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Welcome to the 2024 Smartwater Invitational Soccer Tournament


Rules for the 2024 Smartwater Invitational Soccer Tournament

Tournament Name: Smartwater Invitational
Tournament Dates: May 3-5, 2024
Website: www.smartwaterinvitational.com

RULES OF PLAY
Rules of play shall be FIFA “Laws of the Game: except as modified by the USSF, USYS and MSYSA.
All decisions concerning pairing, schedules, etc. are solely at the discretion of the tournament committee.

RISK MANAGEMENT
All MSYSA Team Officials must be risk management certified by MSYSA and must be able to present their risk management card at any time during the tournament. Team Officials from other State Associations and/or other organizational members of US Soccer Federation must be able to show proof of their organization’s equivalent risk management certification.

SAFESPORT POLICY
All Adult members must obtain Risk Management clearance, and also complete the ‘Core SafeSport Training’ by the earlier of 1) prior to regular contact with a Minor Participant; or 2) within the first 45 days of the Covered Adult taking on the role giving them access to Minor Participants. The SafeSport Trained requirement is considered valid for one year and a SafeSport Refresher course is available on the Safesport.org website, in order for Covered Adults to maintain their SafeSport Certification.

CONCUSSION POLICY
All MSYSA coaches must be able to provide their CDC Heads-Up Concussion Certification. All non-MSYSA coaches must be able to provide the CDC Heads-Up Concussion certificate or the NFHS Concussion in Sports Certificate. Teams must be able to provide the Michigan Department of Community Health/CDC Parents and Athlete Concussion Information Sheet for each player attending the tournament. Certificates may be no older than 3 years from the date of the tournament.

TEAM ROSTERS
Team rosters from the 2023-2024 seasonal year will be accepted for the tournament.
Team roster will not be accepted with a total number of players above the following;
4v4 – 8 players
7v7 – 12 players
9v9 – 16 players
11v11 – 22 players
No more than 5 guest players will be accepted on a team’s roster.
No player may play or be rostered on more than one team.
Players will receive a wrist band upon check in. They must wear this wrist band for the duration of the tournament to be eligible to play. If a player loses their wrist band, they must provide all registration documents to receive a replacement.

SUBSTITUTIONS
Players must be present at the mid line prior to the ball going out of bounds to be eligible to enter the game.
The referee has the authority to refuse any substitution.
Either team can substitute on any goal kick, at the half, or after a goal has been scored.
A team can substitute on their throw-in. They may also substitute players on the opponent’s throw-in only if their opponent is substituting as well.
In the event of an injury, a player(s) may be substituted for the injured player(s) with the opponent receiving the same number of player substitutions at that time.

FORMATS OF PLAY





In addition to the information provided above, the following provisions apply to all 9U – 10U, 7v7 small sided games based on the new modified Laws of the Game meet the Best Practices date from U.S. Soccer of August 2016 for their Player Development Initiative.
Offsides will be called, with the Build Out line serving as the offside line.
On-Field Coaching is not allowed.
FIFA Pass-Back to GK rule enforced.
Assistant Referees are provided.
Substitutions may take place with any ball out of bounds (goal, goal kick, Throw in) at the Referee's discretion.
Build-Out Line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting. When the goalkeeper has the ball in hand in the run of play (from opponent) or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line. The retreated team can resume normal play once the ball is in play. Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punting and dropkicks are not allowed). If the Goalkeeper chooses to play the ball before the opposing team retreats to the build out line all players resume normal play immediately upon release from the GK.
Goal Kicks – restarts are started with the ball on the ground placed inside the 6 yard box.


For 4v4, all kicks will be indirect and there will be no penalty kicks. Off-sides will not be called.

DIVISION RANKINGS
Points awarded are as follows: Win=3, Tie=1, Loss=0
Division Tie Breakers:
Head to Head
Most Wins
Goal Differential (max of 4 goals per game) ex. If a team wins by 7 goals, they will only receive 4 goals when calculating division winner.
Least goals allowed
Penalty Kick shootout per FIFA laws
Play-off Ties
If two teams are tied at the end of regulation time in a playoff game, two five-minute overtime periods will be played. The full amount of time will be played regardless of scoring.
If a game is tied after overtime, penalty kicks will be administered per FIFA laws.

FORFEITS
A maximum of 5 minutes will be given to have the appropriate number of players to start the game. After 5 minutes, the team not able to start the game will receive a forfeit for the game and the score shall be recorded as 4-0.
If a game is forfeited after play has begun, the actual score will only apply to the advantage of the team winning by forfeit.
Minimum number of players to start a game:
4v4 – 2
7v7 – 4
9v9 – 5
11v11 – 7

EJECTIONS
Any player, coach, assistant coach, manager, etc. that is ejected (Red Card) will be suspended for the remainder of that game and the following game.
Any player, coach, assistant coach, manager, etc. that receives a second suspension will sit out for the remainder of the tournament.

SCORE KEEPING
Both teams are responsible for turning in score cards signed by the referee.

AWARDS
Teams in all divisions will receive awards for the championship teams and the runner up.

OUT-OF-AREA REFEREES & REFEREE ASSIGNING POLICY
All referees must have a current certification through US Soccer Federation.
Out-of-Area referees must show photo identification to verify identity.
The tournament utilizes a referee assignor that has a current certification through US Soccer Federation.
All referee assigning will be done through the Game Officials system.

