Greensboro, North Carolina

December 2-4, 2005

Rules & Procedures

GENERAL

All matches will be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as issued by FIFA.

ENTRY CONFIRMATION

You will receive a confirmation of your entry by mail or email.  Captains, please be prepared to sign an Agreement of Participation Form at the mandatory captain’s meeting on Friday, December 2, 2005. This form states that all rules and procedures have been completely read and will be followed while your team participates in the State Cup.

PRE-GAME RESPONSIBILITIES

• Team contact/captain must be present at the captain’s meeting for team check-in with tournament headquarters upon arrival and provide a local phone number where they can be reached.

• Captain’s meeting will be held at host hotel’s lobby at 8PM, Friday, Dec. 2, 2005.  

• If your team is not going to be at team check-in Friday night, you must notify the tournament director to arrange check-in or your team will be dropped from the schedule.

ON-FIELD RESPONSIBILITIES

• Teams must be on time, at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start.

• 10 minutes past the scheduled start time will constitute a forfeit. (refer to FORFEITS)

• Seven players will constitute a team and the clock will start accordingly.

• Captains need to be ready when the referee calls for captains.

• Present your team’s certified jersey roster with the correct corresponding jersey numbers to the center referee. Meet the opposing captain.

• In an orderly fashion, have the individual players turn in their player pass to the center referee for ID, jersey number, and equipment check. Please have your team ready to help expedite the start of the match. The referee will possess the player pass until the end of the match.

DURATION OF PLAY

Two equal halves of 45 minutes will be played. There will be a 5-10 minute half time interval.

Matches will be shortened at the discretion of the referee in the event of inclement weather.

SUBSTITUTION

Substitutions can be made only on goal kicks, kickoffs, and possession throw-ins. An injured or cautioned player may be substituted at the referee’s discretion. Stay off the field until the player being replaced comes off. Sub in at the midfield line with the linesman. Re-entry is allowed.

FORFEITS

A forfeit shall be awarded if a team is not present and prepared to play within 10 minutes of the scheduled commencement time, with the score being 3-0 in favor of the team that was there on time. The match can be played by the teams when they show, with approval of the tournament director and both coaches, but no score will be kept. A forfeit will be issued for teams who do not follow the eligibility requirements.

Any team that is issued a forfeit will lose its entire performance bond. Additional penalties may be applied.

Any team that forfeits or abandons a scheduled match WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY IN THE FINALS.

WANDERER’S RULE

If a match is abandoned after 25 minutes of play by the official the score will stand and the match will be counted.  Teams that abandon a match at any point will be considered having forfeit and may be subject to further penalties, beyond forfeiture of performance bond.

PLAYER/COACH EJECTION

Any player/coach ejected from a match:

• will not be replaced;

• will not be allowed to remain at the field; the player could be subject to an immediate multiple game suspension and/or other penalties if they remain within sight and sound of the field.

• will be suspended for the next match or next league match.

All player passes of ejected players/coaches will be turned into the tournament committee.

The passes will be returned to the team’s captain after the suspension of one match.

The tournament committee reserves the right to administer additional penalties as warranted.

CONDUCT OF THE SUPPORTERS

Each coach and all players are responsible for the conduct of their supporters. Referees have the authority to forfeit a team in the case of unsportsmanlike behavior on the part of anyone associated with a given team. The tournament committee has the authority to suspend a match and/or disqualify teams for inappropriate behavior by supports.

COACH/TEAM’S FIELD POSITION

Coaches, players, and spectators must remain between the penalty areas and 3 to 5 yards from the touch line. No one shall be behind the goal lines and goals. Each team, all coaches, and all spectators will take a position opposite the field from their opponents. If teams share one side of the field, coaching is restricted to their bench’s half of the field.

PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT

All players must wear completely covered, legal shin guards.

Cleats must meet FIFA standards.

No jewelry will be worn.

All jerseys must be clearly numbered, and keeper’s jersey must be a different color of both teams.

Have alternative jerseys if possible.

REFEREES

All matches will be officiated by USSF certified referees.

STATE CUP WINNERS

The winners of the North Carolina State Cup that are interested in competing in the National Cup, the Coed National Championship or the Veteran’s Cup will have their entry fee paid for by the NCASA.

