US Youth Soccer Far West Regional Championship Program 2014 New Mexico | Page 8

TOURNAMENT RULES, DISCIPLINE, PROTEST & APPEALS, and SUSPENSIONS

Specific Playing Rules

mining the two best 3rd place teams.

UNIFORMS
Home team listed first in the schedule will wear white or light
colored jerseys and socks. Visiting team listed second will wear
dark colored jersey and socks. Goalkeeper jerseys must have a
number.
GRACE PERIOD
Any team not ready to play at the scheduled start time shall be
granted a 15-minute grace period. A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a legal team. Any team not ready to play at the
expiration of the grace period shall be deemed to have forfeited
the game.
FORFEITURE RULE
In the event that a team forfeits one of its preliminary games,
the opposing team shall be awarded three (3) points for a win,
and the forfeiting team zero (0) points for a loss. In the event
that goal differential becomes a factor in future tie-breaking
procedures, the goals counted for the forfeited game shall be
determined by taking the average of the goals scored and allowed by the team in their remaining preliminary games.
FINES FOR FAILURE TO APPEAR OR PERFORM
Based on circumstances involved, the tournament committee may
levy a fine of $500.00 per game for all games forfeited during
the regional tournament. This fine may be dispersed to any
team(s) adversely affected by the forfeiture(s). All fines will
be assessed to the team’s state association and must be paid
within 30 days of the completion of the regional tournament.
The regional cup committee shall have the authority to refuse
entry to any team from a state with unpaid fines at the time of
entry the following year.
SCORING METHOD FOR PRELIMINARY GAMES
In the preliminary rounds, team standings shall be determined
by the accumulation of points awarded as follows:
Win (including forfeit): 3 points
Tie:
1 point
Loss:
0 points
TIE-BREAKING RULES FOR PRELIMINARY ROUNDS
The following tie-breaking rules will be used to determine the
order of team advancement to the quarterfinals:
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

Head to head results
Winner of most games
Cumulative goal differential between goals scored and goals
allowed in all games played within the team’s flight. Maximum difference allowed is four (4) goals per game.
Least goals allowed in all games played within the team’s
flight.
Kicks from the penalty spot per FIFA Law

… for a 16-Team Bracket
This tie-breaking procedure shall be used if necessary to determine 1st and 2nd place standings within each flight.
… for a 12-Team Bracket
This tie-breaking procedure shall be used if necessary to determine 1st and 2nd place standings within a flight, as well as deter-

8

More than Two Teams Tied
If more than two (2) teams are tied at the end of the preliminary round, the tie-breaking criteria listed will be used in the
order shown, beginning at #2, to either advance or eliminate
one team. The remaining teams will then be compared, beginning
with criteria #2 to determine the final placement.
OVERTIME PERIODS (For Quarterfinal, Semifinal, and
Championship Final Games Only)
If a game is tied at the end of regulation play, two complete
overtime periods will be played. For U12–U14, the length of each
overtime period will be 10 minutes. For U15-U19, the length of
each overtime period will be 15 minutes. If a game is still tied at
the end of the prescribed overtime play, FIFA “Kicks from the
Penalty Mark” rules will apply in order to determine the winner.

Disciplinary Procedures
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.

Referee send-off reports are reviewed by members of the
regional staff, known as the Conduct Committee.
Conduct Committee assesses appropriate penalties based on
published minimum guidelines.
Conduct Committee findings are recorded at tournament
headquarters.
No appeals are allowed if suspensions are within the published minimum guidelines.
Conduct Committee has the authority to impose more severe
penalties if warranted.
Coaches/Players must be notified as soon as possible of extended penalties. The Regional Tournament Committee will
notify the state representative, whose responsibility it is to
notify the player or coach.
Regional Tournament Protest & Appeals Committee will hear
appeals. The P&A Committee will be chaired by the Regional
Deputy Director. Members of the P&A Committee will be
randomly selected state representatives.

Protest & Appeals Procedure
1.

All questions relating to qualifications of competitors, to
interpretations of rules, to suspensions, and to disputes or
protests shall be referred to the Tournament P&A Committee whose decision shall be final and binding.

2.

To be valid and eligible for consideration, protests must be
verbally lodged with the referee and the opposing coach at
the game site within fifteen (15) minutes after the end of
the game. Additionally, the protest regarding a game must
also be filed in writing with the Tournament P&A Committee
within two hours after the completion of the game in question. If the protest or appeal involves a suspension, it must
be filed with the P&A Committee by 11:00 AM on the day
following the game involving the suspension. If the protest
or appeal is based on a game on the final day of the tournament, the protest or appeal must be received by the Regional Deputy Director within seven (7) days of the end of the
(continued on page 10)

2014 US YOUTH SOCCER FAR WEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS