• Each 11 Aside team shall be allowed a maximum of 22 players; Men's Premier 25. Each 8 Aside team shall be allowed a maximum of 18 players. All teams must meet eligibility requirements as stated in these tournament rules.
• Prior to each tournament game, an official roster, submitted and approved prior to the VBSB tournament will be reviewed and approved by the referee. All players participating during the game will need to be present and provide a valid I.D. (player card, driver’s license, passport), at the start of the game for review.
• Unless otherwise noted, Divisions are gender specific (i.e. Men's division is for male players only, women’s division is for female players only, coed divisions may contain male and female players). All tournament players present will be checked against verified roster prior to each match.
• The tournament is open to players 18 years of age or older. Players must be 18 years of age by the first day of the tournament. For age appropriate divisions, a player must have a birthday corresponding with his or her age division during the calendar year. As an example, a player playing in the over 30s division must turn 30 in the current year.
• No changes to team rosters will be allowed after the team has started its first match of the tournament

• Fields shall be legibly marked in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game.
• Grass shall be cut at an even height and the height shall not impede the movement of the ball nor the players.
• Nets shall be in serviceable condition and securely affixed to the goals.
• Corner Flags shall be placed and conform to the specifications of the FIFA Laws of the Game.
• Goals must be appropriately anchored or weighted to the pitch prior to starting the match.
• The referee may refuse to allow match play if, in his/her opinion, the field condition is unsafe or unplayable.

• Team managers and players from both teams will share the same side of the field as designated by the field official, and spectators will take up a position on the opposite side of the field while the match is in progress. Team managers are responsible for their players and guests on the Touch Lines.
• All personnel must remain between the top of the Penalty Area Lines - no coaching is allowed from the Goal Line to the top of the Penalty Area. No player or club official may enter the field of play regardless of the circumstances unless that person has been given permission to enter the field of play by the Referee.

The official will inspect the players prior to the start of the game to be sure that no player has improper equipment:

• Footwear: Regulation soccer cleats with rubber-soles (not football cleats), plastic cleats, and detachable rubber cleats that screw into the shoe, and tennis shoes are the only permissible footwear. Screw-in studs or metal cleats are NOT allowed.
• Jerseys: All jerseys must have numbers on them. Teams must have an alternate jersey in case of a uniform color conflict. If there is a conflict, the home team will change jerseys.
• Jewelry: No jewelry (earrings, watches, necklaces, etc.) or any other item deemed dangerous by the official may be worn. Any player wearing exposed permanent jewelry (i.e. body piercing) will not be permitted to play.
• Eyewear: If eyeglasses are worn, they must be unbreakable. Each player is responsible for the safety of his/her own eyeglasses.
• Headwear: Players may wear a knit or stocking cap. No caps with bills during play, except for Keepers. Safety headgear may be worn if it is appropriate for soccer matches, as determined by the official.
• Shin-Guards: All players must wear completely covered, legal shin guards.
• Game Ball: Each team will be required to provide a decent game ball.

• All games in a competition will follow the FIFA Laws of the Game in effect at the time of the competition.
• Length of the field shall not be more than 120 yards, nor less than 100 yards and the width of the field shall not be more than 80 yards, nor less than 65 yards. The older divisions may be played on adapted fields, at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.
• Duration of halves for All 11-Asides will be 35 minutes. The Referee is the official timekeeper of the match. If heat or other player safety conditions warrant, the Tournament Committee or a Referee may allow a three (3) minute water break approximately midway through each half – such a break will be called during a normal stoppage of play, and the match will restart based on the reason play was halted. THE COMMITTEE RESERVES THE RIGHTS TO SHORTEN MATCH TIMES BASED ON INCLEMENT WEATHER OR ANY OTHER CONDITIONS THAT MAY WARRANT ADJUSTMENTS.
• Substitutions may be made at the discretion of the referee at any stoppage in play, in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game. There are no limitations to the number of substitutions that may take place during a match. Players who have been replaced by substitutes may reenter the match at any stoppage.
• Only players on the roster and 2 additional people (manager/trainer) are allowed on the team bench during games.
• In the case of a conflict in the color of the two teams jerseys, the HOME team will be required to provide an alternate or wear pennies.

