TST rules/tiebreakers

This is a **TST** article

**Per: TheTournament.com:**

*THE SOCCER TOURNAMENT*

2023 OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

The following sets forth the rules and regulations (the “Rules”) that will apply to The Soccer Tournament- 2023 (the “Tournament” or “TST”) for 2023. The Tournament, LLC is the sponsor and the producer of the Tournament (the “Producer”). The Tournament is currently intended, but is not guaranteed, to be produced for livestream on the internet and telecast on television/cable networks. Note: The Producer shall have the power and authority to determine all matters with respect to the Tournament and the Rules, including without limitation to make a final determination with respect to the applicability of or compliance with any Rule and the right to suspend or waive the requirements of any Rule, all and in each case, as it may determine, from time to time, in the exercise of its sole discretion. All references herein to any decision, election, determination, exercise of rights or other action by Producer means, in each instance, the exercise of such right or taking of such action in Producer’s sole, exclusive and non-reviewable exercise of its discretion.

I. BACKGROUND

Up to thirty-two (32) teams (each, a “Team”) shall have the opportunity to participate in the Tournament in one of eight (8) groups of four (4) teams; the top two (2) teams (i.e., the two top teams have the best record) from each group will advance to single elimination, “knock out” rounds, beginning with the Round of 16, then the quarterfinals (eight teams), then the semifinals (four teams), then the Title Game (two teams); the winner of the Title Game will be declared the winner of the Tournament. The number of Teams that will compete is in Producer’s sole discretion. Producer may elect to include fewer than thirty-two (32) Teams in the Tournament. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Producer may elect, in its sole discretion, to have more than thirty-two (32) teams. The Team that wins the Tournament will receive a cash prize of not less than $1,000,000 subject to the terms and conditions as set forth herein (the “Team Prize”). The Team Prize shall be allocated among such Team’s Participants (as defined below) as such Team determines, subject to certain restrictions contained herein.
II. ROLES

Each Team shall be initially composed of “Participants.” A “Participant” is defined as either (i) an individual who applies on the Website (http://www.thetournament.com), has registered on the Website and has been accepted by Producer to participate in the Tournament, or (ii) a person designated in a roster submitted by a Charity (as defined below). A Participant may be a “Player,” a General Manager (“GM”), a “Coach,” a “Booster,” or other roles as defined on Producer’s website.
Player – A Player is someone who is on a Team’s roster of individuals available to play in the Soccer games in the Tournament. It is the team which determines the roster.
GM – There must be one GM per Team. The GM is the individual who registers a Team with the Producer and who oversees all aspects of the Team, including, without limitation, recruiting Players, communicating with Producer, managing the roster, and otherwise handling the team’s application to play and participation in the Tournament.
Head Coach – A Team may have one Head Coach, or may elect not to have a Head Coach.
Assistant Coach -- A Team may have one or more Assistant Coaches, or may elect not to have an Assistant Coach
Booster – A Team may have one or more Boosters, or may elect not to have a Booster. A Booster is someone a Team believes will assist the Team in gaining entry to the Tournament, soliciting Fan support or will help the Team in some other way off-the-court.
Other – A team may have one or more individuals in other roles. An individual in any non-specifically defined role is anyone who does not fit one of the role descriptions immediately above.
An applicant is someone who applies for entry in the Tournament.
A GM may also be a Player; however, he or she will count towards one of the permissible roster spots designated for Players.
A GM, Coach, or Booster WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SWITCH ROLES TO A PLAYER AFTER THE ROSTER DEADLINE, as described below.
A Coach or a Booster or others may be added to a Team’s roster at any point prior to May 23, 2023 at 12:00pm EDT.
If a Team has a Participant who does not fit one of the above roles, but whom the Team wants on its roster, please email info@thetournament.com to request Producer’s authorization. Producer is not required to grant authorization.
Producer may disqualify any person from being a Participant in the Tournament if Producer believes that such person’s participation is or may become harmful to or interfere with the integrity of the competition, competition, production and/or telecast or livestream of the Tournament.
Once registered for a Team’s roster, a player is prohibited from joining another Team’s roster at any point in the Tournament.
PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF PLAY EACH PARTICIPANT MUST REVIEW AND ACCEPT IN WRITING PRODUCER’S PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE (THE “PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT”), WHICH IS ALSO A REQUIREMENT FOR COMPLETION OF THE PARTICIPANT’S PROFILE ON THE WEBSITE.
III. TEAM ROSTERS

