CYSA Cup Competition Directives, Rules & Regulations

I. JURISDICTION

II. TEAM FORMATION

III. CREDENTIALS

IV. GAMES AND FIELDS

V. SCORING

VI. SEND OFF PROCEDRUES

VII. PROTEST AND APPEALS

VIII. AUTHORITY

These rules govern CYSA Cup Competitions and supersede any other CYSA rules to the extent that other CYSA rules may be inconsistent with these rules.

I.        JURISDICTION

The entire CYSA Cup competitions shall be under the jurisdiction of the separate CYSA Cup Committees as authorized by the CYSA Board of Directors.  The CYSA Board of Directors reserves the right to any final decision with regard to any and all games played in these competitions.

II.      Team Formation

A.      Players must have registered with the District Commissioner/Registrar for the current seasonal year, in accordance with CYSA and US Youth Soccer Rules.  All teams entered in CYSA Cup Competitions are intended to be age pure.  No older players may be rostered on these teams. 

B.      A team playing in CYSA Cup Competitions is limited to NO MORE than three (3) transfers of previously registered players "onto" its roster in the seasonal year.  There is no limit to the number of players who may be transferred "off" a team during a seasonal year.

C.      There is no limit to the number of previously unregistered players who may be "added" to a team's roster providing that the total number of players on the roster does not exceed eighteen (18) at ANY ONE TIME.  This is per US Youth Soccer Rules and CYSA Specific Rule 4:06:06.

D.      The deadline for transfers, drops (releases), and adds shall be fourteen (14) days prior to the originally scheduled date for the start of the CYSA Cup Competition in that particular age/gender group.  All rosters are frozen at that time. Only those players legally rostered at such time are eligible to participate in further State, Regional, or National Competitions.

III. CREDENTIALS

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR CYSA CUP COMPETITION GAMES. 

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.

Proper credentials shall be presented at a check-in prior to each round of play.  Credentials must be proper beginning with the first preliminary game.  Any improper player or registered team official's member pass shall be retained by the Cup staff and they may not participate until proper credentials are cleared with either their District Commissioner or District Registrar and presented to the CYSA Cup Credentials Committee for clearance.

A.      US Youth Soccer Member Passes, properly completed, (see PIM 88-4 Revised 4/07) will be required for CYSA Cup Competition play at each game.

B.      In order for the team to play a properly filled out US Youth Soccer/CYSA member pass must accompany each registered team official who is in the team "bench" area of the field. Each team shall be limited to a maximum of four (4) registered team officials in the team's "bench" area of the field during a game.  If due to a send off during the game there is no adult who is a registered team official available to take charge of the team, the game shall immediately be terminated and the opposing team shall be declared the winner of the game.  If the score of the game exceeds 1 - 0 in favor of the opposing team at the time of the game being terminated that score shall stand as the final score of the game.  If the score is 1 - 1 or the score favors the team that is causing the game to be terminated the score shall be recorded as a 1 - 0 score in favor of the opposing team.  Registered team officials may be added to the team roster at anytime prior to or after the CYSA Cup Competition has begun.  A team must have an adult of at least twenty-one (21) years of age in attendance as the registered team official.  No team shall be allowed to play if it does not have a registered team official who is at least twenty-one (21) years of age who will be responsible for the actions/activities of the team during CYSA Cup Competition Play.

C.      Any questionable registered team official's credentials will be held by the Credentials Committee in that round of play and will result in that registered team official being ineligible to participate.

a.       An original CYSA Team roster (goldenrod) authorized by the district registrar must be presented prior to participating in any round/game of CYSA Cup Competition Play.

D.      A CYSA Membership form with original "wet ink" signature (original signature, no copies of signature) of the player's parent or guardian in the Consent for Medical Treatment and Hold Harmless section must be presented for each player.  Players who are 18 years or older at the time of competition MUST sign their own forms. 