SCORING REPORTS

The referee must report the score of the match to the headquarters within 15 minutes of the conclusion of each match.

PROTESTS AND APPEALS

The North Carolina State Cup will be overseen by a tournament committee consisting of NCASA’s executive director, NCASA’s State Cup Commissioner, and a member of the hosting organization. All tournament committee decisions are final. However to appeal a tournament committee decision, one must submit a written appeal in triplicate to NCASA along with a $100.00 appeal process fee and be postmarked within 72 hours of the dispute. The appeal will be heard by the executive committee of NCASA.

BRACKET ALLOCATIONS

Determined by the tournament committee based on the number of entries received in each division.

BRACKET STANDINGS

Bracket standings will be determined by the following point system:

3 points for a win

1 points for a tie

0 points for a loss

BONUS/DISCIPLINE POINTS

1 point for a shutout

1 point per goal (maximum of 3)

-1 point for each two yellow card or red card ejection

Maximum points per game 4

ROUND ROBIN

In the round robin format, each team will play the other teams in their group one time. The points for bracket standings are as follows: 3 points for the win and 1 point for a tie.  The points for tie breakers are as follows: 1 bonus point for a shut out ,1 bonus point for each goal up to a maximum of 3 goals, subtract 1 bonus point for each yellow card caution or red card ejection. Please note that although a maximum of 3 goals is allowed in the bonus point process, ALL goals will be counted for the purpose of the goal per game average tie breaker.

The tiebreaker will be applied in the following sequence A, B, C, D for ranking.

A. Head to Head. If two or more teams are tied for the same ranking, the tiebreaker will be the result of the game previously played between these two or more teams; the winner will be ranked prior to the other(s).

B. If two or more teams are still tied, the tiebreaker will be the team with greater number of bonus points after subtracting discipline points.

C. If two or more teams are still tied, the tiebreaker will be the team with the better goal per game average, not including goals awarded in forfeits.

D. If two or more teams are still tied, the tiebreaker will go to kicks from the mark (FIFA).

If a division goes to a second round robin competition to determine team placement, standings from previous round will not carry over to the second round.

ELIMINATION MATCHES

If tied at the end of regulation time, two 15 minute overtime periods will be played. If the game is still tied after the overtime periods, the kicks from the mark (FIFA) procedure will be used to determine the winner.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Regardless of the weather conditions, teams must appear on the field ready to play as scheduled. Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the match. Only the referee or tournament director may cancel or postpone a match. In case of severe weather before play, referees may reduce the length of the match by up to 50%. Should a match be terminated after 25 minutes due to weather, the match will be considered official and the score will stand. Referees should not begin or continue a match when lightning is seen in the area.

In case the entire tournament is postponed, a rain date has been set. Teams are expected to participate.  The decision to postpone/cancel the tournament will be made by Friday, Dec. 2,, 2005 at 12:00 p.m. For more weather information call the Hotline at 336-856-0702.

In case the Cup is cancelled teams will be refunded all their entry fee except $ 100.00.

DISCLAIMER

NCASA reserves the right to adjust the competition format depending on the number of team entries in a given division. NCASA may even close a division due to lack of team registration. In which case, the teams entered will receive the full refund of their registration and performance bond.

NCASA will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any person, team, league, or any other association as a result of participating in the State Cup.

By participating in the North Carolina Adult State Cup your team is acknowledging that team officials have read and understood the rules and that the team will abide by all the rules of the NC Adult State Cup.

THE NC ADULT STATE CUP’S INTENTION IS TO DETERMINE A STATE CHAMPION FOR EACH DIVISION FROM THE VARIOUS LEAGUE SYSTEMS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT NC ADULT STATE CUP IS DEDICATED TO THE PROMOTION OF THE GOOD OF THE GAME AND GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. THE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE MAY SUSPEND WITHOUT RECOURSE TO APPEAL, PLAYERS TEAMS, AND/OR COACHES WHO DEMONSTRATE POOR SPORTSMANSHIP.

REFUNDS

All performance bonds will be refunded in full by mail within 30 days after the tournament, barring any violation of State Cup rules.

Withdrawal from the tournament after November 18, 2005 will result in forfeiture of the team’s entry fee and performance bond.

Teams must be registered and in good standing with the NCASA. Players must possess their current NCASA player pass. Guest players are allowed; refer to the rules for roster requirements.