MICHIGAN CHALLENGE CUP RULES
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Michigan Challenge Cup Rules 2009
1. Registration/Eligibility: the Michigan Challenge Cup is open to all USSF affiliated teams (US Club, MSYSA, and USYSA affiliation).
Teams registering for the tournament must submit their Tournament Registration
Form online and Registration Fee by July 10, 2009 to:
TNT Dynamite
Attn: Michigan Challenge Cup
5849 Enterprise Dr
Lansing, MI 48911
2. Age Brackets and Roster Size
· 6v6: 11 player roster limit
o Boys and Girls Under 9-Born on 8/1/00 or after
o Boys and Girls Under 10-Born on 8/1/99 or after
· 8v8: 14 player roster limit
o Boys and Girls Under 11-Born on 8/1/98 or after
o Boys and Girls Under 12-Born on 8/1/97 or after
· 11v11: 18 player roster limit
o Boys and Girls Under 13-Born on 8/1/96 or after
o Boys and Girls Under 14-Born on 8/1/95 or after
o Girls Under 15–Born on 8/1/94 or after
· 11v11: 22 player roster limit – 18 per match
o Girls Under 16–Born on 8/1/93 or after
o Girls Under 17–Born on 8/1/92 or after
o Girls Under 19–Born on 8/1/90 or after
Up to three (3) guest players will be allowed per team.
3. Tournament Check In:
Check-in will take place at least one (1) hour prior to each team's first game. Teams missing required items at check-in cannot take the field until their paperwork is in order.
Teams must provide the following information at check in (note: all rosters must be for the 2009/10 soccer year):
For US Club Soccer teams:
1. Player cards: official and valid laminated cards with a photograph for each player
2. Official Team Roster: 3 copies needed
3. Travel papers: the approved roster printed from the US Club Soccer player registration system is proof of travel approval from US Club Soccer.
No additional documentation is needed from out of state teams
4. Medical release forms: medical release forms must be signed by the parent or guardian of each player. Your state soccer association’s medical release form should be used.
5. Tournament liability release form: available on the tournament website and must be signed by each player’s parent/guardian
For teams registered with the Michigan State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA)
1. Player cards: official and valid laminated cards with a photograph and signature for each player
2. Official Team Roster: 3 copies of your current official roster, signed by the league registrar.
3. Travel papers: travel paperwork is not required.
4. Medical release forms: medical release forms must be signed by the parent or guardian of each player. MSYSA medical release forms require notarization.
5. Risk management cards: for all team officials
6. Guest player paperwork and approval (if applicable)
7. Tournament liability release form: available on the tournament website and must be signed by each player’s parent/guardian
For USYSA teams registered outside of Michigan (other state associations)
1. Player cards: official and valid laminated cards with a photograph and signature for each player
2. Official Team Roster: 3 copies of your current official roster, signed by the league registrar.
3. Travel papers: all USYSA teams traveling from outside Michigan must provide appropriate travel documents approved by their State Soccer Association.
4. Medical release forms: medical release forms must be signed by the parent or guardian of each player.
5. Risk management cards: for all team officials
6. Guest player paperwork and approval (if applicable)
7. Tournament liability release form: available on the tournament website and must be signed by each player’s parent/guardian
NOTE: TEAMS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO MIX USYSA (MSYSA) AND US CLUB SOCCER PAPERWORK TO REGISTER.
For Foreign Teams – For a team coming from a CONCACAF nation:
1. Players must present passports at registration or, if from a nation that the United States does not require a passport, proof of entry into the United States that is required by the United States.
2. Teams are required to have and present player picture identification cards.
3. Tournament rules must require that the team have a completed form from its Provincial or National Association approving the team’s participation in the tournament.
4. Medical release forms
5. Tournament liability release form: available on the tournament website and must be signed by each player’s parent/guardian
Teams that fail to check in may be disqualified from the event and will not receive a refund.