To be eligible to compete in the Tournament, a Team’s roster shall consist of at least ten (10) Players by 11:59pmpm ET on May 5, 2023.
Twenty-four Player Pool Each Team in the Tournament shall name a minimum of ten (10) and a maximum of twenty-four (24) Players eligible to compete for the Team by May 5, 2023 (“May 5th Pool”). Players who are not named by May 5 shall not be eligible to compete in the Tournament, except for the “Mystery Players,” as described immediately below.
Eligible players may be (i) Players who are known to the team on May 5, 2023, but are not announced; or (ii) Players who are unknown to the team and identified and registered May 5, 2023 but disclosed to Producer no later than May 23, 2023.
“Mystery Players” Up to three (3) of the twenty-four (24) Players named on May 1 may be listed as “Mystery Players,” whose identities are known to the Team, unknown to the Team, or to be determined by the Team; it being understood, however, that their identity must be disclosed to Producer no later than May 23, 2023.
Final Eighteen Each Team in the Tournament shall publicly name a final roster of up to eighteen (18) Players from its May 5th Pool of up to twenty-four (24), including any and all “Mystery Players,” by May 23, 2023.
The identities of any and all “Mystery Players” must be revealed by May 23, 2023.
No Players shall be permitted to join a Team’s Roster after May 23, 2023.
IV. CHARITY

Donating to Charity. A Team may designate a Charity (as defined below) to which it will donate a percentage of its winnings, provided that such organization is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (such non-profit organization, a “Charity”). In the scenario described in this paragraph, the Producer will not issue payment of any winnings directly to the Charity the Team has designated. The Team and its Participants will be solely responsible for any and all contributions, payments, or donations made to the designated Charity. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION. THE PRODUCER IS NOT PROVIDING AND WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY TAX ADVICE TO TEAMS, PARTICIPANTS, OR THEIR ADVISORS. PARTICIPANTS SHALL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL APPLICABLE TAXES AND OTHER FEES AND OBLIGATIONS ON ANY PRIZE WINNINGS (INCLUDING CASH OR OTHER PRIZES) WHICH PARTICIPANTS MAY RECEIVE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TOURNAMENT. PARTICIPANTS SHALL PROPERLY COMPLETE AND SUBMIT TO PRODUCER ANY REQUIRED FORMS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
Charity-Sponsored Team. A Charity may apply to participate in the Tournament as a Team. In order to enter the Tournament, an individual representing the Charity would still have to be the GM, and would register the Team on the Website pursuant to these Rules. Any individuals who desire to play for the Charity Team will still have to register themselves pursuant to these Rules, and the GM will have to invite them to join the Team, as described herein. Notwithstanding any provision of these Rules, (i) a Charity Team is responsible for all obligations and requirements otherwise imposed on its Participants in these Rules, (ii) all Participants designated by a Charity shall participate solely as designees of the Charity Team and at its direction, and (iii) any rights or benefits, including any prize, award or other benefit, otherwise granted to Participants in these Rules shall instead belong solely to the Charity applicant. Should a Charity Team enter and win the Tournament, the Producer will make payment exclusively to the benefit of the Charity and will not split or provide any separate payment to any other Participant playing on behalf of the Charity.
Fans of a Charity Team will still be eligible to receive prizes as described in the Fan Contest Rules.
V. PARTICIPANT DISCLOSURES

