Tournament Check-in

All teams must post an official roster and check-in to A2E by 11:59 PM, the Thursday before the tournament.  

We are aware that the “Add Club Pass/Outside Guest” functionality in A2E doesn’t work or we don’t know how to use it but we will try to make it a very easy and flexible Check-in.

The most important thing needed to make the process easier for all of us on Saturday is to have the game cards populated with your players’ names.  This is accomplished in 2 steps:

• You must update the Mustang Stampede Roster in your team account
• Mustang SC needs to approve it.
• At this point, all the teams uploaded their rosters, and we approved them.
• If you need to add players, please do it by midnight – we’ll print the game cards tomorrow.
• To verify that the correct roster has been submitted and approved follow these instructions:
• Login to your A2E team account
• Click on Team Registrations
• Find the Mustang event and click on the blue button on the right side
• The screen with your players should load. At the top, there are 4 tabs (Players – which you are on, Coaches, Managers, and Documents and IDs)
• Click on Documents and IDs and you’ll end up on a page that has a Roster PDF blue button – Click on it and you’ll get a PDF file with your roster.  Double-check it, print it, and pat yourself on the back for accomplishing the task 😉

We allow hand-written additions to the game cards – assuming that the player has a valid pass and guest forms (if applicable).

• If you missed adding a player (or more) we’ll allow the Field Marshals to hand-write them on the game card of the FIRST GAME ONLY (upon you presenting a valid player pass and proper guest forms if applicable).  
• If you missed a player from the roster who is not going to play in the first game, you MUST ADD that player too.
• The FIRST GAME game card with the additions made at the check-in will Finalize and FREEZE your roster for the duration of the tournament and you will NOT be allowed to add any more players.
• If such additions were made YOU must register this updated roster by taking a PICTURE of the game card.
• For the following games, as you would run into the same problem of missing one or more players, you will only be allowed to add them if they were added on the first game, game card proven by the picture you’ve taken.  So .. show the picture to the field marshal and he/she will add them to the game card.
• If your GotSport roster is correct, you do not need to do anything.

Game check-ins will take place 30 minutes before each game.

Bring your passes to each game and we will match the passes to your printed roster.  If you are using a player on loan from outside of your club, you must put the player on your online roster, bring a valid loan form signed by both clubs and bring a valid pass for the player.   

****Check-in can be facilitated by any team representative. Teams must provide the required credentials including 2 copies of your official US Club team roster, USYSA team roster, MLS Next team roster, or any other affiliated organization, laminated player passes and signed medical release forms.

Dogs 

• THERE ARE NO DOGS ALLOWED ANYWHERE ON THE MUSTANG SOCCER PROPERTY AT ANY TIME.  PLEASE TELL ALL FAMILIES TO LEAVE THEIR DOGS AT HOME. The Mustang Soccer complex is a private facility, and we expect this rule to be followed at all times.

Alcohol and Barbecues 

• Alcohol and barbecues are expressly prohibited at the Mustang Soccer complex and youth events. Please adhere to these policies. If alcohol is present at any venue, the team can be subject to forfeiting existing and/or preceding matches.

Game Check-In

• Drop your player passes at the Tournament tent (we will provide game cards), at least 30 minutes before the game time
• Referees do the equipment check on the field
• Pick up player passes and sign the game card after the game
• Players do not need to be present at Tournament tent

Credentials

• Tournament Check-In, teams must provide the required credentials including signed Medical Release forms.
• Birth Certificates are not required by US Club affiliated teams or USYSA teams. Please contact us if there are any questions regarding Birth Certificates.
• All U.S. Club affiliated teams must provide laminated US CLUB Player I.D. Cards and Rosters and Medical Releases.
• All USSF affiliated teams must provide Player I.D. Cards with photographs, Rosters, and Medical Releases.
• Teams from outside CYSA-North (USYSA) or international teams must also provide approved Travel Papers when required by your area, which must include a roster listing all players authorized to travel by that team’s state or national association. All Travel Papers must be presented to the Tournament staff at check-in. Any player not listed on the Travel Papers, including any amendments, properly executed by that team’s state association, will not be allowed to play in the tournament.
• Proper Player Loan forms will be required at Registration along with other required credentials, as required by the team’s national or state association.
• All teams must provide the US Club Rosters or USSF Affiliate Player I.D. Cards from the national or state association are listed on their tournament application or by written notification to the Tournament Director. There will be NO mixing of affiliations per team.

