Clash for the Cup
June 14-15, 2025
Montgomery County, MD
Recreational teams only
U-8 – U-12 Boys and Girls teams
Who should participate?
The Clash for the Cup is for small-sided recreational teams between U-8 – U-12. The tournament will follow the school year and not the birth year. So teams organized by grade should apply.
Competitive players and/or travels teams are not allowed to participate in this event. If a competitive or travel level team participates, then all of their games will be forfeited and no refunds will be issued. The MDSL offers a number of tournaments and events for travel teams, but this one is specifically for recreational players.
Where will the games be played?
All games are played throughout various fields in the heart of Montgomery County, MD. The purpose of the event it to celebrate the end of the Spring season by inviting recreational teams from throughout MD, DC, and VA to participate.
Are awards issued?
Yes, we will issue awards to the Champions (trophies and medals) and Finalists (medals).
Fees
*Tournament fees include referees.
| Age Group | School Year | Format | Max Roster | Entry Fee |
| U-8 | 8/1/16 – 7/31/17 | 7 v 7 | 14 | $450 |
| U-9 | 8/1/15 – 7/31/16 | 7 v 7 | 14 | $450 |
| U-10 | 8/1/14 – 7/31/15 | 7 v 7 | 14 | $475 |
| U-11 | 8/1/13 – 7/31/14 | 9 v 9 | 16 | $475 |
| U-12 | 8/1/12 – 7/31/13 | 9 v 9 | 16 | $475 |
Playing Levels
The tournament is for recreational level teams and travel teams are not permitted. Recreational teams from various leagues in and around the region are eligible to apply. Teams from recreational leagues such as MDSL, MSI, SAM Recreation, United Recreational Soccer League, DC Recreational League, to name a handful but not limited to can apply.
Registration Deadline: May 31, 2025
*Note – GotSport charges teams a software fee in the amount of $20. This fee will be reflected after you have registered and have reached the payment screen on GotSport.
Payment Information
Please make all checks payable to: MDSL
Checks should be mailed to:
MDSL c/o Clash for the Cup
PO Box 302
Sandy Spring, MD 20860
No CC Fees are charged for any Credit Card payments for MDSL events.
Important Dates
Registration payment: Upon registration
Team Acceptance: Upon registration
De-conflict request deadline: May 24, 2025
Brackets released: June 1, 2025
Schedule released: June 3, 2025
Deadline to check-in: June 8, 2025
Deadline to make roster changes: June 10, 2025
***No changes will be allowed to be made after 11:59 pm on June 10th.
***Teams are allowed to use their league’s rosters for the event. Accredited leagues include MDSL, MSI, SAM Recreation, United Recreational Soccer League, DC Recreational League. If your team plays in another league then please reach out to info@mdslsoccer.com to verify league accredidation.
Team Check-in and Waiver
All check-in must be done online in GotSport by uploading the required documents. To review the check in process, you can click here.
- Roster (If you do not have roster from your league or you are a tournament recreation team, then you can complete an MDSL roster). Click here for the roster.
- MDSL Team Waiver
If you have any questions regarding check-in or guest player registration, please contact us at info@mdslsoccer.com.
Tournament Rules
The Clash for the Cup is over a duration of two days and teams will typically play 2 games on Saturday and at minimum 1 game on Sunday. The top 2 teams in the bracket or the top team if there are multiple brackets, will advance to the final. Medals and trophies are awarded to the teams who finish in the top 2.
Check-in and Credentials
REGISTRATION: All registration must be done online via GotSport. Teams will be required to upload their rosters and the MDSL Team Waiver. This must all be completed by the check-in deadline. Once a roster is set and submitted, there will no changes allowed.
CREDENTIALS: At the mandatory check-in online, teams must provide the required credentials.
Players may not play for more than one team in the tournament. Players MUST have jersey numbers (no duplicate numbers allowed on any one team) and may not change numbers once registration is complete. Players are also NOT allowed to change jerseys during the tournament.
GUEST PLAYERS: Teams are limited to 5 guest players. To add a guest player you can write his or her name, number, and date of birth on your team’s roster.
RULES OF PLAY
FIFA Laws of the Game will apply as modified by USYS and MSYSA as described herein. Players in U11 and younger players playing up in the U-12, may not deliberately head the ball in soccer matches. If a player deliberately heads the ball and the ball remains in play, the referee will immediately stop play and restart with an indirect free kick.
DURATION OF GAMES:
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 spot as per FIFA laws will decide the match.
* For U-8 – U-12 teams: Build out lines are enforced for goal kicks and goalkeeper distribution. Since all games are on turf and we are not permitted to mark the fields with our own lines, there will be cones on the sidelines to show the build-out lines. No punts are allowed.)
- U-8 – U-10: 7 v 7, two 25-minute halves, ball size 4
- U-11 – U-12: 9 v 9, two 25-minute halves, ball size 4
The official match report for each completed match must be verified (i.e., score, cautions, send offs) 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.
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:
FORMAT:
- Age groups consisting of 4 teams will have 1st and 2nd place teams playing in the finals. Age groups consisting of 8 teams will have the 1st and 2nd place teams in each bracket advance to semifinals. Age groups consisting of 12 teams will have the 1st place team in each bracket and a wild card team with the most points per (7) above advance to semifinals. Age groups consisting of 16 teams will have the 1st place teams in each bracket advance to semifinals or the 1st and 2nd place teams in each age bracket advance to the quarterfinals at the Tournament Managers discretion. Age groups consisting of 20 teams or more will have the 1st place team in each bracket, and if applicable, the wild card team(s) with the most points per (7) above, advance to the quarterfinals.
