Topics:

• Tournament Rules
• Weather Rules
• Game Play Rules
• Age Guidelines
• Player Equipment

Tournament Rules

CONDUCT

Coaches and Players
Coaches are not only responsible for their own conduct, but also for the conduct of their players, parents and spectators. Players and coaches ejected from a match (Red Card) must sit out the remainder of that match plus the next match. All red cards reported on the game card will be evaluated by the Tournament Committee for appropriate suspension. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to impose a two game suspension for violent misconduct or no game suspension for a professional foul. Players and coaches ejected for assault MUST AT LEAST sit the next two (2) tournament matches. Red cards issued after the end of regulation play or as a result of physical assault are subject to review by the Tournament Rules Committee and a more strenuous penalty may be imposed.

Others
Spectators, parents and coaches may be ejected for unruly behavior.

GENERAL

The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of these rules shall be final and binding. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide all matters pertaining to this tournament.

Awards
First place trophies will be awarded to division winners.

Arrival
Teams should arrive at the scheduled field 30 minutes prior to game time to be checked in by the appropriate official. Teams may warm-up in any area other than the field of play and directly behind the goal area while a game is in progress.

Protests
No protests will be allowed.

Team Field Position
Players and coaches of both teams will be on the north or east side of the pitch. Parents and spectators will be on the opposite side for the entire match. Coaches or spectators are not permitted to coach from the spectator side of the field. Coaches and players must remain between the penalty line and their side of the mid-field line. Coaches may not coach from below the penalty line. No spectators are permitted to stand behind the goal area.

Forfeits
A team shall be allowed a 5-minute grace period after the scheduled kickoff in the preliminary rounds before the match is awarded to their 2 opponent. A minimum of 3 players constitutes a team, and if 3 players are present the match may not be delayed. If during the course of the match a team falls below the minimum 3 players, the game will be forfeited to their opponent. A team that has forfeited a game may not advance to the finals. If an apparent group winner forfeits, the group team with the next best record will be declared the group winner. A forfeit in the preliminary rounds shall be awarded as 3 points for a win with the score 5-0.

Points
At the conclusion of the preliminary matches, each team will be ranked according to their performance. This ranking will determine the teams that will meet in the semi-final or the final matches. The ranking criteria are as follows:

• Win – 3 points
• Tie – 1 point
• Loss – 0 points
• Win by forfeit – 3 points

The team with the most matches points finishes first. A match that has been cancelled by the Tournament Committee will be awarded a 0-0 tie.

Tiebreaker
In the event of a tie within a division, the following tiebreaker rules will be applied in order:

1. Winner of head-to-head competition
2. Least goals allowed during the preliminary matches
3. Goal differential.
4. Penalty kick shoot-out.

If 3 teams are tied for any position, the above process will be used, except head-to-head competition will be eliminated and the first tiebreaker will be least goals allowed.

DIVISIONAL PLAY

Division of 4
Each team will play a 3 game round-robin schedule. The Division winner will be the team with the most points.

Division of 5
Each team will play a 4 game round-robin schedule. The Division winner will be the team with the most points.

Division of 6
The division will be split into two groups of 3. Each team will play a 2 game round robin schedule. The first place team in each group will play the second place team in the other group in a semi-final match. The winner of each of those semi-final games will advance to the final. The third place team in each group will play in a consolation game.

Division of 8
The division will be split into two groups of 4. Each team will play a 3 game round robin schedule. The first place team in each group will advance to the final.

Division of 12
The division will be split into 4 groups of 3. Each team will play a 2 game round robin schedule. The first place team from each group will advance to semi-final matches. The winner of each of those semi-final games will advance to the final. Second and third 3 place teams from each group will each play a consolation game against a comparably ranked team from a different group.

Weather Rules:

Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear on the field of play as scheduled, ready to play unless notified by a member of the Tournament Committee. Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the match. Only the referee or the Tournament Committee can cancel or delay a match. In the event matches are cancelled by the Tournament Committee due to inclement weather, a recorded message will be broadcast on the Tournament Weather Hotline, 919-607-0834. If no message is broadcast, it should be assumed that matches will be played at the scheduled times.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation before the match – Preliminary Rounds
Referee and/or the Tournament Committee may reduce the length of a match, and subsequent matches. If a match is cancelled the Tournament Committee will award a 0-0 tie.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation before the match – Semi-final or Final Rounds
If a championship round cannot begin, a shoot-out will take place to determine the winner. If a shoot-out cannot take place, the match will be decided by the toss of a coin.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation during the Match – Preliminary Rounds
The match will be considered completed and the score will stand if one period has been completed. If less than one period of the match has been completed, the Tournament Committee will award a 0-0 tie.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation during the Match – Championship Rounds
The match will be considered completed and the score will stand if one period has been completed. If less than one period of the match has been completed or if a tie exists at the stoppage of play, a shootout will take place to determine the winner. If a shoot-out cannot take place the winner will be decided by the toss of a coin.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation of the Tournament - Severe
Inclement weather could cause the shortening or cancellation of the tournament. In the event some games have been played, the Tournament Committee will endeavor to determine standings based on the games played.

