FALL FESTIVAL- RULES & REGULATIONS

LAW OF THE GAME

All games will be played under the FIFA Laws of the Game, except the changes to the substitution rules.

TEAM ELIGIBILITY

USYS teams from outside of the state of Missouri must file travel permission forms with their State Associations. Your states medical release forms, player cards, a completed Tournament Roster and state-approved rosters must be presented at registration. US Club Soccer teams must submit everything on Addendum A (provided by SLSG) for participation of Non-US Youth Soccer Teams. Foreign teams will also need to submit extra paperwork for participation of foreign teams. Teams may carry a roster of no more than 12 for U8-U10 7v7, no more than 16 for 9v9 and no more than 22 for U12-U15 11v11. No more than 18 may dress for each game. No roster changes will be permitted after a team roster has been approved at tournament registration. All teams must be currently registered with their State, National or Provincial Association. Up to 3 guest players may be added to a team. Each player must have a valid US Club/USYS ID card. The minimum number of games is three (3). No player may play on more than one team in the Tournament.

DURATION OF THE GAME

 Age Division | Game Time  | Ball Size

U15 | (2) 35 Minute Halves | Size 5 Ball

U14 | (2) 35 Minute Halves | Size 5 Ball

U13 | (2) 35 Minute Halves | Size  5 Ball

U12 9v9 | (2) 30 Minute Halves | Size 4 Ball

U11 9v9 | (2) 30 Minute Halves | Size 4 Ball

U10 7v7 | (2) 25 Minute Halves | Size 4 Ball

U9 7v7 | (2) 25 Minute Halves | Size 4 Ball

U8 7v7 | (2) 25 Minute Halves | Size 4 Ball

AWARDS

Participation awards will be presented to ALL U8-U9 players…with individual customized medals and a team trophy being presented to the 1st place teams U8-U15. Second place teams will receive customized medals as Finalists in the U8-U15 divisions.

UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

Each player must wear shin guards and an official uniform with a number on the back. Home team should wear their lighter color Jersey – Away should wear their darker kit. Home team is listed first on the schedule. Where uniform color is similar, the designated VISITING team will change colors. If a team is wearing the wrong uniform kit on purpose, that team will be asked to change. Home team will provide the game ball if the Tournament does not provide Nike balls.

START OF THE GAME

A referee’s coin toss will determine direction and which team starts with the ball.

SUBSTITUTION

Unlimited substitution is allowed for all Divisions. Substitutions will be in accordance with USSF rules. Players can sub on the other team’s possession throw in IF they have a player up as a substitute as well.

EJECTION

Any player or coach ejected from a game will be ineligible for the team’s next game. No substitution will be permitted for an ejected player. Anyone fighting can be subjected to ejection from further tournament participation. Passes will be retained by the tournament and will be returned to the coach of the team after the player has sat out their suspension.

FAILURE TO SHOW – FORFEITS

A minimum of seven players constitutes a team. A ten (10) minute grace period will be extended beyond the kickoff time before a forfeit will be declared. The Tournament Directors will make the final decision if a forfeit shall be allowed depending upon extenuating circumstances that may have prevented a team from making the game on time. If a forfeit is determined, the winning team shall be awarded a score of 4-0 and will receive the points for that score.

PROTESTS

Any protest must be presented in writing to the tournament headquarters within one (1) hour of the completion of the game, and must be accompanied with a $100 bond. This bond will only be returned if the protest is upheld. Referee judgment calls will not be a basis for protests.

SCORING FORMAT

Three (3) Points will be awarded for a win
One (1) point will be awarded for a tie
Zero (0) points will be awarded for a loss

In the event of a tie in total point standings, the following sequence will be used:

1. Head to head competition between the teams that are tied
2. Best Goal difference for all games – up to Four (4) per game
3. Fewest Goals Allowed
4. Most Goals Scored up to 4 per game.
5. Penalty Kick Shootout – Five (5) players per team; if still tied, sudden victory penalty kick shootout

(In case of 3 way tie we will go through tie breakers until we have a winner, the process does not eliminate a team and then restart the tie breaker list)

TIE BREAK – FINALS

Games that are tied at the end of regulation time will end as a tie in preliminary rounds. In the event of a tie in a final game; the game will continue with two five (5) minute overtime periods after which penalty kicks will be taken as listed below to determine a winner.

TIE BREAKERS – PENALTY KICKS

In the event that penalty kicks must be used to determine a winner in the preliminary or final rounds the format will be as follows:

PROCEDURE: Penalty Kicks will be taken in accordance with the Laws of the Game.

ELIGIBLE PLAYERS: Only players on the field at the end of the match are eligible to participate.

1. Each team will select five (5) players to kick.
2. Teams will alternate kicks – First team to kick will be determined by the referee’s coin flip.
3. If the score remains tied after five (5) kicks, teams will alternate kicks until a winner is determined.
4. All eligible players must kick before any eligible player can repeat.

PLAYOFFS

All divisions will be with 4-8 teams. Finals will be played in groups of 6 and 8. Round robin play for groups of 4-5.

REFUNDS

If the event is canceled entirely because of weather, St. Louis Scott Gallagher will refund 80% of the application fee. This would be the case if a team does not play any games as well. No refunds will be given for teams that drop after September 1, 2023 or after they have been accepted.

US Soccer Heading Mandate

SLSG, in accordance with US Soccer’s recommendation on specific rule changes to heading, will eliminate heading for players age 10 and under. Please note that U11 is listed in the US Soccer concussion initiative document because U11 players can be 10 years old during the season. Therefore, because of the concerns for the safety of younger players, beyond the limitations of the laws of the game, SLSG Tournaments will follow the mandate and not allow players U11 and under to head the ball. This infraction will result in an indirect free kick.

When a player deliberately heads a ball during the game, an indirect free kick should be awards to the opposing team from the spot of the infraction. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal box, the indirect free kick should be taken from the spot of infringement as well. If the infringement takes place within the 6 yard box, the ball will be placed on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If a player does not deliberately head the ball, play should continue.

7v7 Build Out Line

When the goalkeeper has the ball in his or her hands during play from the opponent, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper.

Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punts and drop kicks are not allowed). Ideally, the goalkeeper will wait to put the ball into play once all opponents are past the build out line; however, the goalkeeper can put the ball into play sooner but he or she does so accepting the positioning of the opponents and the consequences of how play resumes.

If a goalkeeper punts or drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred The opposing team must also move behind the build out line during a goal kick until the ball is put into play. 

There will be no offsides for 7v7.

PETS

No pets are allowed at the fields.