Rosters

• Teams may register a maximum of seventeen (16) players for U11-U12 and eighteen (18) for U13-U17. 
• A team may use up to four (4) guest players but is still limited to the 17 and 18 player max. No player can be rostered on more than one team and no player should play more than two games daily.  
• Tournament staff will take into account special circumstances.  i.e. significant injuries/illness etc.

Rules of Play

• IFAB Laws of the Game will apply as modified by USSF and US CLUB as described herein.
• There will be no coin toss before each game. Before the game, both coaches and team managers will meet the referees at the center of the field. The referees will answer any questions about the zero-tolerance policy and the home team will choose which side to defend and will have the first kick-off. 

Game Check-In Conduct

• At least thirty (30) minutes before the start of each scheduled game, a team representative must present the player passes to the Tournament Tent. 
• A team manager or representative from each team will be required to initial the game card for that game before the Player Passes will be returned. 
• A team who fails to properly check-in with the Tournament Staff will forfeit that game.

Players Equipment

• Casts: All players, parents, coaches, and referees are required to act as a reasonable person concerning player safety, including protecting players from wearing any equipment or device that is dangerous to the player wearing the equipment or device or to any other player. Dangerous equipment and devices include but are not limited to orthopedic casts, air splints, or metal splints. Players wearing any dangerous equipment or device including orthopedic casts, air splints, or metal splints, shall not be eligible to participate in any Mustang tournament game.
• Braces: It is strongly recommended for the safety of the player that a player does not wear a brace during tournament play. Braces are allowed if the referee decides that the brace will not or cannot hurt the player wearing the brace or any other player and that all metal, metal-like, or plastic brace supports are properly covered for the duration of the match. Elastic-type supports without any metal, carbon fiber, and hard plastic or like devices are permitted provided the referee does not deem the support to be potentially harmful to other players.
• Shin guards: Shin guards are required for all tournament play. They must be worn properly and shall be professionally manufactured and unaltered. 
• Eyeglasses: Players who must wear eyeglasses are encouraged to wear sports goggles or contact lenses. Players must wear glasses that are safe. Lenses must be unbreakable and frames must be unbreakable plastic or sturdy metal.
• Jewelry: Absolutely no jewelry including earrings, bracelets, Lance Armstrong type rubber bracelets, or abnormally long fingernails may be worn while participating in any tournament play. Only Medical Alert Warning Bracelets may be worn; which are to be taped as necessary. Earrings and other piercings cannot be taped.

Substitutions

• Free substitution will be allowed in all age groups. However, teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission and only at the following times (including overtime):
  • Prior to a throw-in by either team;
  • Prior to a corner kick by either team:
  • Prior to a goal kick, by either team;
  • Prior to a free kick by either team:
  • After a goal, by either team;
  • After an injury on either team;
  • At halftime; and
  • On a caution, (only the cautioned player may be substituted at that time).

Coaching

• All Coaches have total responsibility for the conduct of their players, substitutes, friends and spectators at all times. Coaching from the technical area (giving direction to one’s own team on points of strategy and position) is permitted, provided:
  • The tone of the voice is instructive and not derogatory;
  • Each coach or substitute remains within 10 yards on either side of the halfway line;
  • No coach, substitute, or spectator makes derogatory remarks or gestures to the referees, other coaches, players, substitutes, or spectators;
  • No coach, substitute, or spectator uses profanity or incites, in any manner, disruptive behavior.

Cautions & Ejections

• A player or coach receiving two cautions (Yellow Cards) in a single game is considered to have been given an Ejection (Red Card) for the purpose of awarding points for the Tournament competition. A player who has been ejected (sent off), will not be replaced. A player or coach who has been ejected for Violent Conduct or Serious Foul Play (Red Card) will not return for that game and will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game. The Tournament Director, with the disciplinary board, may extend this ejection due to the severity, up to the remainder of the Tournament. Any player or coach who assaults a referee will be expelled from the tournament and reported to their governing authority. For the purpose of this tournament, a coach can be carded. A team will be disqualified from the tournament if any player or coach fails to comply with the provisions of this section.

