TOURNAMENT RULES

DIVISIONS: Teams will choose which division they wish to enter when they register online. AFC Staff will adjust the divisions based on knowledge of player talent or to balance the number of teams per division.

ELIGIBLE PLAYERS: The tournament is open to any player aged 7-18 (boys and girls). In some cases, players older or younger may be allowed to participate if approved by the AFC staff.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: SIX is the maximum number of players on a team; three field players at one time. Players may only play on one team per division. There are no goalkeepers in 3v3 soccer. Substitutes may occur at any dead ball situation, but players must get the referees' attention and enter and exit at the half-field mark only.

GENDER: No males will be allowed to participate in any female divisions. Females CAN play in male divisions.

EQUIPMENT: All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards will not be allowed to play. Each team is responsible for providing a game ball to the referee before the match.

UNIFORM: In order to minimize color conflicts on the field, the teams listed as home teams (first on the schedule) must use light color jerseys, and those listed as away must use dark color jerseys. In case of the same color conflict, the home team must change.

FIELD DIMENSIONS: Length -30 yards, Width -20 yards

GOAL BOX: The goal box, twelve feet wide by eight feet deep, is directly in front of the goal. No player may touch the ball within the goal box, however, any player may move through the goal box. Any part of the ball or player's body on the line is considered in the goal box; the player is an extension of the box. An INFRACTION occurs if a defender touches the ball in the goal box, a penalty kick is awarded to the offensive team. If an offensive player touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. Habitual touches in the goal box MAY result in a Yellow Card given to the offending party. If the ball comes to a complete stop in the goal box, regardless of which team touched it last, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. The goals are approximately 4 feet high by 8 feet wide.

PRE-GAME: Visitors will kickoff - No coin toss. The home team will provide game balls for the match.

GAME DURATION: The game shall consist of two 12-minute halves separated by two-minute halftime, OR the game ends when a team reaches a 10-goal lead. Pool games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie. Playoff games cannot end tied.

PLAYOFF OVERTIME: TEAMS WILL HAVE A 3 MINUTE “GOLDEN GOAL” OVERTIME PERIOD. If the score is still tied, the winner is decided by a shootout with the 3 players on the field at end of the golden goal period.

GOAL SCORING: A goal may be scored from a touch on the offensive half on the playing field. SCORING (IN POOL PLAY): 3 points for a win; 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. FORFEITS: A forfeit is scored as 5-0.

TIEBREAKERS: In pool play, ties between two or more teams will be broken by; 1) head to head results between tied teams; 2) goal difference in pool play (Max 5 goal differential per game will count); 3)fewest goals against in pool play; 4) goals scored; 5) team shootout with entire rosters.

NO OFFSIDES IN 3V3 SOCCER AND NO SLIDE TACKLING IN 3V3 SOCCER

HEADING: When a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick (IFK) should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense.

FIVE YARD RULE: In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player's goal area is closer than five yards, the ball is placed five yards from the goal area in line with the place of the penalty.

KICK-INS: The ball shall be kicked in to play from the sideline instead of thrown in or dribbled in. The ball must be placed on the line and the kick must be taken within 4 seconds. (A kick-in that goes directly in the opposing goal is a goal clearance for the opposing team. A Kick-in that goes directly in the defensive goal is a corner kick of the opposing team.) If the kick-in does not enter the pitch or if the kick is not taken within 4 seconds the kick-in is taken by the opposing team.

INDIRECT KICKS: All dead ball kicks (kick-ins, free kicks, kick-offs) are indirect, except corner and penalty kicks.

GOAL KICKS: May be taken from any point on the end line, and not in the goal box area.

KICK OFF: May be taken in any direction.

PENALTY KICKS: Shall be awarded if, in the referee's opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by the infraction. It is a direct kick taken from the top of the center circle on the offensive side of the midfield line with all other players behind the midfield line. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick. Penalty kicks are not live balls.

PLAYER EJECTION (YELLOW/RED CARD): Referees have the right to eject a player from the game for continual disobedience or as a result of an incident that warrants sending the player off. RED CARD suspension = Rest of game PLUS next game. The tournament director may eject players for the rest of the tournament. Teams still play with 3 on the field

POST-GAME: Teams may clap for their opponent/spectators at the end of the match. Referees will report scores to HQ. Teams can check scores/standings on the tournament website.

FORFEITS: A forfeit shall be scored as 5-0.

SPORTSMANSHIP: Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to act in the nature of good sportsmanship at all times. Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated. Any instance of such conduct will disqualify the responsible team from the event.