Rules & Policies

The tournament follows the Northwest Ohio Youth Soccer League (NWOYSL) rules, which follow current US Soccer and FIFA Laws of the Game unless stated otherwise below.

Game length

• U7 / U8 (4v4): 4 × 10-minute quarters
• U9 / U10 (7v7): 2 × 25-minute halves
• U11 / U12 (9v9): 2 × 30-minute halves
• U13 / U14 (11v11): 2 × 35-minute halves

Eligibility

• Age groups follow US Soccer birth-year rules. Players may play up, never down.
• Players may appear on only one roster per division.
• Roster limits: 4v4 up to 10, 7v7 up to 14, 9v9 up to 18, 11v11 up to 22.

Equipment

• Shin guards, matching uniforms, and soccer shoes or sneakers are required.
• No jewelry or anything the referee considers dangerous.
• If colors clash, the home team changes jerseys or wears pinnies.

Play

• Unlimited substitutions at any stoppage, with the referee's permission.
• Heading is not allowed for U10 and younger. A deliberate header gives the other team an indirect free kick.
• Opponents stay at least 10 yards from free kicks (5 yards in 4v4).
• Water breaks may be added in extreme heat.

Cards and discipline

• Players and team officials may receive a yellow or red card.
• A red card means leaving the field area and sitting out the team's next game.
• The referee's decisions on the field are final.

Standings and weather

• Win = 3 points, tie = 1, loss = 0. Ties in pool play stand.
• Standings tiebreakers: head-to-head, goal difference (no cap per game), goals allowed, then a coin flip.
• Knockout games tied at full time go directly to penalty kicks.
• If a game is stopped for weather after halftime, the score stands.

This event is for the kids. Everyone on site — players, coaches, parents, and fans — agrees to:

• Treat players, coaches, referees, staff, and fans with respect.
• Never abuse referees, verbally or physically. US Soccer's Referee Abuse Policy applies.
• Keep language clean and cheer positively — no taunting or insults.
• Let coaches coach and referees ref. Only coaches may speak to referees, and only calmly.
• Stay on the spectator side, away from the touchline and goals.
• No alcohol, tobacco, vaping, or illegal drugs at the fields.
• Leave the fields cleaner than you found them.

Coaches are responsible for their players and spectators. Staff may remove anyone who breaks this code, and a team may forfeit games without a refund.

• Submitting a registration is free. You're only charged after staff approve your team.
• If we cancel a bracket or the tournament after you've paid, we refund your full entry fee.
• If the tournament is cancelled due to weather, the event as a whole will be cancelled — we are unable to reschedule for a later weekend. In that case, due to payment processing fees, entry fees cannot be refunded — instead, every signed-up team receives a free entry to the following year's tournament.
• Entry fees are otherwise non-refundable once paid.

Questions? Contact Ricky Dempsey at rickydempsey11@icloud.com or 419-345-0905.