What:  League Cup is a competitive tournament played at the end of the Fall Recreational season for OUSL registered teams only. Teams are bracketed in their age group and will play a minimum of three (3) reduced length games (see attached rules), with all brackets having at least two preliminary games on Saturday and one preliminary game with possible playoffs on Sunday (reference Tournament Format section). Scores and standings will be kept in all age divisions. The coaching philosophies that the OUSL ascribes to shall be maintained (i.e., every child will play at least 50% of each game, and coaches should have their players play all positions).

When:  November 13 and 14, 2010. All games will be played on the regular season OUSL playing fields. Registration for the tournament must be completed by no later than mid-night October 23^rd.

Who:  U8, U10, U12, U14, and U19 teams that participated in the OUSL seasonal year are eligible to compete (U06 teams are not eligible). Participation is voluntary, a team may choose not to participate; and individual players may choose not to participate. Players must play on the same team they were rostered to for the OUSL season. No loan players are allowed. Only players who have played in at least five league games are eligible to play in the League Cup (unless player missed league games due to injury). Due to the number of fields available and the tournament format, only a limited number of teams can be accepted in each bracket. Applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.

How:  Teams will be required to register and submit their applications on-line. Only checks made payable to OUSL will be accepted. NO CASH. An on-line tournament registration link is on the OUSL web site, Tournament – League Cup. On-line registration will be accepted until mid-night of October 23^rd. The Tournament Director reserves the right to accept a late registering team if including the team simplifies the tournament scheduling. On-line registration is the ONLY method used to register for this tournament.

For those who do not have an on-line account with CalSouth, you may send an email to the League Scheduler/Webmaster, dperea_ousl@verizon.net, with your division (i.e., GU8) and team name. Email must be from the Head Coach or person responsible to register the team assigned by the Head Coach.  Payment coupon will be sent to the person by reply email. Teams will be accepted to the tournament once payment is received by the Tournament Director.  Payment must be received by November 3^rd so that teams can be accepted and the game schedule created.

Fee:  The Tournament Fee, per team, will be as follows:

Teams that withdraw from the League Cup after the registration deadline may be entitled to a refund at the discretion of the Tournament Director. No refunds will be granted after the tournament schedule has been posted. Registration fees must be mailed to OUSL, P.O. Box 2091, Orcutt, CA 93457. Make checks payable to OUSL. Once the check has been received, your on-line application will be accepted. You will receive an email when your team has been accepted to the tournament.

Mandatory Check-in:  Each team must send a representative to the mandatory team check-in. The tournament check-in will be held on Wednesday, November 10th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, at the May Grisham multi-purpose room (please plan on attending the Annual General Membership (AGM) meeting being held at the same place and time). The team representative will receive the League Cup package and will verify players’ uniform numbers.  Any team that misses the mandatory check-in will have one point deducted from each preliminary round or round-robin game.

Tournament Format:  Each bracket’s tournament format is based on the number of teams entered in the bracket. The Tournament Director establishes each bracket’s format after registration is complete.

Tournament Conduct:  See OUSL Mission Statement and Coaches Code of Ethics and OUSL Code of Ethics.  Special Note:  A coach, parent, or spectator that is ejected during a game shall be banned from all OUSL venues for the remainder of the OUSL League Cup.

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS:  

Information: Check the website for additional information: www.ousl.org

Tournament Director: Tim Trenkle - tm_ousl@hotmail.com - 878-0967

COME JOIN THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT OF THE OUSL LEAGUE CUP!

Spirit of the Game:

“Let the players enjoy the games. Let them have a day of fun and competition.”

 LEAGUE CUP RULES

General:  Only OUSL Tournament registered players are allowed to compete.

1)     ALL Referee decisions are final. NO Protests will be accepted.

2)     Shin guards are mandatory for all players.

3)     Medical Release Forms are mandatory for all players.

4)     All participating players must play 50% of each game.

Substitutions:  Unlimited substitutions allowed upon the following circumstances:

1)     Any Stoppage Time by the Referee, except Indirect/Direct kicks

2)     Injury, if play is stopped, on a one-for-one basis.