Beach5SandSoccer Tournament (Weather/Refund)

If bad weather occurs during the event and all matches are cancelled Beach5SandSoccer will refund all teams after non refundable cost are covered by the tournament. If any games
are played no refund will be given/provided to teams.

Game Play Rules:

SIMPLIFIED RULES

These simplified rules are for your convenience, the Beach 5 Sand Soccer Series LAWS OF THE GAME are the official rules.

• The Penalty area is 10 yards deep by the width of the field.
• The goalkeeper can use his hands in the Penalty area.
  Two teams of five (5) players play the game on each team. One of the five shall be the goalkeeper.
• A coin toss will determine which team has the option between the kick-off and the choice of sides on the pitch.
• There are no limits for the number or timing of substitutions. Substitutions can occur when play has stopped. A substitute player is allowed to enter the pitch only after the player that is being substituted has left the pitch.
• Goalkeeper substitutions may only occur when play has stopped and the referee has been notified.
• At a kickoff, the players of the opposing team shall stay at least five yards from the ball in their half of the pitch.
• A goal cannot be scored directly from the kick-off. All other free kicks are direct.
• The game has 3 periods of 12 minutes each with 2 intervals of 3 minutes to allow the teams to change sides.
• Fouls will be penalized by awarding a direct free kick. All players must remain at least 5 yards from the ball.
• The keeper must remain on his line until the ball is kicked on all foul related direct free kicks.
• The player fouled must take the kick unless injured.
• A small mound of sand may be formed for the ball on free kicks, NO OTHER TIME.

If the foul occurs in the penalty area
A penalty kick shall be awarded at the center of the penalty line and all players must remain behind the penalty line.

If the foul occurs in attacking half of the pitch (not in penalty area)
A direct free kick shall be awarded at the location of the foul and all players must remain behind the ball.

If the foul occurs in defensive half of the pitch
No wall may be formed, no player can stand in the triangle formed by the ball and the two goalposts. No player may interfere with the ball except the keeper if it is being shot towards goal or is still in the air. If it leaves that triangle or touches the sand, any player can play the ball. All keeper re-starts are with hands only; there is no goal kick. The goalkeeper cannot score a goal using his hands. The goalkeeper is allowed to touch/receive the ball with his hands or arms from either a pass back or header from a teammate ONCE during a given possession. However, the keeper shall NOT BE ALLOWED TO DO THIS A SECOND CONSECUTIVE TIME during a given possession without the ball touching an opponent player. Defenders must remain 5 yards from the ball on a corner kick. Ball can be inbounded from the sidelines using either hands or feet. A goal cannot be scored directly from an inbounds. The keeper can receive an inbounds with his hands; this counts as first pass back. There are no offside’s.

US Youth Soccer Age Eligibility Chart

Born	2008/09	2009/10	2010 / 11
8/1/86 & Later
8/1/87 & Later
8/1/88 & Later
8/1/89 & Later	U19
8/1/90 & Later	U18	U19
8/1/91 & Later	U17	U18	U19
8/1/92 & Later	U16	U17	U18
8/1/93 & Later	U15	U16	U17
8/1/94 & Later	U14	U15	U16
8/1/95 & Later	U13	U14	U15
8/1/96 & Later	U12	U13	U14
8/1/97 & Later	U11	U12	U13
8/1/98 & Later	U10	U11	U12
8/1/99 & Later	U9	U10	U11
8/1/00 & Later	U8	U9	U10
8/1/01 & Later	U7	U8	U9
8/1/02 & Later	U6	U7	U8
8/1/03 & Later		U6	U7
8/1/04 & Later			U6

 

Player Equipment:

Footwear:
It is strictly forbidden to wear any kind of footwear other than what is authorized. Authorized footwear includes bare feet, sand socks; socks taped up and foot wraps.

Uniforms:
Teams must wear their team uniforms. Goal Keepers shall wear a uniform of contrasting color with other players and the referee. No jersey numbers are required. Use of plastic goggles for eye protection is allowed.