Fall Classic 2006

Registration Links will be posted by 22-September.

Classification and Age Divisions:
The T&C Fall Classic is sponsored by the Town & Country Soccer Association.  The tournament is for recreational and competitive teams registered with US Club Soccer or any other USSF-affiliated organization, e.g. CAYSA/STYSA/USYSA.  The tournament is sanctioned by United States Club Soccer and is open to boys & girls teams from U-7 through U-18. This is an Open tournament and unrestricted in the competitive levels of the teams that can be entered, it is the intention of the competition committee to bracket the registered teams to ensure that there are fair and balanced competitions.  Single, age pure, brackets will be formed if applications support that age grouping. Unless otherwise amended below, the current Laws of the Game (as published by USSF) will apply to this competition.  The competition committee through the tournament director reserves the right to modify the rules in order to affect fair play imposed by circumstances not foreseen by the committee.

Team Registration and Check-in:
Fall Classic registration must be completed through the online system at Austin Fall Classic Homepage (pending).  Team registration fees, game times, format and other information are broken into the following categories by age group:

*Age bracket is Open and Unrestricted, Competitive DII, SII, Tournament and Travel teams will be considered as well as Recreational.

All players must be registered with a USSF member organization and to a team rostered by that organization as evidenced by providing an official roster signed by their local association or club registrar.  All teams U9 and older must have approved Player Pass ID cards from an USSF-affiliated member Organization for each of the players including guest players. Teams or players will not be allowed to participate without approved paperwork. Coaches must bring the approved paperwork to check-in for validation. Validated rosters will be required prior to participating in any match.  Review the application to host document for answers to questions that may not be evident on this rules page.

Game Information:
All teams will be guaranteed to play at least three games. In round robin play, ties at the end of regulation time will stand. For quarter-final and semi-final games, ties at the end of regulation time will be broken by “Golden Goal” overtime periods and if still tied at the end of overtime periods then by the taking of FIFA penalty kicks. For championship games, ties at the end of regulation time will be followed by “Silver Goal” overtime periods as defined below and then followed by FIFA penalty kicks.

In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director has the authority to restructure or cancel the tournament. In the event the tournament is canceled, partial refunds may be given after recovery of costs associated with running the tournament are recovered. Every effort will be made to complete the tournament.

Teams must be at the scheduled game field and ready for inspection by the referee at least 15 minutes before the scheduled game time. Each team must be ready to play at the scheduled time or immediately after the conclusion of the previous game as determined by the referee, or the team is subject to forfeiting the match. Each team must be prepared to present a game ball of appropriate size, weight, and pressure to the referee before the start of the game for his/her selection.  All games will have a 5 minute half time period.

Player Substitutions:
Players may be substituted with the consent of the match referee at the following times:

No player shall enter or leave the field of play without the consent of the referee.

Playing Conditions:
The Home Team is listed first or on top in the schedule. The Home Team chooses the goal to attack and Visitors Team kicks off. In case of inclement weather, the Tournament Director and/or Site Coordinator will determine if a game is to be played. Once the game has started, the decision rests with the referee. If any games are canceled, 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 will be rescheduled if it could affect the outcome of the tournament and if conditions permit as determined by the Tournament Director.

Uniforms:
As a convenience to both teams, it is recommended that the home team wears their "colored" uniform and the visitors wear white. Should there be a conflict in uniform colors, the home team will be required to change uniforms. Each player's uniform should have an easily identifiable number. Teams without two sets of uniforms will be allowed to use “pennies” to provide a unique identification.

Team and Player Credential Check:
Each team must be able to present its validated roster and player cards to either a Tournament Official or the Referee team before the start of each match, if requested. A player may play for only one team in the tournament, and must be listed on the approved roster. If a player plays in a game and is not properly registered, the team will automatically forfeit that game and may face further penalties as determined by the Tournament Director and/or Home Association. The wearing of hard casts, whether padded or not, will not be permitted at any time.

Team Standings and Tie Breakers:
Team standings for ages U9 and older will be based on the following scoring system:

Each team's total points from all first-round games will determine the placement of teams in each bracket, with the team earning the highest total points being the bracket winner. In the event, a team forfeits a match, all points from tournament games involving that team will be dropped from the calculation of final standings.

Ties in the standings will be resolved in the following order:

Tournament officials will be responsible for collecting the match results, but each coach is responsible for verifying the posted scores prior to the team's next game.

Wild Card Selection & Advancement Pairings
For brackets with wild cards, wild cards will be selected from the second place teams who have accumulated the most points. Ties on points will be broken in accordance with the rules listed below. Where possible advancement pairings will be made to avoid any duplication of preliminary games. Once the wild card team(s) has been determined then the group of advancing teams will be paired as follows:

Awards:
First and second place teams in each age group and competition level will receive a trophy. Trophies will be presented immediately after the final game.

Team and Spectator Discipline:
An ejected player is ineligible for their next scheduled game. An ejected coach or trainer is ineligible for the next scheduled game, regardless of team. A second red card to the same individual results in that person being expelled from the tournament. Any ejected player, coach or trainer must report to the complex tent or leave the complex. Violation could result in further game suspensions.

In addition, any player or coach receiving a second caution in the tournament will be ineligible to participate in the next scheduled game. All red cards will be reported to your State Association. The coach is responsible for the actions of verbal and physical abuse of referees by his/her spectators. Such abuse will not be tolerated. Violations may result in termination of the game and further sanctions by the Tournament Director. Any individual that has been sent off must leave the field area within two minutes of the ejection or the game could be terminated by the referee with further sanctions added by the Tournament Director. Any coach who removes his/her team from the field during a game will cause the match to be abandoned by the referee and further sanctions may be added by the Tournament Director. If a player refuses to give his or her correct name when requested by a referee or Tournament Official, the referee crew will terminate the game and additional penalties could be imposed by the Tournament Director. Teams exhibiting poor sportsmanship will not be allowed to participate in subsequent Town and Country tournaments. Consumption of alcoholic beverages on tournament grounds is prohibited.

Team Protests and Appeals:
Protests and appeals will be allowed only in the event a team is believed to have used an ineligible player. No other protests will be considered. The offended team may file a protest by submitting in writing the nature of the violation within two hours of the incident, along with $200 in cash to the Tournament Director. If the protest is upheld, the fee will be returned and corrective action as determined by the Tournament Director and the Competition Committee will be taken. The Tournament Director and the Competition Committee must determine that the violation defined by the written protest materially affected the outcome of the game. The decision of the Tournament Director on protests is final. If the protest is not upheld, the protest fee is forfeited to the Town and Country Soccer Association.

Matters Not Provided For:
Any situation or questions on rules of competition not covered herein will be governed by USYSA and STYSA Administrative Rules books. Any matter not provided for in the Tournament rules or STYSA or USYSA rules shall be determined by the Tournament Director, whose decisions shall be final.