Harvest Cup Rules

I. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. Teams may be formed from any public school or private school within the boundaries of the IUSD or TUSD area.
2. Teams must be formed by players attending the same school.
3. Elementary School teams are allowed a max of 18 players; Middle School teams are allowed a max of 22 players.
   1. Roster sizes can only change if agreed upon by the school administration, the coach and OCYS Staff.
4. Players must be in grades 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th for the Elementary Division and grades 7th or 8th for the Middle School Division to participate.
5. School Divisions: Elementary Girls (3rd/4th) & Girls (5th/6th)• Boys 3rd, Boys 4th, Boys 5th and Boys 6th •
   Middle Schools Girls (7th/8th) • Boys 7th and Boys 8th.
6. If two teams of the same division are formed at a school, boys must play on the boys’ team and girls on the girls’ team.
   1. Exception: If a school can field only one team per division, combining boys & girls, that team may play in the boys’ division, regardless of the number of boys and girls on the team.
7. All players must play for their school that they attend in the current calendar year. Private school players may only play for their private school. Home school players may play for the school within whose IUSD or TUSD identified boundary they reside
   1. Home School players cannot take the spot of a player from the actual school. If there is space on the team a home school player may be added.
      Example: A school has 14 6th graders registered at their school and a home school player signed up. The team would have to take 15 players in order for the home school player to participate

II. DURATION OF MATCHES

A. Elementary – Boys & Girls (9 vs 9); Middle School – Boys & Girls (11 vs 11)

1. Two (2) 20-minute halves with a 5-minute half time.
   1. *NEW: Each player on the roster will participate a minimum of 1 quarter of the total playing time each game for the first 2 games only. (regulation time only). The clock will not stop during these substitutions and interruption in play shall not exceed one (1) minute.
   2. Only players exiting the game will be permitted to leave the playing field. No water breaks or coaching of players will be permitted at this time.
2. Home team will be listed on the schedule as (H), Away team will be listed on the schedule as (A). The home team shall have the choice of side of the field of play (spectator area) and the other team will set up on the opposite side.
3. Either team may substitute at the half or at the substitution breaks (item #1 above).
   1. When play is stopped for whatever reason and an injured player is attended to on the field, that player may be replaced, but may not return to the field of play until the next substitution opportunity. In the event that the injured player comes off the field of play and is not replaced, he may return to the field at any time with the referee’s prior permission.
      1. Substitutions must take place from the halfway line only; an entering player may not go on the field until the exiting player steps off the field.
4. If tied after completion of regular time, go directly to shoot-out.
5. Substitutions must take place from the halfway line at any game stoppage at the referees discretion. The entering player may not go on the field until the exiting player steps off the field. Either team may substitute.
6. No overtime, except for championship game.
7. For the Championship Match only, if at the end of regulation time both teams have scored the same number of goals, or neither team has scored any goals, a maximum of two (2) overtime periods shall be played as follows:
   1. Each team shall field a maximum of Middle eleven (11) or Elementary nine (9) players. However, for each player sent off the field of play during regulation time or any overtime period, the team shall field one less player for each overtime period. Players sent off the field of play during regulation time or the first overtime period, may not participate in any overtime period.
   2. The duration of each overtime period shall be nine (9) minutes, subject to the following restriction. The first team to score a goal during any overtime period shall be declared the winner of the match (“Sudden Victory”).
   3. If at the end of the first overtime period, neither team has scored a goal; a second overtime period shall be played subject to the conditions of
   4. If at the end of the second overtime period, neither team has scored a goal, the match shall be decided by the “Taking of Kicks from the Penalty Mark” (Shootout)
8. 9v9; no headers and offsides apply (Elementary School Only)
9. 11v11; headers are allowed and offsides is applied. (Middle School Only)

C. Penalty Kicks (Shootout)

1. The referee shall choose the goal at which the kicks shall be taken.
2. The referee shall toss a coin, and the team whose captain wins the toss decides whether to take the first or second kick.
3. The referee shall note each player as he takes the kick from the penalty mark.
4. Subject to the terms of the following paragraphs, both teams shall take three (3) kicks. The kicks shall be taken alternately:
   1. At the end of the 3 kicks the team who has scored the most wins.
   2. If at the end of the 3 kicks both teams have the same goals scored, teams continue penalty shootout in sudden death
   3. In sudden death the first team to score wins
5. The team that scores the greater number of goals shall be declared the winner of the match.
6. Each kick shall be taken by a different player, and not until all eligible players of any team, including the goalkeeper have taken a kick, may a player from the same team take a second kick. Only players on the field of play at the end of the second overtime may participate in the Taking of Kicks.
7. Any player may change places with the goalkeeper at any time during the taking of kicks.
8. Player and team locations shall be as follows:
   1. Other than the player taking the kick from the penalty mark, and the two goalkeepers, all players shall remain within the center circle while taking of kicks is in progress.
   2. The goalkeeper who is the teammate of the kicker, shall take a position within the field of play, outside the penalty area at which the kicks are being taken, and at least 10 yards from the penalty mark.
9. No player who has been sent off the field of play during regulation time, any overtime period, or during the “Taking of Kicks from the Penalty Mark,” shall be allowed to participate in the taking of kicks.
10. Unless stated to the contrary in the foregoing paragraphs, the Laws of the Game shall in so far as they can, apply to the taking of kicks.

