Below are the tournament rules. Please go over them with your team management, players and parents. If you have any questions, please contact us!

  • ALL TEAMS NEED TO CHECK IN AN HOUR BEFORE THEIR GAME STARTS!

  • PLEASE MAKE SURE THE REFEREE IS ALSO PAID IN FULL/ REFEREES CARRY NO CHANGE!

  • TEAMS CAN BE SUBJECT TO SEARCH BY SOCCER COMPLEX STAFF TO SEE IF ANY ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE IS PRESENT! PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY ALCOHOL OR DRUGS TO THE COMPLEX. IMMEDIATE TEAM BAN IF SOMEONE IS FOUND WITH SAID ITEM.

Christmas Showdown Tournament Rules

  • Teams will play in age brackets for the 2024-2025 season. Teams must provide properly laminated player passes for either 2023-2024 or 2024-2025, school ID, passports and/or state ID.

  • Mandatory check-in 1 hour prior to the teams 1st game of the tournament. LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED and WILL BE EMAILED TO MANAGER AND COACH.

  • All player, coach and administrator cards and paper work must be presented at check in. The Tournament Director will resolve any situation not explicitly covered by the rules.

  • All players need to keep their wristband on to provide proof they were checked in.

  • Roster Size
    Roster size is age-dependent and teams may register/roster a maximum of:
    18 players for 2006-2010 (U19-U15)
    18 players for 2011-2012 (U14, U13)
    15 players for 2013-2014 (U12, U11)
    12 players for 2015-2018 (U10 – U8)

  • RULES
    All games will be played by FIFA rules except as modified by USYSA and US Club.

  • PROTEST/DISPUTES
    All games will be considered final. No protest will be allowed.
    The Tournament Director will resolve any situation not explicitly covered by the rules.

  • SPECTATOR SEATING
    Opposing teams must sit on the same side of the field, across from their team’s bench and must not move to the other side of the center line after half time.
    Where there are adjacent fields and sidelines less than five yards apart, spectators shall stand on opposing sides of the centerline.
    In all cases spectator and team seating will allow the referee’s assistants clear run views of all touch
    lines by staying behind the spectator line (5 yards from the touch line).

  • CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
    Players or coaches receiving a RED card (2 yellow cards in one game = 1 red card) will be ejected from that game, shall not be replaced, AND shall not be allowed to participate in the NEXT GAME.
    For flagrant violations, longer suspensions may be enforced based on mandatory review by
    the Tournament Director. The tournament Director may institute harsh penalties for Red Cards, up to and including elimination of a team from the tournament.
    Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their fans and parents.
    Teams that are short a player(s) due to red card ejection will also play any overtime short a player(s).
    Player/coach cards for those ejected will be available from the field marshal after the team’s last
    scheduled game except for an ejection due to a flagrant violation.

  • SUBSTITUTIONS
    Substitutions may be made only with the consent of the referee, at the following times:
    Any stoppage in play at the referee’s discretion.

  • FORFEITS
    Team failing to report, ready to play, at the scheduled kickoff time, or home team failing to change to an alternate jersey when required, will result in the forfeiture of the game by a 1-0 score.
    If both teams fail to appear at the scheduled kickoff time, each team will receive 0 points.
    Teams forfeiting their first game will be assumed to forfeit all of their games unless they contact tournament headquarters at least 3 hours prior to their subsequent games.
    There will be no grace period.

  • LINE UP CARDS
    Team managers are responsible for delivering and collecting all lineup cards to/from the referee.
    Team managers and/or coaches  will be given, and are responsible for transporting their lineup cards and player passes when moving to a second field.

  • U-9 & U10 7 v 7 Rules:
    Maximum number of players on the field at any one time is eight (7) – one of who shall be a goalkeeper. Ball will be size four (4).

  • Younger (all 7v7 games) Playing Rules:
    There will be a build out line.
    Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the GK can pass, throw or roll the ball into play.
    Punts and drop kicks are not allowed.
    Offside will be called within the goal line and build out line.
    Direct / indirect kicks will be taken as usual (goals can be scored only from direct kick).
    Headers are not allowed.
    All games will have one referee assigned to them.

  • 9v9 Small-Sided Games:
    All Small sided games will have 1 referee for all games including Finals.

  • EQUIPMENT
    All players are required to use shin guards. No Shin Guards = No Play.

  • REFUNDS
    No refunds approved after registration deadline.

  • No field player may be registered and play for more than ONE team participating in the Christmas Showdown
    Any team caught trying to do this faces forfeiting all of their matches AND forfeits any kind of refund. Exception is ONLY for a Keeper. A Keeper can play for a second team, from the same club, if that team doesn’t have a Keeper OR their Keeper was injured during a game at the Christmas Showdown.

FORMAT OF PLAY

  • In some cases, pool play is followed by single-elimination leading to a championship round.

Age

Pool Play & Semi-Final Halves

2017-2015

25  Minutes

2014-2013

25  Minutes

2012-2006

30  Minutes


  • ALL Finals will go to Kicks from the Mark if tied at the end of regulation.

  • Duration of Match
    There will be a running clock for all games, except for the finals and possibly for injuries where professional medical assistance is required.
    In final games injury time may be added at the option of tournament officials.
    All preliminary games shall terminate 5 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the next game regardless of the amount of time played in the half up to that point and may be shortened if needed as per tournament director.

  • Standings will be determined by points awarded, as follows:
    1. 3 points for each win
    2. 1 point for tie
    3. 0 point for loss
    Forfeits equals a 1-0 win for opponent

  • Ties in standings will be resolved, as follows:
    1. Winner head-to-head competition; in case of 3-way tie, head to head is never used and moves directly to tie breaker number 2.
    2. Least goals allowed;
    3. The goal differential – difference between goals scored and goals allowed (maximum of 4 per game);
    4. Most shutouts;
    5. Most goals scored;
    If required, to determine advancement to semi-final or final games, FIFA penalty kicks will be held 15 minutes prior to the start of the scheduled game unless a more reasonable time can be agreed upon by both teams and/or tournament director.

PARKING

  • IE SOCCER COMPLEX
    $10 per day – CASH ONLY!
    No overnight parking allowed.