Massachusetts State Cup
Rules and Procedures

Quick Links: Roster Freeze Date | Team Registration | Field Assignments | Game Balls | Laws of the Game | Competition Format | Control of Sidelines/Conduct | Player Equipment | Yellow/Red Card & Ejections | Externatl Conditions, Weather, Etc. | Protest Procedure | Forms For Regionals | Mandatory Events | Regional Housing | Off-Site Matches | General

Massachusetts State Cup Rules and Procedures: Round Robin, Semi-Finals, Finals and Teams representing Massachusetts at Regionals

ROSTER FREEZE DATE

For all teams in ages 13-19: Cup Team Rosters are frozen on the day the team plays its first State Cup match (this is the latest date possible by National rule) or May 26*, whichever occurs first. The Team Rosters for all teams (U13-U19) and “Team Statement of Compliance” must be in the hands of the Mass Youth Soccer office on the day the team plays its first State Cup match in the Challenge round or May 26*, whichever occurs first. The Team Rosters and Team Statement of Compliance must be sent via e-mail. The 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championship Series Roster from the State Cup website MUST be used.

*Note: If a team is playing in the Region 1 Premier League, the team roster freeze date is the date the team plays its first match in the Premier League, or first State Cup match, or May 26, whichever occurs first.

Important: All teams must submit a copy of their official (signed) US Youth Soccer affiliated league roster (MAPLE, MASC, NERL, etc) when they submit their Cup Team Roster to Kate Murphy at the Mass Youth soccer office (kmurphy@mayouthsoccer.org, Fax: 978-466-8817, Phone: 1-800-852-8111, x221). This can be scanned and emailed or faxed to Kate.

All teams must hand the referee a copy of their Cup Game Roster prior to all matches.

For all U17-U19 teams: Teams must hand the referee a copy of their Cup Game Roster prior to all matches (referee check-in). A Cup Team Roster may have up to a maximum of 22 players but the Cup Game Roster is limited to a maximum of 18 players (taken from the 22-player Cup Team Roster). The Cup Game Roster is created simply by checking the “Game Active” box on your Cup Team Roster for each of the 18 players participating. The players not participating in the game may be on the team bench but they may not be in uniform.

AGAIN, ALL TEAM ROSTERS (Cup and League) and TEAM STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE MUST BE IN THE HANDS OF THE Massachusetts Youth Soccer office prior to their first game. Kate will review your Cup Roster, sign it, and return it to you. If you do not receive your signed Cup Roster from Kate, you must play your game with copy of the one sent to Kate.

All teams are required to submit a list of players requiring international clearances AND out of state players with their roster.

Games will not be delayed for late arrivals. Teams unprepared for their starting time will be subject to a $200 fine and game forfeiture. Teams will be subject to a forfeit if not prepared to begin match with at least seven players within 10 minutes of scheduled start time.

TEAM REGISTRATION

ROUND ROBIN

The team official must check-in at the Registration area a minimum 60 minutes prior to their first Round Robin match (except U18*), and present the following (players do not need to come to the registration area):

  • CUP ROSTER
    • Must be printed on LIGHT BLUE PAPER (FIVE copies required)
    • Must be TYPED
    • Must be completely filled out except for:
      • LEAVE REGISTRATION NUMBER COLUMN BLANK (Mass Youth does not use this)
      • DO NOT HAVE PLAYERS SIGN THE ROSTER
  • LAMINATED PLAYER and TEAM OFFICIALS’ PASS CARDS** in alphabetical order.
  • COPY OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR EVERY PLAYER or other acceptable form of proof of age - in alphabetical order.
  • A COPY OF THE MASS YOUTH SOCCER MEMBERSHIP FORM OR COMPLETED MEDICAL RELEASE FORM for each player. Please have forms in alphabetical order.

SEMI-FINALS

Teams with roster and/or pass card corrections identified at the Round Robin must have their team administrator/coach come to the registration area prior to their semifinal match so that the corrected roster and/or pass cards may be checked. All teams must bring the following to the match:

  • Two copies of your National Championship Roster.
  • LAMINATED PLAYER and TEAM OFFICIALS’ PASS CARDS**

FINALS

Team officials and all players must check-in at the Registration area a minimum 60 minutes prior to their final match and present the following:

  • CUP ROSTER
    • Must be TYPED and printed on LIGHT BLUE PAPER (four copies required)
    • Must be completely filled out except for:
      • LEAVE REGISTRATION NUMBER COLUMN BLANK
      • Players’ signature should be left blank – DO NOT HAVE PLAYERS SIGN THE ROSTER
    • All players will sign the roster at the registration area in the presence of a Cup official
    • All players must have game jersey with them at registration (but do not need to be dressed to play)
  • LAMINATED PLAYER and TEAM OFFICIALS’ PASS CARDS**
  • COPY OF BIRTH CERTIFICATE FOR EVERY PLAYER or other acceptable form of proof of age - in alphabetical order.
  • A COPY OF THE MASS YOUTH SOCCER MEMBERSHIP FORM OR COMPLETED MEDICAL RELEASE FORM for each player. Please have forms in alphabetical order.

