Ajax Invitational Rules

2024 Tournament Rules

 

Ajax Invitational will be played in accordance with FIFA rules as modified by the following changes and additions.

 

  1. CREDENTIALS:  All players must be properly registered with their respective state organizations and must have a verified roster on record with the Tournament Committee.  Coaches must have their verified, current team roster, medical release for verification with the tournament official.  UYSA online Player rosters or Out of State Player cards will be used for game time check in.

 

  1.  CHECK-IN:  An online or mandatory check-in will be held before the tournament begins. A check in process email will be sent out and website, 1 hour prior to first game.
    1. GOT SOCCER or Affinity rosters will be used to check ALL teams.
    2. Medical releases (find on tournament website)

 

  1. GAME BALL / UNIFORMS:  A game ball will be provided by the home team, which is the first team listed for each game.  The home team will be required to change uniforms to an alternate jersey in the event of a color conflict.

 

  1. DURATION OF GAME: 
    1. Preliminary Rounds:  

Academy        4-10 minute quarters  #4 ball

U9 & U10       25 minute halves         #4 ball

U11 & U12     30 minute halves         #4 ball

U13 & U14     30 minute halves         #5 ball

U15 & U16     30 minute halves         #5 ball

U17 & U18     35 minute halves         #5 ball

 

In the event of combined age groups, you will play the game length of the older age group.  No overtime periods will be played in preliminary rounds.  U13 to U19 Semi-final & Final games will be 5 minutes longer for each half.

 

  1. START TIMES:  A team will forfeit a game if it fails to present seven-player teams for play within 15 minutes from the normal game starting time.

 

  1. TEAMS & SIDELINES:  Team and Spectators will occupy the same side of field, as per UYSA Sideline Policy.  The home team has choice of which side of the field it will be located on. Tournament must assign home team side before games are played and it must be communicated to the teams.

 

  1. BRACKETING:  Bracketing of team will be determined by the tournament scheduler.  No appeals of the tournament bracketing will be allowed.

 

  1. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY:  The U11-U18 teams may have a maximum of eighteen (18) players, with fewer players allowed.  Of those eighteen players, a maximum of seven (7) may be guest players for the tournament.  The U9-U10 teams may have a maximum of fourteen (14) players, with fewer players allowed.  Of those fourteen players, a maximum of seven (7) may be guest players for the tournament.  Rosters are set at team check-in and no amendments to the roster will be allowed after check-in.  A player’s eligibility will be determined prior to each game.  Any team playing an illegal or non-roster player will forfeit that game or games.  Coaches may be required to show Birth Certificates/Players passes and Medical release forms at check-in and should have these documents available for the duration of the tournament.  No player can play on two teams in the same age group during the tournament. Academy can have up to 8 players on roster.

 

  1. GUEST PLAYERS:  A team may have a maximum of (7) guest player on its roster.  Each guest player must have the appropriate documentation.

 

  1. SPECTATORS:  Referees will have the authority to have unruly spectators removed from the field.  All spectators must remain at least 3 feet back from the touch line.  Spectators will not be allowed to go past the top of the penalty box, (18-yard line extended).  Any referee assault or abuse will be referred to the State Organization for disciplinary and/or legal action. 

 

  1. EJECTION: (Yellow Cards and Red Cards will be issued as part of the game.)  However, anyone ejected from a game will automatically be suspended from the next game and upon review by the tournament committee may be suspended for the rest of the tournament.  The coach is responsible for all spectators.  Unruly coaches or spectators will be asked to leave the premises.  Failure to comply may cause a team to forfeit the game.

 

  1. COACHING:  No excessive coaching from the sidelines will be allowed.  Coaches must stay in the technical area, (18-yard line extended.)  Any team causing the game to be abandoned shall be declared a forfeit and loser of that game.
  2. SUBSTITUTIONS:  Unlimited substitutions will be permitted with the consent of the referee at times during the game as permitted by UYSA and FIFA rules.
    1. Subject to the referee’s discretion, teams may make an unlimited number of substitutions during a match.
    2. b. Subject to the referee’s discretion, substitutions may be made at the following times:

(1) The possessing team may substitute prior to its own throw-in;

(2) The non-possessing team may substitute prior to a throw-in by the possessing team if the possessing team is also making a substitution and the non-possessing team’s substitutes are at the halfway line ready to enter the match;

(3) Either team may make substitutes at the following times;

(a) Prior to a goal kick by either team;

(b) After a goal by either team;

(c) After an injury to either team when the referee stops play;

(d) At halftime;

(4) On a caution, only the cautioned player may be substituted.

  1. Substitutions shall be made in the following manner:

(1) The referee must be informed of and acknowledge a proposed substitution;

(2) A substitute must be standing at the halfway line prior to the substitution opportunity;

(3) A substitute must enter the field of play at the halfway line;

(4) The substituted player may exit the field of play anywhere;

(5) A substitute may not enter the field of play until the substituted player has exited the field of play, unless otherwise directed by the referee.

  1. < >A player who has been substituted may reenter the match as a substitute.
  2. PROTESTS:  All games will be considered final and no protest will be allowed.

 

  1. LITTER/GARBAGE:  All litter must be cleaned from the field after each game.  Littered sidelines may result in forfeiture of the game if so determined by the Tournament Committee.

 

  1. WEATHER:  The Tournament Committee may alter a game’s duration to accommodate weather related scheduling delays. All games will be played, alternative game schedules could be penalty kicks, round robin games can still end in a tie for scoring purposes.

 

  1. SCORING/STANDINGS:  Preliminary games will be scored as follows:
  1. 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, 0 points for a loss
  2. A 0-0 tie will be awarded 1 points for each team 
  3. Forfeited games will be awarded 3 points (1-0 win scored).
  4. All RED CARDS will result in a 1 point deduction from the team total points.  All games results will be posted tournament headquarters after the referee has filed the game report.  Scores will not be accepted from players, coaches or spectators.

 

  1. SCORING TIEBREAKERS:  All preliminary games may end in a tie.  Ties in points going into a championship round will be resolved in the following order:

 

  1. The winner in head to head competition.
  2. Goal differential
  3. Fewest goals against
  4. Total goals scored
  5. Most games won
  6. Least games lost
  7. If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 6, FIFA Penalty Kicks from the Mark will be taken thirty (30) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the appropriate Semi-Final game.
  8. If a three-way tie exists within a bracket after steps 1 through 6, a three-way coin flip will be conducted. The teams that tie in the coin flip will compete in FIFA Penalty Kicks from the Mark to eliminate one team prior to proceeding to FIFA Penalty Kicks from the Mark with the third team. The coin flip and time of the FIFA Penalty Kicks will be 30 minutes prior to the Semi-Final games.
  9. If ties exist in the determination of a wild card team, criteria 2 through 7 will be applied.

 

  1. FINALS/SEMIFINALS/TIEBREAKERS:  In any semi-final or final round, if the game is tied at the end of regulation play, two five-minute overtime periods will be played.  If the score is still tied at the end of both overtimes a shoot-out (kids from the penalty mark) will determine the winner.

 

  1. AWARDS:  Award ceremonies will be held at the location of the final game.  The winning teams will be crowned champions and presented with their awards immediately after the Final Game Score Card is submitted by the Referee.

 

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