Showcase Rules

GAME FORMAT: Each team will play only 3 games, 40 Minutes Per Half and a 5 minute Rest Between Periods: – One(1) Friday Game – One(1) Saturday Game – One(1) Sunday Game or a 2nd Saturday Day Game to be defined by the Scheduling Committee

NOTE: TEAM CHECK IN IS FRIDAY 75 MINUTES BEFORE YOUR FIRST GAME TIME AT THE FIELD YOU ARE SCHEDULED TO PLAY AT.
A team representative must present to the Field Marshal the team’s player cards and medical release forms to be verified against the roster/game cards so the team may be checked in to play and the game started as scheduled. The “Roster” is the roster that has been entered into the ESC Tournament Software System for the event. The Field Marshal will retain the game card and the team’s player cards until completion of the game. Failure to check in will result in automatic disqualification (without a refund of the fee) from the tournament. Games not played will be classified as “Forfeits”.

PAPERWORK REQUIRED: Current laminated USYSA player cards for 2023/24 will be required of all players as proof of age and must be available for inspection at initial check-in and at the start of each game. Note: Region IV Teams are not required to present Travel Papers USYSA Teams from outside Region IV must provide approved Travel Papers, which must include a roster listing all players authorized to travel by the team’s State Association. All Travel Papers must be submitted to the Tournament Director prior to check in. Any player not listed on the Travel Papers, including any amendments, properly executed by the team’s State Association will not be allowed to play in the tournament. Proper Player Loan Forms will be required at Registration along with other required credentials, as required by the team’s State Association.

All teams must provide the USYSA Player I.D. Cards from the State Association listed on this application. The November Nights Showcase will also accept teams registering under the Player I.D. Cards from associations other than USYSA, like US Club Soccer. US CLUB SOCCER does not require Travel Papers. Medical release forms will be required for all players at initial check-in. Teams will be required to keep medical releases on hand at all times.
Laminated player cards with photo for all players are required. Either full set of 2023/24 USYSA Cards OR Full Set of 2023/24 US CLUB Cards. No mixing. Current laminated USYSA or US Club player cards for 2023/24 will be required of all players as proof of age and must be available for inspection at initial check-in and at the start of each game.

GAME CARDS: We will print and provide the Game Cards with your final roster. GAME CARDS will be given back to the Team Manager after each game by the Field Marshal, once scores are recorded and signed. Team Managers are responsible for bringing GAME CARDS to the next game for check in and score recording as you may play at a different field. We do not print extras. All Team Managers will be asked to provide their cell phone number in case you leave the field without your player or game cards.

TEAM AREAS: Chairs & Canopies will be provided for all teams. Bags should be placed in the area immediately behind the chairs under the tents. At some venues the college coaches will share the same sidelines as the teams. Spectator areas will be separate from the players, coaches and college coaches. Please inform your parents to sit only in designated spectator areas.

TEAM BROCHURES (Please Read Carefully)
Team Representatives are not allowed to be on the sidelines handing out team flyers. Our Mobile App by our college recruitment partner, SCOUTINGZONE, has all the information for the College Coaches to access and view Team Profiles(AKA Team Flyers) and Individual Player
Profiles. Teams are not required to print these Team Profiles/Brochures.

MATCH/GAME BALLS: Game Balls are the responsibility of the Home Team

GAME TIME MANAGEMENT & RUNNING CLOCK: THERE ARE 5 MINUTES BETWEEN EACH MATCH AND 5 MINUTE HALVES. WARMUPS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON THE FIELD PRIOR TO THE START OF MATCH. All teams should warm up in the designated team areas as instructed by the field marshal.

There will be no stoppage time for injuries; in other words, there is a running clock for all games.
All Field Marshals and Referees have been instructed to run the showcase as scheduled to ensure we finish all games by 9:30PM so that we may shut down the venue before the lights get turned off at 10PM. That being said, Coaches and Team Managers are asked to make sure players are at the fields on time and ready to play at the scheduled time. Please make sure the players have uniforms on and proper playing equipment at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the match. We will make every effort to start games on time in order to respect the other teams schedules. If necessary, Showcase Officials reserve the right to shorten games to stay on schedule. Home team will change if there is a color conflict.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF GAMES: Teams that have concluded a game should immediately retrieve gear take trash and water bottles and leave the Team Bench Area so the next team can place gear and get on the field to start the next game. Teams waiting to play should be courteous and wait at the end lines and should not head to Team Bench area until the final whistle blows.

SUBSEQUENT GAME CHECK IN: 45 Minutes prior to scheduled start. Field Marshall will check player card pictures with roster/game card. Players must have Shin Guards and Remove All Jewelry

ROSTERS: Teams may register and use a maximum of Twenty Five (25) players.