Any Participant who has been arrested, charged with or convicted of a violent felony, in each case that has resulted in any term of imprisonment or any form of incarceration within the last seven (7) years (i.e., since April 2016), or who is identified on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons Lists (the “SDN List”) issued by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (including if such identification first occurs during the Tournament) may, in Producer’s sole discretion, not be eligible to participate (or continue to participate) in the Tournament and, if so barred from participation, shall not be eligible to win any portion of any prize. Producer may also exclude from participation in the Tournament any individual who has been convicted of, or found liable for, any form of sexual offense, irrespective of whether a conviction led to imprisonment or any form of incarceration or has any other criminal history. Failure to disclose a history of criminal convictions, arrests or charges or identification on the SDN List may result in a Participant’s immediate disqualification from the Tournament and may also result in the disqualification of the Participant’s entire Team as Producer elects in its sole discretion. A Participant with any history of such criminal convictions, arrests or charges specified above, or any knowledge that he or she is identified on the SDN List must notify Producer of such history or identification by sending an email to info@TheTournament.com not later than 12:00 pm (NOON) (ET) on May 25, 2023. Such emails must include date of offense, location of offense, arrest and/or conviction, and disposition of the case, as applicable. If Participant has not provided Producer with any such information by such date/time, Producer shall proceed in reliance that such Participant has represented that he or she has no criminal history and is not identified on the SDN List. In addition to the foregoing disclosure, Producer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to perform a formal background check in connection with any matters concerning Participant’s background, as well as check Participant against the SDN List, and Producer shall have the right to use such results to assess whether Participant may participate or continue to participate in the Tournament. Participant may be asked to provide all applicable information required of him/her in order for Producer to complete such formal background check and/or check of the SDN List, and Participant’s failure to do so may be grounds for disqualification from the Tournament.

VI. APPLICATION TO AND QUALIFICATION FOR THE TOURNAMENT

Subject to the timings set forth herein, in order to start the application process, an individual who wishes to enter a team in the Tournament must purchase a slot on the Producer’s website. The purchaser must then complete all basic information requested by Producer (collectively, a “Profile”), including, without limitation, biographical data, playing history (with position), height, weight and all other information about such individual, including digital photographs and a short digital video, to be submitted as instructed and described in the application section on the Website.
Participants must show their current valid and unexpired picture identification (current passport, driver’s license or state or military identification card) acceptable to the Producer at the time of on-site registration.
Participants must be legally eligible to enter the United States and may be required by Producer to submit documentation that proves the foregoing.
PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ANY AND ALL LICENSES AND/OR REGISTRATIONS, AS WELL AS FOR PAYMENT OF ANY AND ALL TAXES AND OTHER FEES THAT MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATION IN AND THE WINNING OF THE TOURNAMENT.
Producer is not obligated to assist, advise, or perform any duties or provide any help in any form for any Participant seeking to gain legal entry to the United States.
The application process will be open during the period from 12:00 pm (NOON) (ET) on October 11, 2022 until 12:00 pm (NOON) (ET) on May 1, 2023 at 12:00pm (NOON) ET. Each applicant must provide all information requested of him or her by Producer. Producer shall own all right, title and interest in and to all of the materials that an applicant submits, enters or otherwise chooses to include on the Website whether in the form of pictures, writings or otherwise. Any person who fails to register with Producer and to satisfactorily complete any and all required forms and registrations (as determined by the Producer) before 12:00 pm (NOON) (ET) on May 23, 2023 or otherwise fails to provide all information requested of him or her by the Producer from time-to time, may, in the Producer’s sole discretion, not be permitted to participate in the Tournament. The Producer retains the right to accelerate the admission process (i.e., to accept applicants prior to May 1, 2023) for any Team by admitting for entry into the Tournament any Team and its Participants at a date and time prior to or following May 1, 2023.
The GM is solely responsible for assembling and obtaining Players for a Team roster from those individuals who apply to play in the Tournament and shall do so using the online process provided and described by Producer. To be eligible to play in the Tournament, a Team will be required to designate its hometown and have an eligible roster (i.e., at least 10 Players) prior to 11:59 pm (ET) on May 5, 2023, pursuant to the Rules described above. The GM may offer any individual applicant who is registered as a Player a spot on his/her Team.
Team Eligibility. Throughout the application process and following 12:00 pm (NOON) (ET) on May 1, 2023, Producer will review each Team’s page on the Website and first determine which Teams are eligible to participate in the Tournament. All eligibility requirements are in Producer’s sole discretion.
Team Selection. After determining which Teams are eligible to participate in the Tournament, whether a Team makes the final cut to be in the Tournament is in Producer’s sole discretion. A Team’s eligibility is subject to criteria as determined by Producer in its sole discretion. As a guide to applicants, in making such determinations, Producer will consider, among other factors, the following: (i) the content and completeness of the applications of each of the Team’s Participants; (ii) the Team’s satisfactory completion of the registration process; (iii) the level of Soccer talent a Team possesses including, without limitation, the highest level of play for each Player on a Team (i.e., high school, collegiate, professional, etc.); (iv) the Team’s submission of the entry fee; and (v) other criteria that Producer deems important to the integrity, competition, production and/or telecast of the Tournament, including certain criteria that Producer will publish and make available to applicants.
Team Invitation. Producer will make final selections and announce those Teams who are invited to participate in the Tournament on the Website by no later than May 1, 2023 unless more time is required by Producer in its sole discretion. Subject to the other terms and conditions set forth herein, up to thirty-two (32) teams will be selected to play in the Tournament.
VII. COMPETING IN THE TOURNAMENT