*A U18 team administrator/coach must check-in at least one hour prior to your SECOND GAME of the Round Robin.

**TEAM OFFICIAL PASS CARDS: All team officials (maximum of four) must have a valid 2008/2009 pass card and must be listed on the roster in order to be on the sideline with the team during a State Cup final. Driver’s licenses are not acceptable. Coaches not listed on this roster will not receive a Team Bench Pass at Regionals.

PLAYERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO PLAY WITHOUT A LAMINATED PLAYER PASS CARD

FIELD ASSIGNMENTS

The Cup Director or designee reserves the right to change the games assigned to specific fields at any time and without notice. A team official must verify the field assignment at the registration area prior to each match. A current schedule will be posted at the pavilion.

GAME BALLS

The home team will provide a game ball if one is not provided by the Tournament Committee: U13-U19, Size 5.

LAWS OF THE GAME

Games will be played under the rules of FIFA, US Youth Soccer and Mass Youth Soccer except as modified herein:

  • Law I: Field of Play
    • The field of play shall be as is, except that the field shall be longer than it is wide.
  • Law III - Substitutions:
    • Substitutions shall be unlimited:
      • Prior to a throw-in (team in possession)
      • Prior to a goal kick by either team
      • After a goal is scored
      • After an injury when the referee stops play
      • At start of second half
  • Law VII - Duration of Game
    Age GroupGame TimeOvertime
    U192 x 452 x 15
    U182 x 452 x 15
    U172 x 452 x 15
    U162 x 402 x 15
    U152 x 402 x 15
    U142 x 352 x 10
    U132 x 352 x 10
  • Round-robin matches will end at the end of regulation time. In semi final and final matches, a winner must be determined. Therefore, overtime and kicks from the penalty spot, if necessary, will be used. If overtime is needed, both halves will be played to completion. Overtime periods will be played to the full time limit. If the score is still tied, then teams will proceed immediately to kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with FIFA rules.
  • All round robin, semi-final and final round matches unfinished due to any cause shall be replayed if neither team is at fault and play has not begun in the second half. If play is stopped during the second half and play cannot be resumed, and if neither team is at fault, the Cup Director may deem the game complete. However, if play is stopped at any time due to one of the teams being adjudged to be at fault, it shall be at the discretion of the Cup Director whether the game is to be replayed or declared a forfeit. If only kicks from the penalty mark need to be taken in order to determine a winner of the match, those kicks must be taken as directed by the Cup Director.

COMPETITION FORMAT

Teams will compete in a challenge round to reduce the field. These teams will join the seeded teams in the age group and a total of eight teams will be seeded into two groups of four and will play a round robin against the teams within their group. The top-two finishers from each group will play in the semi finals: SF#1: Red Winner vs. Black Runner-up; SF#2: Black Winner vs. Red Runner-up. The two winners will play in the championship game.

The U19 boys will play a Round Robin and a final.

During the round-robin phase of the tournament, teams will be awarded three points for a victory, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss.

Tie-Breaking Procedures

  • Head-to-head result
  • Goal differential; to a maximum of four per game. Differential in each game will be added together (eg, 15-0 = 4-0 ( +4); 8-1= 5-1 (+4); 2-4 = 2-4 — total is +6)
  • Fewest goals allowed – Round-Robin total (normally, a three-game total).
  • FIFA kicks from the penalty mark: To be taken immediately after the round-robin phase is complete. Teams must not leave the site until all tie-break situations have been resolved.

Three-Way Tie within a Group

In the event of a three-way tie within a group, head-to-head result will not be considered and you keep moving to the next tie breaker in order until all ties are broken or you reach penalty kicks. If three (3) teams are involved in penalty kicks – each team will draw a number (numbers will be 1, 2 & 3). The team drawing number one (1) will kick against the winner of teams 2 & 3.

Forfeits

The non-forfeiting team shall be awarded three points for a win. Goal differential by the winner of a forfeited game shall be equal to the average of the other game(s) in the same bracket against the team that forfeits. The winner by forfeit will be charged with 0 goals against.

