Town and Country 2023 Fall Challenge 

About the Tournament

• The Town and Country 2023 Fall Challenge will be held on Nov 10-12.

• Register here: https://system.gotsport.com/event_regs/3a7b92bdfb

• Guest Player Registration: 

• U7-U10 cost is $350, play 7v7 

• U11-U12 cost is $500, play 9v9

• U13 and older cost is $625, play 11v11

• Deadline to register is Saturday Nov 4th at Midnight!

• All games will be played at the Town and Country Soccer complex: https://www.tandcsports.org/fieldmap

• All team checkins will be done online and must be complete by Tuesday Nov 7th

  1. Team Roster: we will keep this on file. This should be an official roster from your team's association (STYSA, EDDOA, NTYSA, WDDOA, etc). It should have correct jersey numbers on it and any guest players written in and labelled as GUEST.

  2. Player Cards: do not need to be uploaded BUT you should have in your possession (virtual is preferred) at all games at the event.

• Contact Josh Brown, Tournament Director, with any questions. 

Registered & Interested Team List

If you are interested in playing in the tournament but not quite ready to fully register then submit your team to the Interested Team List Here: 

Interested Team Sign Up 

Entering you team here lets other teams know who's interested and to gauge the competition level of all interested teams.

Tournament Rules

Team and Spectator Behavior 

All players, coaches and spectators are expected to show good sportsmanship at all times. Failure to do so will lead to the disqualification of the team from the tournament with no discount given. 

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team and supporters. Spectators, players, and team staff involved in any physical or verbal abuse towards anyone including:  tournament staff, opponents and espcially toward referees, will be ejected from the tournament and their team disqualified.  

ID Cards 

All Coaches and players must have approved, laminated ID cards from the team’s association, including a picture. Any exceptions to the player card requirement must be approved by the tournament director. 

Players 

A player can play with up to two teams as long as the second team is a different age group than the player's primary team and he/she must be written in on the roster of the second team and noted that the primary team is in the event.  Players can only play in their division or age group or in an older age group.  Teams the have guest players or club pass players that are rostered regulaly to a higher division league than their team will automatically be placed in the highest competition level for their age group.  For example, if a team plays in a CAYSA Division 2 bracket in their regular season but club passes a player from a Super 2 bracket that team will be automatically placed in the highest bracket in their age group. 

Coaches/Rosters/Size of Teams 

Each team’s final roster signed by their association registrar (including guest players written in on the bottom) must be submitted online and will be verified prior to the first game played.  Coaches should have a copy available at each game.  A max of 3 coaches and 1 manager will be allowed on the roster and on the sideline. A guess coach not listed on the roster may be used if approved by the tournament director and only in the event of a team/coaching conflict or other conflict outside of ejection from a game. If the coach listed on the roster is removed from the game by the referee either the manager becomes the coach or the game is forfeit and completed at that point. 

• Maximum roster size for 7v7 is twelve (12) players. Each team is allowed Three(3) guest players. 

• Maximum roster size for 9v9 is sixteen (16) players. Each team is allowed Three (3) guest players.

• Maximum roster size for 11v11 is twenty (20) players.  Each team is allowed Four (4) guest players.

Age Brackets/Competitive Levels/Number of Games 

• U9 to U10  will play 7 versus 7 format 

• U11 to 12 will play 9 versus 9 format 

• U13 and up will play 11 versus 11 format

Game times maybe adjusted depending on tournament conditions. 

Single age brackets and formats will be formed if the number of accepted applicants supports this grouping. 

If it is not possible to group teams into individual age brackets, age groups may be combined. 

We will offer at least two competitive levels for each age group if the number of teams supports this grouping. Teams will be asked to choose their competitive level based on their Fall season record, the experience level of their players and the ages of the players on their teams. Bracket assignment is ultimately the decision of the tournament director. 

Each team is guaranteed to play at least three (3) games. Depending on the number of teams in the age group bracket, only the top scoring teams will advance to the finals. 

Game Scheduling 

All teams must be prepared to play at 8 am Saturday morning.

Game Formats 

Teams will play round robin games on Saturday and Sunday. Depending on bracket sizes, some brackets may have quarter-final games on Saturday or Sunday. All games will utilize a three referee system with offside calls.  Round Robin & Quarter Final games:

• U9 - U10 - 20 min halves with no overtime for tie-breaking. 

• U11/12 - 25 min halves with no overtime for tie-breaking.

• U13/14 -  30 min halves with no overtime for tie-breaking.

• U15+ - 35 min halves with no overtime for tie-breaking.

All Semifinal and Finals games will be full length games:

• U9/10 - 25 min halves

• U11/U12 - 30 min halves

• U13/14 - 35 min halves

• U15+ - 40 min halves

 In the event of a tie at the end of Semi-final or Finals:

• • No overtime periods will occur

  • Teams will go directly to FIFA Penalty Kick Shoot-Outs - 5 kickers. No overtime periods will occur

Advancement 

• 4 and 5 team flights will play round robin. Top 2 teams based on points will receive 1st and 2nd place.