4. Hotels: all teams needing hotel arrangements must make their reservations with the official hotel service of the Michigan Challenge Cup (www.travelingteams.com). This will be available through the tournament website.
5. Pregame Checkin:
Teams must report to their assigned field 30 minutes prior to game time to be checked in by the field marshal. Teams must provide their passcards and approved tournament roster at this time. Teams failing to check in within 30 minutes prior to kickoff may forfeit the match.
6. Tournament Play: teams will be formed into brackets. Four team brackets will play a round robin format, with the top two teams competing in a championship match. Five team brackets will play a round robin format, with the winner determined by points. Six team brackets will be formed into two pools of three teams, with a round robin format and one crossover match to determine the pool winners, who will play in the championship match. Eight team brackets will be formed into two pools of four, with the winners of the round robin pool play to meet in the championship.
Tournament officials reserve the right to combine age groups if the minimal number of teams fails to register or to achieve an appropriate level of competition.
7. Rules of Play: FIFA RULES APPLY, UNLESS LISTED DIFFERENTLY IN TOURNAMENT RULES.
a. Length of Games:
Under 9 and Under 10 – 2 x 20 minute halves (size 4 ball)
Under 11 and Under 12 – 2 x 25 minutes halves (size 4 ball)
Under 13 and Under 14 – 2 x 30 minute halves (size 5 ball)
Under 15 and older – 2 x 35 minute halves (size 5 ball)
There will be no overtime in pool play matches. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation of a championship match, teams will play two 5-minute overtime periods, played to their conclusion. If teams are still tied at the end of the overtime periods, FIFA penalty kicks will take place. Only players on the field at the end of play are eligible to take the penalty kicks.
b. Home and Visiting Teams
The home team is the first team listed on the schedule. In the case of similar color uniforms, the home team will change to their alternate jersey. Each team must have two uniforms of contrasting color. Both teams will occupy one sideline, while spectators will occupy the opposite sideline.
Prior to kickoff, the home team will decide which half to defend, and the visiting team will kickoff. In the event that the tournament does not provide a game ball, the home team is responsible for providing a game ball.
c. Player Equipment
All bracelets, earrings, and other jewelry are prohibited while players are participating in a match. It will be at the referee’s discretion to determine the safety and suitability of player equipment including the wearing of a brace/soft cast – hard casts are not permitted, as per USSF rules. Shinguards are mandatory.
d. Substitutions
Teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission and only at the following times:
· prior to a throwin when in possession, or if the team in possession is also substituting
· prior to a goal kick by either team
· after a goal by either team
· after an injury when the referee stops play (“1 for 1”)
· at halftime
· after a caution (the cautioned player may be substituted and if so, the opposing team may substitute one player)
e. Time Allowance and Forfeits
A team shall be allowed a ten minute grace period after the scheduled kickoff before the game is awarded to their opponent. (A forfeit is considered a 1-0 win for the non-forfeiting team). A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team (six players for 8v8 games and five players for 6v6 games). If the minimum amount of players is present, the game may not be delayed. In no case shall a team that has forfeited a game be declared a group winner or a wild card team.
f. Suspension of Games/Reduction of Game Length
Decisions to suspend games in progress or to suspend the start of games due to inclement weather will be made by the Tournament Committee.
Games interrupted in the first half:
1. will continue if time permits
2. If time does not permit, a 0-0 tie will be awarded.
Games interrupted after the completion of the first half:
1. will continue if time permits
2. If time does not permit, the score of the game will stand.
The Tournament Committee reserves the right to reduce the length of games.
g. 6v6 Provisions
· Offsides will NOT be called
· On passback to keeper, keeper may play ball with feet but not handle.
· When ball is out of sideline, play will be restarted with a throw in.
· No violation on keeper distributing ball over midfield line.
8. Scores/Standings
Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:
· 3 points for each win
· 1 point for each draw
· 0 points for each loss
Scores will reported by the field marshal. Scorecards will need to be signed by an official from each team immediately following the match.
