Team Application: Word Document / PDF document
This needs to be filled out by the coach and returned to WYSA with payment as soon as possible. Space is limited so register early.

Team Roster: Word Document / PDF Document
This needs to be filled out by the coach and turned in at the registration table at least 30 minutes before your first game on the day of the tournament.

You can view the tournament rules below or click here to download a copy.

While we will attempt to keep this document current, the Tournament Director of the Windham Youth Soccer Club reserves the right to implement rule changes prior to the start of the tournament which may make portions of this document obsolete. For the most current version of this document, please visit the Windham Youth Soccer Club web site at: http://www.windhamyouthsoccer.com .

Tournament Rules

The Windham Youth Soccer Club Windham Summerfest 4v4 tournament is played under FIFA rules with amendments as described below. If there is no specific exception below, then FIFA laws of the game shall prevail. In the event of a conflict between these rule exceptions and FIFA rules, the Windham Summerfest rule modifications shall prevail.

All decisions of the Windham Summerfest Tournament Director are final. The Tournament Director shall also have the final authority to make adjustments to match schedules, match duration, and other aspects of the tournament as may become necessary during the course of the tournament.

Amendment to the Rules: Rain Policy
Windham Youth Soccer Association is a non-profit organization and this tournament is meant as a fundraiser for its soccer programs.  There will be no refunds allowed for rain delays or cancellations.

Soccer is played in the rain if at all possible unless the Tournament Director decides it is necessary to postpone  due to dangerous field conditions or lightning.  If lightning occurs, all attempts will be made to resume play 30 minutes after the last lightning flash is viewed and the Tournament Director deems it safe to resume play. The games will resume as scheduled if at all possible, or shortened if nightfall is imminent.

Field of Play
All games will be contested on small-sided fields. The approximate dimension of each field shall be:
• 30 yards by 35 yards for age groups U12 and under
• 35 yards by 40 yards for age groups U13 and older
Windham Youth Soccer Club reserves the right to adjust the sizes of certain fields for reasons of safety and maximizing the use of space available for the tournament.

Fields will have corner arcs for corner kicks and a center line. There are no penalty area markings on the field. Instead, each field will have a “goal crease” that is a semi-circle approximately three (3) yards in radius directly in front of each goal. The ball may not be touched by either team while the ball is in or above the goal crease area.

• A “touch” of the ball is defined as altering the flight or natural path of the ball in any manner.
• If a defender touches the ball while the ball is in the goal crease, a goal is awarded to the attacking team and play is restarted with a kick-off at center field.
• If an attacking player touches the ball while the ball is in the goal crease, no goal is awarded and the defending team restarts play with a goal kick.
• If players from both teams touch the ball while the ball is in the goal crease, the first touch takes precedence and play is dead at that point. If in the referee’s judgment the first touch is simultaneous for both teams, play is dead and play is restarted with a drop ball at center field.
• If the ball comes to rest in the goal crease, and is not completely across the goal line, then the ball is dead and play is restarted with the defending team taking a goal kick.
Please note it is not a penalty to run through or stand in the goal crease. A player may be in the crease when a goal is scored as long as the flight of the ball is not altered in any way.

Goal Size
Each goal will consist of a “Pugg net”, which is a portable folding net that creates a goal that is roughly shaped as a semi-circle that is approximately 2 yards in diameter. The Pugg nets will be anchored to the ground in a manner deemed suitable by the Tournament Director which restricts movement of the net but also considers safety of the players. The goals will be centered on the end lines, and the goal crease shall be painted so it is centered with the goal.

Method of Scoring
A goal is scored when the ball completely crosses the goal line and is contained within the Pugg net frame. Shots which cause the Pugg net frame to recoil, but where the ball never completely enters the netting, are not a goal and are treated as a shot off the frame.
Goals may be scored directly on kick-offs, goal kicks, and corner kicks. Goals may not be scored directly on kick-ins.

Number of Players and Positions
A maximum of four players per team may be on the field at any given time. Each team shall have a roster of not more than six players, unless prior approval for an expanded roster is granted by the Tournament Director prior to the start of the tournament. Team rosters shall be submitted to the Tournament Director prior to playing in the first game of the tournament. Roster changes, once the final roster has been submitted, are prohibited.
            Amendment: Each team will now only be allowed a roster of six players. This is a change from the original eight.

There is no goalkeeper position in this tournament. No player on the field may handle the ball while on the field of play.