E.        An ineligible player, participating in a CYSA Cup Competition Game shall cause his/her team to forfeit any game that the player has participated in and may result in further disciplinary action, against the coach, team administrator, or player by the CYSA Board of Directors.

IV. GAMES AND FIELDS

A.      All games will be governed by the "Laws of the Game" and those rules included in the US Youth Soccer Rules, CYSA Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, and Specific Rules unless the rules of this competition determine otherwise.  CYSA considers each team entry to have been in receipt of the CYSA Constitution, Bylaws, General Procedures, and Specific Rules through the publication and posting of the annual issue of CYSA Team Manual, and claims of not having read same before submitting a team entry are not admissible.  Each team representative's signature on the State Cup Entry Form acknowledges that the team has complied with the above requirements.

B.      All CYSA Cup games for the U10 Age Group shall be played according to CYSA Cup rules and directives with the following modifications:

1.       Teams will play a maximum of 8 players per team on the field (one of whom is a goal keeper).

2.       Teams will play a minimum of 5 players per team on the field.

3.       The field of play will be rectangular in shape with the length of the field exceeding the width. 

4.       The field will be no more that 90 yards and no less than 50 yards in length.

5.       The field will be no more than 60 yards and no less than 35 yards in width.

6.       The center circle will be marked with a 6 yard radius

7.       The goal area is defined at each end of the field as the area within 2 lines drawn at right angles to the goal line 6 yards from the inside of each goalpost and extending  into the field of play for a distance of 6 yards and joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line.

8.       The penalty area is defined at each end of the field as the area within 2 lines drawn at right angles to the goal line 14 yards from the inside of each goalpost and extending  into the field of play for a distance of 14 yards and joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line.

9.       Within each penalty area the penalty mark will be 10 yards from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them.

10.   The goal will be a maximum 7 feet high and 6-7 yards wide.

11.   Regulation length game halves will be two 25 minute halves with a 5 minute half time.

12.   Overtime will be two 10 minute periods with golden goal in effect

13.   The ball will be a size 4 ball

14.   All other FIFA and CYSA rules, Cup Directives, Rules and Regulations, including Addendums to the Rules for CYSA State Cup, CYSA Association Cup and CYSA Founders' Cup, will be in effect for U10 teams.

Please refer to the coaching section of the CYSA Team Manual for U10 field dimensions & markings.

C.      Length of games, overtime periods, and ball specifications, except as provided by US Youth Soccer and its affiliates, the length of games, ball size, ball weight, ball dimensions, and tie-breaking rules for each age group shall be as follows:

The length of games played in the opening round and any subsequent Round-Robin round of CYSA Cup Competition will be reduced by five (5) minutes per half.  All ties in the opening round shall stand and no extra time shall be played SUBJECT TO LAW 7 OF THE LAWS OF THE GAME.  Single elimination games shall be regulation length.  In single-elimination games, the "Golden Goal" rule will be in place.  If the teams remain tied at the end of overtime play, then the winner shall be determined by kicks from the penalty spot per FIFA.

D.      CYSA Cup Competition Game and Referee Report (game cards), supplied by CYSA, shall be presented to the referee and will be used for all CYSA Cup games. Such game cards will be submitted to the CYSA office directly.

E.      The team listed first on the CYSA-issued schedule of games shall be the HOME TEAM in all cases and will provide a game ball.  Home teams will change uniforms in the event of conflict in uniform color.

F.      A complete schedule of games, playing dates, and opponents will be mailed to all teams as soon as possible but no later than three weeks after the draw so long as all fields are secured at the time of the draw.  THERE WILL BE NO RESCHEDULING OF GAMES TO ACCOMMODATE OUT-OF-STATE TOURNAMENTS, LEAGUE GAMES, SOCIAL EVENTS, SCHOOL AND/OR COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS.  It is the responsibility of each team to be aware of all potential conflicts which may affect its ability and the ability of its players to participate in CYSA Cup competition on any and all dates for which play is scheduled (both primary dates for play and alternate dates for play) for its age group.

