August 20 - 22, 2010 TOURNAMENT RULES

NOTE: extended deadline date of August 7 "In 1875, the Dallas Herald published an article by a former Fort Worth lawyer, Robert E. Cowart, who wrote that the decimation of Fort Worth's population, caused by the economic disaster and hard winter of 1873 which dealt a severe blow to the cattle industry, combined with the railroad stopping the laying of track 30 miles outside of Fort Worth had caused Fort Worth to become such a drowsy place that he saw a panther asleep in the street by the courthouse. The nickname Panther City was enthusiastically embraced when in 1876 Fort Worth recovered economically and many businesses and organizations were named Panther." (Source: Panther City Fountain)

1. Each team must have numbered alternate jerseys or numbered T-shirts available. Violators will be removed from the field and not allowed back on the field of play until player equipment is corrected. Home Team is team listed first on schedule. Home Team will change jerseys if there is a color conflict. Both teams will occupy the same sideline opposite the parents and spectators.
2. A game shall be declared a forfeit if a team is not ready to play at the published time or immediately after the previous game is completed.
3. A game shall be declared a forfeit by the Cup & Games Committee or tournament committee if an ineligible player participates in a game. Any protest of ineligible player must be reported in writing, with either a One Hundred Dollar ($100) cashier’s check, money order or cash deposit before the end of the game to the tournament field headquarters.
4. Teams will play Mini-Games in preliminary & quarter-final games. Semi-final and Final games will be full length. Half-time will be five (5) minutes.
   

5. Four (4) team brackets that play each other within the bracket, the team with the highest total points will advance from the bracket. Three team brackets that play crossover games with other three team brackets, the two (2) teams with the highest total points of the two (2) brackets will advance. “Wild Card” team is the next highest point total from all brackets. Preliminary games may end in a tie. If Quarter Final games end in a tie, FIFA “kicks” from the penalty spot will be taken to determine the winner. If semi-final or final games end in a tie, two (2) overtime halves will be played, and if the game is still tied at the end of the second overtime period, FIFA “kicks” from the penalty spot will be taken to determine the winner.

1. 6 points for a win
2. 3 points for a tie
3. 0 points for a loss
4. 1 point per goal scored in the game with a maximum of 3
5. 1 point for a shutout (not allowing opponent to score)
6. A forfeit game will be scored at a 3-0 win in calculating prelim-games points for tiebreaker determination.

1. Head to Head game results - winner will advance.
2. Goal differential - team with highest goal differential against opponents will advance (maximum of three (3) goals scored - goals against. Only the first three (3) goals scored by any team in any game will be counted in calculating winning points for advancement. (Example: A 4-1 game = 3-1 in calculating advancement; a 10-4 game = 3-3 in calculating advancement).
3. Fewest goals allowed - team with fewest goals allowed will advance.
4. Fewest accumulation of caution points, 1 point for yellow and 2 points for red.
5. Penalty kicks
   

6. Each team must have a minimum of seven (7) players on the field to start the game. There must be a minimum of seven (7) to continue the game.
7. There will be free substitution, with the referee’s consent, at the following times:
   

9. Any send-offs should be reported to the Tournament Committee immediately following the game. Any player or coach sent-off (other than on account of receiving two cautions in the same game) shall automatically sit out the next played tournament game with their team (unless the send-off occurred in the last game of the tournament for that player or coach, in which case such player or coach would be required to sit out their next scheduled game played). If the send-off was for fighting, or if it is the player’s second tournament send-off, the player will be suspended from the remainder of the tournament. Any player receiving three (3) cautions (yellow cards) in the tournament must sit out the next played tournament game with their team (unless the third caution occurred in the last game of the tournament for that player or coach, in which case such player or coach would be required to sit out their next scheduled game played). The NTSSA Cup & Games A&D Committee has the right to hold a hearing and increase the suspension at its discretion.
10. All referee decisions are final. No protests will be allowed, except for ineligible player, and must be submitted in writing by the Coach or Manager to the Tournament Committee within two (2) hours of the incident.
11. The Chairman of Cup & Games, tournament director, or their designee, is empowered to make all decisions regarding the competition during the tournament.
12. The decision of the Chairman of Cup & Games or Tournament Director is final in all matters. No appeals will be allowed beyond that point.
13. In the event the referee or linesmen are missing from the field, report immediately to your Field Coordinator. In the event the linesmen are not available, each team is required to provide a “club linesman”.
14. Any team that withdraws from a tournament less than two weeks from the start of the tournament or does not complete all required scheduled games, may not be allowed to enter any sanctioned tournaments until said team appears before the NTSSA Cup & Games Committee for a hearing explaining their actions and may forfeit their entry fee and performance bond, if one has been posted.
15. INCLEMENT WEATHER – Format for tournament play and/or completion of the tournament will be determined by the tournament committee. Every effort will be made to complete the games and tournament. If games are suspended, teams and spectators should go to the parking lot and stay in their cars. DO NOT leave the complex until you know games will not be resumed. Play will resume at the point it was suspended. Games may temporarily be suspended in either the 1st or 2nd half with the intention of resuming play as soon as possible. If games cannot be resumed, games that have completed the first half will be considered complete games. The score at the stoppage of play will be the final score for that game. If games have not reached halftime they will be rescheduled and replayed in their entirety, time permitting. Rescheduled games may be mini-games, and may only be rescheduled if they effect advancement. Either the Coach or Manager should check with the tournament complex headquarters for more information before leaving.