HOME TEAMS
In the case of conflicting uniform colors, the home team shall change their uniform to the referee’s approval.
All games shall start with the home team choosing goal to attack and the visiting team receiving kick-off. All championship games will be started with a coin flip with choice of side going to the winner of the coin flip.

BIRTH YEAR REGISTRATION POLICY
For the 2023-2024 Season the Tournament Offers the following age groups:

8U (Born in 2016)
9U (Born in 2015)
10U (Born in 2014)
11U (Born in 2013)
12U (Born in 2012)
13U (Born in 2011)
14U (Born in 2010)
15U (Born in 2009)
16U (Born in 2008)
17U (Born in 2007)
18U (Born in 2006)
19U (Born in 2005)

INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
The tournament will follow US Soccer’s position statement that indicates when lightening is seen, the tournament will count the time until thunder is heard. If this time is thirty (30) seconds or less, seek shelter. Wait thirty (30) minutes or more after hearing the last thunder before resuming activities.
Regardless of weather conditions coaches and their teams must appear on the field of play, ready to play. Only referees and/or tournament committee may cancel or postpone a game.
In the event of severe weather, the tournament committee has the authority to change the duration of the games or any other function of the tournament.
Should a game’s progress be terminated due to weather conditions after 20 minutes of play, the game will be considered official and the score at that time will stand.
Due to circumstances or conditions beyond control, the tournament committee will not be responsible for any refunds.

DEFINITION OF CLUB
A ‘club’ is defined as an organization providing soccer to youth players.
At no time shall an affiliated member of MSYSA who functions as a ‘scheduling league’ also be considered a club.
It the case where a club sets up one or more satellite clubs in the state, those satellite clubs may only be considered part of the main club for the purposes of the tournament if the teams and players from the satellite club are registered with the main club and their registration software account.
The only exception to ‘C’ above is if all the following criteria are met:
The main club and satellite club have the same Board of Directors
The main club and satellite club have the same Tax ID Number.
The main club and satellite club are in the same MSYSA District as determined by the MSYSA Board of Directors.

ELIMINATION OF HEADING POLICY
All players age 10 and younger, regardless of what age group they play in, may not head the ball.
All players in the U11 age group or younger may not head the ball.
A header by these players shall result in an indirect free kick awarded to the opponent at the spot of the infraction. If the header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick shall be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.

REFUND POLICY
In the event the Tournament Committee cancels the tournament any day prior to the first day of the tournament, the tournament fee will be refunded. Otherwise, the tournament reserves the right to not refund fees.
In the event the Tournament is canceled due to Covid-19, the tournament fee will be funded.

PROTESTS
No protests or appeals will be allowed. The ruling of the referee stands.

MEDICAL INSURANCE
It is required that non-MSYSA teams show proof of medical insurance to the Tournament when requested.

PERMISSION TO TRAVEL
For US Youth Soccer Teams, Permission to Travel or Notification Form approved by their home State Association must be provided. Non-US Youth Soccer teams must be able to provide similar documentation.

GAMES PLAYED INDOORS
A ball that comes in contact with the ceiling, roof, structure, etc. shall be restarted at the closest point of contact as an indirect free kick for the team that kicked the ball into the ceiling, etc. AND the ball must be kicked to the opponent’s goalkeeper.

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (DRONES)
The use of non-approved unmanned aircraft systems (e.g. drones) is strictly prohibited at any/all tournament games.
The use of unmanned aircraft systems may be approved by the tournament for a specified promotional activity given that the request is submitted in writing to the tournament in advance.
Any person in violation of this policy shall be immediately removed from the field, facility and/or event.

SPECTATORS
Coaches are responsible for the spectators that accompany his or her team.
Spectators will occupy the side of the field opposite of the side in which the teams are located.
No artificial noisemakers of any kind are permitted. The Tournament Director has the final decision in case of any discrepancies.
If it becomes evident that the spectator(s) become unruly and cannot be controlled, the field sidelines will be cleared of all spectators. If spectators refuse to leave the field of play, the game will be suspended and perhaps forfeited upon an investigation by the Tournament Director.
If a game must be replayed because of a spectator’s behavior, no spectators will be permitted at the game site of the replayed game.
A coach and/or team may be assessed a fine as a result of unacceptable spectator behavior or referee abuse.
The Tournament Director reserves the right to remove any spectator from the fields or facility whose behavior is deemed inappropriate and/or whose presence imposes a threat to any participant of the tournament.

ATHLETIC TRAINERS/HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS (HCP)
An adequate number of Health Care Professionals (HCP) will be present for the tournament.

SPIRIT OF THE GAME
If the Tournament Director determines that a particular action by a team or any of its members or spectators is deemed unacceptable for any reason, the team may be disqualified, sanctioned, and/or face forfeiture of one or more games.
In the event that any team is suspected of forfeiting a game with the design or purpose of controlling the advancement of any team from its own bracket or any other bracket, the Tournament Director may require such an advancing team to play another qualifying game against the next highest ranking team that would otherwise be eligible to advance

GENERAL
There is no alcohol, tobacco, pets or firearms of any type allowed on the tournament grounds. This includes all playing fields, and all venues. Where applicable, local rules and regulations apply (including local school rules). Lost and stolen items are the sole responsibility of the individual and the tournament will not be liable.

NOTICE OF AMENDMENTS
The tournament rules are subject to change with or without notice.



 

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