RULES

Player Registration

Teams may carry up to 6 players on their roster (5-6 players recommended). Each team must submit proof of age for each player (such as copy of birth certificate, verified player pass, driver’s license, etc.). Any team or player determined by the event director to have falsified age will be dismissed from the tournament and will not be eligible for a refund.

A player may play for one team only during an event. Dual rostering for a single event is not allowed. A player can play for multiple teams during the tour season but not during the same event.

AGE DIVISION BIRTH DATES: We follow US Youth Soccer’s policy of using calendar birth years for the player’s playing age for our events. The age division of a team in the event will be based on the birth year of the oldest player on the team’s roster. Also note that a player may play in a division older than his/her age, but not in one that is younger. In FYSA sanctioned events, “playing up” is limited to the current FYSA guidelines. In events that are sanctioned by Challenge Sports only, “playing up” is left to the discretion of the coach and parents.

Roster

Rosters can be changed up to the start of the first game. No changes or substitutions to rosters will be allowed after the start of a team's first game. All rosters are final at the start of the team's first game.

The age group a team will be registered is based on the oldest player on the roster. If 5 players are five and the sixth player is six, the team must play in the U7 age group.

Tournament t-shirts will be ordered on Tuesday, based on the roster at that time. Therefore, it is recommended that all initial rosters be completed by 10 am Tuesday morning. Rosters can still be updated after that point, until the start of the first game.

SIX (6) is the maximum number of players on a team; with THREE (3) field players at one time.

A player may play for one team only during an event. Dual rostering for a single event is not allowed. A player can play for multiple teams during the tour season but not during the same event.

There are no goalkeepers in 3v3 soccer. Substitutes may occur at any dead ball situation, but players must get the referee’s attention to enter and exit at the half-field mark only.

Coaches

Three (3) is the maximum number of coaches that can accompany a team on the sideline during a match. Coaches may not cross beyond the midline and shall remain in close proximity to the team’s sideline area. Coaches must be on the roster and have a signed waiver.

Uniforms / Equipments

All players must wear jerseys/shirts during play. We ask that coaches carry a set of pennies a different color than their jersey due to the chance that the opposing team has the same uniform color. If neither team is willing to switch, it is at the discretion of the referee to play the game as is (with both team wearing the same color). Should the referee determine one of the teams needs to switch jerseys, it will be done by a coin flip. This only applies during poolplay. Once playoffs starts, the higher seed will have the option.

All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards will not be allowed to play. A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to them or another player (including any kind of jewelry).

All participants will need to check-in and receive a Tournament Stamp. No participant will be allowed to play without first displaying their Tournament Stamp.

Teams are responsible for providing game balls. The following are the sizes for each group: U6-U8 = Size 3; U9-U12 = Size 4; and U13 & up = Size 5.

CASTS: Orthopedic casts of any kind are not permitted; however, soft braces can be worn with written approval from a doctor, and judgment as to safety is at the discretion of the referee. The referee has the final say at each game for soft braces.

Field Dimensions

Regular size fields are Length 35-40 yards, Width 25-30 yards. U8 and Under will play on smaller fields with Length 25-30, Width 15-20.

Goals are 4 feet high by 8 feet wide. The Goal Box is 12 feet wide by 8 feet deep, and center circles are 10 yards in diameter (5 yard radius).

Goals & Goal Boxes

The goal box, 12 feet wide and 8 feet deep, is directly in front of the goal. No player may touch the ball within the goal box; however, any player may move through the goal box. Any part of the ball or player’s body on the line is considered in the goal box; the player is an extension of the box.

The box rule is only invoked if a player touches the ball when either any part of the player or the ball is in the box. The box area extends upward from the lines. Touching the ball in the air above the box is a violation.

If a defender touches the ball in the goal box, a goal is awarded to the offensive team. If the defender OR the ball is in the box and contact is made, a goal is awarded. If an offensive player touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. If the ball comes to a complete stop in the goal box, regardless of which team touched it last, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.

A goal can only be scored when last touched (by either team) while in the OFFENSIVE half of the field. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick off. For a goal to be awarded during a kick-off, the ball must first be kicked completely off the halfway line, into the offensive half of the field. If the entire ball is not completely within the offensive half of the field when last touched, no goal will be awarded.