Substitutions
Each team may substitute an unlimited number of times in each game. Substitutions may be done “on the fly” with a hand slap of the outcoming player with the incoming player at the center field mark on the sideline. Referees will allow a small buffer zone for players coming onto and going off the field. Should a team have more than four players on the field, the referee will stop play as soon as “advantage” is gained by the team with too many players and send off the appropriate number of players. Play will resume with an indirect kick for the opponent. The coach will receive a warning. For the second occurrence, the same penalty shall apply. On the third and each subsequent occurrence, the referee will stop play when advantage is gained and award the opponent an unobstructed shot at goal (direct free kick).

Length of Match
Each match shall consist of two 12-minute halves, with a two-minute halftime break. Time of the match is kept on the field by the referee. Time of each half is absolute and is not extended for “advantage” situations. In a tournament such as the Windham Summerfest 4v4, goals may be scored from any point of the field so possession at any point could be construed as an advantage situation. Further, the nature of the tournament and number of games requires us to run matches on a strict time schedule. At the conclusion of each twelve minute half, the referee will blow the play dead regardless of the position and possession of the ball. We will allow the referees small discretion to add a minimal amount of extra time to compensate for significant injuries or other extenuating circumstances. The ball must be completely in the goal at the expiration of the match to count as a goal. Any ball that crosses the goal line after time has expired shall not count as a goal. The only exception to this shall be in the event of a foul resulting in a direct kick, which is an unobstructed shot on goal. If the foul occurs before time expires, the referee shall allow the unobstructed shot to occur and the goal shall be awarded if it completely crosses within the Pugg net frame as described previously even if time has expired.

Offside
There is no offside rule in effect throughout this tournament at any age level.

Kick-off
Teams may play the ball backward with the first touch on any kick-off. Kick-offs are direct kicks for purposes of awarding goals. Opponents shall be five yards away from the ball.

Goal Kicks
Defenders do not need to drop back to the midfield line at any age group on goal kicks. Goal kicks may be taken from any point on the defending goal line or from any point along the defending crease area. Goal kicks are direct kicks for purposes of awarding goals. Opponents shall be five yards away from the ball and outside the crease area on a goal kick.

Kick-ins
There are no throw-ins for this tournament. If a ball is judged to be out of bounds, then play will be restarted with a kick-in from the sideline. Defenders must allow at least five yards for the kick-in. The ball may not be kicked directly into the goal from a kick-in. If the ball is kicked into the goal untouched by either team, play is restarted with a kick-in for the opponent from the same spot.

Fouls
Fouls are as described in FIFA rules, and may result in indirect kicks. Fouls resulting in indirect kicks will result in play restarting from the point of the foul with an indirect free kick.

Fouls that would normally result in direct kicks under FIFA rules will be played as indirect kicks.  No direct kicks will be allowed.

Windham Youth Soccer Club supports the Soccer Maine Zero Tolerance policy and the associated spirit of this rule to keep the competition fair, safe, and fun for all. Expressly prohibited are all actions as called out in the Zero Tolerance Policy. Any player, coach, parent, or fan who is removed from the field of play under the Zero Tolerance provisions shall be ineligible to return to the field for the remainder of that day’s play. The Windham Summerfest 4v4 Tournament Director reserves the right to expel the offending individuals for the remainder of the tournament. The Soccer Maine Zero Tolerance policy can be viewed online at: http://www.soccermaine.com/03ref/zerotolerancepolicy.pdf

Should the referee need to abandon the match due to refusal to leave the field of play under the zero tolerance policy, then the associated team shall forfeit the match for purposes of scoring. The referee, our Field Marshals, the Tournament Director, the assistant Tournament Director, and the Board of Directors shall have the authority to invoke the Zero Tolerance policy. There is no appeal of the zero tolerance policy.

Teams and Brackets
Teams are bracketed by age and gender. For purposes of this tournament, a team with at least one male player on the roster shall be considered a boys team for tournament play. A team with players from multiple age brackets shall play in the age bracket of its oldest rostered player. The Windham Youth Soccer Club accepts registrations on a first come (completed registration including payment), first served basis as space permits.  
Amendment: The addition of least competitive, competitive and most competitive, to the application is to allow WYSA the ability to bracket players into appropriate playing levels for scheduling purposes. This event continues to be non-results oriented.

Match Scoring
No score will be recorded as this is a “for fun” tournament only. Games may end in a tie. There will be no additional play allowed for tiebreakers.

Protests and Appeals
Protests and Appeals will not be allowed.  This tournament is non-results oriented.