TOURNAMENT RULES

LAWS OF PLAY
Play will be governed by the FIFA Laws of the Game, except where amended by USYSA Rules of Play,
The State Soccer Association Rules of Play and/or the tournament rules. We will be using the FIFA Lawa
of the Game 2019/20 edition. These rules may be modified before the beginning of tournament play. The
final tournament rules will be published in the tournament program. A player may only play for one team
during the tournament. Any ineligible player discovered will cause the team on which he/she played for to
forfeit all games already played.

UPDATED LAWS OF PLAY

 At a goal kick and a free kick for the defending team in their own penalty area, the ball is in play
when it is “kicked and moved”, i.e., it can be played before it leaves the penalty area.
 For defensive walls, attacking team players must be at least 1 yard away from the defensive wall
 On dropped balls, the ball will be dropped for one player of the team that last touched the ball at
the point of the last touch. All other players must be at least 4.5 yards away.
 On the coin toss at the start of the match, the team that wins the toss can now choose to take the
kick off or which goal to attack.
 At the U10 age level, the build out line will be the midfield line.

TEAM, PLAYERS AND COACHES CREDENTIALS

Players must be registered to the team making application. Teams must be registered and in good
standing with their US Youth Soccer/Canadian affiliated state/provincial association. Teams may have up
to 5 guest players; guest player forms will be required. Player picture identification cards are to be present
and available at all matches. Teams must comply with US Youth Soccer travel procedures. A player can
only play on one team during the tournament. A roster certified by your state association must be
submitted before or at tournament check in.

Any team participating must carry valid 2019-20 player’s passes. All player and coach passes must be
laminated. All teams must follow the applicable procedures of the US Youth Soccer Travel Policy. Out of
state teams must have US Youth Soccer Permission to Travel Papers on file at your state association
office (if applicable). All teams are also required to carry written medical releases from parents/guardians
in case emergency medical care is necessary.

Foreign teams or a team coming from a CONCACAF nation: Players must present passports at
registration or, if from a nation that the United States does not require a passport, proof of entry into the
United States that is required by the United States. Teams are also required to have player picture
identification cards. You must also have the required completed form from your Provincial or National
association approving the team’s participation in the tournament.

HOME TEAM
The home team will be responsible for wearing an alternate color jersey, if necessary, as determined by
the referee. The team listed first in all rounds shall be the home team. Teams use one side of the fields
and spectators shall use the opposite side of the field.

EQUIPMENT/UNIFORMS – SHINGUARDS ARE MANDATORY

Teams must have matching uniforms, and should have numbers on the jersey back. Goalkeeper must
have a different color, preferably not black. If team colors conflict the “Home” team is responsible for
changing colors. All player equipment is subject to Referee approval. All players must wear shin guards
and the referee has the right to request players to put on shin guards that are sized properly.

BRACKETING
4-TEAM BRACKETS (one four-team bracket): Bracket play is round robin games with each of the other
teams in the bracket. The two high point teams advance to the Championship match. The championship
game will be a re-match and a semifinal or consolation game will not be played. High point team will be
the home team for the Championship.

5-TEAM BRACKETS (one five-team bracket): Bracket play is round robin games with each of the other
teams in the bracket (each team gets four games). The high point team is the Champion.

6-TEAM BRACKETS (two three-team brackets): Each team will play 2 group games. The four high point
teams (two from each 3 team bracket) will advance to the semifinal games. The 2 low point teams (one
from each 3 team bracket) will play in a consolation game. The winners of the semifinal games will
advance to the Championship game.

8-TEAM BRACKETS (two four-team brackets): Bracket play is round robin with high point teams in each
bracket (one from each 4 team bracket) advancing to a Championship game.

10-TEAM BRACKET (two five-team brackets): Each team will play 3 round robin games within their
bracket. The highest point total team from each bracket (one from each 5 team bracket) will advance to
the Championship game. If there is a tie for points in a bracket, please refer to Tournament Tiebreakers.

12-TEAM BRACKET (two six-team brackets): Each team will play round robin games with three of the
other teams in the bracket. The two high point teams (one from each 6 team bracket) will advance to the
Championship game.

If not enough teams have registered for a specific age bracket the Tournament Director and
Committee reserves the right to combine age group brackets.

POINT SYSTEM AND BRACKET WINNERS

Bracket winners will be determined by the following point system:
Win ----------- 3 (three) points
Loss ---------- 0 (zero) points
Tie ------------ 1 (one) point
Shutout ----- 1 (one) point

A team that forfeits a game will give up 3 (three) points to the declared winner of the game and shall not
advance to a final match. The match will be scored as a 4-0 win for the declared winner. If a team is not
scheduled for three bracket games, that team's point total will be prorated based on the number of
scheduled games played. Point total thus determined will not be rounded off.

AWARDS
U9/U10 teams will receive participation awards. U11-U16 team player awards will be given to the players
on the teams finishing first and second.

TIEBREAKERS
If at the conclusion of bracket play, two or more teams have the same point total, advancement to the
semifinals will be determined using the following tiebreakers in the order listed until a team is eliminated.
Once a team is eliminated, advancement among the remaining teams shall again be determined by the
tiebreakers in the order listed starting with head to head competition.

