2011 SUPER F LEAGUE

CHAMPIONS CUP – NATIONAL FUTSAL TOURNAMENT

FEBRUARY 18, 19, & 20, 2011

TOURNAMENT RULES

The rules of this tournament shall be in accordance with USYS, FIFA, USSF and USSSA except as modified and approved herein.

TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS AND STAFF

All mail should be sent to Super F League Headquarters

Super F Champions Cup – National Futsal Tournament
13700 Switzer Rd
Overland Park, KS  66221
913-685-2872 phone
913-685-2902 fax

info@superfleague.com

TOURNAMENT STAFF
Tournament Director: John Sciore (314) 604-4801 developmentdirector@superfleague.com
Tournament Administrator: Lisa McCaughey (913) 558-8252  administrator@kansascity.superfleague.com

Tournament Assignors: Gordon Crape referee@superfleague.com

During tournament play, headquarters will be located at the Mid-America West Complex (MWAC), 20200 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS.  66218. (913) 422-5599.

TOURNAMENT VENUES

Mid America West Complex   20200 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS  66218. (913) 422-5599.

Roeland Park Sports Dome, 4850 Rosewood – Roeland Park, KS  66205  (913)-362-8700

Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd – Overland Park, KS 66210-8500

XL Sportswarehouse  15440 South Keeler Olathe.  66062  KS - 913-397-9000

The playing surfaces are hardwood and SportCourt. Official futsal goals will be utilized.  All

courts are marked accordingly to the Laws of the Game.  To download a copy of the most recent FIFA laws of the game, go to tournament website www.superfchampionscup.com.

AGE DIVISIONS

Boys and Girls U8 to U19, Men’s and Women’s Open, Co-ed Open

TEAM ELIGIBILITY

Super F Tournaments shall be open to all teams comprised of properly registered youth players (as defined by the rules of the affiliated organization) in all age groups indicated on the tournament application form, provided such team is in good standing with its youth association.  The USYS age group matrix will be used to determine tournament age groups. The oldest player on the roster dictates the age group the team will play.

TOURNAMENT DIVISIONS

Note there is a significant addition to the tournament. There are now two divisions in which a team may compete.  In addition the traditional competitive division that the tournament has consisted of in the past, now called Premier Division, a new division has been added to the tournament called the Super Group Division. 

When you register you have a choice of which division you want to compete, so read the descriptions carefully to be sure that your team is competing at the appropriate level.

Premier Division

The teams in this division are the same caliber of teams that have competed in past Champion Cups.  Age groups accepted are U8 – Adult boys and girls.  Teams in this division are:

• Very competitive with skilled - very skilled players
• Teams that play in a futsal league and will use all or most of their current league futsal league roster to play in the Cup.
• They would not be classified as hand picked all-star teams.
• Outdoor teams that are in the top of their leagues, but are not playing against academy or elite level teams

Where appropriate, there will be Premier Level I and level II brackets

Super Group

The teams in this new division would seek the highest competitive level of futsal possible.  Age groups accepted are U8 – U18 boys and girls.  Teams in this division are:

• All-star team put together with the specific purpose of playing the highest level of futsal possible
• A team that does not play futsal, but consist of elite  / highly skilled players
• Teams that consist of players who are on their club’s academy or highest level team
• Outdoor teams that consistently compete for their state titles.
• ODP teams

Teams in the Super Group must be accepted by the Cup Committee.  Teams are urged to include information in their registration regarding the make up of their team, outdoor record and futsal history.  The committee has the sole authority in making this selection and/or inviting teams at their own discretion.  The committee also reserves the right to combine Premier and Super Groups where applicable

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

All teams are required to present their United States Soccer Federation affiliated cards for each of their players/coaches at team check in.  These are the cards issued by their governing association used for identifications purposes to play outdoor leagues and tournaments.  These cards are issued by USYS, AYSO, USSSA, US Club Soccer, etc.  Player/coach cards must be verified, photo attached and laminated.  If your association does not allow lamination, cards must be encased in plastic sleeves.  If you are not sure of a player’s eligibility ask, in writing, to the Tournament Director.  If the player does not have a card issued from their association, see Team Check-in below for alternative identification.  SUPER F LEAGUE CARDS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL LEAGUES  AND OTHER FUTSAL ASSOCIATION CARDS ARE NOT VALID FOR CHECK IN AS THESE CARDS ARE NOT AGE-VERIFIED.