In the event of the score being tied at the end of regulation periods:

• In a group round match the tie score will stand.
• In the event of a final match being tied at the end of regulation periods, the winner will be determined by penalty kicks, in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game. Only players on the field at the end of full time will be allowed to participate in kicks from the penalty mark.
• During kicks from the penalty mark, goalkeepers may be changed with an eligible player (player on the field at the end of the second overtime) at any time, but the goalkeeper may only be replaced by a substitute (player not on the field at the end of the match) in case of injury
• In coed divisions, kicks from the penalty mark must alternate between male and female players for the first set of 5 kicks. If, at the end of overtime, a team has fewer than 2 women on the field, each missing female player’s kick for that team is to be counted as a miss for the first set of 5 kicks.
• In coed divisions, if a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponent, that team shall reduce their numbers so that both teams have the same number of men and the same number of women. The team captain is responsible for notifying the Referee which player(s) will be excluded.

• Competition shall be based on a three (3) point system. Teams earn three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie and zero (0) points for a loss.
• Forfeits shall be scored 3-0 with the winning team being awarded three (3) points. The team that forfeited, zero (0)
• Division bracket standings will be based upon total points accumulated upon the completion of preliminary matches with the team accumulating the most points finishing first. Total point ties within division brackets will be broken by the following tiebreakers in order:
  • Head to head between tied teams
  • Goal differential
  • Goals against*
  • Goals for* (Goals for and Goals against will be limited to 3 per game)
  • Fair Play Points – Based on discipline and participation, with with Red Cards = 3, Yellow Cards = 1, and forfeitures = 5. Team with least number of Fair Play Points will be determined to be the winner of the tie.
  • Coin flip

• Co-ed teams will be assigned to divisions based on competitive level. The VBSB Competition Committee will review rosters from previous events and use those results, if applicable, to make these determinations. New teams with no returning players will be placed in an intermediate competitive division. The decisions of our Competition Committee on placing teams will be final.
• No sliding tackles are allowed. Unless a foul was committed in the process, referees will halt play and restart with an Indirect Free Kick for a sliding tackle.
• For each team, no more than seven (7) men may be on the field at one time.

• Games will be played on smaller fields with teams having 7 field players and a keeper on the field at any given time
• 30 minute halves
• No slide tackling
• No offsides
• Roster size is limited to 18 players
• A minimum of 5 players at the time of kickoff will constitute a team. A match should not start nor continue if either team drops below 5 players. A forfeit shall be awarded if a team has less than 5 players on the field.
• Coed Masters Division: For each team no more than five (5) men may be on the field at one time. Female players with a minimum age of 35, and male players with a minimum age of 45, can be rostered on a Coed Masters team.
• Coed Open Division: For each team no more than five (5) men may be on the field at one time.

• There is NO performance bond required for any team in the Premier Division
• Games are 70mins, 35 minute halves
• Extra time followed by potential penalty shootout for playoffs, semifinals, and finals only
• Cash payout is subject to change pending number of registered teams per division (see below)
• Round robin play is to follow existing Official VBSB rules and point system
• Roster size is limited to 22 players
• A minimum of 7 players at the time of kickoff will constitute a team. A match should not start nor continue if either team drops below 7 players. A forfeit shall be awarded if a team has less than 7 players on the field.

• It is the duty of the team manager to ensure that players report to the field 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of each match for verification of identification by the Referee or an Assistant Referee.
• No game can start if one or both teams cannot field a minimum of seven (7) registered and rostered players, hereto for referred to as players, at the scheduled start time. The game will start once both teams can field seven (7) players, up to 10 minutes after the scheduled start time. If one or both teams cannot field seven (7) players after the 10 minute grace period, the game will be forfeited. If one team is unable to field seven (7) players, after the 10 minute grace period, the opposing team will be awarded a 3-0 win, and the forfeiting team will be assessed 5 fair play points. In the event both teams are unable to field seven (7) players, after the 10 minute grace period, the game will be called a 0-0 draw with neither team receiving a point for the draw and both teams being assessed 5 fair play points.
• In the event the start time is delayed, the committee and/or referee reserves the right to shorten halves to keep game times on schedule. A match cannot continue if either team goes below seven players after the match has started.
• “Friendly” matches after a forfeit are not allowed.