D. Forfeit

1. If one team is unable to field a minimum of seven (7) players at game time, the referee, as sole timekeeper, shall allow for a five (5) minute “grace period.” At end of the “grace period,” if that team is still not able to field a minimum of seven (7) players, the game shall be declared a forfeit. Such decision shall be final.

III. THE BALL

IV. CAUTIONS (YELLOW CARD) AND SEND OFFS (RED CARD)

A. Cautions

1. Standard FIFA procedures (yellow card).
2. Any player who receives a yellow must sit out for 3 minutes
3. Second caution results in send off from match (equivalent to red card). No substitutions for sent off player allowed, team plays short for remainder of game. (See comments under IV. B. 1 & 2)
4. Coaches have complete responsibility for the conduct of their players, bench, parents, friends, and spectators at all times.
   1. On the first instance of coach/parent/player misbehavior they will receive a warning.
   2. On second instance of coach/parent misbehavior they will be given a yellow card.
   3. On third instance of misbehavior they will receive a red card and sent off the field.
5. Under the discretion of the game official/referee, if a game must be terminated for misconduct of players, bench or spectators, the offending team can be suspended from further play and forfeit that game and all remaining games.  In this event, all previous points earned remain as played.

B. Send Offs

1. Discipline for receiving a red card: Player, coach or parent will have to leave the field for the teams next two games.
2. Ejected players shall not be replaced.
3. Fighting: Disqualification from tournament.
4. Coaches covered by same rules. If a coach is sent off the field of play, then he/she must physically move out of hearing distance of the field.
5. If a coach is ejected, he/she will not be allowed to coach a team the following year.
6. Playing a game with a disqualified player or coach will result in forfeiture of that game.
7. Referee decisions are final, no appeals are allowed with the exception of ineligible players.

V. GENERAL

1. Unless otherwise stated in these tournament rules, games will be officiated by standard rules.
2. Elementary (3rd–6th grade) division teams: minimum 13 players, maximum 18 players.
3. Middle (7th & 8th grade) division teams: minimum 15 players, maximum 22 players.
4. Elementary division players are not allowed to head the ball in practice or games
5. Spectators are to remain three (3) yards from touchline and above the 18-yard line.
6. Teams may have two game coaches. They are to remain 10 yards on either side of midfield line.
7. No one is allowed behind goals.
8. Goalkeepers are to wear colors that are distinguishable from the other players (including the other goalkeeper and referee).
9. The clock runs during all injuries and other delays of game. However, to prevent obvious abuse of this policy by teams, the referee, as the sole timekeeper, shall have the sole discretion to adjust the match’s clock as desired.
10. Each player on the roster will participate a minimum of 1 quarter of the total playing time each game for the first 2 games only. (regulation time only). The clock will not stop during these substitutions and interruption in play shall not exceed one (1) minute.
11. Goalkeeper may be substituted with referee’s permission. During penalty kicks, if the goalkeeper is changed, the player must have been currently on the field.
12. Goalkeepers may play the entire game in goal.
13. The maximum number of players on the field is eleven (11) or nine (9); minimum is seven (7) with play being terminated when the number of players drops below seven (7).
14. Shin guards are mandatory and are to be covered by socks.
15. No watches, jewelry, string bracelets, acrylic nails, headbands, hard casts, barrettes, earrings, etc., may be worn by players. The referee shall make the final decision on what may or may not be worn by players.
16. Home Team is responsible for picking up game cards for referees and returning them to tournament staff immediately after the game.
17. All decisions of the Tournament Director are final and not subject to any appeal.

VI. UNIFORMS / SCHEDULING / BRACKETS

1. This is a weekend tournament with two games guaranteed. Teams may start playing on Friday between 4-8pm or Saturday anytime after 8a, Teams are randomly matched. Sunday games will be scheduled to start at any time after 8am. We cannot accommodate special requests for game times, thank you for your understanding.
2. The tournament pools and brackets will be randomly selected by OC Youth Sports staff.
3. We cannot accommodate specific game times. Please share this with your players when they sign up for the tournament. The Friday game times start at 4:30p. Sunday will be any time after 8:30am. The championship games for the Elementary School divisions have historically been at 5pm, and 4pm for Middle School divisions (depending upon team registration).
4. OC Youth Sports will be providing reversible jerseys. (White w/Logo = Home, Black w/o Logo = Away)