3)     Players must check in with the Assistant Referee (AR) prior to substitution and wait at the centerline until called onto the field by the Center Referee (substitution player must remain off the field until the substituted for player has left the field). Coaches are not permitted to yell to the Center Referee requesting substitutions (only the AR signals requests for substitutions to the Center Referee).

4)     A player receiving a yellow card must be substituted for immediately and may return to normal play after the next normal stoppage in the game.

5)     Keeper substitution is only permitted at half time, between overtime periods, or if a keeper is injured.

6)     Other than for an injury, no substitutions are permitted during the last two (2) minutes of the each half (or overtime period).

Awards:

1)     All players will receive participation recognition.

2)     Trophies will be awarded for first (1^st) and second (2^nd) place in each bracket.

3)     For each bracket with 6 to 7 teams entered, awards will be presented for third (3^rd) place.

4)     For each bracket with 8 or more teams entered, awards will be presented for third (3^rd) and fourth (4^th) place.

5)     Check the master schedule for when awards will be presented (usually after the last game).

Point System:

            WIN                  =          6 POINTS

            LOSS               =          0 POINTS

            TIE                   =          3 POINTS

            FORFEIT           =          8 POINTS

            SHUTOUT         =          1 POINT

            GOALS             =          1 POINT EACH UP TO 3 PER GAME

            RED CARD       =          2 POINT DEDUCTION

* A forfeit shall occur if a scheduled team is not on the field ready to play at the scheduled start time.

** If a team plays four games in a preliminary round, the fourth game does not count for points or tie breaker determination.

Tie Breaker Determination:

Preliminary Round or No-Playoff Tie Breakers: 

1)     Winner Head-to-Head

2)     Goal differential (forfeits not counted)

3)     Fewest goals against

4)     Most goals for

5)     Most Shutouts (forfeits not counted)

6)     Most total wins (a forfeit will count as a win)

7)     Head-to-Head goal differential

8)     FIFA penalty shootout

Playoff (Semi-Final & Final Round) Tie Breakers:  If a playoff game is tied at the end of regulation play, the winner shall be determined by:

1)     Up to two five (5) minute overtime golden goal periods (sudden death) with a two (2) minute half time.

2)     FIFA penalty shootout

Game Length: All game times shall be as follows:

1)     Under 8, two (2) 10 minute halves

2)     Under 10, two (2) 12 minute halves

3)     Under 12, two (2) 15 minute halves

4)     Under 14, two (2) 18 minute halves

5)     Under 19, two (2) 15 minute halves

Other Rules:

1)     The home team will take the north/west side of the field and the visiting team will take the south/east side.  Home Team will provide a “Game Ball”.

2)     Partisan spectators will stay on their teams appointed side of the field (no one is permitted anywhere along the goal line or behind the goals).

3)     Game cards will be provided by the tournament for all games and must be properly filled out by the referee and given to the Field Marshall after each scheduled game.

4)     Any games terminated because of fighting will earn the team(s) expulsion from the tournament without refund and all games played will be forfeited. Games terminated for fighting will be recorded as a forfeit, no matter the score. Previously played game results will be recalculated for forfeiture points, unless their opponent having won the game, earned the same or more points from the win, which will stand as a win and factor for all tie breaker determinations.

5)     A player receiving a RED CARD will be ejected from the field of play and must completely leave the field upon which play is being held. A two (2) point deduction for each RED CARD received will affect the team’s total points. A coach, parent, or spectator ejected from the field of play must completely leave the field upon which play is being held. The team they represent will have a two (2) point deduction for that game only. If a player receives a RED CARD, the player is suspended for the remainder of that game and the next game. If a coach, parent, or spectator is ejected from a game, that individual is banned from all OUSL venues for the remainder of the tournament.

6)     NO alcoholic beverages are allowed. NO dogs are allowed. NO smoking is allowed.

7)     Coaches and players must remain in their Coaches Box (Technical Area).

8)     EVERYONE NEEDS TO CLEAN UP THEIR AREA AFTER EACH GAME.