G.     In the event of inclement weather, the host district is responsible for informing the CYSA Office, participating teams and the respective district cup coordinator(s) as soon as possible before games if fields are unplayable. Only the CYSA Cup Committee Chairman may reschedule a game for different dates.  If inclement weather should necessitate field and/ or playing date change, it is the prerogative of the CYSA Cup Committee Chairman to schedule such changes.  District CYSA Cup Coordinators may, if necessitated by inclement weather, make last minute changes to different playing sites.

H.      The CYSA Cup Committee Chairman may schedule makeup games necessitated by inclement weather or reentry games due to a Protest and Appeals decision on consecutive days (Saturday and Sunday) or between scheduled dates (weekdays).  The CYSA Cup Committee Chairman's decisions are not protestable.  Should a scheduled game be terminated or abandoned before its completion and the situation is not covered by CYSA Cup Competition Rules, or National Cup Rules, the status of the game shall be determined by the CYSA Protest & Appeals (P&A) Committee. 

I.        The appearance of players is a vital extension of the game.  Stockings/socks must be of the same color, (a player must wear stockings/socks of a matching color), should be correctly worn in the pulled-up position covering shin pads or guards. Shirts/ jerseys shall be neatly tucked into their shorts.  The wearing of tracksuit trousers or long tights in a color that coordinates with the team's colors is permissible in adverse weather. Cyclists' pants, tights, etc., may be worn under a player's shorts if they are the same color as the shorts.  The wearing of long sleeve shirts/ jerseys under uniform jerseys is permitted, in inclement weather, provided the garment is the same color as the team's jersey.  A player's team uniform confirms the identity of the club or organization that the player represents.  It should be worn with pride.  All CYSA Cup referees will be instructed to enforce this uniform rule in all games.

J.       In the event that a team forfeits and/or withdraws during the preliminary round competition, all games involving that team shall not be considered in determining the team that advances.  If a team forfeits one game, all games that team is scheduled to play are forfeit.

K.      In single elimination games, both teams' bench areas will be on the same side of the field, and coaching from the sideline will not be permitted except as in accordance with FIFA directives. Spectator areas will be established on the opposite side of the field at single elimination games.  No individual is allowed on the "team" side of the field in these games unless they are credentialed members of one of the teams participating in the game.  No more than four (4) registered team officials from each team including coaches shall be on the same side of the field as the teams during second round, round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal and finals play.

V.   SCORING

A.      In the preliminary rounds, the following point system will be used to determine which teams advance.

                                  3 points for a WIN

                                  1 point for a TIE

                                  0 points for a LOSS

B.       If teams are tied in points at the conclusion of the preliminary round, the following tie-breaking procedure will be employed to determine which teams advance to the next round:

1.       Results of head-to-head competition between teams that are tied.

2.       Goal differential (goals scored minus goals allowed to a maximum differential of 4 per game).

3.       Least goals allowed.

4.       Most goals scored to a maximum of 4 per game.

5.       Kicks taken from the penalty spot per FIFA

C.      In three team groups, if FIFA kicks involve a team that had completed play on a previous day and is unavailable to take the kicks, an alternative time and site for the kicks shall be scheduled by the CYSA Cup Committee Chairman.

D.      Should more than two teams be tied at the end of the preliminary round, the above list of tiebreakers will be used in sequential order until one team is determined to be the winner. The tie-breaking procedure does not revert back to previous tie-breaking criteria after one team has been eliminated.

E.      Should three or more teams be tied at the end of the preliminary round after completing the above list of tie-breakers, a Round Robin Shoot-out will then be utilized as follows:  Ten (10) shots will be taken per team, five (5) each against opposing keepers.  Total from two (2) shoot-outs, i.e. Team A scores 3 versus Team B keeper, then scores 2 versus Team C keeper, Team A's total is 5.  Team with most goals advances.  If teams remain tied after two (2) rounds, re-shoot.  Coach will designate ten (10) shooters of which ANY ROSTERED PLAYER may shoot.