Super F Registration – all players must be registered with Super F League.  Any player not currently registered with SFL, must pay $7.50 per player for registration.  This fee is in addition to the tournament entry fee.  To be SFL registered, the player must be entered in the SFL tournament registration system, Media / Medical Waiver received and fully paid.

TEAM, COACH AND PLAYER REGISTRATION

All teams are to be registered on-line in the SFL tournament registration system found on the tournament website.  After registering their team on-line, each team manager will receive an e-mail confirmation of their acceptance to the tournament.  The e-mail also contains directions as to how to log into the registration site to complete registration.  Player information needed includes, but not limited to: name, assigned jersey number, date of birth and home address and one parent e-mail address. Players entered into the system will comprise the team’s Official Tournament Roster. 

Each manager, coach or assistant must present a valid coach’s pass and be listed on the Official Tournament Roster.  If a manager or coach is ejected, an assistant may conduct the team.  If the assistant is also ejected, or there is no assistant, the game will be forfeited.  In no case will a team be allowed to participate without a properly registered coach or assistant.  Each team is limited to three coaches on the bench all of which must be on the Official Tournament Roster.

Teams have until 2 working days prior to the tournament to make any roster changes.  At that time, tournament staff will print out the Official Tournament Roster.

TEAM CHECK-IN

Team check-in will be held Friday evening, February 18th at the DoubleTree Hotel

Check in will begin at 6 pm and continue until 9 pm that evening. Coaches and managers only.  Players do not need to be present at this check-in.

Player and Coach Identification Needed at Team Check-in. 

1.   Player/Coach cards for each player as discussed in PLAYER ELIGIBILITY above 

                                                        OR

2.   Birth certificate and a photo of the player and a fee of $7.50 for player registration.  No charge for coaches

                                                        OR

3.  Valid driver’s license and $7.50 for registration. No charge for coaches

Tournament staff will conduct credential checks and compare the printed roster to the player identification presented.  Upon approval, each team will receive a laminated Official Tournament Roster.  The Official Tournament Roster is to be carried throughout the tournament and presented to the referee staff prior to each match. 

Players may not play for more than one team in the same age group.  The exception to the rule is that the goalkeeper can also play for a registered sister team. See House Rules below.  If you are registering sister teams, please indicate that in the conflict box of both team’s registration.  It would also be helpful to register the sister teams under the same name with a differentiator such as color, number, etc.   

PRE GAME CHECK IN

Pre-game check in procedures will begin 15 minutes prior to each match.  The team must present the laminated Official Tournament Roster to the referee staff at game check-in.   Players arriving late at the court after the pre-game check in procedure may enter the game once the games’ official(s) verify the player is eligible and with the permission of the center referee.  A late arriving player may be challenged at the time he/she is allowed to participate by the game officials.  ANY TEAM USING AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER WILL FORFEIT ALL MATCHES PLAYED and be eliminated from the tournament

Players not certified by the tournament staff will not be allowed to participate.

LAWS OF THE GAME

All games shall be accordance with the FIFA “Futsal Laws of the Game”, except as modified below.  Competition sanctioned by the association shall abide by the “Laws of the Game.” The Laws of the Game can be found at www.superfchampionscup.com.

LAW 4:  Players’ Equipment

Player equipment must conform to FIFA rules.  All players will wear shin-guards (under the socks).  Players wearing a permanent orthopedic cast shall not be eligible to participate in any game.  However, soft braces can be worn as long as they are properly wrapped.  The safety of all players and final decision on safety is at the discretion of the referee.

Teams must wear uniforms of matching design and color with a minimum of six (6) inch numbers affixed to the back of the uniform shirt.  No two players may have identical uniform numbers while both players are playing on the field at the same time.  The first team listed on the schedule is considered the Home team.  The Home team is to wear light color uniform tops.  If the Home team has on its light color kit and there is a discrepancy with the visiting team, the visitor must change their uniforms.