Suspended & Terminated Games

• If in the opinion of Tournament officials, a game must be suspended (for reason), the game may be resumed but is subject to being ended not less than five (5) minutes before the scheduled start of the next game. If in the opinion of Tournament officials, a game must be terminated for misconduct of players, bench coaches, or spectators, the offending team could be suspended from further play and forfeit that game and all remaining games. All previous points earned remain as played. Additionally, the home league, State Association, and/or US Club will be contacted as appropriate. If a game is terminated due to problems associated with the fields, including lighting for a night game, or due to the serious injury of a player (see the next section entitled “INJURY”) the resumption of play for that game will be at the discretion of the Tournament officials. Tournament officials may at their option conclude the game, require completion of the game, or utilize FIFA penalty shoot-out to determine the winner of the game depending upon the circumstance and taking into account the potential effect of the game results on the standings of the teams.

Injury

• Delays of the game will only be allowed for an injury requiring professional medical attention and the inability to remove the injured player from the field until medical attention is provided to the player. The delay will result in appropriate time being added to the full game time, based on the judgment of the referee. Otherwise, each game will be played with a running clock and no suspension of the clock time. However, all preliminary games will be terminated not less than five (5) minutes before the scheduled start of the next game. The failure to complete any game due to a serious injury requiring suspension of the gameplay shall be controlled by the preceding section, “SUSPENDED AND TERMINATED GAMES.”

Duration of Games, Overtime & Game Ball Size

• Half time will be exactly 5 minutes. The Tournament Director reserves the right to extend the time in excessive (i.e., extreme heat) conditions.
• **Semifinal and Final games will use the “Penalty shoot-out format” after regulation time if the game is tied. All other games can end in a tie.

Determining Winners

• Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:
  • 3 Points for a Win
  • 1 Point for a Tie
  • 0 Points for a Loss
• In the event of a tie in points at the end of bracket play; the teams to advance will be determined as follows:
  • The winner in head-to-head competition
  • Goal Differential
  • Goals For
  • Most Shutouts
  • Goals Against
  • Most Wins

• If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 6, FIFA penalty shoot out will be taken as soon as we can possibly get the teams together to do so.
• 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 shoot out to eliminate one team prior to proceeding to FIFA penalty shoot out with the third team. The coin flip and time of the FIFA penalty shoot out will be determined at the fields. If one team is eliminated for example Step 3, and two teams are still tied, the process will continue on from that point and not go back to Step 1.
• In the case of a three (3) way tie head to head will be disregarded and all other tie-breakers will prevail. 
• If ties exist in the determination of a wild card team, criteria 2 through 7 will be applied.

Home Team, Jerseys & Game Ball

• The Home Team will be the team that appears first on the game schedule. We are following the NorCal uniform rules, which means the Home Team wears dark jerseys, and the Away Team wears Light (white) jerseys. The Home Team will be required to switch to alternate jerseys to accommodate a color conflict as declared by the referee. If the Home Team cannot supply alternate jerseys, the Home Team will forfeit the game.
• Game balls will be provided for the tournament. However, in the event that a game ball is required (i.e., game balls are not available), the Home Team will supply the game ball subject to referee approval.

Forfeits & Byes

• All teams who forfeit will have the game(s) scored a 0-1 loss. The winner will be awarded 3 tournament points (three for the win). Teams failing to report ready to play within five minutes of the scheduled kick-off time will forfeit. Home Teams unable to supply alternate jerseys, or teams failing to check in at the Mandatory Registration or for taking actions, which cause a game to be terminated, will forfeit. Byes will be scored and tournament points awarded the same as a forfeit.

Protests

• NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED.

Disputes

• Game conduct is under the jurisdiction of the referee and the tournament will not overrule a referee’s decision.

