Washington Cup Procedures & Rules (Girls HS Spring 2024)

1. Tournament Format:

· This is a single-elimination tournament. Games start on Friday. All teams must be prepared to play on Friday, as early as 3:00pm. Teams are seeded according to League standings as of 4/7/24. Teams must report all scores of League matches played by 6pm on 4/6. Matches not scored by the deadline will not be included in the standings. Each team will be guaranteed two matches.

· Teams losing their first match will play in a Consolation Match that may determine the "Consolation Final" Champion or the winner may advance to the Consolation Championship Match.

· All finals are played on Sunday. Consolation Championship Matches may be played on Saturday.

2. WA Cup Roster & Eligibility Information:

• All players and coaches must have valid US Club ID Cards and create rosters in the GotSport system. 

• Rosters for the WA Cup will be pulled from the Washington Premier League/US Club Pass cards and Rosters event.  Rosters must be updated in that Event. For Clubs that are not affiliated with the WPL please use the US Club Pass cards and Rosters Event. 

• No club pass players are allowed. All players must be listed as a primary player for the team. 

• Players can only play for one team in the Washington Cup at all ages in the current soccer year (June to May).  

• Players are ONLY allowed to play in ONE Washington Cup per soccer year (June to May). 

•  Rosters will be frozen for All Divisions on Tuesday, April 30, at 11:59 PM.   

Note to Registrars: Any changes made to the Official US Club roster in the Washington Premier League Pass cards and Rosters Event or in US Club pass cards and Rosters Event,  after the freeze date will not be reflected on the Washington Cup Roster.   

• Any roster issues please email mea@wpl-soccer.com 

• Match Day Rosters must be accurate. Please doublecheck all the information. Up to 26 players can be listed on the US Club Roster. Only 18 can be listed on the Match Day rosters. 

• Every Match Day Roster must have the following:  

• All players must be printed on the team’s Official US Club Roster and the Match Day Roster. No handwritten players allowed unless approved by the WA Cup Tournament Committee prior to the match. 
• All jersey numbers must be listed for all players – the referee is allowed to update a jersey number on the Match Day Roster, if needed. Duplicate jersey numbers are not allowed for WA Cup. No exceptions! Players must each have a unique jersey number. 
• The Primary coach for the team must be listed on the Match Day Roster.  

•  A limit of 4 Club staff is allowed on the team bench side of the field. Each staff member MUST have a valid US Club ID card with them, preferably on a lanyard around their neck. Virtual Cards are allowed.  NO CARD, NO COACH.        

• Only rostered players are allowed on the team side of the field. Those not listed on the Match Day Roster (but listed on the US Club Roster) may be in the technical area as long as they are "not suited up to play" and have their US Club ID card present. 

•  All Players must have a valid US Club ID card, both physical and/or virtual cards will be accepted. NO CARD, NO PLAY. 

3.  Match Day Procedures:

A. Teams must have in possession the following for each Match played 

· Three copies of the team’s WPL/WA Cup Match Day Roster 

· Two copies of the team’s Official US Club Master Roster  

· Valid US Club ID cards (with a current head shot photo) and laminated for all listed players on WPL/WA Cup Match Day Roster 

· Valid US Club ID Card for all coaches/staff with current photo and laminated (must be on their person at all times). Preferably on a lanyard. 

· Physical copies of all the medical releases for each rostered player, signed by their parent/guardian 

· Proof that all parents, players, coaches, and staff have completed the Concussion Compliance and Cardiac Arrest Protocol. 

B. Teams must present the following to the referee for the pre-match check in 

· 2 copies of their printed WPL/WA Cup Match Day Roster  

· If the WPL/WA Cup Match Day Roster has handwritten changes, there must be a notation from the tournament staff of approval. In the event of jersey # change, the center referee can approve handwritten  jersey # changes by initialing his/her approval next to the change 

· Valid US Club ID player and Coach ID cards for all players, coaches, and team staff (a maximum of 4 coaches/staff members may be on the sidelines for each match). No valid card, no play. No valid card, no coach or access to the team technical area. 

C. Teams must present the following to the opposing team (prior to the match starting) 

• A copy of your WPL/WA Cup Match Day Roster. 

• If any handwritten changes were made to the WPL/WA Cup Match Day Roster, see Section B above. The center referee may only approve jersey # changes by initialing next to the jersey # change and crossing off any player that will not be playing. A staff member from the opposing team must also acknowledge, by initialing next to the handwritten adjustment  

• US Club Official Roster, if requested by the opposing team 

D. Post-Game 

• Immediately after the match, both teams must report the score by logging into GotSport                                            

                        Pin Number: 7775 

                        Game number: found on the schedule          

4.   Match Lengths for G15U and Above: 

· All WA Cup matches are 80 minutes in length, or two 40-minute halves with a five-minute halftime 

5.  Scoring Method :

Teams playing in quarterfinal final or semifinal matches either win and advance in the winner’s bracket or if a team loses, the team moves to a placing match or has no games left to play. 

6.   Forfeits: 

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

7.  Tie-breaker rule for elimination matches: 

· Any match (with the exception of a finals match) that ends in a tie at the end of regulation 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 will be deemed the winner. If a match remains tied following the overtime periods, kicks-from-the-mark will decide the winner. 

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 WPL 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. “Guest players” and “Club Passing” are not allowed. 

· Any team using an illegal player(s) shall forfeit each match the illegal player(s) were rostered or played in. In addition, the guilty team shall be removed from the tournament and could face other sanctions from the WPL 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 on site. The appeal must then be made in writing to the Tournament Director within two hours of the end of the match. The Tournament Director will review any appeal correctly filed under this rule. There will be a $250 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 match clock. Their decisions regarding match length are final and may not be appealed. If matches are shortened or abandoned for any reason, the Tournament Director/Committee reserves the right to determine how the match result shall be determined. Decisions by the Tournament Director/Committee in determining the official match result are final and may not be appealed. 

12.  Match Start Times: 

· Referees will start the match clock at the designated time regardless of whether teams are ready to play. A referee may add time lost due to injury, but the match must conclude at least 15 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 match. 

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

· For 15U 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 the 5-minute grace period), they will forfeit the match with the other team receiving the win. 

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 line area. Only those people with a valid US Club Player or Coach’s ID card are allowed on the team’s side of the field. Coaches and Club Staff must have their US Club ID on their person (preferably on a lanyard around their neck) to be on the Team sideline during the match. A maximum of 4 Club staff/Coaches are allowed on the team sideline. 

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.  Cautions and Ejections: 

· Any player receiving two yellow cards in a single match will be shown the red card (Red Card rules apply) 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/Committee may apply a greater suspension, if warranted. Cautions and ejections received in the Washington Cup will only apply to Washington Cup.  Any WPL cautions and/or Red cards received during the 2022 Fall WPL season 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 suspend the match and report to the Tournament Director/Committee who may rule the match a forfeit by the offending team. 

17.  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/Committee 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/Committee. 

 The home team is responsible for supplying 3 match quality balls for the match. 

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

19. Other: 

· Trainers may or may not be provided at any of the tournament match 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 match venues are posted at 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. 

20. Code of Conduct: 

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

21. In the event Washington Cup Rules may be deemed insufficient, WPL  Rules  will apply.