Queen City Classic
Rec Tournament Rules
All Queen City Classic Tournament play shall be governed by F.I.F.A. laws of the game (excerpts included) with the following modifications:
LAW 1: THE FIELD OF PLAY
FIFA LAW: "The field of play shall be rectangular ... marked with distinctive lines... (To designate) the goal area. The penalty area... the corner area ... (with) goals placed on the center of each goal-line..."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. Field Sizes:
U7 and U8: 40 yards wide by 60 yards long
Center circle’s radius is 6 yards
There is no penalty mark for this field.
Build out line will be placed halfway between the top of the penalty box and the midfield line.
U9, U10, and U11/12:
40 to 50 yards wide by 60 to 80 yards long.
Center circle’s radius is 8 yards.
Penalty mark is 10 yards from the goal line, centered on the goal.
U13/14, and U13/14/15:
40 to 50 yards wide by 20 to 80 yards long.
Center circle’s radius is 8 yards.
Penalty mark is 10 yards from the goal line, centered on the goal.
B. Goal sizes (inside dimensions):
U7 and U8: 18 feet wide by 6.5 feet high
U9, U10, U11/12: 21 feet wide by 7 feet high
U13/14, and U13/14/15: 21 feet wide by 7 feet high
LAW 2: THE BALL
FIFA LAW: "The ball shall be spherical..."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. Ball sizes:
U7 and U8: Size 3
U9, U10, and U11/12: Size 4
U13/14, and U13/14/15 Size 5
LAW 3: NUMBER OF PLAYERS
FIFA LAW: "A match shall be played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper..."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. Teams shall be grouped in accordance with age groupings employed by the NCYSA; the following represents the grouping currently in effect and apply to both all girls’ teams and co-ed teams.
TEAMSCHILDREN ELIGIBLE IF:
U7 Born in 2015
U8 Born in 2014
U9 Born in 2013
U10 Born in 2012
U11/12 Born in 2010 and 2011
U13/14 Born in 2008 and 2009
U13/14/15 Born in 2007, 2008, and 2009
B. Players may only be placed on one roster. Double rostering is prohibited. Any double rostering will result in forfeiture of that game, regardless of the score.
C. Number of players on the field:
U7and U8: 6 players plus 1 goalkeeper
U9 thru U12: 7 players plus 1 goalkeeper
U13 thru U15: 7 players plus 1 goalkeeper
D. Team roster sizes:
U7 and U8 Minimum 7, Maximum 12
U9 thru U12 Minimum 8, Maximum 14
U13 thru U15 Minimum 8, Maximum 14
E. No currently rostered challenge or higher-level players allowed. All players must be registered as Rec players with NCYSA for the Spring 2022 season. Any player not registered with NCYSA, or registered as an Academy or Classic player, that is playing on a team, will result in that game being recorded as a forfeit, regardless of score.
Team rosters must be submitted to the QCC directors by May 20th. All rosters will be compared with the NCYSA Player Database to ensure that all players are true Rec players. Teams found to have players that are not registered with NCYSA as Recreational players will be removed from the tournament.
F. Substitutions:
Substitutions shall be unlimited.
A player who has been replaced may return to the game.
All substituting players must be standing near the center line PRIOR to asking for a substitution and may not enter the field until given permission from the referee.
Substitutions may be made at the following times ONLY with the referee’s consent:
- prior to a throw-in by either team
- prior to a goal-kick by either team
- after a goal by either team
- after an injury for either team when the referee stops play
– the team without the injured player may only substitute a number of players equal to or less than the team with the injured player
- after a player has received a yellow card when the referee stops play
– the team without the carded player may only substitute a number of players equal to or less than the team with the player receiving a yellow card.
G. Heading:
Deliberate heading is not allowed for U7 – U12 games. If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the goal box, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.
LAW 4: PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT
FIFA LAW: "The basic compulsory equipment of a player shall consist of a jersey or shirt, shorts, stockings, shin guards and footwear. A player shall not wear anything which is dangerous to another player... the goalkeeper shall wear colors which distinguish him from the other players and from referees..."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. The home team shall be responsible for ensuring that no uniforms conflict with the visiting team. Each participating team should have available sufficient jerseys or pennies of an alternate color to ensure compliance with this rule.
