NEW JERSEY YOUTH SOCCER

NEW JERSEY YOUTH SOCCER 2015-2016 National Championship Series Rules MARCH 28, 2016 NEW JERSEY YOUTH SOCCER 569 Abbington Dr., East Windsor NJ

INTRODUCTION NJ Youth Soccer National Championship Series A. The NJYS National Championship series will consist of one tournament with divisions as determined by the NJYS State Cups Committee. It will be open to all travel team boys and girls with age groups as follows: U11 and U12 (small sided), U13 & U14 age groups in the fall and the U15 to U19 age groups in the spring. The tournament is comprised of properly registered NJYS players affiliated with NJYS Leagues, provided such team and their Leagues are in good standing with NJYS and the team is in compliance with, and has not violated, the rules of New Jersey Youth Soccer. Secondary players are not permitted. Any team using an ineligible player(s) will forfeit all of its tournament games and be subject to fines. B. This is a single elimination tournament with games sites arranged by NJYS unless otherwise noted by the NJYS Cups Committee. Teams are responsible for referee fees during the preliminary and quarter final rounds (see rules of the competition for specific costs). C. Any team wishing to participate in the US Youth Soccer Region I National Championship series should enter this tournament. D. The NJYS National Championship Series determines the teams representing New Jersey Youth Soccer in the U12 through U19 age groups at the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships. If applicable, regional champions (only in the U13 through U17 age groups) would then advance to the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup. E. Eligibility for the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships is according to placement in the NJYS National Championship Series. The NJYS state champion has the first option to advance but should that team decline, the finalist would be given the option to participate. Should the finalist also decline the invite, NJYS State Cups Committee will select another team representative. F. Players/teams entering the NJYS National Championship Series are ineligible to enter the NJYS Presidents Cup. Players/teams may only participate in one regional competition per seasonal year.

I. ADMINISTRATION A. The NJYS State Cups tournaments will have a NJYS State Cups Committee(s) appointed by NJYS Games Commissioner. The NJYS Games Commissioner will have final authority in all decisions made by the NJYS State Cups Committee, as well as serve on the NJYS State Cups Committee. B. NJYS State Cups Committee will select venues for the NJYS State Cups tournaments unless otherwise communicated by the NJYS State Cups Committee. C. The NJYS State Cups Committee is the final arbiter for all NJYS National Championship Series decisions. There shall be no appeal beyond the authority of the NJYS State Cups Committee. II. REGISTRATION AND TEAM ELIGIBILITY A. Teams must compete in at least a 4-team approved league flight (consisting of teams of the same age level) during the current seasonal year in NJYS, US Youth Soccer Regional League or US Youth Soccer National League. Leagues are required to schedule a minimum of one game against each of the different teams participating in the flight. Notwithstanding this minimum playing requirement, a team must complete their entire league schedule. For example; if a league schedules 10 games during a season, a team must play ten games to qualify. League procedures for forfeits must also be adhered to. This league playing requirement must be completed one week prior to the start of regional competition. B. Applications for each tournament must be accompanied by a validated NJYS roster and the proper entry fee before the application is accepted. These items must be received by the NJYS office (email: statecups@njyouthsoccer.com or fax: 609.490.0731) by the published deadline date and time to avoid team not being accepted. The individual team takes responsibility for adhering to this deadline. C. Dates of competition for all rounds of the NJYS National Championship Series are published in the State Cups calendar on the NJYS Cups page of the NJYS website. (www.njyouthsoccer.com) If your team is not prepared to play all games on all scheduled dates, please do not enter the competition. D. Each player entering the competition must carry a US Youth Soccer member pass. No player may present or play with a player pass issued by any other US Soccer member organization. The US Youth Soccer member pass, rosters and any revisions must be processed and approved by a NJYS approved District Commissioner. Any violation of this rule will result in fines and/or suspensions.

No Pass No Play No Exceptions E. Every player must be rostered on an official team roster that has been validated by a NJYS District Commissioner to be eligible to play in the NJYS National Championship Series. Validated player passes are required for each player in every game. All team officials, coaches, assistant coaches, managers, etc. must also be listed on the roster and have a current valid member pass. The referees have been instructed to enforce the NJYS State Cups No Pass-No Play rule. F. A player can only be rostered on or play with one team in any level of NJYS State Cups competitions during a seasonal year. G. NJYS will accept roster additions, releases, and transfers up to the roster freeze date set by the NJYS State Cups Committee, in conformance with the then-applicable regulations of the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series. H. A team s roster is frozen for both cup competition and league play for the duration of NJYS National Championship Series completion and possible participation at the regional and national Level. (club passing may apply by NJYS registrar only for US Youth Soccer Region I competition or US Youth Soccer National competition and in compliance with National competition rules) For teams that are NJ Youth Soccer Champions from the fall, rosters are frozen for the entire spring season. You cannot make any roster changes. I.e. adds or transfers, during that period for NJ Youth Soccer State Cups, league, or tournament play. If you drop a player from the roster, the player is dropped for both league and NJYS State Cups play. Exception: U19 and U18 roster changes may be submitted to the NJYS office by 4:00 pm on the business day prior to the beginning of the competition. I. There will be no secondary carding on any roster for the NJYS State Cups. J. If determined that your roster does not comply with all requirements for a valid roster, your team cannot participate in the NJYS National Championship Series. Financial penalties may be imposed. III. ROSTER SIZES A. U12 small sided teams can have a maximum of 14 players on the roster. U13 through U17 teams can have a maximum of 22 players on the roster. B. Any team using ineligible player(s) will forfeit all of its tournament games and may be subject to fines.