RULES OF PLAY
Showcase Game Format: Each team will play 3 games.
Showcase Games (halves): 40 minutes
Ball Size: 5
Determining Winners: Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:

  • Six (6) points for each Win
  • Three (3) points for each Tie
  • Zero (0) points for each Loss
  • One (1) point for each goal scored up to a maximum of three (3) per game
  • One (1) point for each shutout
  • Minus one (-1) for each player or coach ejected
  • A 0-0 tie will be scored as 4 points for each team (3 for tie, 1 for shutout)

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY SEMI’S OR FINAL GAMES.
All games will be played under FIFA rules with USYSA and CalSouth adjustments for youth competition with the following additions and clarifications: There will be no stoppage time for injuries; in other words, there is a running clock for all games. After the start of a match, it will be the decision of the referee whether or not playing conditions are safe.
The Tournament Director has the final say on the determination of safety and suitability of each player’s equipment, including the wearing of knee brace and/or hard cast. Shin guards are mandatory for all players.

Home Team Responsibilities: The Home Team will be the team which appears first on the game schedule. The Home Team will be required to switch to an alternate jersey to accommodate a color conflict as declared by the Field Marshal. If the Home Team cannot supply an alternate jersey, the Home Team will forfeit the game.

Substitutions: Substitutions are unlimited; however teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission and per CalSouth rules.

Cautions and Ejections: A player or coach receiving two cautions (yellow cards) in a single game is considered to have been given an Ejection (red card) for the purposes of awarding points for the Tournament competition. A player who has been ejected (sent off) will not be replaced. A player or coach who has been ejected will not return for that game and must leave the field of play and will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game. A player or coach who is ejected for violent conduct or serious foul play will not be allowed to participate in the next two scheduled games. Any player or coach who assaults a referee will be expelled from the Tournament. A team will be disqualified from the Tournament if any player or coach fails to comply with the provisions of this section. All red cards are reported to CalSouth. Cards for ejected Player’s or coaches will be available from the Field Marshal after they have satisfied their penalty.

Protests/Disputes: No protests will be allowed and all games will be considered final. The Tournament Director will resolve any situation not explicitly covered by the rules. Disputes relating to the interpretation of these rules will be resolved with the Field Marshal and Administrators/Coaches that are registered with the involved team(s). Individuals may not represent a team if not registered as an Administrator/Coach with the involved team(s).

Forfeits/Byes: All teams who forfeit will have the game(s) scored as a 0-1 loss. The winner will be awarded eight (8) points (6 for the win; 1 for a goal and 1 for a shutout). If, at the discretion of the Tournament Director, a forfeit provides an unfair advantage, the Tournament Director may make an adjustment in the bracket. Teams forfeiting their first game will be assumed to forfeit all of their games unless they contact the Tournament Director at least 3 hours prior to their subsequent games. Teams will forfeit for any of the following reasons:

  • Teams fail to check in at the required location, ready to play five minutes before the scheduled kick off time
  • Home team fails to produce an alternate color jersey if referee determines there is a color conflict
  • Teams fail to produce laminated player passes and/or coach’s pass
  • Teams fail to report to the field with the minimum number of players (7) required to start the game
  • Coach is ejected and fails to leave the field when directed to do so
  • Coach is ejected and there is no other Licensed and Risk Management cleared Coach available
  • Game is suspended due to the misconduct of players, coaches, administrators, parents or spectators

There will be no refunds to teams who forfeit their own games.

Field Safety/Inclement Weather: The Referee and Tournament Director will determine if a field is safe for play. Teams are expected to show up for scheduled games times unless notified by a tournament official. Rain or other weather conditions will not delay play unless the referee and Tournament Director determines the fields are unsafe. If necessary games may be shortened, go directly to FIFA Penalty Kicks or be cancelled. If a game is terminated due to problems associated with the fields, including lighting for a night game, the team in the lead at the time of stoppage wins.

If a Quarter or Semi Final match cannot be played, FIFA penalty kicks will determine the winner. If the Final game cannot be played, the teams will be co-champions. If games cannot be rescheduled or played due to rain or other circumstances, the Tournament Director will make refund adjustments and retains the right to keep up to one-third (1/3) of the team fee to cover expenses.

CONDUCT
All players, coaches and spectators will be expected to demonstrate good Sportsman like conduct. Coaches have total responsibility for the conduct of their Player’s, substitutes, friends and spectators at all times. Inappropriate conduct by your team’s spectators can jeopardize your coach and/or team. If a referee terminates a game due to misconduct of players or spectators, the offending team will forfeit. The offending player, spectator or team may be banned from further participation in the tournament. At no time is there to be any alcoholic beverages at the tournament sites. Pets are not allowed on any of the fields. This is a smoke-free environment; no smoking is allowed at any of the fields. After each game, please pick up the trash on your sideline and place it in one of the provided receptacles. Please help us keep the games on time by immediately collecting your things and clearing your sideline after your game. This will allow the next team to move into position and prepare for the start of their game. If playing a game on an artificial turf field, shade devices (umbrellas, pop-ups) that must be anchored into the ground cannot be used as it will damage the turf. In addition no gum or sunflower seeds are allowed on the turf playing surfaces.

GENERAL
a) Under no circumstances whatsoever will the Tournament Committee, CalSouth or IYSA/City SC be responsible for any expenses (including the Tournament entry fee) incurred by any team. This includes a situation where the Tournament or any game(s) is canceled/terminated in whole or in part once it starts.
b) The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of the rules shall be final.
c) The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to this Tournament up to and including competition selection and revocation.

Refunds: Once a team has been accepted, NO REFUNDS will be granted.