1. Head to Head
2. Goals Scored Minus Goals Allowed (Max. diff. of 4 goals – ex. game score of 7-1 would be scored 5-1)
3. Goals Against
4. Goals For (Max 4)
5. Most Shutouts
6. Fewest Red Cards
7. Coin toss (To be done with only both coaches present)
SUBSTITUTIONS
U09 - U12 – at any Stoppage and unlimited.
U13 - U18 – with the consent of the Field Referee substitutions may be made, from the center of the field,
prior to your throw-in or either team's goal kick, after a goal scored by either team, during a stoppage of
play for an injury and in accordance with the Laws of the Game. A cautioned player may be substituted
for before restart of play with the Referee's permission, this is not mandatory.

GRACE PERIOD
U9 – U12 A minimum of five players constitutes a team.
U13 – U14 A minimum of seven players constitutes a team.

A (10) ten-minute grace period shall be extended beyond the scheduled kick off time if five
(U9U12)/seven (U13-U14) are not available at the scheduled kick off time. A team of five (U9- U12)/seven
(U13-U14) players must start the game as soon as seven players are at the field after the originally
scheduled start time. If at the end of the 10-minute grace period the team does not have five (U11-
U12)/seven (U13-U14) players, the referee shall suspend the game and report the failure of the team to
appear to the Tournament Director(s). The Director(s) may declare a forfeit. Any team that forfeits a game
will not be allowed to advance out of their group to the finals.

GAME LENGTH
Age Game length Overtime

U9 & U10 (7v7) Two 25 minute halves2

U11 & U12 (9v9) Two 30 min. halves. Two 5 min. halves overtime with pk’s (only semi-final and finals)
U13 - U18 (11v11) Two 35 minute halves Two 5 min. halves overtime with pk’s (only semi-final and finals)

SHOOT-OUTS (PENALTY KICKS)

Penalty kicks used in semi-final and final matches will be run in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the
Game. The referee flips a coin to determine which goal to shoot at (unless there are safety reasons to not
use one). The referee flips the coin another time and the winner of the toss chooses to kick first or
second. Both teams take five kicks; kicks are taken alternately by the teams.

If before both teams have taken five kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score, even if
it were to complete its five kicks, no more kicks are taken. If after five kicks the score is tied, kicks
continue until one team has scored a goal more than the other (sudden death) from the same number of
kicks.

Only the players on the field at the end of the match are allowed to take kicks. A different player must
take each kick and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick. If the
player is under suspension they may NOT participate in the kicks.

RED CARDS
The player(s) receiving the Red Card and the Coach must report to Tournament Headquarters following
the game. Player will be suspended for a minimum of 1 game. The suspension may be increased
depending on the severity of the incident. If a Red Card is received in Final Match for the player of the
Galaxy Cup, the player will have to serve suspension in the following year’s event.

REFEREE ABUSE
Referee abuse will not be tolerated during the tournament. Referee abuse by the player, coach, or fan will
be reported to their Home State Association within 48 hours of the end of games. The player, coach or
fan will be removed from the soccer complex and will not be allowed to return.
REFUND
The Galaxy Cup will do its best to schedule a minimum of three (3) or more games for each team.
However at the Tournament Director’s discretion, the number of games may be reduced. The tournament
is not liable for any expenses and no refunds for the tournament application fees will be given except
under the circumstances listed below:
a) No games played: 75% refund of entry fee
b) 1 game played: 50% refund of entry fee
c) 2 or more games played: no refunds will be given
All refunds will be sent to the club treasurer or identified team contact.

PLAYING CONDITIONS
Teams will be expected to play according to the schedule of games regardless of weather. Only the
Tournament Director(s) may reschedule games or alter the competitive format because of inclement
weather or other just cause. Games shall be considered complete if one half has been completed and
play is stopped by the Field Representative or Referee, Referee Director or the Tournament Director(s).
When necessitated by playing conditions or just cause, the game format may be altered to include
shortening of games, penalty kicks or coin tosses.

INCLEMENT WEATHER/UNPLAYABLE FIELD CONDITIONS

In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director and Committee reserve the right to modify all
tournament rules in order to safely and fairly end the tournament successfully. Games may be shortened
or eliminated in case of inclement weather or unplayable field conditions. Coaches, team managers and
spectators are asked to be patient and remain flexible – changing the format of the tournament is a major
undertaking.

The referee and/or Tournament Director may temporarily suspend play due to unsafe weather conditions.
Teams should remain (safely in cars or under shelter) in the vicinity until game resumption. If lightning
alerts are issued, the referee will immediately suspend play and clear the field. Play will resume once it is
deemed to be safe to do so.

TEAMS, PLAYERS AND COACHES

All teams and players must be affiliated with the USYSA or a sanctioned affiliate. Players may be
registered to only one team playing in the tournament. Player passes and roster may be checked prior to
each match.

GAME ROSTER
After check-in/registration, teams may not alter their rosters or make additions/subtractions at any time.

TEAM DISCIPLINE
A coach is responsible for the words and actions of his players and their fans. Verbal abuse of the
opponents or referees by players, coaches or spectators will not be tolerated. Violations may result in
forfeiture of the game and/or expulsion from the tournament.

A red carded player and his/her coach must report to tournament headquarters immediately after the
game in which the card was given to determine the player's status for subsequent games. Decisions will
be based upon the rules of the Iowa Soccer Association, the sanctioning organization for the Galaxy Cup.

PROTESTS
Protests must be presented in writing by the head coach to the tournament headquarters within one hour
of the completion of the game, and must be accompanied with a $100.00 cash bond, which will be
returned only if the protest is upheld. Only protests that concern the Laws of the Game and ineligible
players will be considered. Referee judgment will not be a basis for protests. Decisions of the Tournament
Director are final and may not be appealed.