The Teams selected to participate in the Tournament will compete in one of eight (8) Groups; each Group will be comprised of four (4) teams. Producer, in its sole discretion, will assign teams to one of the eight (8) Groups. Each Group will be comprised of four teams (4) that are ranked according to Producer’s evaluation of their relative skill and/or merits.
Group play for the Tournament will commence on June 1, 2023 at the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, USA. Each Team will play three (3) games over the course of three (3) days (it being understood, however, that Producer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to require more time) within its Group, competing against each team in its Group once. Each match will result in a winning team (hereinafter, “Winner”). The top two (2) Teams (i.e., the two top teams have the best record) in each Group will advance to the Round of 16 and will compete against the advancing Teams with whom they have been paired. (e.g. Group A 1st place vs. Group H 2nd place, etc.)
Ties in Group play: The first tie-breaker for Group play will be head to head record (e.g. if both Team A and Team B are 2-1 and Team A has beaten Team B in Group play, Team A will advance). The second tiebreaker will be goal differential. Goal differential will come into play in the following two (2) scenarios:
Scenario 1

2-1 (Team A)

2-1 (Team B)

2-1 (Team C)

0-3 (Team D)

Team A beats B + D (loss to C)

Team B beats C + D (loss to A)

Team C beats A + D (loss to B)

Scenario 2

3-0 (Team A)

1-2 (Team B)

1-2 (Team C)

1-2 (Team D)

Team A beats B + C + D

Team B beats C (loss to A + D)

Team C beats D (loss to A + B)

Team D beats B (loss to A + C)

