RULES FOR DOWNLOAD: 
Key Referee Rules and Reminders: click HERE
March 2-3, 2013
Rules of Competition
1. TOURNAMENT FEES
· $700 for Under 15-19 boys and girls teams
· $300 performance bond required
· Teams that withdraw from the tournament after acceptance will not be refunded their application fee and performance bond.
· Teams that are not accepted will have their tournament fee and performance bond promptly returned or refunded.
· Three games for each team accepted over two days.
2. AGE AND ELIGIBILITY
A. Participation in the Loudoun Soccer College Showcase is open to accept boys and girls teams composed of:
Max 22 players: Under 15 – Under 19
· Each team must meet the age limit of the specified division (See below for loan player requirements).
· Players must have been born during, or subsequent to, the divisional year.
· Each team accepted must be registered with a National State Association affiliated with the USYS/USSF or national equivalent and must present a valid State or Provincial roster.
· The only acceptable proof of age will be a valid US Soccer State registration card that includes a signature and a photograph of the player.
· CURRENT, DULY AUTHORIZED MEMBER PASSES, MEDICAL RELEASE FORMS AND OFFICIAL STATE APPROVED ROSTERS MUST BE PRESENT AT THE FIELD FOR THE DURATION OF THE GAME.
B. Loan Players: A maximum of five (5) loan players may be used on a Tournament Roster. However, a team using loan players must have no more than a total of twenty-two (22) players on said roster for the U-15 to U-19 teams. Loan players must be current US Youth Soccer players. In addition, ALL teams must provide duly authorized National State Association documentation (from both state associations) denoting the use of loan player(s) and permission to travel. Teams failing to abide by this rule will not be permitted to play in the tournament.
C. US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel – Region I Teams: US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel forms are not required for Region I teams accepted into the Loudoun College Showcase Tournament.
D. US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel – Non Region I Teams: All non US Youth Soccer Region I Teams must obtain and approved US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel Form, approved and signed by a duly authorized State or National Association representative, to attend the Loudoun College Showcase Tournament.
E. Teams that are members of organizations of the United States Soccer Federation but not members of US Youth Soccer (such as AYSO, SAY, US Club Soccer or Super Y Leagues) DO NOT have to have a US Youth Soccer Application to Travel form (although that team’s organization may require that the team have permission). An approved team roster does need to be provided to tournament officials, along w/ current player passes from its organization.
F. Age groups for teams are as follows:
Under 19 (August 1, 1993 and younger)
Under 17 (August 1, 1995 and younger)
Under 16 (August 1, 1996 and younger)
Under 15 (August 1, 1997 and younger)
3. LAWS OF THE GAME
All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.
4. DURATION OF GAMES
The duration of tournament games shall be in accordance with the following:
Age Group Game length Ball
Under 15-19 70 minutes 5
· 5 minute half time
All games will be played with a running clock. The referee may add time for serious injuries or other incidents, including, but not limited to, deliberate time wasting. The referee is the official timekeeper and therefore all decisions regarding game duration are solely at the referee’s discretion. Each team will play a total of three games.
5. FIELD AND GAME EQUIPMENT
A. For each game, teams must turn in a Loudoun Soccer College Showcase stamped “GAME” Roster denoting the maximum 18 players that will be participating in that game. The remaining players listed on the Loudoun Soccer College Showcase Tournament Stamped Official Roster may sit on the team bench side; HOWEVER, they may not be in uniform.
DULY AUTHORIZED MEMBER PASSES AND LOUDOUN SOCCER COLLEGE SHOWCASE STAMPED ROSTERS MUST BE AVAILABLE AT THE FIELD 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE GAME AND FOR THE DURATION OF THE GAME
If (at any time) a team is asked to produce either their duly authorized member passes and/or Loudoun Soccer College Showcase Tournament Stamped Roster and they fail to do so, their game MAY result in a forfeit.
B. Players (excluding the goalkeeper) must wear numbers on the back of their uniforms and these numbers shall coincide with those listed on the team’s Official State Roster.
C. PLAYERS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR SHIN GUARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH FIFA LAWS OF THE GAME.
D. Where uniform colors are similar, the designated home team will change colors. Home team has choice of sideline. Home team is listed first on the schedule.
E. For all age groups, players and coaches will take one side of the pitch, and supporters will take the other side of the pitch. No one will be allowed behind either end line.
F. When requested by the referee, each team must provide an Assistant Referee (A/R).
G. The designated home team must provide the game ball provided by the tournament.
6. PROTESTS
THERE WILL BE NO PROTESTS
7. SUBSTITUTIONS
A. Unlimited substitutions may be made, with the referee’s permission:
1. After a goal has been made.
2. At the beginning of the second half of play or prior to the beginning of an overtime period.
3. At a goal kick by either team.
4. Prior to a throw-in when the ball is in possession of the team substituting. The opposing team may substitute as well if the team in possession is making a substitution.
B. Limited substitutions may be made, with the referee’s permission, in case of stoppage of play for an injury (one-for-one basis for the injured player(s)).