The uniform of the goalkeeper must be a distinctly different color from the basic colors of the competing teams and the referee.

LAW 5: The Referee

Referees are required to sign and complete an official USSF or tournament specific game report to the Tournament staff as well as a Red Card report containing any information relating to any game incidents involving players/coach, spectator misconduct, or injuries. 

LAW 7:  The Duration of the Match:

The duration of the game will be:

Two (2) twenty-four (24) minute halves

One three (3) minute half time

One Time Out per half

No Overtime

Referees will keep time for all matches

HOUSE RULES OF THE GAME

Co-ed Division – there must be 2 female players on the court at all times

Goalkeepers will not be allowed to punt or drop kick the ball.

If you have a sister team in the tournament you may use the same goalkeeper for both teams.  Sister teams are defined as two or more teams that are formed from one outdoor team.  The goalkeeper must only play in goal for both teams.  If sister teams meet one another in a tournament game, the goalie can play for both teams.  It is up to the coach to decide how the goalie is played.

Players may be double-rostered on teams that are in DIFFERENT AGE DIVISIONS ONLY.

It is strongly suggested that all teams should register a coach and an assistant coach or administrator in the event that the coach is removed from the game. 

HOME TEAM

The team listed first on the schedule is the Home team.  The Home team is to wear white/lighter color jerseys.  If home team complies and there is a conflict, visiting team must change jerseys.  If home team does not comply and there is a color conflict, then home team must change colors.

GAME BALLS

U8-U12 will use a size 3

U13 and older will use a 4

SCORE TABLE

Each score table will be comprised of 2 individuals:

1 – Volunteer from the home team will keep the score sheet

1 – Volunteer from the visiting team will run the clock and score machine

CONTROL OF SIDELINE CONDUCT

Players, reserve players, managers, coaches and fans are expected to conduct themselves within the letter and spirit of the “Laws of the Game”.  The Tournament Staff has the authority and the responsibility to remove any person(s) from the tournament for abuses of conduct, in addition to any specific disciplinary action brought about by any other authority.  In addition to good manners, the following rules will apply to Super F League Tournaments:

Tournament staff will designate a sideline to be for the sole use of the players listed on the game roster and a maximum total of three (3) managers/coaches/trainers from each team, with one team occupying one side of the mid field and one team, the other.  At halftime, teams will switch benches so as to substitute from their defending area.  While the game is in progress coaches/managers/trainers/players must remain on their respective benches and may not roam the sidelines.

Tournament staff will designate the opposite sideline for spectators

Artificial noise making devices are prohibited.

The manager/coach will be responsible for the behavior of their fans and the referee will have the authority to warn and ultimately send off, any manager/coach and the fans who behave in an abusive or disruptive manner.

POST GAME PROCEDURES

As a mutual courtesy, both teams will meet at the center circle and congratulate each of the opposing team members for a game well played.  Manager/coach of both teams will insure their respective sideline areas are clean and that all trash is in containers.

It is the responsibility of the coach/manager to retrieve their Official Tournament Roster card from the referee at the conclusion of the match.

DISCIPLINE

A player manager or coach ejected will have an automatic minimum one (1) game suspension regardless of the cause of the ejection.  All referees rulings stand.

Depending upon the severity of the unacceptable conduct, a suspension of up to the duration of the tournament may occur.

If a Red Card is given to a player/coach and they are sent off, a report shall be filed with Tournament Staff.  The Official Tournament Roster will be placed with the red card report and turned in to the administrative desk to be marked with the next game information.  The coach/administrator may pick up their roster card and take the card to their next match, but the offending player/coach must serve his/her game suspension during the scheduled match.  This will be noted on the roster card.  A Red card suspension can only be served with the team with which the suspension was earned in games played by their team. 

