2022 WPL Player's Cup Rules
copa cup rules
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.
1A. Washington Player's Cup Supplemental Rules
a. Teams playing in the Washington Player's Cup must follow Washington Cup rules except where noted in this supplemental Player's Cup rules addendum.
b. The Player's Cup supplemental rules supersede Washington Cup rules.
c. The Player's Cup is a select level regional tournament open to Bronze, Classic, Copa and Rec-Select teams. Top Classic 1, WNPL, WSPL, RCL 1&2 teams are not eligible for this tournament unless team receives written permission from the tournament committee.
d. Clubs may utilize the US Club “Player Pass” to include other players from their club. WNPL, WSPL, RCL 1 and RCL 2 players are not eligible for this tournament. Only Classic 1 players and lower are eligible to be included on the Player's Cup roster.
e. Up to four new players can be included on the roster. All four of those players can come from a team’s club utilizing the “player pass,” or it can be a newly registered player who shows up on the team’s Master Roster.
f. No guest players are allowed. A guest player is a player borrowed from another club and is not registered to the club and to the team playing in the Player's Cup.
g. The tournament is open and accepts player cards and official rosters from other youth organizations. Non US Club Soccer organizations would be required to provide the equivalent documentation as spelled out below in Sec. 2 “Check-In” and in Sec. 4 “Player and Coach Eligibility.”
2. Tournament Check in and Match Day Procedures
A. Players, coaches, and managers must be registered according to US Club rules.
B. There will be no traditional tournament check in prior to the start of the tournament. Teams must finalize the official US Club Roster (Or other youth soccer sanctioned affiliations) by the Wednesday prior to the start of the tournament. Changes may be made to the Match Day Roster prior to each match, The US Club Official Rosters are frozen on the Wednesday prior to the start of the tournament.
C. All players and coaches must present their valid US Club Player (Or other youth soccer sanctioned affiliations) and or Coach Identification Card to the Referee prior to the match. The individual’s picture must be on the ID card.
D. Staff and/or players will not be eligible for the match if the US Club ID card is not valid. No exceptions.
Players must be printed on the US Club Official Roster (Or other youth soccer sanctioned affiliations) and Match Day Roster with correct jersey numbers listed. If for any reason jersey numbers are incorrect, the team manager/coach must inform the Center Referee and the other team prior to the start of the match along to get approval from the Center Referee. Failure to do so will result in a minimum $100 fine assessed to the offending Club and /or forfeiture of the match. Handwritten players are not allowed on the US Club Official Roster. The Match Day Roster can only be adjusted for jersey numbers and players listed but not present for the match with approval of the Center Referee.
E. Teams must exchange Match Day Rosters prior to each match. Players must be listed and valid on both rosters to participate in the match.
F. If a team is not able to provide a valid Match Day Roster for the opposing team prior to the start of the match, it must be reported to the Tournament Tent immediately..
G. Any player that does not appear on the US Club Official Roster (Or other youth soccer sanctioned affiliations) and/or Match Day Roster shall be considered an illegal player. Any team using an illegal player shall forfeit any matches in which the illegal player participated. Any team found using illegal players will be expelled from the tournament. No “Club Passing” allowed.
H. Current copies of the US Club medical release for all players.
I. Proof of compliance for concussion and cardiac arrest protocol must be emailed to tournament office (tournament@wpl-soccer.com) before the Thursday prior to the tournament .
3. Tournament Format :
The tournament is a round-robin format. Teams play three first-round matches and advance to knockout round based on highest point totals. Semi-finals and final championship rounds will be determined by the number of teams in each bracket. Teams are guaranteed three games.
Explanations for advancement to the elimination rounds will be posted prior to the first game of the tournament.
4. Player and Coach Eligibility:
· Laminated and valid US Club Player (Or other youth soccer sanctioned affiliations) 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 (Or other youth soccer sanctioned affiliations) on a lanyard.
· All eligible players must be listed (and valid) on the club’s/team’s US Club Master Roster (Or other youth soccer sanctioned affiliations) , 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.
·Player's Cup maximum roster size is 18 players. A maximum of 18 players can be listed on the WPL Game Day Roster Sheet for each match played in the Player's Cup.
· For each WPL Player's Cup match, teams must present US Club player and Coaching staff cards with the attached and approved WPL Game Day Roster Sheet to the referees. An exchange of US Club rosters (Or other youth soccer sanctioned affiliations) and Game Day Roster Sheets between teams is not required.
· WPL/US Club players may only be rostered to one team in the Player's Cup competition per "soccer year". All other Washington Cup/WPL player eligibility rules apply.
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5. Match Details by Age Group:
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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 WPL 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 WPL and the Washington Cup tournament committee.
In case of a tie in the standings within a group, these rules in order are applied:
a. “Head to head” points between teams
b. “Head to head” Goal Differential between teams
c. Overall Goal Differential (up to 5 per game can be counted)
d. Goals Against
e. Goals For (up to 5 per game)
f. 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.
g. 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.
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. 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 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 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 WPL 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 WPL, 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, WPL league rules will apply.
