TOURNAMENT & FACILITY RULES

TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS

2023 Freedom Cup, hosted by Inter Miami CF
Florida Blue Training Center 1350 NW 55th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

DATES OF TOURNAMENT

The Freedom Cup will be played December 14-17, 2023. Group play games will begin on Thursday afternoon/evening, December 14. With teams playing one game day on Friday and Saturday, December 15-16. Freedom Cup Finals and Consolation matches to be played on Sunday morning, December 17. Each division will be comprised of 8 teams that includes Inter Miami, five other MLS youth academies, and qualifiers from the Freedom Cup Qualifier.

1. TEAM ELIGIBILITY

Participation in the 2022 Freedom Cup, hosted by Inter Miami CF is by invitation only and to only clubs/teams that are registered with a National Soccer Association affiliated with US Soccer (MLS Next, US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, etc.). The only acceptable proof of age will be a valid US Soccer national affiliation registration card (player pass) or membership.

A. U12 teams will play 9v9 format with a maximum roster size of 16 players. Five (5) guest players allowed within the rosters of 16 players.

B. U13 and U14 teams will play 11v11 format with a maximum roster size of 22 players, with a maximum of 18 players that can dress out for each game. Six (6) guest players allowed within the roster of 22 players.

A player may only compete for one team participating in the tournament. In the event a player is found to have been rostered to more than one team in the tournament, the second team on which the player is rostered in the tournament shall be deemed as the team that fielded an ineligible player. Any team fielding an ineligible player will be disqualified from the tournament.

2. AGE OF COMPETITION

U12: Players born after 1/1/2012

U13: Players born after 1/1/2011

U14: Players born after 1/1/2010

3. LAWS OF THE GAME

All games shall be played in accordance with FIFA Laws, except as specifically modified by these rules.

4. SUBSTITUTIONS

A. U12, unlimited substitutions

B. U13 and U14, unlimited substitutions, restricted to only three (3) substitution times, not including halftime. No re-entry once a player has been substituted.

C. Teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission. Substitutes must wait on the sideline at midfield (off of the field of play) until the field player has left the field of play and/or the referee has indicated the substitute may enter the field of play. Substitutions by either team are allowed at any stoppage of play with the permission of the referee.

5. FIELD AND GAME EQUIPMENT

A. Player are not allowed to wear any jewelry while participating. The only exception that may be allowed is a medical alert bracelet or necklace when taped to the body. The referee shall make the decision as to the safety of the player and the referee’s decision is final.

B. Orthopedic casts are not permitted. However, soft braces can be worn with written approval from a doctor, and judgment as to safety is at the discretion of the referee.

C. Players are required to wear shin guards in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game.

D. Players must wear numbers on the back of their uniforms and these numbers shall coincide with those listed on the team’s roster.

E. Where uniform colors are similar, the designated home team will change colors. Home team is listed first on the schedule.

F. Both teams will take the same side of the field. All other supporters will take the opposite side. Only official team coaches and staff are permitted on the sidelines with their players.

G. No one is permitted behind either goal/end line.

H. Spectators must remain behind the spectator line and coaches must remain in the coaches’ area.

I. Game balls to be provided by Freedom Cup

6. DURATION OF GAMES

Water Breaks: Will be mandatorily provided at the midpoint of each half of regulation play during a natural stoppage of play. The water break will be no shorter than 1 minute in duration and the game clock will continue to run. The water break is for hydration purposes.

7. GAME AND SCORE REPORTING

A. The Head Referee will ensure that the game report form(s) are properly completed and presented to the Tournament Director at the completion of each game.

8. FAILURE TO SHOW AND FORFEITS

A. A team shall be allowed a ten (10) minute grace period after the scheduled kick-off time before the match is awarded to their opponent. A minimum of seven (7) players constitutes a team for U13 and U14 divisions. A minimum of six (6) players constitutes a team for U12 divisions.

B. In no case shall a team that forfeits or does not show-up for a game be declared a division winner. If an apparent division winner forfeits a game, or does not show up for play, the division team with the next best record shall be named the division winner.

C. A forfeit in the preliminary round will be awarded as three (3) points for the win. If the game has started the score will stand at the time of the forfeit unless the score is 0-0 at the time of the forfeit, in which even the score will be recorded as 4-0.

D. Forfeits in the play-off rounds shall be recorded as 1-0 games.

9. ABANDONED GAME

If a game is abandoned, meaning the referees have to cancel the game while in progress due to actions or behavior of players, coaches, or spectators, the score will be recorded as follows: If either team is at fault for the abandonment of the game, that team at fault shall forfeit the match and the score will be recorded as a 4-0 win for the opposing team. If both teams are at fault the score will remain as is the time of the abandonment.