In the event of a tie in points in the end of bracket play, the following criteria will be used to determine the winner:
a. the winner of head-to-head competition (only if two teams are tied; if more than two teams are tied, proceed to “most wins”)
b. most wins
c. goals-for/goals-against differential (4 goal maximum per game)
d. fewest goals against
e. most shutouts
f. FIFA penalty shots
9. Awards
Championship (first place) and finalist (second place) awards will be awarded in all divisions; all U9 through U12 players will receive participation awards.
A Michigan Challenge Cup award will also be given to a participating club that achieves the most success (a minimum of 4 teams from one organization are needed to be eligible for this award). Teams earn their clubs Michigan Challenge
Cup points in the following manner:
a. points from group play
b. 4 points for a championship
c. 2 points for a finalist
The Michigan Challenge Cup Club Winner will be determined by the club that earns the most total points from its participating teams.
10. Conduct and Disciplinary Actions
Any player or team official (coach, assistant coach or manager) receiving a red card will not be permitted to participate in the remainder of the game and the entirety of the following game.
Suspension from additional games will be contingent upon a review of the violation after receipt of the referee report. A second red card results in suspension from the remainder of the tournament.
Any team official who is ejected shall leave the immediate vicinity of the playing area and is prohibited from any further contact, direct or indirect, with the team during the remainder of the game and any other games that his/her team plays in accordance with the rules as listed above. All Cautions and Ejections will be reported to Michigan State Youth Soccer Association and the affiliated home sponsoring organization. Any MSYSA registered player or team official who has received a red card during the tournament and did not sit out the related number of game(s) during the tournament may have to sit out the required number of game(s) starting with his/her next league game.
Any player or team official who receives one yellow card will be cautioned and allowed to continue play. There is no suspension for accumulating individual cautions in multiple games.
11. Parent/Spectator Conduct
All spectators must remain behind the spectator line, and may not stand within 18 yards of the goal line, or behind the goal line. It is the responsibility of the team’s coach or the person acting in the coach’s behalf to govern the conduct of the parents and spectators. Failure to do so may result in a yellow card by the referee to the coach. INAPPROPRIATE OR UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND MAY RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF THE COACH AND/OR THE SPECTATORS.
Coaches who are ejected from a game due to spectator conduct will be treated as if they received a red card offense and will be suspended for their next game.
If a coach has been ejected and there is no other team official present, the game will result in a forfeit and will stop at that time.
12. Referee Abuse
HARASSMENT OF REFEREES OR ANY VIOLENT OR ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR, OR FOUL AND ABUSIVE LANGUAGE DIRECTED AT ANYONE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. PERSONS ENGAGING IN SUCH BEHAVIOR ARE LIABLE TO BE BANNED FROM THE TOURNAMENT BY TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS. TEAMS/CLUBS JUDGED GUILTY OF BEHAVIOR DETRIMENTAL TO THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE BARRED FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
13. Tournament Cancellation
In the event of heavy rain, unplayable field conditions and/or the likelihood of significant field damage,
the Ingham County Parks Department (Kenneth Hope Soccer Complex), the City of East Lansing (East Lansing Soccer Complex), Okemos Community Education (Chippewa Middle School) and Williamston Athletic Department (Williamston High School) reserve the right to close their respective fields. The tournament committee may also suspend games due to inclement weather. DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES OR CONDITIONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL, THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY REFUNDS.
14. Tournament Committee/Referee Decisions
No protests or appeals will be allowed, except in the case of an invalid player. The ruling of the Referee is final. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to the Tournament and its decisions are final.
15. Ken Hope Soccer Complex Rules
Please note the following rules at the Ken Hope Soccer Complex:
a. No dogs allowed. Violators will be ticketed.
b. Do not drive or park on grass.
c. Please obey speed limit: 15 miles per hour!
d. Alcoholic beverages and smoking are PROHIBITED.
e. Please dispose of all garbage (wrappers, empty containers, etc)
f. Do not stake tents and/or banners; popup canopies are allowed
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