Reindeer Games

TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS

Team Eligibility – Competitive teams must play in the age group of their oldest player.  NELA Sports Board has the final say on the acceptance or denial of all team applications submitted for the event.

Laws of the Game: Except as modified by these Rules, all games will be played in accordance with the laws of the game observed by USYF

Eligibility:

Each participating team must submit the following (online checkin):

1. A complete online entry application & entry fee payment.
2. An official roster.
3. Digital acknowledgement that coach/manager is in possession of medical releases at all times.

Player and Coach Passes:

Each player and all coaches on the player side of the field must be registered with the tournament. Referees will not collect player passes for each match, we will utilize game reports which includes a roster for each team. Each player is allowed to participate with only one team entered in the tournament. Players that are found to have played for multiple teams will result in a forfeit of all games in which the offending player participated.

Guest players must have a completed guest player form and his/her player card uploaded during the check-in process Guest/club pass player names can be hand written on the roster as long as all forms and player cards are uploaded during check-in.

Player’s Equipment:

No player shall wear anything that is dangerous to himself/herself or to any other player, including but not limited to earrings (must be removed, not merely taped), watches, rings and medallions. Medical casts and splints must be approved prior to the start of each match by the referee. Shin guards are mandatory and must be worn under the socks.  Indoor soccer, futsal, or basketball types shoes are required.  Cleats SHALL NOT be allowed.

Substitutions

Substitutions shall be unlimited. Substitutions shall be made on the fly while the team is on defense from the center court mark.  The substituted player shall be off the court prior to the substitute player entering the court.

Length of Match, Overtime Periods and Ball Size:

No overtime periods in pool play. Tie scores will stand in pool games. Brackets games shall utilize one round of shootouts from the free throw line to determine the winner.  The first round of shootouts shall only include the players on the court at the end of regulation time. A second and any subsequential round of shootouts shall first utilize those players who have not participated in the shootout.

Time Outs:

Each team is allowed one, one minute, time out per half.  The clock shall stop for the time out and the referee shall be responsible for keeping the time out time.

Match Field and Team Responsibilities:

Tournament Officials shall assign playing field(s). Each team will abide by the following:

1. Be at your match ready to play, at the designated time.
2. First team listed is home team.  To help facilitate the pregame process, there will be no coin tosses prior to games.  The visiting team will select the side they would like to defend.
3. Game balls shall be furnished by the host league, who shall present a primary and an alternate game ball to the referee prior to the start of the game.
4. The coach/manager of the winning team is responsible for verifying that the score to be reported by the referee is correct. Referees will turn in all game cards to tournament officials.
5. Following your game, please clean your team area and vacate the bench area immediately.  Post game team talks should be conducted after leaving the bench area.
6. Spectators will sit across the court from their respective teams/coaches. Spectators should remain either upstairs or along the outer perimeter of the courts.
7. Coaches are responsible for the behavior and actions of persons on their sideline. Good sportsmanship will be expected from each coach, team, parent and spectator.

Protests:

The Referee’s decision concerning all aspects of the match is final. NO protests will be allowed.

Cautions and Send-Offs:

An ejected player or coach is ineligible for his/her teams next scheduled match. If the coach trains more than one team, he/she will serve the suspension with the team he/she was sent off with. Any player or coach who receives a red card will be ineligible to participate in the next tournament match.  Further disciplinary actions may be imposed at the discretion of the Board. Any coach or player receiving two yellow cards in the same game will culminate in a red card infraction and he/she will be ineligible to participate in the next tournament match. Any red cards received in the final bracket game will carry forward to post bracket games. All red card infractions will be reported to the appropriate State Association. If a teams coach receives a red card and there are no other adults with a valid coaching pass available to finish the match, the match will be terminated and scored as a forfeit for the offending team. Please make sure you have at least one other designated coach/team manager.

The coach is responsible for the actions of verbal and physical abuse of referees by his/her spectators. Any player or coach sent-off must immediately report to the administration tent and remain there until the match is completed. If the offender does not leave the field area within 2 minutes, or fails to report to the administration tent, the referee or tournament director will declare the match a forfeit. Abuse of referees, tournament staff, or security staff will not be tolerated. Any spectator sent off by a referee, tournament official or security officer will be escorted to the parking lot. They will not be allowed back in the field area for the rest of that day. A spectator is anyone who is not a player, coach or official.

