 players shooting per team). The team with
the most goals after the first round will be considered the winner. If the
score remains tied after the first round of penalty kicks, the same 3 players
will alternate in the same order in a sudden death penalty kick format until
one team scores unanswered. If one team has received a red card during the game
and finishes with 2 players on the field, a remaining roster player (other than
the red carded player) must be chosen to kick in the rotation of penalty kicks.
If the red-carded player is the last remaining roster player, one of the two
field players must kick twice.
No Offsides in 3v3 Soccer! No slide
Tackling: If a player is sliding, no contact is allowed. If a player slides
and contact is initiated, a free kick shall be awarded. This does not prevent
players from sliding to stop/intercept a ball where contact is not initiated
during the slide. Example: a player may slide to save a ball from going
out-of-bounds.
Hand Ball Clarification: Deliberate handling of the ball that denies a
team of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity will result in the following: (1) A
penalty kick (at the discretion of the referee) (2) A
yellow or red card given to the player committing the hand ball (at the
discretion of the referee).
Cautioned Players (Yellow Card): Players that receive two yellow cards
in one game will result in a red card. (Please see red card rule). Any player
accumulating three yellow cards during a tournament will automatically be
suspended for their next game (no exceptions).
Player Ejection (Red Card): Referee’s have the right to eject a player
or coach from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident
that warrants sending off. The team may then continue with their remaining two,
three or four players, however, if the player receiving the red card was on the
field of play, the team must complete the entire game a player short. The
player receiving the red card will automatically be suspended for their next
game (no exceptions). Players or coaches that are red carded must leave the
immediate playing area, including the fan and team areas. If the player delays
or refuses to leave, the game will be forfeited in favor of opposing team
(regardless of the score at the time of the incident).
**If players are red carded for fighting, they will be ejected from the
tournament and are subject to removal from the facility for the duration of the
event.
Coach/Parent Ejection: Referees have the right to eject a coach or
parent from any game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident
that warrants ejection. Coaches or parents whom are ejected by the referee or
tournament official must leave the field and area around the field before play
will continue. If a coach or parent refuses to leave, the game will be
forfeited in favor of the opposing team.
Kick Off: May be taken in any direction. You cannot score directly from
a kick off (ball must be 100% over the mid-line to be considered on the
offensive half of the field). Kick-offs must make one full rotation
before the ball will be considered in play.
Kick-Ins: The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead
of thrown in. The ball is considered in play when the ball is touched and
moves.
Five Yard Rule: In all dead-ball situations, defending players must
stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal is
closer than five yards, the ball shall be played five yards from the goal box
in line with the direction of play prior to the penalty.
Direct & Indirect Kicks: All dead-ball kicks (kick-ins, kick-offs,
free kicks) are indirect with the exception of corner/penalty
kicks. Indirect kicks must only change position before the ball
will be considered in play.
Goal Kicks: May be taken from any point on the end line or the goal box.
Penalty Kicks: Shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a goal scoring
opportunity (as defined in the Laws of the Game) was nullified by an infraction
(the infraction does not automatically result in a red card). Penalty kicks are
direct kicks taken from the center of the mid-line with all players (on both
teams) behind the mid-line. Penalty kicks are dead ball infractions. If a goal
is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick.
Scoring (In bracket Play): Games will be scored according to the
following: 3 points for a win; 1point for a tie; 0 points for a loss. A
forfeited game is scored as a 6-0 win for the team that is present. Referees
will provide the winning coach a scorecard, which must be turned into the Head
Quarters Tent immediately following the game!
Forfeits: Any team forfeiting two games during pool play will be removed
from the tournament. Any team forfeiting one game during the playoffs will be
removed from the tournament.
Tie-Breakers: In pool play, ties between three or more teams will be
broken by (1) head to head results between the tied teams (2) goal difference
in head to head games (3) goals against in head to head games (4) goal
difference in pool play games (5) goals against in pool play games (6)
shootout. Ties between two teams in record whom have tied each other will be
broken by (1) goal difference in pool play games (2) goals against pool play games
(3) shootout. Each tie breaking criterion is carried out to its fullest in
determining the seeds in ties between 3 or more teams.
Protests: Protests are not accepted.
Weather Related Issues: The Tournament Staff reserves the right to
modify, reschedule, or cancel the tournament due to inclement weather. The
Tournament Director has the right to move or reschedule games, as well as the
right to shorten game lengths. All effort will be made to continue play
and finish the tournament.
Firearms, pets, and glass containers are not allowed
at the Alamo Sportsplex.
RAINOUT NUMBER: (210) 647-1019 or www.acyso.org
** The Tournament Director will have final say on all disputes and
interpretations of Tournament Rules. **