Game Duration

The game shall consist of two 12-minute halves separated by a two minute halftime period OR the first team to reach 12 goals, whichever comes first. Games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie except in playoffs. A team, at the discretion of the referee and the tournament director, will be forfeited at game time if they are not present. Teams are responsible for waiting until their seed for playoffs has been determined. There are no timeouts in 3v3 soccer.

Standings

Games in Qualifying Play will be scored according to the following: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a time and 0 points for a loss.

Tiebreakers – after Qualifying Play – Ties in standings between two teams will be broken by; 1) head to head results between tied teams; 2) goal difference in qualifying play, 3) most goals scored in qualifying play, 4) least goals allowed, 5) if head coaches agree, a coin toss, if not, a shootout. Ties between three or more teams will be broken by; 1) goal difference in qualifying play, 2) most goals scored in qualifying play, 3) least goals allowed, 4) shootout with 1 team receiving a first-round bye by random draw. If the criteria for 3 or more teams eliminates all but 2 teams, the criteria for a tie between two teams (above) will be used to determine the rank of the two teams. A forfeit will be entered as score of 6-0.

Playoff Overtime

Playoff games that end regulation in a tie shall play a sudden death overtime period with a maximum length of three minutes. A coin toss will decide kick-off direction. The first team to score in overtime is the winner. If no team has scored in the three-minute overtime period, the winner shall be decided by shootout.

Three (3) players from each team will be used and the coach should notify the referee the order in which each one will kick - this will be identified as a "Kicking Round" -. A coin flip will give the winning team the option to decide who starts the kicking round. Teams will alternate kickers for three (3) rounds based on this order. After each player has taken their initial kick, the team with the most goals wins.

If the score remains tied, then the game goes into "Sudden Death Penalty Kicks" - this is a single kicking round until there's a clear winner -. The kicking order is based on the initial kicking order listed out above

Additional Rules

NO OFFSIDES and NO SLIDE TACKLING NEAR A PLAYER IN 3V3 SOCCER

FIVE YARD RULE: In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards (15 feet) away from the ball. If the defensive player's goal area is closer than five yards, the ball shall be placed five yards from the goal area in line with the place of the infraction.

KICK-INS: The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of a throw in.

RESTARTS: All dead ball kicks to restart play (kick-ins, free kicks, kick-offs), with exception of corner and penalty kicks, are considered to be indirect free kicks. The rule defining when a kicked ball is in play after the first touch in a restart is from full sided soccer. Our rules do not alter that rule in any way. In the full sided game of soccer, the ball is considered in play when it is kicked and moved. The distance to be moved is minimal and the kick need only be a touch of the ball with the foot in a kicking motion or being dragged with the top or bottom of the foot. Simply tapping the top of the ball with the foot or stepping on the ball is not sufficient.

GOAL KICKS: May be taken from any point on the endline, and not in the goal box area.

KICK OFF: May be taken in any direction. For a goal to be awarded during a kick-off, the ball must first be kicked completely off of the halfway line, into the offensive half of the field (If the entire ball is not completely within the offense half of the field when last touched, no goal will be awarded).

PENALTY KICKS: Shall be awarded if, in the referee's opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by the infraction. It is a direct kick taken from the middle of the halfway line with all players behind the halfway line. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick. Penalty kicks are not live balls.

PLAYER EJECTION (RED CARD): Referees have the right to eject a player from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending the player off. The team may then continue with the remaining players on their team. If the ejected player was on the field, he may be replaced by an eligible rostered player on the team. Players that receive a direct red card will get a minimum of two (2) games suspension. Players that receive a double yellow card -resulting in a red card- will receive a minimum of one (1) game suspension, but the tournament director has the authority to increase that

FORFEITS: Any team forfeiting two consecutive games in qualifying play, or forfeiting a game in playoffs, will be removed from the tournament.

PROTESTS: There will be no protests.

SPORTSMANSHIP: Players, coaches and spectators are expected to act in the nature of good sportsmanship at all times. Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated. Spectators are prohibited from entering the field of play at any time during the match. Any instance of such conduct will disqualify the responsible team from the event.

GENERAL: Challenge Sports and/or the host organization will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or whole of any Division or any part of this tournament.

MECHANICAL AND ARTIFICIAL NOISE MAKERS ARE PROHIBITED.

Playoff games that end regulation in a tie shall play a sudden death overtime period with a maximum length of three minutes. A coin toss will decide kick-off direction. The first team to score in overtime is the winner. If no team has scored in the three-minute overtime period, the winner shall be decided by shootout. A coin flip will decide which team starts the penalty.