Grace Periods:

There are no grace periods. Any team that is not ready to play at the scheduled time is subject to (Tournament Director’s discretion) forfeit of that game. Teams should be at the game field at least 15 minutes before the scheduled game time but not before 30 minutes prior to kickoff and be ready for check in with the referee.

Termination of the Match:

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to end the tournament, shorten matches or reschedule matches in the event of inclement weather. Such decisions shall be final and binding. In case of inclement weather, the Tournament Director will determine if the match is to be played. Once the match has started, the decision rests with the referee. If any matches are canceled, the involved coaches are responsible for checking with the Tournament Director for rescheduling information. Suspended matches that cannot be resumed shall be considered complete if at least one half of the match has been completed. The score at the stoppage of play shall be the final score. If at least one half has not been completed and the match cannot be resumed, the match will be rescheduled from the point of stoppage (weather permitting) only if it affects the outcome of the tournament. In the event the Tournament is terminated due to weather, winners will be determined under the point system described below. Check the tournament website for weather and other tournament related information updates.

The NELA Sports board reserves the right to end the tournament in the event of low participation numbers.  Such decisions shall be final and binding.

FACILITY RULES:

1. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.
2. Smoking is NOT permitted.
3. NOpets allowed (not even on a leash.)
4. Only park in the designated parking areas.
5. A $10 entrance feeper adult (18 Years old and older) per day will be collected upon entrance. Those wearing Reindeer Game pre-sold merchandise shall be admitted free.
6. Outside food and drinks are not permitted.

Refunds:

A team withdrawing from the Tournament before the entry deadline will receive a refund, less a 25% administrative fee. There will be no refunds given to a team withdrawing after the entry deadline. Teams submitting incorrect information or changing information on the entry form after acceptance shall be subject to removal from the Tournament and forfeiture of the entry fee. In case of cancellation of the tournament due to inclement weather prior to the first games, 25% of the entry fee will be retained by the NELA Sports Association to cover expenses and start-up costs. No refund will be given once the tournament begins. If the tournament is cancelled prior to its start due to Covid-19, teams will receive a full refund.  In case of cancellation of the tournament or age division due to low participation, teams will receive a full refund.

Team / Player Awards:

Individual player medals will be awarded to all 1st and 2nd place teams in all Divisions.

POINT AND WINNER DETERMINATION

POINT AWARDS FOR GAMES

The following points will be awarded for games played during the any round-robin competition:

6 points for a win

3 points for a tie

0 points for a loss

1 point for each goal (max of 3)

1 point for a shutout

Forfeited round-robin games:

The non-forfeiting team shall be accorded:

6 points for the win

3 goals for, 0 goals against for a total of 9 points (no shutout point given)

The forfeiting team shall be accorded:

0 points for the loss

0 goals for, 3 goals against

TIEBREAKERS

At the completion of round-robin competition, if two or more teams are tied in the number of points awarded, advancement will be decided in the following sequential order (Note: bracket winners are determined first before wildcards or overall best second teams):

1. Winner of head-to-head competition during round-robin competition. This applies for advancement only if teams have played one another. Head-to-Head is not used if more than two teams are tied. If more than two (2) teams are tied, the following sequence will be followed until a team is eliminated. The remaining teams will then restart the sequence at (b.) below, until the tie is broken.

In all cross bracket formats, if more than two teams are tied then head to head will be used if one team has defeated all other teams with which it is tied.

1. Most wins
2. Team with the greatest net goal difference (NGD) which is computed as “goals for” minus “Goals against” with a maximum of 4 NGD in each game.

Example: A team’s 3 game scores vs. opponent are:

6 – 1 = +4

1 – 3 = -2

2 – 2 = 0

Total goal difference = +2

1. Team with the least goals against (there is NO limit on the number of goals that will be counted to determine this tiebreaker
2. Teams with most goals (maximum of 5 goals in each game).
3. Shootout kicks from free throw line