A. Check-In

1. Player and Coach Passes and Affiliation:

All players and coaches required to have a valid US Club Soccer ID card laminated with head shot picture. It can be obtained at www.usclubsoccer.org.

2. Check-In

a. 2 copies of each team’s Official US Club Roster are required at check in, at least 1 hour prior to the kick off of the team’s first game for Preliminary and Elimination rounds.  All rosters are frozen at that time. No players may be added after the rosters are frozen. 

At “check-in” for the Preliminary round all teams must provide the following to tournament officials:

 b. Two copies of the team’s Official US Club Master Roster for certification.

c.  Three copies of the PSPL Game Day Roster Sheet per match that a team may playduring the tournament. 

d. US Club Player and Coach ID cards for every member of the team for review.

e.  Current copies of the US Club medical release for all players.

f.  Proof of compliance for concussion and cardiac arrest protocol.

g. At the conclusion of the match, the referee must complete and sign each PSPL Game Day Roster Sheet. The referee must return a copy of each team’s PSPL Game Day Roster sheet to both teams. The referee will keep a copy from each team. These documents shall serve as the Official Score Report. Teams do not exchange US Club Master Rosters and Game Day Roster Sheets prior, during or after each match.

h. “Check in” for the Elimination round is required. Teams need only to have their Game Day Roster Sheets “approved” at least 1 hour prior to kick off. Teams are required to have all the above listed documentation with the team during all games.

3. Tournament Format:

There are two legs – a preliminary round and an elimination round. PSPL teams are seeded for the preliminary round. Teams may be seeded East and West depending on the number of teams and balance of the competition. Teams are seeded for the preliminary rounds based on  Fall Season Final Standings and other competitive criteria that may be applicable. Teams will advance to the Elimination Round based on total points earned in each bracket.

Top teams will advance to Gold, Silver and Bronze division elimination rounds. Due to a possible imbalance in the number of teams in the preliminary rounds, the way teams advance from each preliminary bracket may differ from one division to another. Brackets for the elimination round will be posted on the Cup website link as soon as possible.

Adjustments to Avoid Bracket Conflicts: Wildcard adjustments will need to be made if the wildcard(s) create matchups with a team from the same bracket.

Explanations for advancement to the elimination rounds will be posted prior to the first game of the preliminary round. 

4. Player and Coach Eligibility:

·Laminated and valid US Club Player and Coach cards (with head shot picture) are required for all players and coaches at “pregame and/or tournament check in”. If the individual picture is not on the US Club Soccer ID card or the card is not laminated, the individual will not be eligible to play or coach in the Tournament. Coaches must display their valid US Club Coach ID Card on a lanyard.

·All eligible players must be listed (and valid) on the club’s/team’s US Club Master Roster, which is to be submitted at check-in along with all US Club player and coach/staff cards.

·Players and coaches are eligible to participate in the tournament only if all the proper documentation is present at the time of “check in”.

·The US Club Master Roster is “frozen” at the time of “check in” for the entire tournament.

·Washington Cup US Club maximum roster size is 20 players. A maximum of 18players can be listed on the PSPL Game Day Roster Sheet for each match played in Washington Cup.

·For each PSPL Washington Cup match, teams must present US Club player and Coaching staff cards with the attached and approved PSPL Game Day Roster Sheet to the referees. An exchange of US Club rosters and Game Day Roster Sheets between teams is not required. 

·PSPL/US Club players may only be rostered to one team in Washington Cup competition per "soccer year". Example: if an '05 player is rostered and plays on an “04 team for the '04 Washington Cup he/she is not allowed to be rostered on the ‘05 team for the '05 WA Cup. The choice has to be made to be rostered on one team or the other, but not both. All other Washington Cup/PSPL player eligibility rules apply.

·No “guest players” or “player passing” allowed in WA Cup events.

5. Match Details by Age Group:

Age Group Game Length Half time Game Day Sheet (Max) Playing Format Ball size             11U 60 min 5 min 16 9v9 4 12U 60 min 5 min 16 9v9 4 13U 70 min 5 min 18 11v11 5 14U 70 min 5 min 18 11v11 5

6. Scoring Method:

Points will be awarded, up to a maximum of 10, as follows:

·6 points for a win

·3 point for a draw

·1 point for each goal up to 3 goals scored

·1 point for a shut out

Notes:

·In divisions where teams may be playing an uneven number of matches in first round, their respective point totals may be averaged to “points per match” total. This number will be used to compare teams who have played an unequal number of matches.

·Forfeits will be recorded with a score of 1-0. The PSPL and the Washington Cup tournament committee reserves the right to impose sanctions on teams that forfeit matches. Forfeiting teams may be fined and/or expelled from the tournament and/or imposes other sanctions deemed appropriate by the PSPL and the Washington Cup tournament committee.

In case of a tie in the standings within a group, these rules in order are applied:

1. “Head to head” points between teams
2. “Head to head” Goal Differential between teams
3. Overall Goal Differential (up to 5 per game can be counted)
4. Goals Against
5. Goals For (up to 5 per game)
6. Coin flip unless the tie is to determine advancement to "Gold and "Silver", or "Silver" and "Not advancing". In either of those scenarios, the tournament director will contact the teams involved to schedule Kicks from the Mark tiebreaker prior to the start of the elimination round.
7. If three or more teams are tied after the preliminary round, the tie breaker criteria listed will be used in the order shown, beginning with Criteria #1, to first eliminate, or second, advance one of the three teams. The remaining teams will then be compared, beginning again with criteria #1.