B. Usage of protective headgear is allowed but only at the discretion of the referee whose decision is final.
LAW 5: REFEREES and LAW 6: LINESMEN
FIFA LAW: "A referee shall be appointed to officiate in each game. His/her authority --- (shall) commence as soon as he/she enters the field of play --- He/She shall:
(a) enforce the laws
(b) refrain from penalizing in cases that, by doing so, he would be giving an advantage to the offending team
(c) keep record of the game
(d) Stop the game for any infringement of the laws and to suspend or terminate the game (when necessary)
(e) caution (yellow card) any player guilty of misconduct or unsportsmanlike behavior
(f) allow no person other than the players and linesmen to enter the field of play without his permission
(g) stop the game if, in his opinion, a player has been seriously injured
(h) send off the field of play (red card) any player who, in his opinion, is guilty of violent conduct, serious foul play, or the use of foul or abusive language.
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. The referee has the authority to suspend matches, if conditions warrant. Games suspended at half-time or later due to weather conditions shall be considered as complete with the score at the moment of suspension being recorded as the final score.
B. Substitution for injuries: safety of the players is paramount. Any child injured in such a manner that a stoppage of play is necessary shall be required to leave the field of play if the coach enters the field of play. Substitution for an injured player shall be permitted. Once the injured player has recovered sufficiently to return to play, the player may return under normal substitution conditions and with permission of the referee.
C. Any player showing blood of any kind MUST leave the field immediately to receive first aid treatment. The player may not return to the field until the blood is completely cleaned up and no longer visible. Any player with a jersey showing blood must remove it and put on a different jersey to continue playing. Under these circumstances, players are allowed to share jerseys during the game.
D. There will be no protests allowed during the Queen City Classic. All officiating decisions are final.
LAW 7: DURATION OF PLAY
FIFA LAW: "The duration of the game shall be two equal periods of 45 minutes ... Allowance shall be made in either period for all time lost through substitution, the transport from the field of injured players, time wasting, or other cause, the amount of which shall be a matter for the discretion of the referee..."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. Game Length:
U7: 4 twelve-minute quarters
U8: 4 twelve-minute quarters
U9: 2 twenty-five-minute halves
U10: 2 twenty-five-minute halves
U11/12: 2 twenty-five-minute halves
U13-U15: 2 thirty-minute halves
B. Only the head coach and two assistant coaches shall be allowed to remain on the bench side of the field while the ball is in play. All coaches must remain on the bench side of the field and are not allowed to pass beyond the half-way line or the top of the penalty box.
C. Parents are not allowed on the player sideline. Additionally, no parents, coaches or spectators shall be allowed behind either goal line during games.
D. Group play games may end in a tie.
(Semi-final and final games overtime addendum for ages U9 & up ONLY)
If the match is tied at the end of regulation play, two full, non-golden goal 5-minute overtime periods shall then be played with a one-minute break between overtime periods; usual substitution rules shall apply during the overtime periods. If the tie has been broken at the end of the 2nd overtime period, the game is over.
If the match is still tied at the end of the 2nd overtime period, the game shall follow FIFA shootout rules for penalty shots:
- Any five players who are on the field at the conclusion of the 2nd overtime period may take one of the penalty shots.
2. Any player who is on the field at the conclusion of the 2nd overtime period may be
designated as the goalkeeper for the penalty shots
3. The team scoring the most penalty shots is declared the winner and is awarded one goal to break the tie.
If the match is still tied at the end of five penalty shots, then sudden death penalty shots will ensue, utilizing the remaining players who were on the field at the end of the 2nd over-time period.
- Teams shall alternate penalty shots, the first team to score during a round without the opposing team scoring during the same round shall be declared the winner and awarded one goal.
2. The players who took the original five penalty shots are not permitted to take shots during this portion of sudden death.
If the match is still tied at the end of this portion of sudden death, alternating penalty shots shall continue until a winner is declared.
- All players on the field at the end of the 2nd overtime period shall be eligible to take penalty shots in any order.
2. A player may not have a second turn until each of the other eligible players has had a first turn.
(Semi-final and final games overtime addendum for ages U7 & U8 ONLY)
If, at the end of regulation time, the score is tied, there will be a 2-minute break and the teams shall come back on the field minus one player per team, with that player being the goalkeeper for each team. The teams will then play a full 3-minute, non-golden goal overtime period with no goalkeepers. If the score is still tied at the end of the overtime period, another 2-minute break will be taken, and the teams will return to the field with one less player than in the first overtime period. Another full 3-minute, non-golden goal overtime period will be played.
