Technical Guidelines Under 20 Soccer

Revised September 11/14

General Rules

 

• These rules are in addition to the published rules of the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA), and apply to both Under 20 Boys and Girls Outdoor Soccer.
• All games will be refereed by OSA class 2 and class 3 qualified officials.

 

• Each game will consist of 2 x 20 minute halves, running time with a 3-5 minute half time. Times may be altered during the tournament at the convenor’s discretion depending on timing. There will be NO timeouts. Duration of games may vary year to year depending on the number of teams entered in the tournament.

 

• A team may bring and dress a maximum of 18 participants. All teams will be allowed a maximum of 10 players and 1 goalie on the field at one time. Substitutions are made on goal kicks or own throw-ins, as per OSA rules.

 

• The tournament will be played on a full size grass soccer field, therefore running shoes are permitted, but soccer cleats are strongly recommended. Cleats must be rubber studs…NO METAL SPIKES are permitted.   Shin pads are mandatory, no exceptions, and socks must completely cover shin pads.

 

• A size 5 regulation outdoor soccer ball will be used.

 

• All teams must wear the same colour numbered and identifiable shirts, with no number conflicts, or face possible disqualification. Teams should also bring alternate jerseys or numbered pinneys in case of jersey colour conflicts. Specified home team (first team listed on schedule) will be required to change jerseys if necessary.

 

• There will be a coin toss prior to each game to determine who gets the kickoff or choice of side. On the kickoff, the ball must be passed forward to cross the centreline before play can commence. After each goal, the ball will be placed at centre for a kickoff by the team that was scored on.

 

• Offside rules are in effect. To clarify, the ball may not be passed to a player who is behind the last defender of the opposing team. Shots on net while a player is in an offside position are allowed.
• Any purposeful body contact or major rule infractions will result in appropriate actions up to and including yellow or red cards, removal of the offender from the tournament, or forfeiture of games at the discretion of the referee.
• Handballs will result in a free kick for the opposing team. A handball is considered any contact from the shoulder down to the fingertips. Any handballs in the goal crease (18 yard box) will result in a penalty shot for the opposing team. The goalkeeper may not use his/her hands outside of the crease (18 yard box).
• There will be no overtime in round-robin play. Any ties in round-robin play will remain a tie.
• Any player receiving 3 yellow cards or 1 red card in a game will be automatically ejected from that game. The team will play the remainder of that game short-handed. In addition, any player who receives 2 red cards, or 6 yellow cards throughout the tournament will be ejected from the remainder of the tournament. The team will play short-handed for the remainder of the game in which the ejection took place.
• Referees decisions are FINAL. Zero tolerance for verbal abuse towards officials is in effect. Any violations will result in immediate action, up to and including removal of the offender from the tournament or forfeiture of games. Zero tolerance for trash-talking. Violations will result in a free kick, and possible removal of offenders from the tournament or forfeiture of games. Forfeited or defaulted games will result in a score of 2-0 for the non-offending team.

 

Playoffs

 

• All ties in standings are broken by the following:

Total Points

Most wins
Head to Head

+/-

Goals Against

Goals For

(if teams are still tied, a penalty shoot-out between the tied teams will occur)

 

• Playoff structure will vary year to year based on numbers of teams in the tournament. This rule is outlined in
  the rules sent out to all teams prior to the tournament.
• 5 penalty shooters will be chosen by each coach and submitted to the referee before commencing a playoff round game (in case of OT and a shootout). A coin toss will take place at this time to determine which team will shoot first if needed. The winner of the coin toss may choose if he/she wants their team to shoot first or second.
• Overtime in semi-finals and finals will consist of a coin toss for possession or choice of side. The team that wins the flip will choose to have 1^st possession or choose which side they would like to start on. Overtime will be a 5-minute sudden victory period. If both teams fail to score in the first 5 minute sudden victory, a 2^nd 5 minute sudden victory period will be played. If both teams fail to score after the 2^nd sudden victory, a penalty shootout will occur.
• Penalty shootouts will take place as follows:

 

All kickers and the 2 goalkeepers will follow the referee’s instructions as to where they should be on the field. All kicks will take place in the same net. Both teams will have all 5 shooters kick a penalty shot in the order listed on their sheet (alternating teams). If the game is still tied after all 5 shooters from each team have gone, then one by one the coaches may select their sudden victory kickers. No player may kick twice until everyone has kicked. This will be tracked by the referee and the convenor.

 

Team Responsibilities

 

• All teams must complete and submit the eligibility sheet within the specified time frame.

 

• Teams that arrive late must be prepared to play right away without a warm-up. If a team is late to a game by more than 15 minutes they will forfeit the game at a score of 2-0.

 

• Shin pads are mandatory, no exceptions. Socks must cover shin pads completely.

 

• All teams must wear the same colour numbered and identifiable shirts, with no number conflicts, or face possible disqualification. Teams should also bring alternate jerseys or numbered pinneys in case of jersey colour conflicts. Specified home team (first team listed on schedule) will be required to change jerseys if necessary.