Round 1

Team A           5 Players (1 - 5) versus   Team B Keeper

Team B           5 Players (1 - 5) versus Team C Keeper

Team C           5 Players (1 - 5) versus Team A Keeper

 

Round 2

Team A           5 Players (6 - 10) versus Team C Keeper

Team B           5 Players (6 - 10) versus Team A Keeper

Team C           5 Players (6 - 10) versus Team B Keeper

VI. SEND OFF PROCEDURES

A.      Any team receiving three (3) send offs throughout this competition shall be immediately placed on probationary status.  Upon receipt of a fourth (4th) player/adult send off for any team, the team shall immediately be eliminated from this competition for the remainder of the current CYSA Cup Competition.  The game shall be abandoned by the referee and deemed a forfeit.  All preliminary round games involving that team shall not be considered in determining the team that advances.  In single elimination games, the opposing team automatically advances.

B.      Each District hosting games shall have, on site, a Protest, Appeals, Disciplinary (PAD) Committee to determine penalties for red card sendoffs.  PAD Committee decisions shall be communicated to applicable players, coaches or team officials.

C.      Sendoffs shall be handled in accordance with CYSA Specific Rule 4:07:02.  If a player is sent off for misconduct, and has not served his/her suspension, the governing authority for that competition shall mail the player's pass, game report and Send-Off Report to the District Commissioner, with the exception of send offs for referee assault which will be sent to the Board of Directors of this Association.  The player or players in question shall be ineligible for further CYSA Cup Competition Play until the player pass is returned, upon completion of suspension.  All CYSA Cup Competition suspensions must be served during CYSA Cup Competition and Regional Cup/National Cup Games if applicable; and if the individual does not complete their suspension in the current year of CYSA Cup Competition/ Regional Cup/ US Youth Soccer National Cup Competition the suspension shall carry over to the following year's CYSA Cup Competition/ Regional Cup/ US Youth Soccer National Cup Competition until the suspension is completely served.

1.       A coach serving a red card from a previous year shall serve the suspension with the team he or she earned it with as long as the coach is still associated with that team.

2.       If number 1 does not apply, that is, if the coach is no longer with the team from the previous year that he or she earned the suspension, the coach will serve the suspension with his or her current team.

3.       Registered team officials who are listed on multiple rosters and who are suspended during CYSA Cup competition and/or US Youth Soccer National Championship Series games will serve their suspension during the next scheduled CYSA Cup and/or US Youth Soccer National Championship Series games involving the team with which they were participating as a registered team official at the time of their suspension. If that team is no longer participating in the CYSA Cup competition and/or US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, that registered team official will serve his/her suspension with the next team to which they are registered and which participates in the CYSA Cup competition and/or the National Championship Series.

4.       Registered team officials affiliated with two or more teams may not participate with any team while serving a suspension.

D.      Any player or registered team official who is "sent off" the field before, during or after a CYSA Cup Competition game shall automatically receive the recommended minimum penalty prescribed by CYSA for the applicable age group and offense per CYSA Specific Rule 4:08, Disciplinary Rulings including the mandatory two additional game suspension required for any registered team official.  Additional games may be added by the Disciplinary Committee if the circumstances of the offense warrant it.  "Send offs" are not subject to Protest or Appeal.  Only penalties above the recommended CYSA minimums may be appealed.  In instances where CYSA Cup Competition Rules, CYSA State Cup Rules and US Youth Soccer National Championship Series Rules conflict, the US Youth Soccer Rules prevail.