C. Any player on a team advancing to a regional or national competition is ineligible to play for another team within this competition. D. Secondary carded players are not eligible to play in the NJYS National Championship Series, even though the team s NJYS league may permit secondary carding. If a secondary carded player appears on a NJYS National Championship Series roster, that team will be disqualified from the competition. IV. RULES OF THE COMPETITION A. If a team requests to change their state cup tournament preference after the registration deadline but before the brackets are completed, they will incur a $50 change fee (if approved by the NJYS Games Commissioner). If this request to change occurs after the brackets are posted, there will be a $200 change fee (if approved by the NJYS Games Commissioner). B. Home Team and Visiting Team: 1. For the first round of the NJYS National Championship Series, the home team will be indicated on the listing of teams as posted by the NJYS State Cups Committee on the NJYS Cups page of our website www.njyouthsoccer.com. 2. A bye is a home team win. 3. Home team will change jerseys is there is a conflict. 4. For preliminary and Quarter Final rounds the home team must supply at least 2 game balls. (NJYS will supply balls for Semi Final and Final rounds) 5. Conditions may determine preliminary games be held at a home field. If this should happen the following applies: Home team: a. Scheduling: NJYS National Championship Series Games have priority over league and other games. The scheduled game time in GotSoccer is NOT necessarily the game time. A game can be played any day or time approved by the NJYS Games Commissioner. This is to allow flexibility around league and home field schedule. Game times must be mutually acceptable to both teams, with the guideline of making sure both teams have a fair chance and no team is put at a disadvantage.

1. Home team must provide confirmation to the visiting team with game time and adequate directions to the home team s venue no less than 72 hours prior to the game and no later than 9:00 PM Wednesday night via phone and email. 2. Must properly mark the field of play 3. Must provide a proper game ball 4. Must provide proper nets 5. Confirming that a referee has been assigned by a certified NJ State Referee Coordinator for any game that has had a change in time, place, or date since originally scheduled and confirmed with the opposing team. Visiting team: If both teams are properly notified per 3 above and one fails to show up, following a 15-minute grace period, in which to field a minimum of seven (7) players or the game will be forfeited to the showing team. Extenuating circumstances may be favorably considered by the NJYS State Cups committee and the NJYS Games Commissioner. Should both teams fail to meet this deadline, and the referee deems the field playable, both teams will forfeit. C. Score Reporting: The winning team must report the game score to NJYS the night of that round if played off site. D. Results: Game results will be posted on the NJYS website by Monday evening following weekend games. E. Scheduling: The NJYS State Cups Committee is responsible for scheduling all tournament games. The NJYS Games Commissioner also has the ability to mandate any game date change. F. Contingency Scheduling: If conditions determine that a game will to be played at a home team field, that game can only be postponed by the home team and then only if weather has made the field unplayable. Every attempt should be made to play the game as scheduled. The home team must notify the NJYS Games Commissioner by 10:00 AM on the day of the game or at least three (3) hours in advance of the scheduled game time. To declare a field unplayable due to adverse weather conditions will be the prerogative of the referee, the NJYS State Cups Committee and the NJYS Games Commissioner. 1. Any game canceled due to an unplayable field or adverse weather that prevents a team from traveling to the venue site, the NJYS Games Commissioner and the NJYS State Cups Committee will determine the rescheduling. 2. Any game not postponed by 10:00am shall be considered as ON and only the referee shall have the authority at this point to judge the fitness of the grounds. 3. Any postponed game must be played by Wednesday immediately following the originally scheduled game unless otherwise approved by the NJYS Games Commissioner.