If dangerous weather is reported in the vicinity, one long air horn blast will be sounded. Clear fields immediately and wait in cars or other lightning shelter areas until three horn blasts are sounded to indicate games will resume (permanent shelters at the Soccer Complex have lightning arrestors).

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to make the following changes in the event of inclement weather:

• Relocate and/or reschedule a match
• Change division structure
• Reduce scheduled duration of a match
• Cancel a match
• In the event of inclement weather forcing play to be halted and preventing the match from completing during the scheduled time, the score shall stand if at least one-half of the match has been completed.

• If a player is sent off from the match – shown red card by the Referee – that player must leave the vicinity of the field and sit out the remainder of that match.
• In addition, the player sent off is suspended from his/her team’s next tournament match.
• No substitution may be made for a player who was sent off during the match.
• If the goalie is sent off, the team is required to assign a new goalie before resuming play.
• If a spectator's behavior is deemed offensive by a referee crew or any VBSB personnel, then the spectator must leave the vicinity of the field as requested.

NOTE: In accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game, a player is shown the red card and sent off for receiving two cautions in the same match. Referees may caution or send off a team manager and will show the appropriate card. Team managers in receipt of a red card are subject to the same penalties as outlined above for players. Red cards issued after the end of regulation play as a result of physical assault are considered especially serious and are subject to review by the Tournament Disciplinary Committee - a more strenuous penalty, which is not subject to appeal, may be employed.

• In the event play is halted that prevents the match from being completed, the score shall stand if at least one-half of the match has been completed.
• In the event a Final Match must be abandoned before at least one half of the match is completed due to inclement weather or other factors, the division tiebreaker criteria will be used to determine the official winner of the bracket (any goals scored or red cards awarded during the incomplete Final Match will be counted).

• The Tournament Committee reserves the right to use their discretion for resolving conflict or other matters not specifically provided for under these Rules of Competition.
• The Committee or any sponsors of the tournament activities shall not be responsible for expenses incurred by any team or club if the tournament is canceled in whole, or in part.
• No application fee refunds after acceptance.

• SECTION 1: One Organization Member may not require that all of the players, coaches, teams, and administrators of another Organization Member (who have been registered with, and fees paid to, the Federation as required by section 1 of Bylaw 212) be registered with the first Organization Member as a condition for only some of those players, coaches, teams, or administrators participating in the activities of the first Organization Member. The first Organization Member may require registration of only those players, coaches, teams, and administrators of the other Organization Member that actually participate in the activities of the first Organization Member. Those players, coaches, teams, and administrators of the other Organization Member registering with the first Organization Member shall comply with all of the regular registration requirements of the first Organization Member.
• SECTION 2: An Organization Member (other than a Professional League) shall not discriminate against the participation of players, teams, coaches or clubs on the basis of that player, coach, team, or club's membership in, or affiliation with, another organization. The Federation encourages its Organization Members to allow teams of all other Members to participate in tournaments sponsored by them or any of its organization members when the teams otherwise comply with the tournament eligibility requirements. A tournament sponsor may charge each team of another Member an additional fee of not more than $25 to participate in the tournament.
• SECTION 3: Any Organization Member sanctioning a tournament shall require the host of the tournament to identify the Organization Member that sanctioned the tournament on all tournament advertisements and promotional materials, including any promotional emails, online promotions, or websites for the tournament

• VA BEACH SOCCER BASH (VBSB) RULES: The VBSB Tournament Committee has the right to forfeit the matches of teams who do not follow the Eligibility Requirements. The team will lose their Entry Fee and $200 Performance Bond.
• VIOLENT CONDUCT: The VBSB will retain the teams $200 Performance Bond if one of it's players is ejected due to violent conduct.
• FORFEITS: The VBSB will retain the team's $200 Performance Bond if they forfeit a match. A team that forfeits a match will not be eligible for advancement. Their participation in future VBSB Events will be reviewed by the Tournament Committee.
• REFUND OF PERFORMANCE BOND: Once the VBSB Committee has determined all performance bond requirements have been met, the bond monies will be refunded to the account within 7-10 business days following the conclusion of the tournament.