Appendix B: Soccer
RULES
Rule Book: F.I.F.A. (latest edition).
TOURNAMENT ORGANIZATION – CARDS & GROUND RULES
The tournament director will keep a precise record of all Yellow and Red card offenses.
Yellow Cards (June 2023): Accumulating two yellow cards in the round robin will result in a one match suspension. All single yellow cards expire after the completion of the round robin and do not carry forward to the play-offs. (only if a player receives their 2nd yellow in the last round robin game they will still miss the next match). If a player picks up two yellows in a game, or a straight red card, they will obviously be sent off and will be suspended for the following match.
Red Card: Any participant (Dec. 2022) penalized with a “red card” will be ejected from that game and also miss the next game, and will be ineligible for sportsmanship selection. No substitutes will be allowed for penalized players. Note: The site directors must keep a tally of yellow/red cards received.
Ground Rules: The Tournament will be governed by ground rules as instituted by the host school.
RULE EXCEPTIONS
Playing Time:
30 minute halves
Half-times - 10 minute half-times
5 minutes of warm up
Substitutions:
Unlimited.
Subs can only be made on your own possession during a stoppage of play.
Players must report to the official. At the official's discretion, substitutions may be waived off or delayed. Players may not switch positions with the goalkeeper while the ball is in play. Subs can be freely made at half time and when a goal has been scored.
ROSTERS
The roster limit for soccer is 16 boys and 16 girls (maximum). A minimum of 13 boys and 13 girls are needed to participate in SAAC sanctioned tournaments.
UNIFORMS and Equipment
Each player MUST wear protective shin guards.
Each player must wear a numbered shirt.
Players are not permitted to play with a hard cast even if it is wrapped in plastic or other materials.
Players should refrain from wearing jewelry, scarves, and hats.
No metal cleats are allowed
GAME BALL: The host director will indicate to the visiting team in advance which ball would be used for the tournament. Practice balls can vary.
GOALKEEPER: will be designated and will wear an off-color shirt to indicate his/her position.
SOCCER FIELD SIZE AND SAFETY
Same for Boys and Girls or Size of Fields agreed upon by Athletic Directors before Soccer Tournament.
If two playing fields are used for a tournament and one is of better quality, one gender will play on the field for the first day, and the other gender will play on the other day. The teams that will be playing in the semi/championship rounds will be assigned to the better field for the final day of competition. Consolation rounds will be played on the other field. If this is not followed for safety reasons, the SAAC athletic directors need to discuss and come to a consensus decision. (Dec. 2022)
The SAAC Lightning protocol will be used
TOURNAMENT SCORING
The following classification system will be used in all round-robin or pool play games.
3 points shall be awarded for a win
1 point shall be awarded for a tie
No points shall be awarded for a loss
No penalty kicks in round robin. Penalties only in Championship Round to determine advancement.
TIE BREAKERS
In a round robin or pool play games, ties will be broken in the following way in descending order of priority:
Two-Way Tie
Head-to-head.
Goals conceded with common opponents
Goals scored with common opponents
Goals conceded in Round Robin
Goals scored in Round Robin
Coin flip
Three-Way Tie
Head to head: Points earned in games between the tied teams.
Goals conceded in games played between the 3 tied teams
Goals scored in games played between between the 3 tied teams Goals conceded with common opponents
Goals scored with common opponents
Goals conceded in Round Robin
Goals scored in Round Robin
** When 3-way tie is reduced to 2 teams, tie-breaker reverts to Two-Way tie breaker rules.
*If the tied teams have not all played each other in round robin, then:
Goals conceded between common opponent(s)
Goals scored between common component(s) -
Goals conceded in Round Robin
Goals scored in Round Robin
Coin flip
** When 3-way tie is reduced to 2 teams, tie-breaker reverts to Two-Way tie breaker rules. (Dec. 2022)
Penalty Shoot-out
All semi- finals, placement and championship games that finish in a tie between the teams will be broken by a penalty shoot-out.
Penalties will be taken in the following way:
Only players on the field at the end of the game are eligible for the penalty shoot out
From the eleven players, the team nominates five penalty takers.
A toss of the coin will decide the option to take the first penalty. Penalties will be taken alternately. Each side must take a minimum of five penalties. If the scores are even at the end of the five penalties, the score must be noted and a ‘sudden death’ penalty shoot-out will begin. Only players not used in the original five penalties can be used from the eleven declared at the beginning of the shootout. This continues until one team wins on an equal number of shots.
OFFICIALS
The source of officials is to be determined by the host school. Whenever possible, the host school should utilize host country international sporting organizations to officiate tournaments.
Soccer: 12 officials (One table, 3 on-field per/game) *3 crews of officials. (May 2024)