DETERMINATION OF POOL PLAY WINNERS

In pool play there will be no overtimes given.  Standings in a division or pool will be determined by:

3 points for a win

1 point for a tie                       

0 points for a loss

If two teams tie in points, the division or pool winner will be determined by:

1.  Head to head result; if no clear winner,

2.  Net goal differential, only a maximum of seven (7) goals differential per game will count, if no clear winner

3.  Fewest goals allowed, if no clear winner

4.  Coin toss

POOL PLAY AND PLAYOFFS - NUMBER OF GAMES

Division play and playoffs are determined by the number of teams and pools in a division.  The guidelines are

Divisions with 4 teams – 1 pool - Each team plays each other once.  The 1^st and 2^nd place teams advance to the finals.

Divisions with 5 teams – 1 pool - Each team plays each other once. The team with the most points and the second most point will advance to the finals.

Divisions with 6 teams - 2 pools of 3 teams - Each team plays the teams within their pool.  The teams in third place of Pool A and B will play each other in a 3rd place consolation match.  The 1st and 2nd place teams of Pool A and B will advance to the semi-final round, where the first place team of pool A plays the second place team of pool B and vice-versa.  The winners of the semi-finals advance to the finals.

Divisions with 8 teams - 2 pools of 4 teams – Each team plays the teams within their pool. The 1st and 2nd place teams of Pool A and B advance into the semi-final round where the first place team of pool A plays the second place team of Pool B and vice-versa.  The winners of the semi-finals advance to the finals.

Divisions with 10 teams 3 pools, one pool of 4 teams and 2 pools of 3 teams - Pool A will have 4 teams, pool B and C will consist of 3 teams.  Pool A will play each team in its pool.  Pool B and C will play each team in its pool.  After each team in pool B and C play 2 games within their pool, standings will be generated for pools B and C.  The first place team in pool B will play the last place team in Pool C,  2^nd place teams in pool B and C will play each other and 3^rd place team in pool B will play 1^st place team in Pool C, completing pool play.

The 1st place teams of Pool A, B and C and the wildcard* playoff team will advance to the semi-final round.  In one semi-final round, the wildcard playoff team* will play the team with the most points from pool play.  In the other semi-final round, the pool winners who have the 2nd and 3rd best point total from pool play will play each other.  The winners of the semi-finals will advance to the finals.

Divisions with 12 teams - 3 pools of 4 teams - Each team plays the teams within their pool.  The 1st place teams of Pool A, B and C and the wildcard* playoff team will advance to the semi-final round.  In one semi-final round, the wildcard playoff team* will play the team with the highest point total from pool play.  In the other semi-final round, the pool winners who have the 2nd and 3rd highest point total from pool play will play each other.  The winners of the semi-finals will advance to the finals

Wild Card Playoff determination – The wild card team is the team that has the 4^th best point total from pool play.  The wild card team will always play the team with the most points accrued during pool play, unless the two teams have previously played during the tournament.  When this exception occurs the wild card will play the team with the second most points accrued during pool play.

Playoff Games ending in ties at regulation

If at the end of a semi final or final game match, the score is tied, the referees will go directly to penalty kicks to determine winner of the match.  Five (5) PKs will be taken by each team and if the score is still tied at the end of that phase then sudden death PKs are taken.

FORFEITED GAMES / CANCELLED GAMES / PROTESTS

A minimum of five (5) players constitutes a game.  Games will start at the given time.  In case a team does not have five (5) players present, there will be a maximum of a 5 minute grace period while the clock runs before awarding the game to the opponent.  A forfeit will be scored 3-0. 

In no case should a team who forfeited a pool play match be declared a winner of wild card team.  The team with the next best record will advance to semi-final or final play.

PROTESTS

There will be NO PROTESTS.  Referee and Tournament Staff decisions are final.

EXTERNAL CONDITIONS/WEATHER, etc

We make every effort to accommodate all games due to space/court limitations.  If a game or the entire tournament is cancelled due to acts of God or field conditions, no refunds will be given under any circumstances.

TERMINATED GAMES

If the referee terminates a match for reasons other than an act of God of field conditions, Super F League officials will decide the result of the match after hearing the official reason from the referee and both coaches.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL CEREMONIES

After each Championship Final Game an awards ceremony will take place in the Trophy Area.  Teams should proceed as quickly as possible to this area after their final match.  Trophies will be given to both Champions and Finalists. 

REFEREES

If you are interested in joining the referee pool for the Champions Cup, contact your local Super F League assignor.