7.  Tie-breaker rule for elimination matches:

If a game ends in a tie at the end of a “play in” match, quarter-final or semi-final match, the teams will proceed directly to “kicks-from-the-mark” where a winner will be decided. In the finals, there will be two 5-minute halves of “golden goal”. The team that scores first during the “golden goal” periods will be deemed the winner. If a match remains tied following the overtime, “kicks-from-the-mark” will decide the winner. Wildcard adjustments will need to be made if the wildcard(s) create matchups with a team from the same bracket. 

8. Substitutions:

Substitutions are at the referee’s discretion. A substitution can take place at any stoppage with the referee’s permission.

Unlimited substitutions are allowed but the PSPL reminds all coaches that it is their responsibility to handle their substitutions in a professional manner so as not to detract from the game.

9. Illegal players:

Any player that does not appear on the US CLUB master roster shall be considered an illegal player. No “guest players” or No “player passing” allowed.

Any team using an illegal player(s) shall forfeit each match the illegal player(s) were used. In addition, the guilty team shall be expulsed from the tournament and could face other sanctions from the PSPL and/or US Club Soccer.

10. Appeals:

Referee judgment decisions are final and may not be appealed. Any other appeal must be verbally lodged with the referee and the opposing coach prior to the end of the match and at Tournament Headquarters. The appeal must then be made in writing to the Tournament Director within 1 hour of the end of the match. The Tournament Director/Committee will review any appeal correctly filed under this rule. There will be a $200 non-refundable fee for any appeal that is filed. All decisions of the Tournament Director/Committee are final.

11. Shortened/Abandoned Matches:

Referees are the sole arbiter of the game clock. Their decisions regarding game length are final and may not be appealed. If a match is  shortened or abandoned for any reason, the Tournament Director reserves the right to determine how the game result shall be determined. Decisions by the Tournament Director in determining the official game result are final and may not be appealed.

12. Match Start Times:

Referees will start the game clock at the designated time regardless of whether teams are ready to play. A referee may add time lost due to injury, but the game must conclude at least five minutes prior to the start of the next match. A five-minute grace period will be allowed for teams that do not have the minimum number of players to start the game.

13. Minimum Number of Players to start and finish a match:

For 11U-12U, a team must have a minimum of 6 players to start and end a match. For 13U and older a minimum of 7 players must start and end the match. If a team does not have the required number of players (after a 5-minute grace period), they will forfeit the match with the other team receiving eight total points.

14. Team Sidelines:

Players and Coaches of both teams must be on one side of the field, spectators on the other side (unless otherwise specified by the field rules. Coaches, players, and spectators are not allowed behind the goal line, or closer to the goal line than the edge of the 18 yard penalty area line. Only those persons with a valid US Club player or coach’s card are allowed on the team’s side of the field.

15. Alternate Color Jersey:

Each team must have an alternate jersey color. The home team (listed first) will be responsible for changing jerseys if there is a color conflict.

16. Official’s Report and Score Reporting:

Coaches should verify with the referee at the game’s conclusion that their score matches his report. All match results in the first rounds will be reported by the winning team’s manager using the mobile “Got Soccer” Score Reporting system. Referees also will submit match results to tournament headquarters, or a field marshal, immediately following each match. In the event of a conflict, the referee report shall be deemed the official score for the match.

17. Cautions and Ejections:

Any player receiving two yellow cards in a single match will be shown the red card and sent off and may not be replaced. Any player that receives a red card in a match will receive at least a one-match suspension (the next match). The tournament director may apply a greater suspension. Cautions and ejections received in the Washington Cup apply to Washington Cup only. Any PSPL cautions and/or Red cards received  during League play will carry over to the Washington Cup tournament.

Any coach or team official that is ejected by the referee for unreasonable behavior from a match must immediately leave the match site so as not to be within sight or sound of the field and will serve a minimum of a one match suspension, which may be increased depending on the nature of the ejection. In the event the coach or team official refuses to leave, the referee shall abandon the match and report to the Tournament Director who will rule the match a forfeit by the offending team.

18. Player’s Equipment:

No equipment shall be worn that is dangerous to another player, including any cast constructed of hardened material, without approval from the Tournament Director and/or the lead match official. Shin guards, covered by socks, are mandatory. All casts and equipment are subject to approval by the match referee and/or Tournament Director.

The home team is responsible for supplying match balls for the preliminary rounds, the quarter final and semi-final matches of the championship round. The tournament will provide match balls for the finals.

19. Inclement Weather:

In any event that play cannot be started or is stopped due to weather, teams will take cover, but will remain at the match site and proceed as follows:

If time allows, resume play and play to completion.

If there is insufficient time to play the entire match, the match will be continued until the half is completed. The match will then be considered complete.

The Tournament Director and/or the Head Match referee will coordinate any stoppage of play. The Tournament Director reserves the right to make whatever adjustments deemed necessary to proceed with the tournament schedule following delays due to inclement weather.

20. Other:

Trainers may or may not be provided at any of the tournament locations. Teams are encouraged to bring first aid equipment as the tournament may or may not provide those items. Emergency services (911) are to be called for all injuries, both on and off the field.

Rules governing game venues are posted at the various locations. All teams, coaches and spectators are expected to follow all posted venue rules. In addition, alcohol and swearing are not permitted at any location. Violators of these rules will be asked to leave the venue.

21. Code of Conduct:

Do not tarnish the game of soccer, the PSPL, US Club Soccer, USSF, your club, your Team, yourself or your family. Behave reasonably, respectfully and ethically.

22. In the event Washington Cup rules may be deemed insufficient, PSPL league rules will apply.