8. GAME AND SCORE REPORTING
A. The Field Marshal will ensure that the game report forms are properly completed, signatures obtained; each team’s head coach or designee as well as the referee will sign game report and scores recorded at the end of each game.
B. The Loudoun Soccer College Showcase Coordinator and/or the Site Scorekeeper will ensure that the scores of each game are reported to the Tournament HQ, in a timely manner, within an hour of the conclusion of the game.
9. CONDUCT
A. Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit AND the letter of the Law. Displays of temper or dissent are cause for ejection from the game and surrounding field area.
B. Players, coaches, and team officials ejected from a game by the referee shall be ineligible for the next scheduled game. Also, Tournament management will report yellow and/or red cards issued to players from other State Associations to those players’ home State Associations. Repeated violations may result in the suspension of the team from the tournament as decided by the Tournament Committee. The local authorities will be called if necessary.
C. ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ARE NOT PERMITTED AT GAME SITES.
D. No mechanical noisemakers are permitted.
E. SMOKING IS PROHIBITED AT ALL LOUDOUN COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION FIELDS AS WELL AS LOUDOUN SOCCER PARK, MORVEN PARK AND WORD OF GRACE COMPLEX AND IS ENFORCED.
F. In the event of an assault or abuse of a game official, a judiciary hearing shall immediately be convened at a Tournament site to be designated by the Tournament Director. All terms described in the USSF Official Administrative Rule Book – Misconduct toward Game Official – shall apply. In any event, a player or coach or other team official who is charged with an assault on or abuse of a game official is suspended from further participation in the Loudoun Soccer College Showcase Tournament.
10. GROUP WINNERS
A. Each team will be awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and no (0) points for a loss.
B. The group winner shall be the team with the most (win/tie) points in their group. In the event of a tie within a group, the following criteria shall be used to determine the winner.
1. Head to head competition. (In the event of a tie between more than two (2) teams, this criterion will not be considered).
2. Most wins.
3. Most bonus points. The winning team will be awarded bonus points for goal differential up to a maximum of 3 points. Thus a team winning 3-0 or 7-3 would receive the maximum of three (3) bonus points.
4. Least goals allowed.
11. FAILURE TO SHOW AND FORFEITS
A. A team shall be allowed a FIVE (5) minute grace period after the scheduled kick-off time before the match is awarded to their opponent. A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team and if seven (7) players are present, the game will not be delayed.
B. In no case shall a team, which forfeits a game, be declared a group winner. If an apparent group winner forfeits a game, the group team with the next best record shall be named the group winner.
C. If a team is the cause for termination of a game, that team will be considered to have forfeited that game.
D. A forfeit shall be awarded as three (3) points for the win. For tie-breaking purposes, the score shall be set as the average of goals scored by the winning team rounded up to the nearest whole number, against the average of the goals given up by that team rounded down to the nearest whole number, as a minimum, the score will be recorded as 1-0.
E. If (at any time) a team is asked to produce either their duly authorized member passes and/or Loudoun Soccer College Showcase Tournament Stamped Roster and they fail to do so, their game MAY result in a forfeit.
12. INCLEMENT WEATHER
In case of inclement weather, the Tournament Committee will have the authority to change games as follows:
1. Relocate or reschedule any game(s).
2. Change the duration of any game(s).
3. Cancel the tournament in whole or part.
4. Games terminated by Game or Tournament officials after one half of play shall be considered official as of the time of termination.
13. GENERAL
A. Under no circumstances whatsoever will the Tournament Committee, Loudoun Soccer or VYSA be responsible for any expenses (including the Tournament entry fee) incurred by any team. This includes a situation where the Tournament or any game(s) is canceled or terminated in whole or part.
B. The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of the rules shall be final.
C. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to this Tournament
D. Teams participating in the Loudoun Soccer College Showcase Tournament MUST (as a condition of acceptance) make all hotel accommodations using our tournament housing service. Teams not using our tournament housing service will be disqualified.
14. CANCELLATION AND WITHDRAWAL POLICY
If the tournament or any game(s) are canceled or terminated in whole or in part, the Tournament committee, Loudoun Soccer or VYSA will NOT be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team. If weather conditions force the Loudoun Tournament officials to cancel the event prior to the start date of the tournament a partial refund of the application fee will be returned to the accepted teams after tournament expenses are received and recorded.
Any team accepted to the Loudoun Soccer College Showcase that withdraws will forfeit the entry fee in its entirety, in addition, to the performance bond. The performance bond will be returned to participating teams within 30 days of completion of the event.
15. TOURNAMENT HOUSING SERVICE
Teams participating in the Loudoun Soccer College Showcase MUST (as a condition of acceptance) make all hotel accommodations using our tournament housing service:
Holiday Inn Leesburg. Contact: Shameka McGee
1500 E. Market Street, Phone: 703-771-9200.
Leesburg, VA 20176.
16. Hospital Information
Inova Loudoun Hospital
44045 Riverside Parkway
Leesburg, VA 20176
Phone: 703-444-6060 or 703-858-6000