1. AGE AND ELIGIBILITY

Only SYA recreational league teams may participate in the end-of-season tournament. No travel players, guest players, or players from another SYA team are allowed. Any game played where it is determined that ineligible player(s) participated shall result in a 3-0 forfeit to the opposing team.

All regular season sanctions (such as suspensions and sit-outs) for any individual (players, coaches, or spectators) carry forward into the tournament and must be served before that individual can participate. All exceptions must be approved by the appropriate SYA House Commissioner and/or SYA Commissioner before the game. Any game where it is determined that an individual should not have been at the game or field shall result in a 3-0 forfeit to the opposing team.

Except for documented suspensions and sit-outs, referees are not responsible for enforcing eligibility rules. If a coach has a question about a player’s eligibility, the game shall be played in its entirety and the coach will inform the appropriate Age Group Coordinator after the game.

2. LAWS OF THE GAME

All games are single-elimination and will be played in accordance with the “SYA Soccer Modifications to the Laws of the Game – September 2023” except as modified herein. EXCEPTIONS: There will be no 4-goal differential rule, and no goalkeeper 50% playing time restriction, for U9, U10, U11 and U12 games.

3. GAME DURATION

Age Group	Preliminary Matches	Championship Matches	No. of Players	Ball Size
U9	50 minutes (2 x 25)	50 minutes (2 x 25)	6 v 6 (minimum 4)	4
U10	50 minutes (2 x 25)	50 minutes (2 x 25)	Girls: 7 v 7 (8 v 8 if mutual agreement) Boys: 8 v 8 (7 v 7 if mutual agreement) (minimum 5)	4
U11/U12	60 minutes (2 x 30)	60 minutes (2 x 30)	9 v 9 (minimum 6)	4

Halftime duration for all games shall be 5 minutes, but may be adjusted at the referee’s discretion.

All games shall be played with a running clock. The referee shall not add time for serious injuries or other incidents, including, but not limited to, deliberate time wasting. The referee is the official timekeeper and all decisions regarding game duration are solely at the referee’s discretion.

Any playoff game that ends in a tie at the end of regulation will proceed directly to Kicks From The Penalty Mark to determine a winner.  There shall be no overtime.

In the event of inclement weather or game stoppage due to suspension or termination, the game is considered played if half of the game has been played.

4. FIELDS AND EQUIPMENT

All fields are to be freshly lined and set up with proper field markings and equipment. This is a joint responsibility of both teams for each game. Any delays due to a field not being ready for play will be deducted from the game duration. Referees will reduce each half accordingly to ensure each half is the same duration.

Home team players will wear RED shirts. Away team players will wear BLACK shirts.

Players and coaches will take one side of the pitch, and spectators will take the other side. No one shall be behind either goal line or below the penalty area line without the referee’s permission.

Home team will provide game ball(s).

5. FAILURE TO SHOW

A 10-minute grace period is provided for each team to have the minimum number of players ready for play. Any delays due to late-arriving players will be deducted from the game duration. Referees will reduce each half accordingly to ensure each half is the same duration. If one or both teams cannot field a team by the scheduled tournament game time, the game shall be declared a forfeit.

6. SUBSTITUTIONS

Unlimited substitutions may be made at any stoppage in play, with the referee’s permission.

7. GAME AND SCORE REPORTING

Both home and away team coaches are responsible for reporting game scores and any yellow or red cards, as well as any ejections, to the appropriate Age Group Coordinator or on-site Field Marshall, if present.

In addition, the referee is responsible for reporting any yellow or red cards, as well as any ejections, to the SYA Referee Commissioner at refcommissioner@syasoccer.org or (571) 926-4448.

Any player, coach, or spectator shown a red card and/or ejected from a game must receive approval from the appropriate SYA soccer authority(ies) before s/he can participate in any subsequent game (for example, the SYA House Commissioner, SYA Soccer Commissioner, SYA Soccer Vice Commissioner, and/or SYA Referee Commissioner). The appropriate Age Group Coordinator is responsible for facilitating this process.

8. REFEREES

All U9-U12 games will be assigned a 3-person referee crew. 

All decisions by the referee shall be final. There will be no protests.