Rules

Check In: 

• ALL Teams – MUST check in online and can be asked to verify passcards/rosters prior to each game
• Teams are allowed 4 guest players – Must be on roster
• Rosters – You may write in guest players as long as passcard/waiver documentation is provided
• Roster – the roster being used prior to game must match roster uploaded at check in online
• Player pass: A player may only play on one team. NO PLAYER can play for two different teams/clubs in the same event.
• Player verification: the referee may require that both teams provide one copy of your Official roster.
• Please be sure to have copies of your rosters and passcards with you on hand throughout the event. Referees may check these before a game.
• If you play with more than the maximum number on a roster without written confirmation from the event committee – the game will become a forfeit.

Reporting Scores: 

Western WA Surf Staff members will report scores when possible. In some situations, score reporting responsibilities will fall to the winning team, or the home team in the event of a draw.

Jersey Change: 

HOME team changes

Game Ball: 

HOME team provides game ball

Winners

All divisions will have finals – with progression decided by group play.

A point system shall be employed to determine the order of finish in group play, as follows:

• Six (6) points for a win
• Three (3) points for a draw
• One (1) point per goal up to three goals
• One (1) point for a shutout

In a four-team Tournament Bracket, Group A first place will play Group A second place in a Final.

In a five-team Tournament Bracket, teams play all other teams in the bracket in a four-game round-robin schedule, and the 2 top point leaders will advance to the fnals .

In a six-team Crossover Bracket, the top 2 finishers based on standings points and tiebreakers regardless of group will advance to the final, this means that the 2 top point leaders will advance no matter what group they are in. 

In an eight-team Tournament Bracket, Group A first place will play Group B first place in a bracket Final.

In the event tie breakers are required they will fall in the following order as applicable:

1. Head to Head
2. Goal Difference (4 max, per game)
3. Goals Against (4 max, per game)
4. Goals For (4 max, per game)
5. Most Shutouts
6. Penalty Shootout

*Depending on timing and teams’ circumstances at the time of the tiebreaker. If penalty kicks are possible and agreed to, they will occur 30 minutes before the final that the team would advance to.
If there is a three-way tie, the tiebreakers shall be followed, starting at #2, until one team advances or is eliminated. Then, the tiebreaker will be started again at #1 for the two remaining teams.

Games Requiring a Winner

*Championship Games* – If the score is tied at the end of regulation, a Golden Goal period of two 5-minute halves will ensue. If either team scores in this period, the game is immediately finished. If the teams are still tied at the end of the Golden Goal period, the game will move to kicks from the spot. Substitutions will be allowed in the Golden Goal period. Head Coaches will be given notice 2 minute prior to the end of the Golden Goal period, as substitutions will not be allowed between the end of the Golden Goal period and kicks from the spot.

Officiating

Qualified officials will officiate each game. All 7v7 and 9v9 games will be officiated by a central referee for the match.

Heading Rules

U12 players and younger may NOT head the ball intentionally. If in the opinion of the referee a player heads the ball intentionally, the restart is an indirect free kick for the opposition. If a player plays “up” an age division, that player will play by the age group rule.

7v7 GUIDELINES

In 7v7 competition, the opposing team must be behind the build-out line for goal kicks.

* The offside rule for 7v7 games:

• Build out line / Off-side line will be used (equidistant from Penalty Area to Halfway line)

. At 7v7 we want the game focus to be on development and multiple touches with minimal stoppages, rather than coaches and teams focusing on the offside trap.

The keeper cannot dropkick or punt the ball.

9v9 Guidelines

Goalkeepers may punt or drop kick the ball

NO Build out line
* The offside rule for 9v9 games:

• Offsides will be called  (center line used as off-sides line)

Substitutions are unlimited and can occur at any stoppage

Substitutions

Substitutions can be made at ANY stoppage with the consent of the official. This includes free-kicks, corners and opposition stoppages such as the other team’s throw-in. Unlimited re-entries are allowed.