E.      Referees will hold player/coaches passes, for those players/coaches who have been "sent off", and turn them in to the on-site Protest, Appeals and Discipline (PAD) Committee for disciplinary action.  The player/coaches passes along with a copy of the "Game and Referee Report" card and a copy of the Referee's 24-hour report will be sent within forty eight (48) hours to the respective District Commissioner for further action if necessary.

VII.  PROTEST AND APPEALS

A.      Referees' judgment calls and send-offs may not be protested or appealed.  Only protests or appeals of a misapplication of the Laws of the Game will be considered.

B.      Disciplinary action that exceeds CYSA's recommended minimum penalty for an offense for an age group may be appealed.

C.      In order for a protest of a competition to be valid, the referee must be notified that the game is under protest prior to leaving the field of play.  The referee should record protests on game cards and inform the opposing coach.

D.      The protest must be in writing and received by CYSA headquarters within 72 hours after the game being protested.  A $200.00 fee must accompany the protest or appeal. CYSA headquarters: 1040 Serpentine Lane, Suite 201, Pleasanton, CA. 94566.

E.      The decision of the CYSA Protest & Appeals Committee shall be forwarded to the coach within 48 hours of the P & A Committee's decision.

F.      Game results and CYSA Protest & Appeals Committee decisions will stand, and scheduled CYSA Cup Competition games will continue.  All appeals and protests shall be heard by the CYSA Protest & Appeals Committee within five (5) days after the game has been played that is being appealed or protested.  No further protest or appeal shall be allowed beyond the hearing of the CYSA Protest & Appeals Committee.  Any appeal or protest filed that pertains to any CYSA Cup Competition Activity including but not limited to team entry status, player eligibility, team eligibility, or any other area pertaining to CYSA Cup Competition Play except a specific game/games shall be heard by the CYSA Protest & Appeals Committee within seven (7) days of filing of the protest and appeal.  The CYSA Protest & Appeals Committee also reserves the right to make decisions regarding appeals and protests by conference phone call or other electronic communications amongst the members of the Committee relying solely on the written testimony that is submitted by the parties to the appeal or protest.  BY ENTERING A CYSA CUP COMPETITION TOURNAMENT A TEAM AGREES TO WAIVE ANY APPEAL RIGHTS OTHER THAN TO THE CYSA PROTEST & APPEALS COMMITTEE.

G.     All instances of Referee Assault shall be reported within 48 hours to the CYSA First Vice Chairman. Individuals, accused of Referee Assault, shall be immediately suspended pending a review by the CYSA Protest, Appeals & Discipline (PAD) Committee. Reports of Referee Assault should be sent to the CYSA State Office in Pleasanton.

H.      A game upon which a protest/appeal is upheld will be replayed as called for by the CYSA Protest and Appeals Committee.  It shall be the responsibility of the individual CYSA Cup Chairmen to reschedule the game and set a time and place for the game that will allow all CYSA Cup Competition play to continue with the least amount of delay.

I.        There will be no make-up games against teams that have lost during the time of any protest or appeal procedure not filed by or against them.

J.       Suspension penalties that cannot be served in the current season will carry over to the next seasonal years.

K.      Any individual that is sent-off during a CYSA Cup Competition game and the suspension exceeds the minimum suspension for the conduct that caused the send-off shall have recorded in the send-off report the reason for the additional suspended games, or an attachment to the send-off report that gives the reason for the additional suspension.  The lack of such backup may be grounds for reduction of suspension.  The minimum suspensions are located in Section 4:08:01 through 4:08:06 of CYSA Specific Rules.

L.      The CYSA Cup Competition PAD Report form will be used to record all decisions regarding send-offs. Directives regarding send-offs are attached to the Cup Competition PAD Report.

M.     The Board of Directors may remove from cup competition for cause any team, which violates section 3:01:03 of the general procedures of the CYSA Constitution. (See PIM 96-1)

N.      Forfeit:  A game is "forfeit" when:

1.       A team does not show up to play at the scheduled time and place they have been scheduled to play in the CYSA Cup Competition Schedule.  It is the team's responsibility to know when and where they are scheduled to play ANY CYSA Cup Competition Game that they have been scheduled to participate in.  It is the team's responsibility to be aware of any schedule changes that take place in CYSA Cup Competition play that affects their team. 