The teams will continue to remove one player from each team for each consecutive non-golden goal overtime period until an overtime period finally ends with a true winner.
LAW 8: THE START OF PLAY
FIFA LAW: "At the beginning of the game, choice of ends and the kickoff shall be decided by the toss of a coin ... The referee having given a signal, the game shall be started by a player taking a place-kick (i.e. a kick at the ball while it is stationary on the ground in the center of the field of play) into his opponents half of the field of play, every player shall be in his own half of the field and every player of the team opposing that of the kicker shall remain not less than 10 yards from the ball until it is kicked off; it shall not be deemed in play until it has traveled forward; the kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player...”
"A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. Opponents' distance from kick-off (center circle):
U7 and U8: 6 yards
U9, U10, and U11/12: 8 yards
U13/14 and U13/14/15: 8 yards
B. Coaches will provide the referees with a typed roster listing the player’s name, jersey number, and date of birth, before the start of the match.
LAW 9: BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY
FIFA LAW: "The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal-line or touch-line, whether on the ground or in the air, (or) when the game has been stopped by the referee. The ball is in play at all other times from the start of the match to the finish..."
LAW 10: METHOD OF SCORING
FIFA LAW: "A goal is scored when the whole of the ball has passed over the goal-line between the goal posts and under the cross-bar, provided it has not been thrown. carried, or intentionally propelled by hand or arm, by a player of the attacking side..."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. In pool play, teams will be awarded points. Points will be awarded in the following manner: 3 points awarded for a win, 1 point for a tie, and none for a loss. There will also be points awarded for goal differential, up to 3 points maximum per game.
B. After pool play, should there be a tie in the standings based on points, the following tie breaker rules
will be applied:
Tie Breaker #1: Head-to-Head play.
Head-to-Head will only be dismissed if the matches in question are split or tied.
Tie Breaker #2: Highest Goal Differential.
Points for Goal Differential: up to 3 per game.
Tie Breaker #3: Least Goals Allowed.
Fewest goals allowed.
Tie Breaker #4: Shoot Out.
PKs from the mark, with the same rules as an overtime shootout applying.
LAW 11: OFFSIDE
FIFA LAW: "A player is in an off-side position if he is nearer to his opponent’s goal-line than the ball, unless (a) he is in his own half of the field of play, or (b) he is not nearer to his opponent’s goal-line than at least two of his opponents. A player shall only be...penalized for being in an off-side position, if at the moment the ball touches, or is played by one of his team, he is in the opinion of the referee, (a) interfering with play or with an opponent, or (b) seeking to gain an advantage ... A player shall not be declared offside by the referee ... if he receives the ball direct from a goal-kick, a comer-kick, or a throw-in..."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. The off-side rule is waived for the U7 and U8 age groups.
B. U7 and U8 teams, during all goal kicks, all opposing players must withdraw to a position behind the midfield line. They can only advance past it once the ball is back and play and has cleared the penalty box.
NOTE: Positioning an offsides player to 'Cherry-pick" shall be considered unsportsmanlike conduct by the coach and result in an indirect free kick for the other team.
LAW 12: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
FIFA LAW: A player who intentionally commits any of the following nine offenses shall be penalized by the award of a direct free kick to be taken by the opposing team from the place where the offense occurred.
1. Kicks or attempts to kick opponent
2. Trips an opponent
3. Jumps at an opponent
4. Charges an opponent in a violent or dangerous manner
5. Charges an opponent from behind unless the latter is obstructing
6. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent or spits at him
7. Holds an opponent
8. Pushes an opponent
9. Handles the ball (except the goalkeeper in his own penalty area)
A player committing any of the five following offenses shall be penalized by the award of an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing team from the place the offense occurred...
1. Playing in a manner considered by the referee to be dangerous...
2. Charging ... when the ball is not within playing distance...
3. Intentionally obstructing an opponent…
4. Charging the goalkeeper...
5. When playing as goalkeeper ... from the moment he takes control of the ball with his hands, he holds the ball for more than 6 seconds.
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. Players (and/or coaches) receiving a red card or a 2nd yellow card are immediately suspended. Suspended players may not be replaced in the game from which they are suspended. Further, the QCC directors require the player to be suspended for an additional game (during which, the player's team shall not be required to play a person short).
