Rules
RULES

 2017 Rules

A reminder to all teams, parents, and spectators - (1) NO HiPods allowed at the ANY Complex, and (2) only service animals are allowed at the facility, please leave your pets at home.

TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS

Tournament Headquarters will be located at Striker Park; 4801 Pouncey Tract Rd., Glen Allen, VA  23059; Tournament Director:  Steve D’Adamo; 804-288-4625

 

Team Check-in for the 2017 Capital Fall Classic will be via online check-in only.

Click here for Check-in information...

 

Team Check-in/Registration Requirements

  • Original 2017/2018 Player Passes; either USYS State Association or US Club Soccer passes
  • Two Copies of Official Roster
  • Guest Players identified:  Written on front or back of COPIES of Rosters
  • Player Passes for Guest Player
  • Individual Player Medical Release Forms
  • Approved Permission to Travel forms must be received for all teams traveling from outside the state of Virginia excepted as indicated below:

The Capital Fall Classic is Dual Sanctioned for 2017

  • For US Club Soccer teams the tournament is sanctioned by US Club Soccer under the Open Cup format and a USYSA Sanctioned Tournament. This allows competitive teams from both US Club Soccer and any other USSF affiliated members (state associations, etc) to compete in this event. The US Club Soccer teams DO NOT have to have a US Youth Soccer Application to Travel Form, but must bring their proper roster, plus 2 copies for the tournament and player pass cards.
  • For USYSA Registered Teams:  Teams must have the proper USYSA state rosters, plus two copies for the tournament, permission to travel forms, player pass cards and medical release forms for each player at registration.

Note for Region I teams:
Region 1 Policy Regarding Application To Host A Tournament

Region I has established the following policy concerning permission to travel when attending USYS sanctioned tournaments in Region I.  The purpose of this policy is to make it as simple as possible for the US Youth Soccer Region I teams to travel to tournaments within Region

 

The new policy states that any USYS State Association teams within Region I that is accepted into a tournament in Region I do not need permission to travel papers.

The list of invited National States Associations in Region I. They are the following:  Connecticut Jr Soccer Assn, Delaware Youth Soccer Assn, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Assn, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Assn, Soccer Maine, Maryland Youth Soccer Assn, Massachusetts Youth Soccer Assn, New Hampshire Soccer Assn, New Jersey Youth Soccer Assn, New York State West Youth Soccer Assn, Pennsylvania West State Soccer Assn, Soccer Rhode Island, Vermont Soccer Assn, Virginia Youth Soccer Assn, West Virginia Soccer Assn

No player may play for more than one team during the tournament.


Roster Sizes:

  • 2009 and 2008 (U9-U10) 7v7 teams are limited to 12 players identified at Registration.
  • 2007-2006 (U11-U12) 9v9 teams are limited to 16 players identified at Registration
  • 2005 & 2004 Teams are limited to 18 players identified at Registration
  • 2003 to 1999 Teams can have 22 players on their rosters turned in at Registration; however teams must identify 18 players before each game with the referees.  Only 18 players in each game are allowed to play.

Five guest players per team will be permitted for all age groups.

A.    Ball Size:             Size 5   11v11
                                    Size 4   9v9 & 7v7

B.    Game Duration:  
                              80 min. 2002 to 1999                 Halftime - 5 min

                              70 min. 2005 to 2003                 Halftime - 5 min

                              60 min, 2007 & 2006                  Halftime - 5 min

                              50 min. 2009 & 2008                  Halftime - 5 min

C.    Substitutions:

Substitutions shall be unlimited, but made only at the following times:

a) Goal kick, after a goal, half time, at the beginning of an overtime period, throw in – by team in possession, after a yellow card – for carded player

b) An injured player may be substituted for at the discretion of the referee. If a substitution is made for the injured player, the opposing team may also make one substitution (with the referee’s acknowledgement).

Under no circumstances may substitutions be made (1) on corner kicks or (2) after the game has ended in a tie and FIFA penalty kicks will be required to determine a winner

All substitutes shall inform the assistant referee on their side of the field that they wish to enter the game prior to the time they are entitled to enter the game as a substitute. The assistant referee will signal the referee that substitutes wish to enter the game at the first opportunity that the substitute is allowed to enter the game. The substitutes must wait until the referee signals that it is okay for them to enter the field.

D.  Home Team
Team listed first is the designated Home Team and must change jerseys when the referee determines a conflict to exist.