Weather

In the event of stoppage of play due to severe weather conditions, teams should retreat to a safe location; teams should ensure in advance that there is a means to communicate with team members in the event of stoppage. WW Surf will make best efforts to regularly communicate to team contacts via email / phone / text / social, advising on when play will be resumed, cancelled, modified, or further postponed for another defined length of time. DO NOT assume comments by anyone other than Tournament personnel at HQ are authoritative on issues regarding the resumption or cancellation of the schedule in the event of stoppage.

Air Quality Policy – In the event that air quality is expected to be poor during any portion of the tournament, the air quality index will be monitored closely through both airnow.gov and pscleanair.org. Depending on the forecast for the weekend and the overall schedule for the tournament, Starfire Sports may shorten, amend, or cancel games if the Air Quality Index for Tukwila (zip code 98188) reads above 150, or in the red zone. Personal safety is the number one concern of the event and it will supersede any game situation.

Team withdrawals
No shows/forfeits: If a team does not show with the minimum number of players or fails to show – this will result in a forfeit of a 0-3 loss that will be recorded. In the case of a team showing up to the wrong field/traffic – a period of 15 minutes will be given to see if the “no show” can get the minimum of 7 players to start the game. After 15 minutes, if a team does not have 7 players, the game will become a forfeit.

If a team is fully responsible for the termination of a game due to poor sportsmanship towards a referee, opposing team/fans then the offending team will be forced to forfeit. The team responsible for the forfeit will incur a 0-3 loss.

If you play with more than the maximum number on a roster without written confirmation from the event committee – the game will become a forfeit. 

Player Safety
The following shall be permitted for player safety:

• A soft splint or cast shall be allowed per the referee has determined that the cast is not a danger to themselves or other players. 

• A brace, joint, or prosthetic is allowed per the referee has determined that is not a danger to themselves or other players. 

• Sport Spectacles/plastic prescription frames sports are allowed, however eyewear with glass, metal, or sharp edges are barred. 

• Soft foam headgear is allowed per the referee has determined it is not a danger to themselves or other players. 

If a referee has determined a player is wearing articles that are not allowed – the referee shall order the said player to remove them. If the player fails to remove the article – they will not be allowed to return to the match. 

Player Behavior

The issuance of all red and yellow cards and other matters involving the conduct of a team, its players, coaches or supporters will be recorded and reported immediately to the event directors.

A player receiving two cautions (yellow cards) in a single game is considered to have been given an ejection (red card). A player who has been ejected (sent off) will not be replaced. A player who has been ejected will not return for that game and will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game. If this player is found to be participating in the next scheduled game – the team with that player will forfeit the game.

A coach who has been ejected (sent off) will not be allowed to participate in the next scheduled game. Any player or coach ejected (Red Card) from a game shall be ineligible to take part in any further action with the team during that match and suspended for 1 match.

The referee, referee coordinator and event staff/director will assess the ejection and decide upon further suspension. The discretion will be solely down to the event director and referee coordinator.

Assault or abuse by players, coaches, or supporters will result in immediate suspension for the balance of the event.

Coach Presence
The team must have a coach or administrator from within the same club at all scheduled matches in which their teams participate. The coach/administrator must have a valid coaching pass. There must be a coach present throughout the entire match or match will be forfeited by the team without a coach present to a score of 3 – 0. A maximum of 3 coaches are allowed on the team’s sideline. 

If a coach is sent off – the team must replace the coach with another coach/administrator with a valid passcard from the same club within a 5-minute period. With a running clock, if the coach gets ejected and the game time comes to completion before the 5-minute grace period – the result will stand. 

Field Marshals
Field Marshals will be present at all fields. All participants should be aware that the Marshals have the authority and right to remove any unruly or uncivil spectators or coaches from the game field perimeter and/or the field complex area. Anyone found consuming alcohol at any location will be asked to either dispose of the alcohol or to leave the premises.

Protests
No protests will be considered. All games are FINAL. No protests are accepted and the decision on the field is final. We will not review or consider any video evidence to contest any on-field decision.

If you must pull out your team – refunds are as follows:
– After a Team is Accepted: no refunds after a team has been accepted.