10. NO PROTESTS SHALL BE ENTERTAINED

12. CONDUCT

A. The 2022 Freedom Cup, hosted by Inter Miami CF will have a Discipline Committee of three (3) members. The Discipline Committee will review and rule on all reports of unacceptable conduct by players, managers, coaches, referees, spectators, etc. using the Florida Youth Soccer Association standards as set by Rule Section 502.

B. Players, coaches, and spectators are expected to conduct themselves within the spirit of the Law as well as the letter of the Law. Displays of temper or dissent are cause for ejection from the game and surrounding field area and/or the Tournament. Repeated violations may result in the suspension of the team from the Tournament as decided by the Tournament Director.

C. A player, coach, or team official ejected from a game shall receive an automatic minimum one (1) game suspension regardless of the cause of the ejection. Duration of suspension is cumulative based on further misconduct after receiving the initial dismissal. The Discipline Committee shall determine the appropriate sanction for the action resulting in the ejection, said sanction will be determined and communicated to the affected parties as soon as practicable, but no later than prior to the next scheduled game in which the offending party would have an opportunity to participate, which is no sooner than two games after the game in which the offending party was ejected, since there is at least a one game automatic suspension.

D. Depending on the severity of the unacceptable conduct, the Discipline Committee may recommend the suspension of up to the duration of the tournament with further disciplinary action by the appropriate National and State Association, Federation or any other US Soccer affiliated organization. The Discipline Committee recommendations will be available to the affected parties no later than before their next scheduled game.

E. Any player, coach, team official or parent exhibiting or threatening violence to anyone (player, coach, referee, spectator, or Tournament official) will be grounds for immediate expulsion from the tournament, such determination to
be made by the appropriate referees and tournament officials.

F. At the completion of the 2022 Freedom Cup, hosted by Inter Miami CF, it is the responsibility of the team’s coach or manager to pick up the passes from the tournament office (even if suspension has not been completed). A complete report will be sent to the Florida Youth Soccer Association Review and Discipline Committee within 72 hours for forwarding to the appropriate State and National Association.

G. Alcoholic beverages, smoking, use of profanity and animals are not permitted at Florida Blue Training Center

H. Mechanical and artificial noise makers are prohibited.

15. DETERMINATION OF PLAYOFF FINALISTS

Finalists will be determined through a seeding format based on group play. 1st and 2nd place teams will advance to the Finals. 3rd and 4th place teams will play a Consolation match. In group play, teams will be awarded three (3) points for a win. One (1) point for a tie, with teams going directly to penalty kicks to determine an extra (1) point. Winning team of the penalty kicks will earn two (2) points, with the other team earning one (1) point for the tie. Zero (0) points for a loss.

At the end of group play, in the event of a tie within a division, the following criteria will be used to determine placement of teams, and which teams advance to the

Finals or Consuluation:

1. Overall points (3 points for win, 2 or 1 points for a tie, 0 points for a loss)

2. Goal differential

3. Most goals scored

4. Head-to-head competition (This criterion will not be considered in the case of a tie among more than two (2) teams).
   *In the event of a tie among more than two teams, once a tie is broken by the above system, and if ties among remaining teams still must be decided, those ties would be broken by starting again from the top of the tie breaking procedure.

16. PLAYOFFS (FINALS & CONSOLUTION GAMES)

A. In the case of a draw at the end of regulation time in Finals or Consolation games, the winner will be determined as follows: The best of five (5) penalty kicks taken alternately by each team will determine the winner. Only those players on the field at the end of regulation time of the playoff game may compete. If the penalty kick score is tied at the end of the five kicks, the teams will continue to take penalty kicks alternately until there is a winner. All players on the field must kick before any player may kick a second time.

17. CONCUSSIONS

A. Pursuant to Florida Statutes (FS 943.0438), State of Florida has enacted a very stringent Head Injury and Concussion Law. If the referee (or assistant referee) believes that, in his/her opinion, a player has suffered a head injury or possible concussion, the match must be stopped IMMEDIATELY. The injured player if able to leave the field on their own must be escorted to their coach and the coach must be told that the player cannot return for the duration of the match. If a trainer is brought onto the field because the player is incapacitated, the referee must still notify the coach that the player cannot return to the game. It is the responsibility of the coach and the player’s parent(s) or legal guardians to seek medical attention. The player may not resume participation until he/she has been cleared by a medical doctor. The Referee HAS NO FURTHER responsibility beyond removing the player from the match in which the player was injured. The referee crew must ensure, that UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES or due to the appeal from any coaching staff that the player is not allowed to return to the game.