EACH TEAM IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR COSTS AND EXPENSES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, TRAVEL, HOTEL COSTS, AND MEALS IN ORDER TO APPEAR AND BE ABLE TO PLAY IN THE TOURNAMENT. Producer shall determine the time and date that each Team will play during the Tournament; following such determination, all times and dates are locked and may not be changed other than by Producer (and Producer has no obligation to make a change). Each Team will receive a jersey, shorts, and Team socks to wear during the Tournament, and each Player on the Team must wear such jersey, shorts, and socks and may not wear any other jersey, shorts, and socks. Additionally, members of the Team’s sideline personnel, including coaches, GM’s, team managers, or others may be provided with specific shirts or other apparel that must be worn while the games are being played. During the Tournament, each Team will play one to two games per day. Once a Team fails to advance from Group play, it will automatically be eliminated from the Tournament and no longer be eligible to play or to win the Team Prize. A Team will go on to the Round of 16 if it finishes in the top two (2) positions in its Group, and may thereafter advance in the Tournament only if it wins its game in each successive round.
The Producer retains the right to disqualify any Team or Participant at any point in the Tournament for any reason if the Producer believes that the participation of such Team or Participant is or may become harmful to or interfere with the integrity, competition, production and/or telecast of the Tournament, including without limitation to enforce the rules of the Tournament, promote the entertainment value of the event and to maintain the reputation of the Tournament and avoid any impropriety or even the appearance of impropriety.
If a Team is disqualified from the Tournament, is not present for any game in which it is scheduled to play or if a Team determines that it is unable to compete or continue to complete in the Tournament, the Producer shall have the right to select a replacement Team from among the pool of previously eliminated Teams. If a Team is disqualified from the Tournament during play, all results from its previous victories stand and cannot be challenged or changed. Producer retains the right and authority to replace a disqualified team with another team (including, without limitation, for the championship game).
Each Participant is prohibited from gambling and from associating with those who gamble in connection with the Tournament. If a Participant is found to be involved with gambling in association or in connection with the Tournament, including having taken any form of consideration, whether directly or indirectly from those who gamble in connection with the Tournament, that Participant shall be disqualified from the Tournament and shall be banned for life from competing in the Tournament in future years. Upon discovery of a Participant's involvement or association with gambling in connection with the Tournament, Producer may notify all appropriate law enforcement authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, local police departments and all offices of prosecution who retain jurisdiction over the illegal activities.
If at any time a Participant feels he or she is unable to participate in the Tournament for health or other reasons, Participant may elect to drop out and not continue his/her participation in the Tournament, so long as such Participant gives reasonable advance notice to his/her Team and the Producer. If, at any time, a Participant fails to appear for any game and/or event in connection with the Tournament and the failure to appear is unexcused and unapproved by the Team or the Producer, he/she will be disqualified and he/she shall not be eligible to receive his/her share of the Team Prize. A GM is not required to appear at a game, but he/she must communicate in writing to Producer (or its designee) that he/she will not be attending a game. If a Participant is injured during competition and is unable to continue playing, his or her Team will not be able to replace Participant, but if such Team goes on to win the Team Prize, the injured Participant (other than a Participant on a Charity Team) will have the right to share in such Team Prize, subject to any separate agreement among such Team’s Participants.
The winning Team, but specifically the GM, may allocate its Prize among each of its registered Participants in whatever manner it has decided to allocate the Team Prize, and the Producer will pay the Team Prize according to such allocation; provided, however, that each Team playing in the championship game is required to memorialize in writing, in a manner that Producer shall deem acceptable, by 11:59pm the night before the championship game how it will allocate the Prize to its Participants if it is the winner. Additional information may also be required as part of such allocation process (e.g., social security numbers, completion of IRS Form W-9, etc.). Participants on the winning Team will also be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and Publicity Release prior to receiving any portion of the Team Prize.
Producer retains the sole and exclusive right to determine the method of payment for the Team Prize.
Any Participant or Team who receives any form of compensation apart from the Team Prize, in exchange for appearing and/or playing in the Tournament, whether such compensation is direct or indirect compensation or in the form of sponsorship or otherwise, must inform Producer of such arrangement by no later than May 30, 2023. Failure to inform Producer of any outside compensation may result in such Participant's and/or Team’s disqualification from the Tournament.
Following the end of the Tournament, the winning Team must be available to render press and publicity services as requested by Producer for two (2) consecutive weeks, services to be provided either in person, as requested by Producer, or remotely if in person services are not feasible.
Each Participant acknowledges and agrees that, as an applicant to participate in the Tournament he/she will be required as part of entry in the Tournament to execute additional paperwork which may include, without limitation, the Participation Agreement and medical release(s) (including, for a Charity Team, Participation Agreements and medical releases executed by the Charity’s individual Participants), and such other documents as Producer may require from time to time.
Each Participant further acknowledges that he/she has been provided with a reasonable period of time to review the foregoing Rules, and to ask Producer any and all questions that Participant may have with respect to the Rules, the Tournament, the prizes and any other questions it may have, and by registering on the Website each Participant agrees to all of the foregoing Rules.
EFFECT OF A TEAM’S FORFEIT. If a Team is selected to compete in the Tournament and does not appear to compete, thereby forfeiting its game, the Producer shall, in its discretion, suspend all members of that Team and prohibit those members from future competitions indefinitely until a penalty of $20,000 is paid by or on behalf of the forfeiting Team.
GAME RULES

1.0 COMPETITION

The Tournament shall be governed by the rules as stated herein in all cases where they are applicable. Pertaining to any rules not defined herein, The Laws of the Game, as published by the Football Association shall govern. It is up to all participants to review, obtain and be familiar and aware of the standard laws and regulations of soccer prior to entry.