The forfeiting team shall be awarded:

  • Zero points for the loss
  • Zero goals for
  • Four (4) goals against

If the referee terminates a game for reasons other than weather or field conditions, the Cup Director shall decide the results of the game.

Teams / Clubs forfeiting games will be subject to $500 fine per game. Such fine must be paid by the offending team/club before any other member team of said club may compete in the tournament.

CONTROL OF SIDELINES /CONDUCT

Players, managers, coaches and fans are expected to conduct themselves within the letter and spirit of the “Laws of the Game.” The Cup Director shall have the authority and responsibility to remove any person(s) from the Tournament for abuses to good conduct. In addition to the rules of good conduct, the following rules will apply to this tournament:

The Coaches & Managers will be responsible for behavior of their fans. Coaches with proper pass cards to a maximum of four will be allowed with the team. Teams will be on the same sideline and all spectators and fans will be on the opposite sideline. Coaching from the opposite sideline is prohibited. Encouragement is fine BUT no coaching. Displays of temper or dissent, by word or action, against opponents or referees, are cause for ejection from the match and/or premises and/or suspension from the tournament.

PLAYER EQUIPMENT

The following will not be permitted:

  • Jewelry and hair barrettes
  • Boxer shorts, Jams

PLAYER UNIFORM NUMBERS: All players must have jerseys with numbers on the back. No two players on the same team may have the same number. The goalkeeper number on his/her jersey is optional (however, be advised that at the Region 1 championships, goalkeepers must have a number on their jersey).

Once a team checks in (prior to first round robin match) for the 2009 Massachusetts State Cup, no player may change uniform number without notice being given to the Tournament officials at the registration area. If a player has different numbers on separate sets of jerseys, that fact must be noted on the roster. Notice of a change of a player’s uniform number may be given either prior to or immediately following the match. Failure to notify Tournament officials of a change in number could result in the suspension of both the player involved and the coach for the remainder of the tournament and for regional play as well.

SHIN GUARDS ARE MANDATORY: Socks/stockings pulled up covering the shin guards.

YELLOW / RED CARD & EJECTIONS

Any player receiving a red card during the 2009 Massachusetts State Cup Competition shall be suspended for one game. The Cup Director shall have, in his/her sole discretion, the right to increase the suspension if the facts so warrant. If the red card was issued for fighting (when punches are thrown) or other detrimental conduct, the State Cup Director shall have the right to increase the suspension by up to two additional games at his/her sole discretion.

Any team official who is asked to leave a match by the referee shall be suspended for one game. The Cup Director shall have, in his/her sole discretion, the right to increase the suspension up to two additional games if the facts so warrant. If a team official is suspended twice during the Cup competition, the matter will be referred to the board of directors of Mass Youth Soccer for further disciplinary action up to and including a lifetime ban.

If a suspended team official shows up at the game site and/or attempts in any way to officially participate in the game or makes any effort to coach or instruct the team, his or her team will automatically forfeit the game.

Suspensions shall carry into the Region 1 Championships.

Red-card suspensions and team official suspensions shall be served for the team’s next scheduled Cup match or matches in consecutive order. If the team is eliminated from competition, the suspensions shall carry forward for that individual to the next Cup year and shall be served accordingly.

The Massachusetts State Cup program shall honor all suspensions, except those pertaining to individual matches, pertaining to coaches, administrators, club or town officials and players which are issued by all affiliated leagues in Massachusetts for the full term of those suspensions.

EXTERNAL CONDITIONS, WEATHER, etc.

In the event of unusual conditions which necessitate rescheduling, curtailment, or cancellation of games, the State Cup Director shall have absolute authority to make changes to best serve the interests of the tournament as a whole. In the event that play must be suspended, AN AIR HORN WILL SOUND INDICATING SUSPENSION OF PLAY. ALL FIELDS MUST IMMEDIATELY BE EVACUATED. A SECOND ROUND OF BLASTS ON THE AIR HORN INDICATES PLAY WILL BE RESUMED.

PROTEST PROCEDURE

Protests must be in writing and filed together with a fee of $300 in cash, money order, or cashier’s check. No personal checks will be accepted. If a team prevails in the protest, the team will receive a 50-percent refund of the fee. For all Round-Robin, Semi-Final and Finals matches, the protest must be presented to the Cup Director (or site director) within two hours of completion of said match.

  • No protest will result in the replay of a match under any circumstances.
  • Judgment decisions of the referee are not subject to protest.
  • No protest will be entertained relating to the grounds, goalposts, bars or other appurtenances of the game if the National Cup Director and the Referee Administrator have approved them.
  • A plea of ignorance of the rules and regulations of the Massachusetts State Cup championship is not sufficient grounds for protest.