18. INCLEMENT WEATHER

INCLEMENT WEATHER (GROUP PLAY). In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Committee will have the authority (in its sole discretion) to change games as follows:

A. Reschedule or Relocate match(Time and location determined by Tournament Director).

B. Shortened match - The Tournament Director may reduce the length of halves due to weather conditions before the restart of a match once delayed due to weather; all such matches will be considered official.

C. Go to “Penalty Kicks” (Time and location determined by Tournament Director

D. Be Canceled (The tournament committee has the right to cancel any match. Any game that is not started and is canceled [as opposed to postponed] due to weather or other external conditions will be recorded as a 0-0 tie. Canceled games will not be rescheduled.)

E. Games that have been started and subsequently suspended due to inclement weather or other external conditions will be deemed complete if one half of play has been completed or the first half cannot be completed prior to the start time of the next scheduled game on that field. For any such game that is not completed, the score at the time of the suspension will be the final score. Any game that is not started and is canceled (as opposed to postponed) due to weather or other external conditions will be recorded as a 0-0 tie. Canceled games will not be rescheduled.

If in the event the Tournament Director rules that during the group play “Taking of Kicks from the Penalty Mark.” will be done due to inclement weather or field conditions, the following rule will apply:

• Each team will take a maximum of five (5) penalty kicks.

• At the end of five (5) kicks the game will be scored as a 1-0 win for the team that has scored more penalty kicks, or a 0-0 tie if both teams are tied in penalty kicks at the end of five (5) kicks.

• In the overall standings, 3 points will be given for the win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss.

• The 1-0 on penalty kicks will be counted for or against to determine the tiebreaker for advancement.

• If regular games have been played in the bracket and the Tournament Director has determined that other games go to penalty kicks due to inclement weather or field conditions, the regular games score will revert back to a 1-0 win or a 0-0 tie.

The Tournament Director will determine duration of any suspension. In case of extreme weather (heat/humidity), a break will be given at the midpoint of each half of regulation time and at the end of each overtime period (if played) for player hydration.This break will be given at a normal stoppage of play and it is mandatory for any FYSA sanctioned match during which the air temperature is or is expected to reach eighty-five (85) degrees. (FYSA Bylaw 402.4)

INCLEMENT WEATHER (FINALS). In the event of inclement weather affecting the Finals, the Tournament Committee will have the authority (in its sole discretion) to change games as follows:

A. Relocate or reschedule any game(s)

B. Change the duration of any game(s)

C. FIFA penalty kicks

D. Final Games that have been started and subsequently suspended due to inclement weather or other external conditions, will be deemed complete if one half of play has been completed or the first half cannot be completed prior to the start time of the next scheduled game on that field. For any such game that is not completed, the score at the time of the suspension will be the final score.

a) If the score at the time of the suspension is tied, or the game cannot be started due to inclement weather, Point E (below) will be taken into account

E. If the score at the time of the suspension is tied, or any Final game that has not started, and a Champion and Finalist needs to be determined, the tournament will revert back to final group standings based on three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and zero (0) points for a loss. In the event of a tie-on points between the two teams that are in the Finals, the following criteria will be used to determine the Champion and Finalist.

F. Overall points.

G. Goal differential

H. Most goals scored

I. Head-to-head competition (this criterion will not be considered in the case of a tie among more than two (2) teams.

19. REFUND POLICY

Not applicable since there are no tournament registration fees for participating teams.

20. GENERAL

A. The Tournament Committee’s interpretation of these rules shall be FINAL.

B. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide on all matters pertaining to this tournament.

C. The Tournament Committee, based on its interpretation of these rules, will determine the teams which advance to the Finals and Consolation games.

D. Sales of any kind are not permitted.

E. The use of drones at are not allowed.

21. IMCF CODE OF CONDUCT

Reasonable behavior is required of all spectators and visitors. Any inappropriate behavior that endangers or offends any other person may result in the immediate ejection from our training facility and fields. At no time may a spectator enter the field of play. Spectators may view games taking place on the fields from the exterior of the field, opposite from bench area. Any person(s) ejected from facilities may not be allowed to return for future events.

22. PROHIBITED ITEMS

Alcohol – Amplified sound devices – Animals – Artificial noise makers –

Bicycles – Drones – E Cigarettes/Vaporizers – Firearms – Fireworks – Glass

containers – Grills – Illegal drugs – Scooters – Skateboards – Pets - Projectiles

– Tobacco - Weapons