B. Players receiving a yellow card shall be removed from the game and either team can substitute. The yellow carded player may return to the field of play only under normal substitution circumstances (See Law 3: QCC Tournament Modification).
C. Parents that violate the zero tolerance policy and are sent off will not be allowed back in the viewing area for the remainder of that game and will also not be allowed to attend the next match. Any violations of this rule will result in a forfeiture of that game, regardless of score.
C. For U7 and U8, all fouls shall result in the award of an indirect free kick. Direct free kicks and penalty kicks shall not be employed.
*U7 and U8 only: For a foul occurring inside the box, the ball will be placed at the nearest location outside of the box in the field of play and an indirect free-kick will be employed.
LAW 13: FREE-KICK
FIFA LAW: "Free-kicks shall be classified under two headings: "Direct" (from which a goal can be scored direct against the offending side) and "Indirect" (from which a goal cannot be scored unless the ball has been played or touched by a player other than the kicker before passing through the goal) ..."
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. For U7 and U8, all free-kicks shall be indirect free-kicks.
LAW 14: PENALTY-KICK
FIFA LAW: "A penalty-kick shall be taken from the penalty mark and, when it is taken, all players with the exception of the player taking the kick, properly identified, and the opposing goalkeeper, shall be within the field of play but outside the penalty area...”
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A. For U7 and U8, penalty kicks shall not be employed-- instead, an indirect kick shall be awarded (see Law 12- for placement of the ball if a foul occurs within the goal area).
B. Refer to QCC Modifications under Law 1 for placement of the penalty mark for the various age groups.
LAW 15: THROW-IN
FIFA LAW: "When the whole of the ball passes over a touch-line, either on the ground or in the air, it shall be thrown in from where it crossed the line, in any direction, by a player of the team opposite to that of the player who last touched it..."
LAW 16: GOAL-KICK
FIFA LAW: "When the whole of the ball passes over the goal-line, excluding that portion between the goal-posts, either in the air or on the ground, having been last played by one of the attacking team, it shall be kicked direct into play beyond the penalty area (from any point within the goal area) by a player of the defending team.”
QCC Tournament Modifications:
A) U7 and U8 midfield line rule: During goal kicks, opposing players need to drop back behind the midfield line and allow the keeper to play the ball out.
LAW 17: CORNER-KICK
FIFA LAW: "When the whole of the ball passes over the goal-line, excluding that portion between the goal-posts, either in the air or on the ground, having been last played by one of the defending team, a member of the attacking team shall take a corner kick..."
The excerpts from the FIFA Laws of the game contained herein have been condensed in order to conserve space; all participating members should obtain an unabridged copy of the FIFA Laws to insure complete understanding of the rules as employed by the QCC Soccer Tournament and WCWAA Soccer. Additionally, FIFA Laws are supplemented by FIFA International Board decisions and by QCC Tournament special rules, including but not limited to the following:
International Board Decisions
IBD #14: If, in the opinion of the referee, a player intentionally uses his feet to play the ball back to the goalkeeper who then uses his hands to play the ball, the player shall be penalized by the award to the opposing team of an indirect free-kick from the spot where the goalkeeper touched the ball with his hands, provided that spot is not nearer than 6 yards from the goal-line. (Note: This decision will also be enforced if, in the opinion of the referee, the player uses obvious trickery to avoid using the feet to play the ball back to his goalkeeper.)
IBD #15: If, in the opinion of the referee, a player who is moving toward his opponents' goal with an obvious opportunity to score a goal is intentionally impeded by unlawful means, i.e. an offense punishable by a free-kick (or penalty kick), thus denying the aforesaid goal-scoring opportunity, the offending player shall be sent off the field of play (red-carded) for serious foul play in accordance with LAW 12.
IBD #16: If, in the opinion of the referee, a player, other than the goalkeeper within his own penalty area, denies his opponents a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by intentionally handling the ball, he shall be sent off the field of play (red-carded) for serious foul play in accordance with LAW 12.
IBD #17: The IFAB is of the opinion that a goalkeeper ... will be considered in control of the ball when he takes possession of the ball by touching it with any part of his hands or arms. Possession of the ball would include the goalkeeper intentionally parrying the ball, but would not include the circumstance where, in the opinion of the referee, the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper, for example, after he has made a save.
