Rules & Rosters


⚽ MDSL 3rd Annual Spring Classic – Tournament Rules & Information

🗓️ Format & Schedule

  • Two-day event: Teams play 2 games on Saturday and at least 1 game on Sunday.
  • Finals: The top 2 teams in each bracket (or top team if multiple brackets) advance.
  • Awards: Trophies and medals awarded to champions and finalists.

📝 Check-In & Credentials

Online Registration (via GotSport):

  • Upload official roster from a US Youth Soccer affiliated carding program.
  • Upload player passes and Release of Liability form.
  • All documents must be submitted 5 days prior to the tournament.
  • No roster changes permitted after submission.

Credentials Required:

  • Official roster and player passes for all participants.
  • Teams without state affiliation (MSYSA, VYSA, etc.) must register as a tournament team with MSYSA.
  • No player may appear on more than one roster.
  • Players must have unique jersey numbers and may not change numbers or jerseys during the event.

Guest Players:

  • Up to 7 guest players allowed (must be from the same sanctioning body).
  • Cannot mix US Club and USYS player cards—all players must use the same type.
  • USYS guest players from other states are permitted.

⚽ Rules of Play

  • FIFA Laws apply, as modified by USYS and MSYSA.
  • Heading: Not permitted for players U-11 and below (indirect free kick awarded if deliberate).
  • Build-out lines (U-8–U-10): Enforced for goal kicks, goalkeeper distribution, and offside.

Match Lengths

Age GroupFormatHalvesBall Size
U-8 – U-107v72 × 25 min4
U-11 – U-129v92 × 25 min4
U-13 – U-1811v112 × 30 min5

Halftime: 3 minutes
Scoring System: Win = 3 pts, Tie = 1 pt, Loss = 0 pts
No overtime in prelims.
Tied elimination matches decided by kicks from the penalty mark.

🧮 Tiebreakers

  1. Refer to GotSport Tiebreaker link on your team’s schedule.
  2. Tournament Manager’s decision

🔢 Division Formats

  • 4 teams: Round robin; 1st = Champion, 2nd = Finalist
  • 5 teams: Round robin; most points = Champion
  • 6 teams: 2 groups of 3 → semifinals → final + consolation
  • 8 teams: Group winners meet in final
  • 12 teams: Group winners + 1 wild card → semifinals
  • 16+ teams: Top teams advance to semifinals or quarterfinals
  • 20+ teams: Top team in each bracket + wild cards advance to quarterfinals

Adjustments made to avoid repeat matchups in knockout rounds.

👟 Game-Day Procedures

Pre-Game Check-In:

  • Referees perform safety and roster checks.
  • Player cards must be accessible throughout the match.

Substitutions:

  • Unlimited, with referee approval at any stoppage.

Equipment:

  • Referee determines equipment safety.
  • Shin guards required for all players.
  • Hard braces must be approved by referee.

🎯 Coaching & Sideline Conduct

  • Coaches are responsible for player, parent, and spectator behavior.
  • Coaching allowed only:
    • Within 10 yards of midfield,
    • Instructive tone (no shouting or derogatory remarks),
    • No mechanical aids or profanity.
  • Coaches ejected from a match must serve a minimum one-game suspension and have no contact with the team during the suspension.

🚨 Discipline

  • Two yellows in one match = red card → player ejected and suspended next game.
  • Violent conduct = 2-game suspension.
  • Referee assault → immediate expulsion from the tournament.
  • Disciplinary Committee may impose additional sanctions.

⏱️ Suspended / Terminated Games

  • Weather or injury delays: referee may add time as feasible.
  • Terminations due to misconduct → possible team suspension or forfeiture.

👩‍⚖️ Referees & Protests

  • Referee decisions are final; no protests allowed.
  • On-field conduct is under referee jurisdiction.
  • Off-field disputes resolved by the Tournament Director, decision final.

🏡 Home & Away Designation

  • Home team: listed first on schedule.
  • Home wears light jerseys; away wears dark.
  • Home provides game ball and kicks off first half.
  • If jersey colors conflict → home team changes.

👥 Spectators

  • Must sit opposite team benches on the same half as their team (do not switch sides at halftime).
  • Teams and spectators must remain on their own side of midfield.
  • Coaches are responsible for spectator behavior.
  • Abuse toward referees may result in team expulsion or spectator ban.

🚫 Forfeits

A forfeit occurs if:

  1. A team lacks the minimum number of players and coach within 5 minutes of kickoff.
  2. A team’s misconduct causes the game to be terminated.

Teams may play a shortened friendly if both agree, but result counts as a forfeit.

⚖️ General Policies

All tournament director decisions are final.

No protests permitted.

Guest teams may be accepted to fill divisions.