2.       A team is not ready to play within fifteen (15) minutes of the scheduled start time of a CYSA Cup Competition Game that the team has been scheduled to participate in with AT LEAST seven (7) players with proper credentials as called for in the CYSA Cup Competition Rules and that are dressed in uniforms that meet the CYSA Cup Competition Guidelines.  The team must also have a team administrator of the appropriate age and with proper CYSA credentials as called for in the CYSA Cup Competition Rules at the beginning of the game.  Any of these "faults" shall result in a "forfeit" game.

3.       A team that allows a player/administrator/coach to participate in a CYSA Cup game and it is found out before, during, or after the game that the player OR team administrator was not properly credentialed or was not in "good standing" and should not have participated in the game/games. 

4.       Once a game has begun, the game cannot be a "forfeit" UNLESS one of the teams has at least one individual that is not eligible to participate in Cup Competition Play AND the individual participates in the game as described in Section 3.

O.     Abandon/Terminate:  The terms "abandon" and "terminate" are interchangeable and mean the same thing for purposes of CYSA Cup Competition play.

1.       A game is "abandoned" or "terminated" by the referee when one of the following situations occur:

a.       The referee is unable to control the players on the field.

b.       The referee is unable to control the actions of individuals that are not "playing" in the game.  (coaches/team administrators/spectators, etc.)

c.       The field has become "unsafe" to play on, usually weather related or objects being thrown on the field, or something has happened to the field that makes the field "unsafe" for play.

d.       The referee has been instructed by a CYSA Cup Competition Administrator to abandon/terminate for a specific purpose related to CYSA Cup Competition Rules.

e.       The referee and his/her assistants have been threatened by players/coaches/team administrators/spectators and feel that it is in their best interests to abandon/terminate the game and leave the site.

f.         Any reasons that are consistent with, "the risk of continuing to play is outweighed by the possibility of someone being seriously injured if the game continues".

g.       If the team does not have at least one team administrator of the appropriate age with the required CYSA credentials at any time ONCE the game has begun the game will be deemed an "abandoned/terminated" game.

2.       A game is abandoned/terminated ONLY after the game has begun OR just prior to the game IF the field is determined to be unsafe for play or the weather is such that in the opinion of the referee OR a CYSA Cup Competition Administrator the game cannot be played for reasons of safety or potential field damage.  Any game that is abandoned / terminated prior to the game beginning shall be played at a later time UNLESS the game will not have any bearing on which team wins the flight that the two (2) teams are in.

3.       Once a game has BEGUN and the game has been abandoned/terminated the status of the game shall be determined by the CYSA Protest, Appeal and Disciplinary Committee regardless at what time during the game the game was abandoned/terminated.  The CYSA Protest, Appeal and disciplinary committee shall render a decision as to the status of the game within seventy-two (72) hours of the written information reaching the CYSA First Vice Chairman, which shall allow the competition to continue.  The CYSA Protest, Appeal and Disciplinary Committee may deem the particular game status to be played over again in its entirety.  The CYSA Protest, Appeal and Disciplinary Committee may also take action regarding teams, or individuals behavior that are related to the abandonment/termination of any game as a separate action that has been brought to their attention as a result of information brought forth during the review of the abandoned/terminated game or games.

VIII.  AUTHORITY

A.      The CYSA Board of Directors reserves the right to change any rule during the competition and such changes will take effect five (5) days after written notification has been made to all teams entered/remaining in this competition.

B.      During the competition, questions regarding interpretation of these rules and matters not addressed herein shall be resolved by the CYSA Cup Coordinator on site or the CYSA Cup Committee Chairman.