Cincy 3v3 OFFICIAL LEAGUE RULES - Summer 2018

Updated 4/10/18

REGISTRATION AND LEAGUE FORMAT

TEAM FEES:  The cost of Cincy3v3's summer league is $275 per team. This includes 10 games over the course of the league dates and t-shirts for rostered players (up to 6 per team, extras will be available for purchase).

TEAM REGISTRATION:  Teams must register online at the Cincy3v3 website and include all required information. Once the online form has been submitted, a $100 deposit (via check or paypal) is due before midnight on June 10th, 2018 to complete the process and reserve the team's spot. 
The remaining balance of team fees is due PRIOR TO THE FIRST LEAGUE GAME. Failure to pay team fees may result in forfeit / cancellation of scheduled games.

REFUND POLICY:  The $100 registration deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE unless Cincy3v3 cannot offer a particular age / division. In these circumstances, the refund will not include any/all online paypal fees if the original payment is made through those means. 
Team fee refunds will not be given after the season begins (the first night of competition). If a team is unavailable to compete in scheduled games for any reason, the team will forfeit those games. We will not be able to offer partial refunds or reschedules.

PLAYER REGISTRATION:  All competing players must appear on their team's registration form / roster before league games begin. Any team or player determined by the event director to have falsified age or skill level will be dismissed from the league and games called into question will result in forfeit.

Cincy 3v3 uses the official "birthyear" age divisions as specified by US Youth Soccer.   This practice follows what all area leagues have put in place as well. Teams shall be registered according to the birthyear of their players.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST CARRY PROOF OF AGE, IE; LEAGUE PLAYER CARD, DRIVERS LICENSE OR BIRTH CERTIFICATE during competition.

ROSTERS: All rosters must be turned in prior to the first competition night at the HQ tent.

NUMBER OF ROSTERED PLAYERS PARTICIPATING IN MATCHES: Teams are permitted to roster up to 12 players per team, however a maximum of SIX players appearing on a team's roster may play in any one game for a single team; three field players at one time (see also "Alternate Players section below").

"Playing in a game" is defined as a player competing on the game field for any amount of time during the official 24 min game period. There are no goalkeepers in 3v3 soccer. No two teams may share more than 3 of the same players regardless of age group / bracket. 

ALTERNATE PLAYERS: Teams will be allowed to use alternate players to substitute in games in case of vacation / time conflicts. Alternate players must be of the appropriate / legal age for the team's competition bracket (and be able to provide documentation / player card to prove proper age), must turn in a signed waiver prior to participating and must appear on the team's official roster as an addition. 
A maximum of SIX players may be on the sidelines and play in any one game for a team. The intent of allowing alternate players should be to help teams field a competitive team in case of rostered player absences.

CONCUSSION CERTIFICATES FOR COACHES (New for 2015):  Starting with the 2015 season, our rental agreement for the fields includes a clause that states that one designated adult per team (preferably a coach or asst.) must show proof of having completed either the CDC or NFHS Concussion training .  Training can be done online and a copy of the completed ertificate must be turned in for each team.

GENDER:  No males will be allowed to participate in any female divisions (if the divisions are designated specifically as such). Females WILL be permitted to play in male divisions at the discretion of the coach.  Co-ed divisions allow for teams of mixed genders.

COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT: Cincy3v3 reserves the right to schedule games for teams in the league across gender or age divisions in order to provide for a competitive / varied game schedule. In this scenario, for example, a Girls U9 team might play a Boys U8 team as a "cross-division" game during league play depending on the competitive level and previous results.

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISIONS: (NEW!)  For all games designated as "High School" divisions, players should be a maximum of 18 years old as of the game day.  For "Coed" High School teams, please note that the team must field at least one female competitor on the field at all times during game play.  Depending on participation / brackets, we reserve the right to move teams to other divisions to allow for the best competitive fit. 

FIELD DIMENSIONS:Length - 40 yards, Width - 30 yards. U8/U9 age groups may play on a 20 yard by 30 yard field if available.

FIELD CONDITIONS:Coaches are advised to walk the fields to look for any potential field surface problems before competing. Please advise the Cincy 3v3 staff of any issues that may be of safety / competitive concern.

GOAL BOX: The goal box, ten feet wide by six feet high, is directly in front of the goal. The goals are approximately 4 feet high by 6 feet wide.
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. If a defender touches the ball in the goal box, a penalty kick is awarded to the offensive team.

See below for rules regarding how PK's are taken. If an player on offense touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defending team. 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 defending team.  

GAME DURATION: The game shall consist of two 12 minute halves separated by a two minute halftime period OR the game shall end when a team reaches a 10 goal lead ("Mercy Rule"). Games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie.

EQUIPMENT: All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards will not be allowed to play. Each team should bring a second shirt color (white, for example) for every player to each game in case of color conflicts. 
Teams are responsible for providing game balls. Preferred Ball Size for U6-U8 = #3; U9-U12 = #4; U13 and up = #5. In the event that age divisions are combined, the teams should use the older division’s ball size.

WEATHER CANCELLATIONS: Cincy3v3's organizers will make decisions based on weather / field conditions for each league date and post this status on the Cincy3v3 site. 
Cincy3v3 reserves the right to reduce the number of scheduled games and/or the time/duration of games and/or postpone or delay games and/or cancel the event. No refunds will be given for weather cancellations, however every effort will be made to reschedule any games affected. The league may choose to use an alternate / "make up" day for these games.

TROPHIES:  Due to the nature of this league, Cincy3v3 will not be tracking division standings or offering trophies or awards to participating teams. Every rostered player on each team (up to six total), will however, receive a Cincy3v3 t-shirt with their paid entry.

RULES OF PLAY 
(FIFA rules apply if not modified in the context below)

GOAL SCORING:  A goal may be scored from a touch on the offensive half on the playing field.

SUBSTITUTIONS DURING GAMES:  Substitutes may occur at any dead ball situation, but players must get referees attention and enter and exit at the half-field mark only.

OFFSIDE CALLS:  There are NO OFFSIDE calls in 3v3 soccer.

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

KICK-INS:  The ball shall be kicked into play from the sideline instead of thrown in.

INDIRECT KICKS:  All dead ball kicks (kick-ins, free kicks, kick-offs) are indirect with exception to corner and penalty kicks. Players cannot score off of an indirect kick unless the ball is touched and moved by another player before the shot on goal is taken.

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.

SLIDE TACKLING:  There is no slide tackling in this league. Players should stay upright and "on their feet" and must avoid making contact with opposing player. Players may slide to stop/intercept a ball, but ultimately, the decision to call a foul is up to the discretion of the referee.

PENALTY KICKS:  Shall be awarded if, in the referee's opinion, a scoring opportunity was taken away by the foul or if the defense touches the ball within the box on their half. It is a direct kick taken from 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 scheduled game. Tournament Director may eject player for rest of tournament. Teams still play with 3 on the field

FORFEITS:  Teams have a maximum of 5 (five) minutes to field their time after the appointed game time or referee's signal to kick off. Failure to field a team in that time period will result in a forfeit. 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.

Situations or occurrences that these rules do not cover shall be left to the sole discretion of the league director and organizing committee.