G. Referee: Failure of a referee to show up will not be the cause for canceling or protesting a game. A substitute official must be chosen upon agreement by both coaches and that official s decision will be final and must be in writing. H. Forfeit: Any team forfeiting a game must notify the NJYS Games Commissioner by Thursday before the game is scheduled and follow up with a written confirmation to the NJYS State Office via statecups@njyouthsoccer.com and the NJYS Games Commissioner. The forfeiting team will be assessed a fine according to the following schedule: Preliminary Round Game Quarter Final Game Semi Final Game Final Game $150.00 plus referee costs $200.00 plus referee costs $250.00 plus referee costs $350.00 plus referee costs The NJYS State Cups Committee is the final arbiter for all NJYS State Cups decisions. There will be no appeal beyond the authority of this committee. All fines will be paid within ten days of notification. Failure to pay any fine will result in a suspension from all affiliated play. Notification will be sent to the team s club president and league president. I. Unfinished Games: Unfinished games due to any cause will be replayed providing neither team is at fault and play has not begun in the second half. If play is stopped during the second half and play cannot be resumed and providing neither team is at fault, the NJYS Games Commissioner and the NJYS State Cups Committee may deem the game complete. But should play be stopped at any time due to one of the teams being adjudged at fault, it will be at the discretion of the NJYS State Cups Committee as to whether the game is to be replayed or declared a forfeit (National Playing Rules 242). J. NJYS Games Commissioner and the NJYS State Cups Committee will work with the NJ State Referee Committee to assign referees, unless otherwise decided. K. Referee fees will be split by teams 50/50 for preliminary and quarter final rounds. NJYS will pay ref fees for semifinal and final rounds. L. Substitutions as per US Youth Soccer National Championship policy rule #242: a maximum of seven (7) substitutions for each team shall be allowed in each half and during overtime play. After leaving the game during a half of play, the substituted player may not re-enter the game during the same half of play. After leaving the game during overtime play, the substituted player may not re-enter the game at all. Substitutions may be made (with the consent of the referee) at any stoppage of play.

M. Protests: The NJYS State Cups Committee will hear and decide protests, appeals, and challenges for NJYS National Championship Series Competition, subject to the following conditions: 1. A protest must be verbally lodged with the referee and with the opposing coach before leaving the game site. It must be noted by the referee on the game report, and the NJYS Games Commissioner must be notified of any protest within four hours of the game completion. Note: Only the misapplication of the Laws of the Game is subject to protest. 2. A protest must be submitted in writing via email to the NJYS Games Commissioner within 24 hours of the game. 3. The fee for a protest is $300 and must be sent to the NJYS State Office and postmarked no later than the next post office working day after the game was concluded. If the protest is upheld, the fee will be returned. If denied, the fee will be retained. 4. Written complaints can be filed without a fee but they will not result in a change in the game result. N. Conduct: Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players and spectators. Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated. Misconduct by parents and/or spectators will be referred to the NJYS Appeals/Discipline Committee for disciplinary action. All coaches of competing teams are to remain within a ten (10) yard coaching box on their side of the field. At games played at a centralized location, both players and coaches will be on one side of the field as specified by NJYS. Parents and spectators will remain on the opposite side for the entire match. For games at a centralized location a maximum of four sideline passes per team will be issued to coaches who have a current year, valid member pass and who are listed on the team s approved roster. Only coaches with sideline passes will be permitted on the side of the field with the players. Coaches are not permitted to coach from the spectators side of the field. Coaching is only permitted from inside the coaching box area. O. Length of Games, Overtime Periods, and Ball Specifications: Age Group Duration Overtime Ball Size U19, U18, U17 2-45 minute halves 2-15 minutes 5 U16, U15 2-40 minute halves 2-15 minutes 5 U14, U13 2-35 minute halves 2-10 minutes 5 U12, U11 2-30 minute halves 2-10 minutes 4 At preliminary and quarterfinal games the home team will supply the referee with 2 game balls. At semifinal and final games, all matches will be played with a ball supplied by NJYS. There will be a five minute rest between halves. There will be no rest between overtime halves. If a game goes into overtime, both overtime periods must be played in entirety. If a

