THE MAYORS GOLD CUP
TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS & ENTRY FORMS
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
The Tournament Director will have jurisdiction over all games played. All disputes will be resolved by the Tournament Director or designated representative.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Coaches are responsible for the eligibility of their players ALL PLAYERS MUST BE FIFA REGISTERED PLAYERS WITH THEIR COUNTRY OR STATE AFFILIATES. In the United States almost, if not all, STATE ASSOCIATIONS such as the Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Utah, etc. are part of the United States Soccer Federation which is an Affiliate of FIFA. Most Canadian Providences are part of the Canadian Soccer Association and most Prefectures in Japan are part of the Japan Football Federation and are also Affiliates of FIFA.
For all players on the Team Roster that are presently registered as required above, Managers need to present, at the Managers Meeting, Player Passes or similar certification of registration as proof of eligibility; Player Driver’s License, Passport or other documentation to show they are of proper age for the Division in which they will be playing; and a facial photo, if not on a document presented above, to verify who they are if their eligibility is challenged.
All players on the Team Roster that are not registered with the USSF, the Canadian Soccer Association, the Japan Football Association or other FIFA affiliate may be registered electronically with the Hawaii Soccer Association at https://hawaiisoccer.affinitysoccer.com. No other form of registration is acceptable. A copy of the player’s electronic registration and proof of age are to be provided with the Team Roster at the Managers Meeting.
AGES OF PLAYERS
All players must be their respective ages in the year the tournament is held. As example, players in the Over 50 group can be 49 going on 50 before the date of the tournament understanding they will be 50 before the end of the year in which the tournament is held. Players may register in younger age groups. Players may not register on more than one team in each age group. Except for the Women’s 65 and Over and Walk Soccer, Team rosters shall have a minimum of 18 players and no more than 25 players. If a team uses players deemed to be ineligible, that team shall forfeit all games in which the ineligible players participated. Person with knowledge of ineligible players shall report same immediately to the Tournament Director. If the report is made after a match is underway the match will be terminated and a team fine of $500 assessed for each ineligible player participating in the match. Failure to immediately pay the fine will result in disqualification of the team from the Tournament.
Each player on the team shall wear a jersey with a different number and may not exchange it with another player for the duration of the tournament. Teams can have different numbers for their alternate jerseys. The Home Team shall change Jerseys when there is a color conflict. The team listed first on the schedule of games is the Home Team for example, A verses B, A is the Home Team.
The TEAM ROSTER shall be properly completed and presented to the referee at the start of each game listing the names and numbers of each player whether present or not. Team rosters shall be frozen at the start of the first game of the tournament.
COACHES
ALL HAWAII TEAM COACHES AND MANAGERS SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR OR DELAGATE. No more than four (4) coaches, manager, trainers or interpreters will be allowed within the coaching box with the team. No one will be allowed behind the end (goal) lines. It is the coaches' responsibility to inform team supporters of these requirements and to see that it is observed. Coaches shall conduct themselves in a professional manner and are responsible for the conduct of their players and supporters. Coaches shall at all times encourage clean competition, good sportsmanship and abide by the rules of the tournament. Coaches may provide positive tactical coaching. Negative comments or complaints against any players, coaches, spectators or officials will not be tolerated. Improper conduct by any member of the coaching staff may result in their being removed from the field to distance of not less than 100 yards from the touch and goal lines. Should the coach not comply, the game will be terminated and the game forfeited by that coaches team.
Managers Meeting
A mandatory Managers Meeting will be held on the day before the first games of the Tournament. The purpose of the meeting is to: approve all team and player documentation, review the Schedule and Rules, provide a clear understanding of the roles of Coaches, Managers, Players and Referees and to respond to any questions. All Managers are to present a copy of their Team Roster and the supporting documentation to confirm each player’s eligibility.
In order to free-up your evening, Team check-in tines are from 4pm to 6pm. If anyone need additional time, it will be made available. Directions to the meeting site will be provided. Failure to attend the Managers Meeting will result in a payment of $200.
REFEREES AND REFEREE ASSISTANTS
All officials shall be USSF or FIFA certified and at all times shall impose the FIFA Laws of the Game and rules of the Tournament, including the following:
1. There shall be no slide tackling. A yellow card shall be given for the infraction and the team fouled awarded an indirect kick.
2. There shall be unlimited free substitutions at the stoppage of any play provided players wishing to substitute shall be at the halfway line prior to the stoppage of play.
All games shall be officiated using the three person diagonal system consisting of one center referee and two referee assistants on the touch lines. Referees must file a written report at the end of each game noting any actions requiring red or yellow cards.
Players receiving a red card or two yellow cards in the same game will be ejected and not be eligible for participation in the next scheduled game. Should an ejected player participate in the next scheduled game, the game will be forfeited and the player barred from participating in the remaining games of the tournament. A $500 dollar fine will be assessed for each ineligible player and failure to pay the fine immediately will result in team disqualification from the tournament. Each team must turn-in their Team Roster to the referee 10 minutes prior to the start of each game.
GAMES
All games shall be played on fields designated by the Tournament Director. Duration of the games shall be 40 minute halves for all teams except when two games are played on the same day, the games shall be 30 minute halves.
With the exception of the Women’s 65 and Over all games will be played on full field. The Women’s 65 and Over and Walk Soccer will play 8 aside on a half field.
Seven (7) players are required to start a game. All games will start on the times scheduled or as designated by the Tournament Director and there shall be no grace period. Failure of a team to play at kick-off time shall constitute a forfeit and the team shall loose by a score of 1 to 0.
In the event games are postponed because of weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances, the Tournament Director will make every effort to reschedule the games at the earliest possible date and time. If the games cannot be completed, there will be no refunds.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
Depending on the number of teams, the tournament will be a "pool play" type tournament or a "total points" tournament. For a "pool play" tournament, teams will have pool play on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning. Semi finals will take place on Saturday afternoon and the finals on Sunday. The finals on Sunday will be for the first thru fourth place play only, all other teams will have the day off.
For a "total points" tournament, teams will play one game Thursday, Friday and depending on the Divisional Age, one or two games on Saturday with the finals on Sunday.
Winners are the teams with the greatest number of points awarded as follows:
6 points for a win, 3 points for a tie, 0 points for a loss, 1 point for each goal scored up to 3 goals, 1 point for a shut out.
If there is a tie in points at the end of games prior to the semis the final standings will be decided by one of the following tie-breakers in the order in which they are listed:
(1) Head to Head play
(2) Goal Difference (Goals for to a maximum of three (3) goals per game minus Goals against)
(3) Fewest Goals Allowed
(4) Coin Toss except that for group games to determine the team to advance to the Championship game, the tie breaker shall be decided by penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game.
Semis and Championship games which are tied at the end of regulation play shall proceed to two 10 minute sudden death overtime periods. In the event no team scores in the overtime periods the game shall be decided by penalty kicks in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game.