2.0 FIELD OF PLAY, EQUIPMENT, ROSTERS, SUBSTITUTIONS

2.1 Dimensions

The length of the touchline will be greater than the length of the goal line. The maximum length of the field is 65 yards and the maximum width is 45 yards. Interior markings consist of four corner arcs (1 yd. radius), a halfway line, a penalty spot (12 yards from the goal line) and a penalty area) (12 yards depth by 24 yards width)

2.2 Goal Dimensions

The size of the goal shall be set at a height of six and a half feet (6.5 feet) high and eighteen and a half feet (18.5 feet) wide.

2.3 Game Postponement

A game may be postponed at the field site if weather conditions are too hazardous for play. Extreme weather includes lightning, snow or ice on the ground. Rain is not a reason to postpone play. In case of a postponed game, TST can reschedule the game so as to not conflict with the remainder of the Tournament. If TST reschedules a game, the Team must be available to play at the rescheduled time and location and if the Team is not available, the Team forfeits the rescheduled game. TST makes all determinations in terms of whether there will be delays.

2.4 Game Duration and Ball Size

At least a 3-minute warm-session prior to each match
Two 20-minute halves and a halftime break
Untimed extra time (see definition in section 4.1)
The clock stops only for official’s time-outs and injuries.
A size five (5) ball will be used for all practices and games.
Between matches, there will be a minimum break of five (5) minutes
2.5 Number of Players

a) Teams shall have no more than 18 players on the roster and 7 players on the field at one time, including the goalkeeper.

2.6 Substitutions

a) Substitutions may be made at any point during the game (on the fly). Players coming off the field must have both feet across the sideline, close to the team bench, before the substitute can enter the field. Before the sub(s) enter the field of play, they must first enter a "Sub Box" that will be visibly marked at the middle of the pitch.

(i) If for any reason a sub enters the game directly from their bench (not from the sub box), the punishment will be a direct red card. That player will be suspended from the game and will not be able to play the next game as well. The game play will carry on with an indirect free kick and the field numbers will remain 7v7 (since the red card was issued to a bench member and not a current member on the field).

b) During Target Score Time ™ each team may substitute on the fly, as they have during the timed portion of the match.

2.7 Player Equipment

a) Players may, but are not required, wear shin guards. Socks must completely cover shin guards if they are worn.
b) A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player (including jewelry). The referee shall determine, in his/her sole discretion, whether the equipment or apparel is dangerous.
c) All players shall be in their Team’s official uniform to play.
d) Standard soccer boots or turf trainers shall be worn by all players.
e) All or any member(s) of a team may wear extra protective clothing against the cold, including gloves, without dangerous, protruding or hard objects provided that:

The proper team uniform is worn outermost; and
Any hat should be without peak, bill or dangling or protruding object of any kind; however, the goalkeeper may wear a soft billed hat; and
Referee discretion may be used to determine if an item of protective clothing is considered to go beyond the purpose of providing a means of retaining body heat.
f) No player shall be allowed to play in any regularly scheduled practice or game with an injury or a known medical condition, especially which can be communal.
g) Prosthetic Devices require a physician’s permission before a player may play and it must state the player needs to wear the device to play. Such devices must pose no danger to other players on the field. The referee’s judgment shall be the final determining factor.

2.8 Officiating

a) All games will be officiated by a referee and a minimum of one (1) assistant referee assigned by TST.

b) It shall be the duty of the referee of the game to encourage clean competition and good sportsmanship always and to enforce the rules and regulations of the Tournament.

3.0 RULES OF PLAY

3.1 Start of Play

a) The ball will be placed at the center of the field by the referee and the game will start with a pass by one player after being given a signal by the referee. No direct goals from the kickoff permitted. At the time of the kickoff, every player will be in his/her half of the field. No player of the opposing team, to that of the kicker, shall be 5 yards from the center mark.

b) The ball is in play when it is kicked and the kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player. If this infraction occurs an indirect free kick shall be awarded for the opposing team.