game is still tied at the end of overtime, the match will be decided in accordance with the FIFA Instructions Regarding the Taking of Kicks from the Penalty Mark. P. Uniforms: No team will wear the logo, insignia, or other identifying mark of a non US Youth Soccer organization on their uniforms during the NJYS National Championship Series competition. Teams wearing such items will remove the mark change uniforms to comply with this rule or forfeit the match of the competition. A manufacturer s mark is exempted. Numbers on jerseys must be a size of six inches for all players. Q. Referees: A. Each team must prepare a game report ( doc or pdf ) with all eligible competing players listed. The report will be given to the referee. This report will be distributed before the game when the passes are examined by referee. Only players on game report may compete in game. For preliminary round matches, the game roster for 22 player teams is frozen when the game report is presented to the referee at the beginning of the match. All other players on the team roster must remain on the parents' side of the field and may not be dressed in uniform. B. For semifinals and finals held at the centralized location, the game roster for 22 player teams will be reviewed by the NJYS Committee and approved. The game roster is frozen when the game roster is approved by the NJYS Cups Committee. The referees for the quarter-final, the semi-final, and the final matches will be assigned by the NJYS State Assignor with input from the NJ Youth Soccer Cups Committee. C. Referee fees for games before the Semi-Finals will be shared 1/2-1/2 by the competing teams. The established fees are: Age Group 1 Referee AR U19, U18, U17 $80.00 $50.00 U16, U15 $80.00 $50.00 U14, U13 $70.00 $40.00 U12, U11 $70.00 $40.00 NJ Youth Soccer will pay the referee fees for all semi-final and final games. 4. The USSF approved referee assignment policy is preferred when assigning referees to games: Referee and two neutral uniformed assistant referees. Referee and two club linesmen. One referee working alone. 5. Before the start of each game, the referee will receive an official game report from each team, inspect each player and their pass, and hold all passes until the end of the game.

The issuance of any red cards must be reported by the referee to his/her assignor and to NJYS by email. (statecups@njyouthsoccer.com) within 24 hours of the game, and preferably the same day. Details of the player name, pass #, team, club, and reason for the dismissal should be included. The referee must mail the pass of any player or coach sent off the field (red-carded) to the NJ Youth Soccer State Office or onsite NJYS Rep. with the game report for disposition. Passes for coaches or players issued red cards are not to be returned to the team for any reason. All other passes will be returned to the coach at conclusion of the game. The referee will mail the game reports to the NJYS Office within 24 hours of the end of the game. The NJ Youth Soccer Office, under the direction of the Cups Committee, will retain the pass of any player or coach sent off for the duration of the penalty. Red Card Violations Serious Foul Play Violent Conduct Second Caution in the same match Penalty 2 games/2 weeks 3 games/3 weeks 1 game/1 week Offensive, insulting abusive language 1 game/1 week Penalties for individuals sent off will be carried over to the next or NJ Youth Soccer Presidents Cup competition when necessary. NO PASS - NO PLAY - NO EXCEPTIONS The next round opponent will be notified of all red carded players. 6. The home team shall be inspected first, and any challenges by either team, will be noted on game report by the referee. The player will be allowed to play. Challenges of players must be made at time of player pass inspection. The Games Commissioner through the State Registrar shall be make the verification of challenged players. 7. The referee will record any game protested by either coach on the game report. 8. The referee will determine the suitability of the field for play noting any improperly prepared fields. 9. In the event that no assigned referee appears at the field within 30 minutes of the scheduled game time, two choices are available: The game may be played with a mutually acceptable substitute referee.

Both teams may elect to play the game at another time but before the following Wednesday. The Games Commissioner must be notified. The home team will lose the home field advantage. 10. If, for any reason the game is not played by the Wednesday deadline, BOTH TEAMS WILL FORFEIT. This includes rainouts. Check In Procedures The team's coach or manager must have all of the following documents in his/her possession and available for inspection at all times during NJYS State Cups, Regional Championships, and National Competitions: US Youth Soccer Member passes for all rostered players All member passes must be current and valid All NJYS member passes must be validated by a District Commissioner Coaches passes for all coaches listed on that team's roster All member passes must be current and valid All member passes must be validated by a District Commissioner Official Team Roster approved by NJ Youth Soccer District Commissioner Game Roster on NJYS Game Report Form Medical Release forms Check in is required for all games held at the centralized locations Teams that advance to the semifinal competition must prepare a Regional Roster for competition in which you are registered, and have it available at the semifinal match for the NJYS check in. Roster template can be found on the NJ Youth Soccer Cups page. At the semi final game, the player pass of each player will be verified against the frozen roster. The NJ Youth Soccer Cup Committee will review all documentation listed above. The team must also submit a game report with the team name complete and the roster of players. At the final games, each player must be present to check in with the NJYS. NJYS will review all documentation listed above. The team must also submit a game card with the team name complete and the roster of players. Players will be verified by their passes. Proper behavior on the side lines Teams that are waiting for their match cannot warm up or congregate along the goal line of an active field or between fields. NJYS will designate an area for teams waiting for their match and teams are expected to stay within the area for their warm up activities. Teams not adhering to this requirement will be subject to disciplinary action and may be fined $100.00.

A maximum of four (4) carded, rostered coaches, assistant coaches, administrators, trainers, for each team will be permitted on the sidelines with the rostered players. Sideline passes must be displayed prominently. Spectator areas are behind the marked only area. Please be considerate of other games in progress. There is plenty of area for player warm up and preparations without congregating along the goal lines or between fields. Proper behavior is required on the sidelines. Your cooperation and that of your players and spectators will be greatly appreciated.