Tournament Rules
Classification and Age Divisions:
The Winter Classic Tournament is sponsored by the National Fusion Soccer Club. The tournament will be held on February 20-21, 2010, for select and recreational teams registered with the United States Youth Soccer (USYSA). The tournament is sanctioned by the South Texas Youth Soccer Association (STYSA) and is open to boys & girls teams from U8 through U16. There are three levels of competition: Gold (Highest level - Premier & Div. 1), Silver (Div. 1 & Super 2 & Academy), and Bronze (Div. 2 & 3 & Recreational). Single age brackets and levels will be formed if applications support the groupings. Unless otherwise amended below, the current Laws of the Game (as published by USYSA) will apply to this competition.
Team Registration and Check-in:
Tournament registration must be completed through the online system at www.nationalfusion.org. Team registration for U13 - U16 is $425, U11 – U12 is $400, U9 - U10 is $325, and U8 is $275. Application deadline is Friday, January 29, 2010, at 12 midnight. No refunds will be issued to a team canceling their participation, once they are registered. All players (except guest players) must be registered to the team. All teams must provide an official roster (with player uniform numbers) signed by the coach of record and their local association or club registrar. Teams from outside STYSA must submit an approved USYSA travel permit along with an official roster. All teams must have approved USYSA ID cards and signed medical releases for each of the players including up to three (3) guest players for U8-U12 teams and four (4) guest players for U13-U19 teams. Teams or players will not be allowed to participate without approved paperwork. Coaches may bring the approved paperwork to the check-in meeting for validation. Validated rosters will be required prior to participating in any match.
Team rosters are limited to eighteen (18) players for U13-U16 teams playing full-sided (11v11) games, fourteen (14) players for U12 and twelve (12) players for U8-U11 teams playing small-sided (8v8 for U9-U12 or 7v7 for U8) games.
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Hilton Garden Inn Sugar Land
722 Bonaventure Way
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Check In Location
Check In Location
Check In Times
Check In Times
Friday, February 19, 2010 6-9:30pm
Sugar Land, Texas 77479 USA
Field Locations
Field Locations
Team representatives are REQUIRED to check-in their team during the listed times -- there will be NO Saturday morning check-in unless prior arrangements are made with the Tournament Director. We will distribute any schedule changes, validate rosters, and answer questions. You must have a representative present to provide a copy of your team's roster to the volunteers at check-in. Medical release forms & laminated player ID cards for each player will be required at check-in along with an official roster.
Game Information:
All teams will be guaranteed to play at least three games. In round robin play, ties at the end of regulation time will stand. For the U8 bracket, there will be no advancement and all players will receive participation awards. Scores will be posted. For U9 and above, the quarter-final and semi-final games will break ties at the end of regulation time by the taking of FIFA penalty kicks, and no overtime periods will be played. All championship games ending in a tie will play two 5-minute overtime periods. If the teams are still tied at the end of the overtime periods, FIFA kicks will be played to determine the champion.
In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director has the authority to restructure, reschedule or cancel the tournament. In the event the tournament is rescheduled, games will be played on February 27-28, 2010, with no refunds given to teams not able to participate. In the event the tournament is canceled, partial refunds will be given. Every effort will be made to complete the tournament.
Game Times and Ball Size:
Teams must be at the scheduled game field and ready for inspection by the referee at least 15 minutes before the scheduled game time. Each team must be ready to play at the scheduled time or immediately after the conclusion of the previous game as determined by the referee, or the team is subject to forfeiting the match. Each team must be prepared to present a game ball of appropriate size, weight, and pressure to the referee before the start of the game for his/her selection. All games will have a 5 minute half.
Player Substitutions:
Players may be substituted with the consent of the match referee at the following times:
No player shall enter or leave the field of play without the consent of the referee.
Playing Conditions:
The Home Team is listed first or on top in the schedule. Both teams shall occupy the same side of the field, as identified by the Tournament Director. All game spectators, including parents and unrostered visitors for both teams will occupy the opposite side of the field. The Home Team chooses the goal to attack and Visitors Team kicks off. In case of inclement weather, the Tournament Director and/or Site Coordinator will determine if a game is to be played. Once the game has started, the decision rests with the referee. If any games are canceled, it is up to the coaches of the teams to check with the Site Coordinator, Communications Director or Tournament Director for rescheduling information. Games shall be considered complete if one half of the game has elapsed. The score at the stoppage of play will be the final score. If one half has not elapsed and the game is stopped, the game will be rescheduled if it could affect the outcome of the tournament and if conditions permit as determined by the Tournament Director.
Uniforms:
As a convenience to both teams, it is recommended that the home team wears their "colored" uniform and the visitors wear white. Should there be a conflict in uniform colors, the home team will be required to change uniforms. Each player's uniform should have an easily identifiable number. Teams without two sets of uniforms will be allowed to use “pennies” to provide a unique identification.
Team and Player Credential Check:
Each team must be able to present its validated roster and player cards to either a Tournament Official or the Referee team before the start of each match, if requested. A player may play for only one team in the tournament, and must be listed on the approved roster. If a player plays in a game and is not properly registered, the team will automatically forfeit that game and may face further penalties as determined by the Tournament Director and/or Home Association. The wearing of hard casts, even if padded, will not be permitted at any time.
Team Standings and Tie Breakers:
Team standings will be based on the following scoring system:
Each team's total points from all first-round games will determine the placement of teams in each bracket, with the team earning the highest total points being the bracket winner. In the event, a team forfeits a match, all points from tournament games involving that team will be dropped from the calculation of final standings.
Winter Classic 2010
Winter Classic 2010