Guest Teams

• The Tournament may accept a team as a “Guest Team” in order to fill a late vacancy in a Flight. Guest Teams cannot advance out of their Bracket. Guest Team game results are predetermined to be a 1-0 against the Guest team. The opposing team is awarded three points.

Inclement Weather or Acts of Nature

• In the event of inclement weather, or act of nature, once the games have begun, winners will be decided based on points earned up to that point, with any tie breakers being determined using the protocol outlined in the section entitled, “DETERMINING WINNERS”. In case of cancellation due to inclement weather, the tournament officials retain the right to keep up to one-third (1/3) of the team fee to cover expenses. There will be no make-up games due to inclement weather.
• In the case of extreme heat, the Tournament Director, along with the Referee Director will determine if hydration breaks are provided. The time required for this break will be taken from playing time and each coach will be advised of this action, prior to the start of the game.

Tournament Website 

• This website shall be the final reference for all schedules, scores, rules, policies, and procedures. Any conflicts between this site and other published information will default to this site. The Stampede Tournament Committee maintains the right to independently make new rules or regulations on the website at any time.

Punting

• U11 and U12 may punt the ball.

Build Out Line

• U9 and U10 will use the build out line.

No Heading

• As per safety protocol, U11 and younger teams are not permitted to head the ball. U12 teams are allowed to head the ball.   All intentional heading will be penalized with the opposing team having an indirect free kick.  If inside the goal area, it is moved out to the closest line.  This is not a cautionable offense for persistent infringement.

Concussions

• Reminder that concussion protocol will be followed per US Club soccer guidelines.  Referee's discretion is used in allowing players to return to play.  http://usclubsoccer.org/resources/recognize-to-recover/
• We will have a trainer on-site at Mustang Soccer Complex to evaluate players in need of treatment.

Spectators 

• All spectators are to be on the opposite sideline of the field as their Team Benches. 

Tournament Site Rules

• No artificial noisemakers are allowed during the tournament.
• No drones are allowed during the tournament.  The referee has the discretion to abandon the game in the presence of a drone over the field(s).
• No alcohol of any kind will be tolerated at any tournament site, including the field, sideline, or parking lot of the field of play. 
• Any action taken by a parent, player, or coach during a game that is deemed an uncontrollable threat or use of intimidation will result in game abandonment and forfeit to the offending team.
• Zero Tolerance For Abuse Policy

Mustang Soccer Complex Rules

• No dogs are allowed at the Mustang Soccer Complex (MSC).  If you bring a dog to MSC, you will be asked to return the dog to your home or hotel.
• No overnight vehicle parking allowed.
• No kicking balls against any fence or wall.

Fair Play

Any matter not covered by the Rules of the event will be decided by the Tournament Director, Mustang Executive Director, or the designated on-site official.  All referee decisions are considered final.  Red cards and ejections will not be rescinded.

Mustang will not review any video to support any protest, objection, complaint, or matter of judgement.  

Cheating will not be tolerated.  Any team caught cheating, in any manner, will be immediately forfeited from the tournament. 

Formats

Division of 4 – play Round Robin and top 2 meet in the Final 

Division of 5 – play Round Robin – 4 games for each team and the winner is determined based on Standings

Division of 6 – Crossover format – A and B brackets teams play across (i.e. all in A play vs. all in B) – top Two OVERALL (not brackets winners) play in the Final.

Division of 7 – Teams in Bracket A play Round Robin while teams in Brackets B and C play across (i.e. all in B play all in C).  Please follow the playoffs on the website and interpret Wildcard #x in the playoffs as the overall ranking of the team after the 2 Saturday games.  

Example: The 5th-ranked team will play the 6th-ranked team.  The winner will play the 7th-ranked team.  The top 4 ranked teams meet in the Semifinals – 1st vs. 4th and 2nd vs. 3rd

Note about the Semifinal pairings:  If, based on the preset format, one semifinal is a repeat of a preliminary game (i.e. 1st and 4th ranked teams are from bracket A in which they already played each other) the lowest semifinalist seeds will be swapped (unless the swap creates a similar situation) – 1st vs. 3rd and 2nd vs. 4th  

Division of 8 – the teams in each bracket play Round Robin.  The winners of each bracket meet in the Final.