3.2 Restart of Play

a) After a goal has been scored, the game shall be restarted in the center of the field by the team that has conceded. Rules will apply after every goal to replicate the start of a game.

b) To start the second half, the game will be restarted with the kickoff by a player of the opposite team (i.e., a player on the team who did not get the ball first in the first half) to that of the player who started the game.

c) Restarting play after temporary delay: In the case of a temporary suspension due to an injury or any unusual situation, if one team is clearly in possession of the ball, the game shall be restarted by an indirect free kick by the team in possession of the ball at the point where the ball was when play was suspended. Should there not be clear possession at the time play is suspended due to an injury or any unusual situation, there will be a drop ball at the spot where the ball was declared dead. The ball shall be deemed “in play” when the ball has touched the ground. The referee’s judgment shall be the final determining factor of whether there was clear possession.

3.3 Ball in and out of Play

a) The ball is out of play when it is wholly crossed the goal line or whole touchline, whether it is on the ground or in the air.

b) The ball is out of play, when the referee has stopped the game.

3.4 Method of Scoring

a) A goal is scored when the whole of the ball has crossed the whole of the goal line on the ground or in the air between the goal posts (flags) and under the crossbar (height of flags). The referee makes the final determination, in his/her sole discretion, if the goal was scored.

3.5 Fouls and Misconduct

a) The referee will inform the offending player of the infraction that was committed. See below section 3.6 for more details.

b) At the referee’s discretion, infractions will be punished by a direct free kick, from which a goal can be scored.

c) In the event a foul occurs due to a pass back to the goalkeeper, that foul will be punished by an indirect free kick, from which another player on the kicking team must play the ball before a goal can be scored.

d). Slide tackling will not be permitted by any means and will result in a direct kick for the opposing team.

e) For all free kicks, the kicking team must be given five (5) yards minimum and must wait for the referee to signal that the ball is ready to be played

f) Penalty kicks will be awarded for an infraction within the penalty box. Upon the referee’s decision that a penalty has occurred within the penalty box, a penalty kick shall be taken from the penalty mark (12 yards from the goal line).

3.6 Cards

a) The referee will have authority in determining a punishment for a foul or misconduct. As punishment, a yellow card or red card can be issued.

b) A yellow card dictates that the player who has received the card is on a warning.

c) Two yellow cards in one game automatically results in one red card. A red card dictates that the player who has received the card must leave the field of play and may not return for the remainder of the game.

d) Any player who receives a red card at any point in the game, will be banned from participation for the following game that they are scheduled to participate in.

e) A red card will result in the Team playing a man down for the remainder of the match, except in the case of a red card that is issued to a player not on the field, as in Rule 2.6(a)(i).

f) Any player who receives three or more yellow cards during the Group Stage (i.e., the first 3 games) will not be able to play in the first round of the Knockout rounds.

3.7 Throw-ins

a) Throw-ins will not be permitted and will be replaced by an indirect free kick from the point where the whole ball crosses over the whole touch line, either on ground or in air.

b) The kicker of the indirect free kick may not play the ball until another player has touched it. If the kicker plays the ball before another player has touched it, an Indirect Free Kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

c) A goal shall not be scored directly from the indirect free kick.

d) Players will have 5 seconds to kick the ball back in play. If a player fails to comply, it will result in a turnover in possession. It is the referee who makes the final determination of how much time was used by a player.

3.8 Goal Kicks

a) When the whole of the ball passes over the whole of the goal line, excluding the portion between the goal posts and under the crossbar (either in the air or on the ground), having last been played by one of the players on the attacking team, it shall be kicked directly into play by a goal kick.

b) A goal kick may be taken from anywhere inside the goal area.

c) Any defending player, including the goalkeeper, may take the goal kick.

d) The kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.

e) A goal may not be scored directly by a goal kick.

f) The opponent must remain outside the goal area until the ball has crossed the goal area.