- Note: In the pre-determined pairings for the first game of the elimination stage, adjustments will be made if the wild card team comes out of the same preliminary round bracket, to avoid teams that have already played each other having to play each other again. No adjustments will be made after that.
HALFTIME: Half Time will be exactly three (3) minutes.
GAME CHECK-IN CONDUCT: Prior to the start of each scheduled game, the referees will perform safety checks on all players. Team managers hold on to the player cards during the game unless requested by the referee in the instances of red cards or other questions that the referees may have. Team managers MUST ALWAYS HAVE THE MEDICAL RELEASE FORMS FOR EACH PLAYER AND THE LAMINATED PLAYER CARDS. The referees and field marshals will manage the Game Cards. There is no need for the managers to sign the Game Cards nor take them from game-to-game.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission and only at the following times:
Except as provided by USYSA, substitutions shall be unlimited except where specified otherwise in the rules and regulations for a special competition. Substitutions may be made, with the consent of the referee, at any stoppage in play. (USYSA Rule 302)
PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT: It will be at the referee’s discretion to determine the safety and suitability of player equipment including the wearing of a hard brace.
Subject to the foregoing, FIFA laws, as modified by USSF and MSYSA rules and USYS policies, 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.
COACHING: All Coaches have total responsibility for the conduct of their players, substitutes, families and spectators at all times. Coaching from the sidelines (giving direction to one’s own team on points of strategy and position) is permitted, provided:
- No mechanical devices are used;
- The tone of the voice is instructive and not derogatory;
- Each coach or substitute remains within 10 yards on either side of the halfway line;
- No coach, substitute, or spectator makes derogatory remarks or gestures to the referees, other coaches, players, substitutes, or spectators;
- No coach, substitute, or spectator uses profanity or incites, in any manner, disruptive behavior.
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS: A player receiving two cautions (yellow cards) in a single game will be ejected (red card). A player who has been ejected (sent off), will not be replaced. A player who has been ejected will not return for that game and will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game. A player who is ejected for violent conduct or serious foul play will not be allowed to participate in the next TWO scheduled games. Any team, parent, spectator, player or coach who assaults a referee will be expelled from the Tournament. A coach who has been ejected (sent off) will be suspended the same as a player ejection.
During game suspension(s) for coaches: there can be NO contact between the team and the coach before, during or directly after the game and the coach must be out of sight and sound of the field.
Additionally, the coach must not be involved in unacceptable conduct (defined as coaching his/her players by any means or method, or harassment of opponents/players/referees/staff). Failure to adhere to this rule will result in an immediate ejection from the tournament for the coach.
Any player or coach sent off during the tournament or any player receiving multiple cautions during the tournament may be required to attend a Disciplinary Committee hearing. Players must be 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 or coach 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.
SUSPENDED AND TERMINATED GAMES: If in the opinion of the referee a game must be suspended (for reason), the game may be resumed, but is subject to being ended not less than five (5) minutes prior to the scheduled start of the next game. If in the opinion of the referee, a game must be terminated for misconduct of players, bench, coaches, or spectators; the offending team could be suspended from further play and will forfeit that game and all remaining games. Additionally, the home league and State Association will be contacted as appropriate.
INJURY: Delays of the game due to injury will result in appropriate time being added to the full game time, based on the judgment of the referee and on the length of time that needs to be added as all games must be completed before dark. Added time that impacts or delays the start of other games will not be added.
TOURNAMENT COMPETITION
REFEREE DECISIONS: The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his/her discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided that he/she has not restarted play.
DETERMINING WINNERS: This is a tournament and Champions will be awarded with trophies and medals. Second place teams will also be awarded medals.
HOME TEAM: The Home Team will be the team who appears first on the game schedule. The HOME team will wear LIGHT jerseys. The AWAY team will wear DARK jerseys. In the event of a color conflict the HOME TEAM will change jersey. The HOME TEAM will kick off and the AWAY team will choose direction in the first half. There will be no coin toss.
OTHER:
- The game ball will be supplied by the home team. The tournament is not responsible if the ball provided by the home team is lost.
SPECTATORS: All spectators are to be on the opposite side of the field from the team benches. In the spirit of sportsmanship, we ask spectators to be on the same half as their team and MIRROR their team.
Do not change ends at half-time. Do not mix in with the spectators of the opposing team. Each team is to remain on their half of midfield.
RESPECT THE REFS: “Team officials are responsible for the behavior of the spectators. Team officials can be disciplined by the referee for failure to control their spectators. The competition authority has the ability to ban a spectator, forfeit a match, or expel a team from the competition for violations or abuse of a referee or the referee crew.”
FORFEITS: An automatic forfeit will be given if any of the following occur:
- A team is not present and ready to play with a minimum number of eligible players, an eligible coach, and verified player cards within 5 minutes after the original kickoff time.
- A team whose actions as determined solely by the referee cause the game to be terminated.
With regards to #1 above and in the case that players, coach or player cards arrive after the match has been forfeited, by mutual consent the teams may elect to play a shortened match that must end on the game’s originally scheduled end time.
PROTESTS: NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED.
DISPUTES: Game conduct is under the jurisdiction of the referee and the tournament will not overrule a referee’s decision. All disputes off the field of play will be settled by the Tournament Director or by his designee and the decision will be final.
GUEST TEAMS: The Tournament may accept a team as a “Guest Team” in order to fill a late vacancy in a Division.