When an appeal protest is made to MASS YOUTH SOCCER, the Appeals Committee shall hear that appeal.

An appeal to MASS YOUTH SOCCER is made in writing within ten (10) days of the incident or ruling by a lower protest. The written appeal must be accompanied by a check for the Appeal Submittal fee made out to the MASS YOUTH SOCCER. The $200.00 appeal fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the appeal. The appeal must include seven (7) copies of all documents pertinent to the appeal.

The MASS YOUTH SOCCER Appeals Committee must hold a formal hearing to which all parties have been notified and invited within twenty (20) days of the receipt of the written appeal. The MASS YOUTH SOCCER Appeals Committee will render a decision in writing to all parties in the appeal. Any decision rendered by the MASS YOUTH SOCCER Appeals Committee may be appealed directly to the National Championships Committee through the National Office with the appropriate appeal fee and then if they want to appeal the National Championships Committee's decision the final appeal for USYSA is the USYSA Board of Directors.

No party to an appeal or protest may invoke the aid of the Courts of any State or of the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within USSF.

FORMS FOR REGIONALS

You may download all forms at www.region1.com/NatlChamp/Forms/forms.htm

Team Information/Code of Conduct/Media Form:
MANDATORY FOR ALL AGE GROUPS, must be completed on line.
Must be submitted within 24 hours of Final match

Player Information/Roster Forms
MANDATORY FOR ALL AGE GROUPS, must be completed on line.
Must be submitted within 24 hours of Final match

REGION 1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - MANDATORY EVENTS

Team Official Registration, Thursday, July 2: Registration will be held at the HQ Hotel the Pullman Plaza beginning at 9 a.m. and will close promptly at 1 p.m.

Team Official Meetings, Thursday, July 2: A Team Official from each team MUST attend one of the three Team Official meetings at the HQ Hotel the Pullman Plaza (10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m.).

REGION 1 PARADE OF STATES (mandatory for U13-U18**): Report time is 3 p.m. at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia

**If a team (U-18 & Younger) fails to attend the Opening Ceremonies they will be fined $500 and, in addition, will be ineligible for the Team Fair Play Award in their age group. The fine, made payable to Region I, MUST be paid by the team’s State Association, to the Region I Championships Chairman, within thirty (30) days of completion of the Region I Championships.

NOTE: Massachusetts will provide each team representing the state at the Region I competition with a jersey (t-shirt). These jerseys will be handed out at the Finals. All teams representing Massachusetts at the Region I parade must wear the jersey provided by Massachusetts. Failure to wear the jersey provided by Massachusetts at the Parade will result in a fine of $500 to the team payable to Mass Youth Soccer.

REGIONAL HOUSING

Each team that qualifies for the Semi-Finals will be advised of the housing instructions after the Round-Robin matches have been completed.

NOTE: If teams choose to use public housing (that is, obtain lodging on their own), teams will be assessed $500 payable to Region I prior to their first game.

OFF-SITE MATCHES

All off-site matches will be arranged by the teams at a time and date convenient to the teams. Matches must be scheduled and completed in a time frame established by the National Cup Director. The Director may decide where any and all matches are to be played without regard to seeding or any other considerations – however, in general, matches will be played at the home field of the higher seed. If the teams cannot agree on a time and date by the date specified by the Cup Director, then the Director shall determine the time, date and location of the match.

It is the responsibility of both teams to insure that the assignor is notified (via the Cup Game Notification form*) with the date, time and location on the match, as soon as the game is scheduled (must be at least seven (7) days in advance of the scheduled match). To help insure this, the game must be scheduled by the date specified in the bracket/schedule, located on the Mass Youth website.

*Cup Game Notification Form: To be used for all “self-scheduled” Cup matches. The form is located on the Mass Youth website under State Cup Tournament. This form can be completed by either team after both teams have agreed. All questions must be answered – date, time, location, name and email address of opposing team official who agreed to the game specifics. After answering all the questions, click on the “Submit” button. The information will be sent to the referee assignor immediately.

GENERAL

Any matters not specifically covered herein are referred to the National Cup Director for decision and action as he/she deems appropriate. The decision of the National Cup Director shall be final.

Each team is responsible for the proper cleanup of their trash. Teams that leave trash will be charged a $50 cleanup fee for each infraction payable before the club plays its next game. Trash bags will be available at the registration area if needed.

Region I Championships Rules and Regulations can be located at www.region1.com/NatlChamp/Rules.pdf.

NO DOGS (PETS) ALLOWED AT ANY TIME AT CITIZENS BANK FIELDS COMPLEX

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