3.9 Corner Kicks

a) When the whole of the ball passes over the whole of the goal line excluding that portion between the goal posts and under the crossbar, (either in the air or on the ground), having last been played by one of the defending team, a player of the attacking team shall have a corner kick.

b) The ball shall be placed within a three (3) foot arc from the corner arc and shall be kicked into play from that position by an attacking player.

c) A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick.

d) Players from the opposing team to the kicker shall not approach within five (5) yards of the corner arc until the ball is in play.

e) Players will have 5 seconds to kick the ball back in play. If a player fails to comply, it will result in a turnover in possession.

3.10 Goalkeeper Play

a) A goalkeeper will be permitted to use their hands anywhere inside the penalty area if the ball has been played by an opposing player before it is handled. However, the goalkeeper can handle the ball from a pass received from a player on its own team only when it is delivered by a header or off the passer's chest, or if the pass is deemed accidental. Any other pass back to the goalkeeper’s hands will be punished by indirect free kick as defined in section 3.5.

b) Goalkeeper has 6 seconds to release the ball once it has been picked up in the penalty area.

c) Goalkeeper cannot touch the ball again with their hands until it has been played by an opponent.

d) Goalkeeper cannot punt or drop kick the ball. The ball must bounce at least twice or be rolled on the ground before it can be kicked. In the event of infraction, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

e) Goalkeeper throwouts must bounce at least once before midfield. In the event of infraction, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

(i) Goalkeeper throwouts that a teammate or opponent control out of the air in the Goalkeeper’s half of the field will be considered to have bounced before midfield.

3.11 Goalkeeper Screening

a) Goalkeeper screening is illegal. Goalkeeper screening is when an opposing player overtly obstructs a goalkeeper’s view.

b) If the ball is in the opposing team’s defensive half, no attacking player can go in the goalkeeper’s box.

c) If the ball is in the team’s attacking half, Goalkeeper Screening will be called at the referee’s discretion.

d) It will be up to referee’s discretion how to penalize goalkeeper screening: either goalkeeper will get a free, indirect kick going out or the goalkeeper’s team will receive an indirect, free kick at midfield.

3.12 Miscellaneous

a) No offside.

b) Good judgment, sportsmanship and fair play should govern the decisions and actions of all participants including, without limitation, the coaches, players and spectators. Lack of such can result in a suspension or expulsion from the Tournament at TST’s sole and exclusive discretion.

c) Non-players, including managers and assistants, are not allowed on the field of play during the game unless permission is given by the referee (in case of emergencies or unusual situations).

4.0 TARGET SCORE TIME ™

4.1 Target Score Time ™– Every Game Ends On A Goal ™

a) Upon conclusion of the two 20-minute halves, the teams shall enter an untimed period during whic the official winner will be determined by the first team to reach a predefined Target Score™, as described below.

b) The Target Score Time ™ will be defined as one more goal than the leading team’s goal tally after the two halves.

i. For example: If Team A has 6 goals and Team B has 4 goals, the Target Score ™ will be set at 7 goals and the Teams will play until a team reaches 7 goals.

c) If the Teams have the same score after the two 20-minute halves, the official winner will be declared by the next team to score.

d) During Target Score Time ™, if a winner is not determined in the first five (5) minutes, one (1) player from each team will come off the field resulting in a 6v6 game. Then, every incremental 5 minutes after that, another player will come off to result in 4v4, 3v3, 2v2, 1v1 until the Target Score™ is met to end the game and declare a winner.

5.0 BENCH PERSONNEL & FIGHTING

Only credentialed, TST-approved personnel may sit on the bench.
Cell phones and backpacks are not allowed on the bench.
5.3 During the course of a game, any person who leaves the bench and steps onto the field of play will automatically be ejected from that game and subject to disciplinary action by TST. If a person is determined to be in a fight/altercation during the game, he or she will be ejected from that game and subject to disciplinary action by TST, including possible suspension or expulsion from the remainder of the Tournament.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS
Producer reserves the right to alter, amend, or otherwise change the rules of the game by which competition will be conducted during TST 2023. Should Producer alter, amend, or change any rule, Producer shall provide public notice to participants, referees, fans, and media through personal communication and social media.