• 6 team flights will be divided into two brackets of 3 teams and will play round robin (2 games). The two teams that finish in the third place in each bracket will play a consolation game against the team in the other bracket. The other two teams will play in a semi-final game to determine who will play in the final game. A1 v B2 and B1 v A2. 

• 7 team flights will play 2 prelim games at random.  The top 4 teams in tourney points after 2 games will play in a semifinal and final match to determine the champion.  The bottom 3 teams in points will play in a 3 team round robin consolation bracket to determine a consolation winner.

Scoring  

The 10 Point Scoring System will be used as follows: 

• Win – 6 points 

• Tie – 3 points 

• Loss – 0 points 

• Goals Scored (max  3) – 1 point each 

• Shut Out – 1 point (0-0 tie awards 1 point to each team) 

• Any team that suffers a forfeit within their bracket will be awarded 8 points.

Tie Breakers

Tie Breakers will be determined as follows: 

1. Head-to-Head. 

2. Team with most wins.

3. Goal difference (total goals for minus total goals against; 5 goals per match limit). 

4. Goals for (6 per match limit). 

5. Number of shutouts.

6. Fair Play Rules (team with least number of red cards, then team with least number of yellow cards advances)

7. If the same number of cards were issued to both teams then a coin-flip will decide the winner.

Player Substitutions 

• Prior to your throw-in; Or on the throw-in for the opposing team if they are subbing also 

• Prior to goal kick by either team 

• After a goal, by either team 

• At half-time 

• After an injury, by either team when the referee stops play 

• At refs discretion based on field conditions and stoppage of play

Equipment 

• All players must wear numbered jerseys. Each team must have an alternative color jersey for each player in case of color conflict. The first team listed on the schedule is the home team and must change jerseys, if deemed necessary by the referee. Home teams should wear dark jerseys and visitors should wear light/white jerseys. Jersey numbers can be temporary numbers. (Multiple jersey numbers are allowed.) 

• Shin protection: All players must have adequate shin protection. No player will be allowed to participate without proper equipment. 

• Sliding shorts/bicycle pants: no sliding shorts or bicycle pants will be allowed to extend below the uniform shorts unless the shorts or pants are the same color as the uniform shorts. This is in accordance with FIFA rules. The center referee shall have final authority as to what is a proper uniform. 

• Game balls: The home and visitors team shall each provide a suitable game ball.

• Casts: No casts, hard or soft, padded or not are allowed. 

• Jewelry: No jewelry (including earrings) are allowed except for medical alert bracelets, etc 

Penalty Cards 

A player receiving a red card will be ejected from the game and prohibited from participating in the next game. A second red card to the same player results in that player being expelled from the tournament. A player accumulating three (3) yellow cards in the course of the tournament will be suspended for the next scheduled game. 

Reporting Misconduct 

Referees are required to report all disciplinary actions taken before, during or after a game on an official game report, and to separately report all cases of serious misconduct to tournament headquarters immediately following the game in which the serious misconduct occurred. All yellow and red cards are reported to STYSA on the official Post Tournament Report immediately following the tournament. All referee decisions are final. No protests are allowed. The Tournament Director will have final jurisdiction over all matters related to the tournament. 

Awards 

First and second place finishers in each age flight will receive individual awards. 

Inclement Weather Procedure 

In case of inclement weather, the Tournament Director will determine if games are to be played or if on-going matches are to be stopped. If any games are cancelled, it is up to the coaches of the teams to check with the Tournament Director for rescheduling information. Games shall be considered complete if one half of the game has elapsed, the score at the stoppage of play will be the final score. If one half has not elapsed and the game is stopped, the game must be rescheduled if it affects the outcome of the tournament and if weather and field availability permit. The Tournament Director shall have the ultimate authority in determining whether or not the fields are playable. Please check the tournament website at soccer.tandcsports.org for information and weather updates. The Tournament Director reserves the right to readjust game length times or to change fields. 

Refunds 

There is a $150 non-refundable admin fee. After the $150 admin fee is deducted, we will refund as follows: 

• If the tournament is cancelled before the first game is played due to weather there will be a 100% refund given (after the $150 admin fee)

• Once the first game in the event is kicked off the refund  is as follows:

  • 0 games played by a team: 100% refund (after the $150 admin fee)

  • 1 game played 50% refund (after the $150 admin fee)

  • 2 games played: no refund 

Teams that fail to load their check-in documents into the online system by 8am Thursday before the event will forfeit their right to a refund in the event of weather cancellation.

Laws of the Game 

FIFA laws shall apply as modified by USYSA and STYSA, except as noted on this document.