Rules & Rosters


⚽ Fall Breakout Boys Tournament — Official Rules & Regulations

🗓️ Tournament Format

  • Two-day event:
    • Saturday: 2 games
    • Sunday: Minimum 1 game
  • Finals: Top 2 teams per bracket (or top overall team if multiple brackets).
  • Awards: Trophies + medals for Champions, medals for Finalists.

🧾 Check-In & Credentials

  • Registration:
    • Must be completed online via GotSport.
    • Upload: official roster, player passes, and Release of Liability form.
    • Deadline: 5 days before tournament start.
    • No roster changes allowed after submission.
  • Credentials Required:
    • Valid Player I.D. cards (with photos).
    • Signed medical release forms.
    • Appropriate travel documentation for AYSO, USSF, USYS, USAAA, or US Club Soccer teams.
    • Players may only play for one team, must have unique jersey numbers, and cannot change jerseys/numbers mid-tournament.

👥 Guest Players

  • Up to 7 guest players allowed (same sanctioning body only).
  • No mixing US Club and USYS player cards on the same team.
  • Roster size limits still apply.

⚖️ Rules of Play

  • FIFA Laws of the Game, as modified by USYS and MSYSA, apply.
  • No heading for U11 and younger (including players playing up).

⏱️ Game Duration

Age GroupFormatHalvesBall Size
U8–U107v72 x 25 min4
U11–U129v92 x 25 min4
U13–U1811v112 x 30 min5
  • Halftime: 3 minutes
  • No overtime in preliminary rounds.
  • Elimination games: Penalty kicks if tied after regulation.

🏅 Scoring System

  • Win = 3 pts | Tie = 1 pt | Loss = 0 pts

Tie-breakers:

  1. Refer to the tiebreaker link in GotSport.
  2. Tournament Manager’s decision

⚙️ Division Formats

  • 4 teams: Top 2 → Final
  • 8 teams: Top team in each bracket → Final
  • 12 teams: 1st place in each bracket + 1 Wild Card → Semifinal
  • 16+ teams: 1st place (and possibly 2nd) → Quarters/Semis per Tournament Director
  • 20+ teams: 1st place + Wild Cards → Quarterfinals
  • Wild card teams cannot face same-bracket opponents in first elimination round.

🔁 Substitutions

Unlimited (with referee permission) at any stoppage.

🧤 Equipment

  • Shin guards mandatory.
  • Referee determines safety of all gear.
  • Hard braces subject to referee approval.

🎙️ Coaching Conduct

  • Allowed from sideline within 10 yards of halfway line.
  • Must be positive, instructive, and non-derogatory.
  • No profanity, incitement, or harassment.
  • Coaches responsible for players, spectators, and team conduct.

🟥 Cautions & Ejections

  • 2 yellow cards in one game → Red card.
  • Ejected players/coaches miss next game (2 games for violent conduct).
  • Ejected coaches must be out of sight and sound during suspensions.
  • Disciplinary Committee may impose further sanctions.

⛈️ Suspended / Terminated Games

  • May be resumed if time allows.
  • If terminated for misconduct, offending team forfeits remaining games and may face expulsion.

💥 Injury & Added Time

  • Referee decides if/when to add time; games must end before dark.

👨‍⚖️ Referee Decisions

  • Final and binding on the field.
  • Tournament will not overrule in-game calls.

🏆 Awards

  • Champions: Trophies & medals
  • Finalists: Medals

🏠 Home/Away Designation

  • Home team: Listed first on schedule.
    • Wears light jerseys and supplies game ball.
    • Changes jersey in case of color conflict.
    • Kicks off first half.
  • Away team: Wears dark jerseys and chooses direction first half.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Spectator Rules

  • Spectators on opposite side of field from teams.
  • Stay on same half as your team (mirror setup).
  • Do not switch sides or mix with opposing spectators.
  • Teams remain on same sideline half for both halves.
  • Team officials responsible for crowd behavior.
  • Ref abuse = possible team sanction or expulsion.

⚠️ Forfeits

Automatic forfeit if:

  1. Team not ready within 5 minutes of kickoff (eligible players, coach, and cards).
  2. Game terminated by referee for team misconduct.

Teams may still play a friendly if both agree (no change to result).

🚫 Protests & Disputes

  • No protests allowed.
  • Off-field disputes handled by Tournament Director; decision final.

💰 Refund Policy

  • $150 non-refundable processing fee on all refunds (30+ days out).
  • 21–29 days before event → 50% refund.
  • ≤21 days before event → No refund.
  • Once brackets posted → No refunds.

🌧️ Weather / “Act of God” Cancellations

Cancellations due to health or authority decisions → $150 fee deducted, option to roll registration to next year.

If canceled: $150 admin fee retained.

Played 1 game: 50% refund

Played 2 games: 25% refund

Played 3+ games: No refund

Once a match kicks off, it counts as played.