All games will be played according to FIFA laws except as modified by the rules below.

Teams must be registered with their respective State, Provincial, or National Soccer Association. Each team may have no more than 18 players with unlimited guest players allowed. Player age is determined by the age for players during the Fall 2006 season.  No player shall play for more than one team throughout the Tournament week. Upon registration for the tournament on Friday night or Saturday morning all forms and player eligibility must be submitted along with a complete roster as provided by Golden Goal.  In addition, all teams must also possess and show current U.S. Youth Soccer or appropriate organizational player passes. In the event that a participant does not have a current player pass, a valid birth certificate along with photo identification and/or passport will be accepted.

Teams that are members of organizations of the United States Soccer Federation but not members of US Youth Soccer (such as AYSO, SAY, US Club Soccer or Super Y Leagues) DO NOT have to have a US Youth Soccer Application To Travel form.  An approved team roster does need to be provided to tournament officials, along with current player passes from its organization.

Player passes, team rosters, medical release forms, and permission to travel forms (if applicable) will be checked and verified at registration.

III. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

Each weeklong tournament will be have four (4) age groups delineated as follows: 
U14      Born on or after August 1, 1992
U13      Born on or after August 1, 1993
U12      Born on or after August 1, 1994
U11      Born on or after August 1, 1995

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to combine age groups if necessary.

All players and teams participating in the Tournament must meet the following equipment requirements:

• No metal cleats will be allowed on Golden Goal fields
• Shin guards must be worn by all players
• No jewelry will be allowed on players who are in the field during competition
• The designated home team must wear the Golden Goal provided uniform. 
• The referee will determine if a jersey change is required.
• All players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must have uniforms with individual numbers on the shirt. The goalkeeper's jersey must be easily distinguishable from all other players and the referee.

Any player wearing a protective cast or case around a body part must report the use to the Golden Goal Medical Staff and will be allowed to participate under the following conditions:

• The cast is wrapped in foam or other protective material that will protect other players from being injured by impact.
• The player wearing the cast does not attempt to use the cast against another player or to gain an advantage during play (the referee will have sole discretion over such intent).
• The referee approves the cast prior to each game (approval will not be withheld without a full explanation of the safety concern and all attempts will be made to remedy the situation and create a safe condition for all players on the field).
• No equipment changes may be made after the referee's check without permission from the referee.
• Sleeveless jerseys will be permitted provided they are safe to all participants
• The referee will have the final say concerning the acceptance of equipment for play.

Every attempt will be made to have all matches played and the Tournament Director shall have final say over the start or continuation of play due to severe weather conditions.  All cancelled or postponed matches will be rescheduled at the first available time slot that does not interfere with either teams established tournament schedule. 

Golden Goal anticipates being able to conclude all 6 tournament matches during the week, however the Golden Goal Tournament Director reserves the right to cancel or modify any match due to weather conditions prior to the start of the match.  Once the match starts the decision to delay, postpone or cancel play is the responsibility of the referee.

Regardless of weather conditions (with the exception of lightning or severe weather conditions), teams and coaches must be at the game site and ready to play on time as scheduled. Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the game.

Matches will continue during rainstorms but will be suspended in the event of lightning and/or unplayable field conditions. Should a game be terminated due to severe conditions, the match will be rescheduled at a later time to continue with the exact game situation (score, time, player penalties, etc).

Pool play matches may be officiated by 2 person crews and the playoffs will be officiated by 3 person crews.  All head referees are certified, and they will be assigned to work with a cadet who will be in training for certification.  The playoffs will be officiated by 2 certified referees and one cadet.  If requested by the referee, each team must provide a linesman to assist on sideline out of bounds calls as needed.

If a referee fails to arrive at the field as scheduled, the game will proceed using an alternative referee assigned by the Tournament Director until the scheduled referee arrives. The score from any such match is official and no protests are allowed.

The home team is the team listed second in the official game schedule. Both teams and coaches will occupy the same side of the field with spectators on the other side and at the end of the field. Coaches must remain within twenty yards of the centerline. Under no circumstances will players, coaches, officials, or spectators be allowed to stand or position themselves behind the goal line.

All teams must be prepared to start matches on time. If a team is not on the field of play and ready to start a match within 5 minutes after the scheduled start time, the match will be deemed a forfeit.

Each team will have 11 players on the field including the goalkeeper.  In case of injury and/or player ejection, teams may play with less than 11 players to complete a match. 

Pool Play matches will consist of:

• Two twenty five (25) minute halves with a 5-minute intermission.  Pool Play matches ending in a tie will conclude at the end of regulation time with each team being credited with a tie.
• Championship Playoff matches ending the 50 minutes of play with a tie score will be resolved as described in section XV below.

Game balls for U11 and U12 will be size 4, U13 and U14 will use a size 5 ball. 

There shall be unlimited substitutions with the permission of the referee at the following times:

• A stoppage of play for a ball out of bounds with ball possession
• At the same time as the opponent
• Before a goal kick
• After a goal is scored
• At the beginning of the second half
• In case of injury
• After a player receives a caution (yellow card)

The following point system will apply to determine Pool Play rankings for the Championship Playoff Round:

• Pool Play win  - 6 points
• Pool Play tie – 3 points
• Pool Play loss – 0 points

During the Championship Playoffs, tie scores at the end of regulation time will be resolved as follows:

Following a five-minute break, a five-minute sudden death overtime period is played with the game ending on the first goal scored.  If neither team scores during the first overtime period, a second five-minute sudden death overtime period is played and the game ending with the first score.

If at the end of the second overtime period, the match is still tied, the official FIFA penalty kick procedure will be used with only the players that were on the field at the end of the second overtime period being eligible to participate.

• Captains meet for coin toss to determine who kicks first.
• Referee decides which goal is to be used.
• Five players, selected by the coach, will be used for the first round of penalty kicks - alternating kicks between teams.
• The team scoring the most goals will be the winner. If there is a winner prior to all kicks being taken, the match will end and further kicks need not be completed.
• If a tie still exists after the first round, the remaining players from each team will alternate kicks until one-team scores and the other team does not.

The head referee is responsible for obtaining the signature of both coaches on the official scorecard and for presenting the completed scorecard to the tournament director.

XVII. AWARDS

The Golden Goal Cup will be presented to the winning team following the Championship Match and a trophy will be awarded to the other team that participated in the Championship Match of each division.  Each player on the roster of the teams participating in the Championship Match will receive an individual trophy.