TOURNAMENT RULES

The Freestate Friendlies will be played in accordance

With FIFA Laws of the Game except as modified below:  

 

REGISTRATION

The Freestate Friendlies is sanctioned under both USYSA and US Club Soccer for eligible boys and girls U9-U14. If registering under USYSA you will be required to provide your original state roster plus two copies, player pass cards and medical release forms for each player at registration. Under the US Club Soccer affiliation, you will be required to present an approved roster from your member organization, letter of good standing from your organization, approved roster listing, and approved member passes for each player.

ROSTER SIZE

U9-U10:  Maximum 12 players. 7v7.

U11-U12:  Maximum 14 players.  8v8.

U13-U14:  Maximum 18 players.  11v11.

GUEST PLAYERS

Five guest players per team will be permitted as long as they don’t exceed the maximum roster size. All guest players must be currently USYSA registered and possess a stamped player pass card in the correct age group.

PERMISSION TO TRAVEL

By agreement among all State Associations in Region 1 (except for New Jersey ). Permission to Travel is no longer required for Region 1 teams participating in tournaments within Region 1. Accordingly, Maryland tournaments can no longer require Region 1 teams to have approved Permission to Travel forms. However, this Agreement does not apply to teams from other US Youth Soccer Regions and approved Permission to Travel forms are still required for teams from outside Region 1. For Region 1 teams, a Notification of Travel form has replaced the Permission to Travel forms from all Region 1 teams. The procedures for obtaining or providing the Notification of Travel form will vary from state association to state association, however, all Region 1 teams are required to obtain the form and present a copy to the tournament to show that they have provided the required notification to their home state association. Since New Jersey Youth Soccer is still requiring its teams to obtain Permission to Travel from NJYSA, New Jersey teams participating in Maryland tournaments will continue to present the approved Permission to Travel forms, instead of the new Notification to Travel form.

A. Ball Size:

Size 5 for U13-U14

Size 4 for U9-U12

B. Game Duration:

70 min. for U13-U14, (11-a-side), Halftime - 5 min

70 min for U12 (8-a-side), Halftime – 5 min

60 min for U11 (8-a-side), Halftime – 5 min

60 min for U9-U10 (7-a-side), Halftime - 5 min

C. Substitutions: Unlimited substitutions with permission of referee:

1. after a goal

2. at half time

3. on goal kicks

4. Throw-ins upon possession only, however, 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 substitute.

5. Injury (any number of players from both teams may be Substituted whenever an injury has occurred after being beckoned onto the pitch by the Referee)

6. Start of an overtime Period

7. at the discretion of the referee

All substitutes shall inform the assistant referee on their side of the field that they wish to enter the game prior to the time they are entitled to enter the game as a substitute. The assistant referee will signal the referee that substitutes wish to enter the game at the first opportunity that the substitute is allowed to enter the game. The substitutes must wait until the referee signals that it is okay for them to enter the field. 

D. Home Team:

Team listed first is the designated Home Team and must change jerseys when the referee determines a conflict to exist.

E. Forfeits: No forfeit will be allowed without the permission of the tournament director.

F. 7-a-side: U9, U10 age groups. One referee system. Offsides will be called.

G. Inclement Weather: The Tournament Rules Committee reserves the right to make the following changes in the event of inclement weather:

* Relocate and/or reschedule a match.

* Change a division structure.

* Reduce scheduled duration of a match

* Cancel a match.

In the event of inclement weather forcing play to be halted and preventing the match from completing during the scheduled time, the score shall stand if at least one-half of the match has been completed. The tournament director will have the final decision on field closure.

H. Player’s Equipment: All players must wear shinguards. No metal-rimmed glasses allowed. Casts, splints or body braces made of a hard substance in its final form such as leather, rubber, plastic, plaster or fiberglass must be covered on all exterior surfaces with no less than ½ inch thick, high density polyurethane, or an alternate material of the same thickness and similar physical properties to protect the injury. A medical release for the injured player signed by a licensed physician must be available at the game sites.

I. Protest: There will be no protests. All officiating decisions are final.

J. Sideline Behavior:

a)       Both teams will sit on the same side of the field. Only coaches and trainers may stay on the player’s sideline.

b)       Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the Law as well as the letter of the Law. Displays of temper or dissent are cause for ejection from the game and surrounding field area. Repeated violations may result in the suspension of the team from the tournament as decided by the Tournament Director.

c)       Players, coaches and team officials ejected from a game by the referee shall be ineligible for the next scheduled game. 

d)       Any player, coach, or team official ejected from a game for violent conduct shall result in suspension of the player, coach or team official for the remainder of the tournament. 

e)       In accordance with the USYSA Tournament Hosting Agreement, all red and yellow cards and other matters involving team conduct will be reported to the home club and MSYSA. All matters involving referee assault (or abuse) shall, in accordance with USSF Rule 3042, be referred immediately to MSYSA. In any event, a player, coach or other team official charged with assault on a game official is suspended from further participation in the tournament.

K. Send-offs: Any player who receives a red card (or two yellow cards in the same game) during the tournament must sit out the very next game that his/her team is to play in the tournament.

L. Alcohol: No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park or the parking lot of any of the game sites.

M. Smoking: No smoking will be allowed on the sidelines.

N. Players: Players will only be allowed to play for one team during the tournament.

O. REFUND POLICY

In the event the ENTIRE tournament is cancelled, the tournament will refund entry fees after costs are covered.

P. TEAM CONTACT PERSON

Each team, checking in at registration, must sign a form giving the residence or hotel, room number and cell phone number of the coach or a designated contact person who can be reached at any time, should the necessity arise to contact a team.

Q. GENERAL

a)      Under no circumstances, will the Tournament Committee, FREESTATE SOCCER ALLIANCE, or MSYSA be responsible for any expenses (including tournament entry fee) incurred by any team. This includes a situation where the Tournament or any game(s) is canceled in whole or part.

b)       The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of these rules shall be final.

c)       The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to this tournament.

d)      Field Marshals, based on these rules, will determine the teams to advance into the final rounds.

e)      ALL SALES (for fundraising or otherwise)