E.  Forfeits:

Teams not at the field ready to play with a minimum of 7 eligible players at the scheduled game time will forfeit the match at the discretion of the tournament director.  Forfeited scores will be counted 5 – 0.  Teams forfeiting games will not be able to advance to the playoff rounds.

F.   7/9-a-side:

Three referee system will be utilized if at all possible. Offsides will be called regardless.

G.   Inclement Weather:

The Tournament Rules Committee reserves the right to make the following changes in the event of inclement weather:
* Relocate and/or reschedule a match.
* Change a division structure.
* Reduce scheduled duration of a match
* Cancel a match.

In the event of inclement weather forcing play to be halted and preventing the match from completing during the scheduled time, the score shall stand if at least one-half of the match has been completed.  The tournament director will have the final decision on field closure.

H.   Player’s Equipment:

All players must wear shinguards. No Jewelry of any kind will be allowed. Casts, splints or body braces made of a hard substance in its final form such as leather, rubber, plastic, plaster or fiberglass must be covered on all exterior surfaces with no less than ½ inch thick, high density polyurethane, or an alternate material of the same thickness and similar physical properties to protect the injury. A medical release for the injured player signed by a licensed physician must be available at the game site.  Players may not play with these casts without the approval of the Referee. 

HEADING RULE AT AGE GROUP DIVISIONS U11 (2006) AND YOUNGER

Whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped. The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the ball with his or her head. If deliberate, the proper restart is an indirect free kick to the opposing team. If this occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If the play by the head is deemed in advertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.

     I.        Rules for Advancement: DETERMINING WINNERS:
Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:
Six (6) points for each Win
Three (3) points for each Tie
Zero (0) points for each Loss
One (1) point for each goal scored up to a maximum of three (3) per game.  Points for losing team also.
One (1) point for each shutout

Examples:
A 0-0 tie will be scored as 4 points for each team (3 for tie, 1 for shutout)
A 4-2 game will be scored as 9 points for the winning team (6 for win, 3 for goals) and 2 points to the losing team (2 for goals).

In the event of a tie in points at the end of bracket play; the winner for advancement to Semi-Final or Finals will be determined as follows:

                   1.        The winner in head to head competition. (If there is a 3 team tie, proceed to the next tie breaker)

                   2.        Goal differential, max of +/-3 per game (Team wins 4-0, only gets 3 points, losing team gets -3)

                   3.        Goals For (max 5 goals per game)

                   4.        Goals Against (max 5 goals per game)

                   5.        Shoot-Outs*

When the tiebreaker system is used, the criteria are followed from 1 through 4 until one team is eliminated and then the criteria starts over again at Rule #1.  Rules are repeated until one team remains.

*All Shoot-Outs for 1st in Divisional play will be at 7:30am Sunday morning at a field location determined by the tournament director.  Ties between 2nd and 3rd in division play leading to both teams playing consolation games will be decided by the above criteria; except for #5 Shoot-Outs.  These ties will be decided by the discretion of the Tournament Director.

J.   Resolving Ties in Semi-Final and Final Match:

If the semi-final or finals match is tied at the end of regulation time, the teams will be given a five minute rest. The following will decide the match:

  • Overtime will be 2 - five minute periods with substitutions allowed.  Overtime will not be sudden death.  Ejections will reduce the number of players on the field as normal
  • If teams remain even at the end of overtime the game will be decided by the FIFA, Kicks from the Penalty Spot Procedure as outlined in the Laws of the Game; using only the players remaining on the field at the end of overtime.

K.  Placement of Division:

Division of 12:   3 Groups of 4 teams.  Teams will play 3 group games two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Winners of each group and one wild card (highest placing 2nd place team) will advance to the Semi-Finals.  Winners of the Semi-Finals will advance to a Final. 

Division of 10:   2 Groups of 3 and 1 group of 4.  Group with 4 plays round robin with two games Saturday and one game Sunday; winner of the group advances to the Final.  Groups of 3 will play two group games Saturday.  Sunday 1st in each of the 3 team groups will play a semi-final leading to the final.  The remaining teams in these groups with play consolation games 2nd vs 2nd and 3rd vs 3rd.     

Division of 8:    Each team will play 3 games within a 4-team group.  The group winners will play for the championship.

