1. Players may not play for more than one team in the tournament. Players must have jersey numbers and may not change numbers once registration is complete.

    

2. The first team listed is considered the home team. Any color conflicts will be resolved by the home team. Both teams will be on the same side of the field, spectators will be on the opposite side.

    

3. All teams are required to present player picture identification cards that have been issued by their governing body at registration and at all matches . All international teams are required to present passports at registration. Identification cards will be checked by the referee prior to each match. The player’s shirt number must be the same as the shirt number on daily match report. If the numbers are not the same, the referee is instructed not to let the player take part in the match until tournament officials resolve the matter.  If ID cards for teams do not have numbers on them, we will make a set of cards with numbers for you during the registration process. 

    

4. All club teams that are invited to participate will be allowed to have up to three (3) Guest Players with a maximum roster of eighteen (18). All club teams will also be allowed to replace players that are lost due to any USSF/USYSA programs (National, Regional, ODP, etc.) that conflict in time with the Christopher Columbus tournament dates. Written confirmation from the USSF and/or USYSA of any conflicts must be on file in the Christopher Columbus tournament office prior to the start of the tournament. All Guest Players-Replacement Players must meet the following criteria: (1) must be approved for participation by their respective governing body; (2) must be registered in the state or provincial association of the participating team; (3) may not be selected from any other team that is participating in the Christopher Columbus tournament, nor from any team designated as an "alternate pool" team. If a Guest/Replacement player is selected from any team which is subsequently invited to participate in the Christopher Columbus tournament, the player must return to his original team. If a Guest/Replacement player participates in a Christopher Columbus tournament match and the player’s original team is subsequently invited to participate, said player must remain with the team for which he is guest playing.

    

5. During the preliminary stage of the tournament, teams are bracketed in groups of four and matches will not have overtime periods. Matches will be counted as: Win -3 points; Tie - 1 point; Loss - 0 points. In the elimination stage, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, kicks from the penalty mark as per FIFA laws will decide the match.

    

6. Groups consisting of 4 or 5 teams or more will have the 1st place team in each bracket advance to the final.

    

            A.  F.I.F.A. shoot out.                

1.        In the event a tie breaker is necessary to determine which teams will advance beyond the round robin, the following order of tie breakers will apply:

             A. Total Points

                                1. 3 points for a win

                                2. 1 point for a tie

                                3. 0 points for a loss

             B. Should a tie exist in the standing among teams with the same      amount of points, placement will be decided by the following rules in the following order:

          (1) head to head  (2) goal difference in overall competition; (3) highest gross goals scored in overall competition; (3) least amount of goals received in overall competition: (4) most shutouts; (5) most wins (6) coin flip.

11. Substitution will be allowed during natural stoppage of the match at the referee’s discretion, free substitution up to seven players and re-entry will be allowed.

     

12. The official match report for each completed match must be verified (i.e., score, cautions, send offs) at Field Headquarters immediately after the game by the team coach or manager. Match reports that are not verified stand as submitted and may not be contested or appealed.

     

13. Players sent off during a match are not allowed to play in the next match. A player receiving two cautions during the preliminary round robin of the tournament is not allowed to play in the next match. A player receiving two cautions during the elimination stage of the competition is not allowed to play in the next match. In case of continued bad conduct of players, teams, officials, or supporters, the team may be withdrawn from the competition and reported to their association. Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team and supporters.

     

14. Any player sent off during the tournament or any player receiving multiple cautions during the tournament may be required to attend a Disciplinary Committee hearing accompanied by their coach and/or manager. Official Match Reports will be reviewed by the Disciplinary Committee, and they will determine if a hearing is necessary. Any hearing could result in the player being required to sit out additional matches or being withdrawn from the competition. Team officials will be notified as soon as possible if a hearing has been scheduled.

     

15. Judgment calls by referees may not be appealed.

     

16. Disciplinary Committee decisions may not be appealed.

     

17. All protests must be submitted in English to the Disciplinary Committee within three hours of the end of the match with a $100 () cash non-refundable fee. Only protests that concern the Laws of the Game and ineligible players will be considered. All decisions will be in the best interest of soccer and may not be appealed.

     

18. Subject to the foregoing, FIFA laws, as modified by USSF, USYSA and E.N.Y.Y.S.A rules, apply. Please note that per FIFA Laws of the Game number 4, the wearing of shin guards by players is mandatory. No player will be allowed to play without shin guards.

     

19. In the event that the tournament is cancelled, a refund of the entry fee (if any) or a portion of the entry fee (if any) will be determined by the Board of Directors after all expenses have been calculated.

     

20. The decision of the Tournament Manager, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, on any matter is final and may not be appealed.

     

21. FAILURE TO SHOW AND FORFEITS

     

1. A team shall be allowed a ten (10) minute grace period after the scheduled kick-off time before the match is considered a forfeit. A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team and if (7) players are present, the game will not be delayed.

    

2. In no case shall a team, which forfeits a game be declared a flight winner or a wild card team. If an apparent flight winner forfeits a game, the team in that flight with the next best record shall be named the flight winner. In addition, in divisions where the second place team of one flight plays the first place team of another flight in the semi-final game, in no case shall a team which has forfeited a game be declared the second place team in a flight. The team with the next best record in the flight shall be declared the second place team and play in the semi-final game. If a team is the cause for termination of a game, that team will be considered to have forfeited that game. The determination as to which team is the cause for the termination shall be at the sole discretion of the referee on the field and the decision may not be protested.

    

3. A forfeit in the preliminary rounds shall be awarded as three (3) points for the win. The score of a forfeited game will be recorded based on the higher goal differential from either 1) the actual score at the time the game was terminated; or 2) the average of goals scored by the winning team rounded up the nearest whole number, against the average of the goals scored against that team rounded down to the nearest whole number; or 3) as a minimum the score will be recorded as 1-0.

    

4. Forfeits of a semi-final or championship game shall be recorded as 1-0.

    

5. Any team forfeiting a championship game will not be entitled to individual trophies or team awards.

    

6. Failure to produce either duly authorized Player Registration Cards or an official Christopher Columbus tournament Field Marshal or Tournament Official thirty (30) minutes prior to scheduled game time is grounds for a forfeit.

    

7. Playing a "red-carded player" (a player receiving either a red card or two yellow cards in one game) in the game following the receipt of a red card is grounds for a forfeit.

    

22. INCLEMENT WEATHER

     

1. In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director or official representative(s) will have the authority to:

    

1. Relocate or reschedule any game(s);

    

2. Change the duration of any game(s);

    

3. Cancel any preliminary game(s);

    

4. Consider any game terminated by game or Tournament Officials after one half of play as official as of the time of termination (and the score stands at time of termination; and

    

5. Determine the format for advancement.

    

22. GENERAL

     

1. The tournament will do its best to schedule four (4) games for each team. However, at the Tournament Director’s discretion, the number of games may reduce and, the tournament is not liable for any expenses and no refunds for the tournament application fees will be given.

    

2. Under no circumstances whatsoever will the Brooklyn Italians Youth Soccer., the Christopher Columbus tournament Committee, or any of their official representatives be responsible for any expenses (including the Tournament entry fee) incurred by any team. This includes a situation whereby the Tournament or any game(s) is canceled in whole or part.

    

3. The Tournament Committee’s or their official representative’s interpretation of the rules shall be final pertaining to this Tournament.

    

4. No items, including raffle tickets, may be sold at Tournament Headquarters, playing fields, or surrounding areas for the duration of the tournament unless specifically sanctioned by the Brooklyn Italians Youth Soccer.