Division of 7:    All 7 teams will be placed in Group A.  Teams have been randomly seeded and each team will play 2 games each on Saturday.  After all games on Saturday are played all 7 teams will be seeded 1st through 7th based on the standard tournament scoring and tie-breaking procedures.  The #1 team will receive a bye into the semi-finals.  The remaining seeds (#2 thru #7) will play quarterfinal games with the winners advancing to the semi-finals.  The losing teams will be eliminated from the tournament.  Semi-Final winners advance to a Final.

Division of 6:    Each team will play two games within a three-team group. The first and second place team in each group will play in a semi-final match.  The third place teams will play a consolation game.  The semi-final winners will play for the division championship.

Division of 5:    Each team will play a four game round robin schedule.  The champion will be the top finishing team by points.  No Final will be played in 5 Team Divisions

Division of 4:    Each team will play a three game round robin schedule.  The first and second place teams will play for the division championship.

 

L. Protest:

There will be no protests.  All officiating decisions are final.

M.   Sideline Behavior:

Both teams will sit on the same side of the field.  Only coaches and trainers may stay on the player’s sideline.  Spectators are only allowed on the opposite side of the field from the coaches and players and are limited to being in the designated area from penalty box to penalty box.  No spectators are allowed behind the goal areas.

Harassment of the officials from coaches, spectators or players will not be tolerated.

N.  Send-offs:

If a player receives a red card or two yellow cards during a match, that player will sit out the rest of that match and also their next match.  Players serving Red card suspensions are allowed to sit on the bench during their teams next game but are not allowed to be in uniform.  A coach or other authorized bench personnel sent off during a match must leave the field immediately upon being sent off, and must remain away from the field during the team’s next match.

O.    NO alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park or the parking lot of any of the game sites. Your team will be subject to forfeiting 1 game.

P.    Game Balls:  All game balls will be provided by tournament.  Only balls provided by the tournament can be used.

Q.    The tournament will be played in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game except as modified by these rules.

R.    Tournament Cancellation:
If the tournament is cancelled for any reason before the tournament begins and before any matches are played, teams are guaranteed a refund of an amount to be determined by the Executive Committee of the Richmond Strikers once all invoices are paid and final budgets are approved.
 

S.    Hotel Services:
To insure the quality of service provided at the 2017 Capital Fall Classic, the Richmond Strikers Soccer Club has appointed Anthony Travel as our new official Hospitality Service of the tournament. All teams are mandated to book any hotel reservations through Anthony Travel to insure their place in the 2017 Capital Fall Classic. Any teams that do not comply will be at risk of forfeiting their acceptance.

Local Richmond teams or teams “commuting” to Richmond for the weekend do not have to stay in hotels but must contact either Anthony Sports or the tournament director indicating their intentions to do so.

Please soccer@anthonytravel.com to e-mail Anthony Travel sports travel expert or call (800) 736-6377

      By using Anthony Travel as our booking service the Richmond Strikers and the Capital Fall Classic can offer our "Act of God" Clause.  This states "Should this event be cancelled for reasons beyond the Event Organizer's control (including weather), all outstanding reservations will be released at no charge to the participants"

 

T.    Team Withdrawal:
All Entry Fees must be postmarked by September 15, 2016 to guarantee consideration. All late applications will be put on a wait list for review. Upon acceptance, the fee is non-refundable. If your team is accepted and later withdraws, the entry fee is non-refundable and sanctions will be placed against your team/club for future participation in Richmond Striker events.

A reminder to all teams, parents, and spectators - (1) NO HiPods allowed at the ANY Complex, and (2) only service animals are allowed at the facility, please leave your pets at home.

HEADING RULE AT AGE GROUP DIVISIONS U11 AND YOUNGER

Whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped. The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the ball with his or her head. If deliberate, the proper restart is an indirect free kick to the opposing team. If this occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If the play by the head is deemed in advertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.

BUILD OUT LINES AT AGE GROUP DIVISIONS U10 AND YOUNGER

Build out lines will be established for U10 age groups and younger.  Build out lines promote playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting.  When the goalkeeper has the ball, either during play (from the opponent) or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play.  Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into pay (punting is snot allowed).  After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal.  The ball is considered “in play” when the goalkeeper’s intended recipient has received the ball.  Not the moment that the goalkeeper releases the ball. 

If a goalkeeper punts the ball, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from the spot of offense.  If the punt occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.

The build out line will also be used to denote where the offside offenses can be called.  Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build out line.  Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the build out line and the goal line.