A. National Championships Series
The Virginia Youth Soccer Association State Championships (or State Cups) is a state championships competition conducted annually by the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) for boys and girls teams in the Under 12 through Under 19 age groups. VYSA conducts State Cup competition two times each seasonal year: In the Fall, competitions are conducted for the Under 15-18 age groups, boys and girls. In the Spring, competitions are conducted for the Under 12-14 and Under 19 age groups, boys and girls.

The VYSA State Cup is a part of, and a qualifying event for, the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships and National Championships conducted by United States Youth Soccer (USYS). The US Youth Soccer Championship Policy prescribes the requirements of the Championship Series. This VYSA State Championship Policy is designed to supplement that policy and establish the procedures to be followed by VYSA. Winners of the VYSA Championships advance to the US Youth Soccer Region I Championships, and in the Under 14 to Under 19 age groups, Region I winners advance to the United States Youth Soccer National Championships. Except as otherwise provided, the US Youth Soccer Championships Policy and the VYSA Championship Policy apply to the U12 and U13 age groups.

B. State Cup Organization
The VYSA State Championships are conducted under the direction of a State Cup Director and two State Cup Chairs, one for the boys and one for the girls competitions. The Director and Chairs may, from time to time, appoint Site Administrators and others to represent and assist them.

 

II. Eligibility of Teams and Players
In order to apply to play in the VYSA State Championships, a team must secure an Official State Cup Roster. This roster will be utilized for all State Cup, Regional, and National Championship competitions and will need to be presented at all events

A. The State Cup Roster
The State Cup Roster is part of the online registration process. Please print the State Cup Roster from this site. After it is printed, the roster must be stamped by the team’s registrar. This roster now becomes the team’s State Cup Roster and will be utilized in all State Cup activities. A copy (not the original) of this roster must be sent in with the Cup Application.

B. Eligibility
State Cup competition is open to the teams of any member in good standing of VYSA. Teams and players must be properly registered with VYSA and US Youth Soccer for the current seasonal year (September 1 to August 31). A team may not be a Select team.

 

All teams from the U12 through U18 age groups must compete in a VYSA sanctioned league and/or a Region 1 league approved by VYSA. The league must consist of at least four (4) teams with the team playing at least three (3) league games against different opponents during the seasonal year.

 

If a team participates in VYSA State Cup competition and does not complete the required league play prior to June 15, 2007,  the team will forfeit all VYSA State Cup games played, and the team will not be allowed to participate in the VYSA State Championship Series games the following seasonal year. No opponents scores or standings in any of the State Cup games forfeited for this reason will be affected.

 

Teams entering the U19 age group are not required to participate in league play.

C. Roster Size and Continuity
A U19, U18 and U17 team must not allow more than twenty-two (22) or less than seven (7) players on its roster at any given time during the seasonal year.

 

A U16, U15, U14, U13 must not allow more that eighteen (18) or less than seven (7) players on its roster at any given time during the season year.

 

A team playing U12 8v8 must not allow more that 14 (14) or less than 5 players on its roster.

 

 All teams are limited to five (5) transfers to the roster during a seasonal year prior to the date the roster is frozen (as provided in papagraph E below). All teams must have a continuity of players between league play and State Cup by maintaining a minimum of nine (9) players common to the rosters of both competitions.

 

D. Age Group Entered
A team may enter competition in the age group corresponding to the age of its oldest player. State Cup Competition is for players U12 and older and no younger team may play up in any age group. 

 

 

 

After the State Cup roster is "frozen," (named) (1) no players changes are allowed (no "adds" or "transfers") and (2) a team and its players shall be considered to have competed in the State Cup competition for that seasonal year, whether or not the team or players actually play in a State Cup game. Teams and players may compete in only one (1) State Cup competition in a seasonal year.

F. Roster Changes
1. All changes to a roster that occur after the initial roster is sent with the Cup Application, must be reported to the State Cup Director.  Please email the State Cup Director with a note that the roster has been changed. The Cup committee will then go to the roster on line and print a new roster. There is now no need to fax a copy to any one. Email the information on the change to Anne Thompson at annetomsn@aol.com. Please note: The VYSA State Office does not verify this paperwork.  The current rostering system will not allow any changes to the Cup Roster after 12:01 AM on the applicable freeze date. Your changes must still be verified by a registrar. It is the responsibility of the coach of the team that has changed its roster to ensure that the changes are official by the deadline and a message that a change has taken place be sent to the Cup Director.

2. Your team may make changes to the VYSA Travel and Tournament roster once the State Cup Roster has been frozen (named). Any players added/transferred to your VYSA Travel and Tournament roster after your State Cup roster is frozen (named) are ineligible for State Cup play with your team. The player card and roster must be stamped " No Fall or Spring (depending on the Cup season) State Cup Play" by the registrar.  

G. Eligibility Rule Violations
Violations of player or team eligibility rules will result in the forfeiture of any games in which an ineligible team or player has participated. Any coach or team official found to have rostered an ineligible player is, together with the team, ineligible to compete further in State Cup competition in the current seasonal year. Any coach, manager, or official found guilty of knowingly using an ineligible player is not eligible to compete further in National Championship Series competitions in the current and the subsequent seasonal year. The coach is ultimately responsible for verifying player eligibility.

III. Competition Announcements, Applications, Deadlines and Withdrawals

A. Competition Announcements
The announcement of State Cup competitions for the Fall and Spring seasons will be published on or about July 17 and February 15, respectively. The Competition Announcement will be made available on the VYSA web site and will include an application form and other pertinent information about competition dates, age groups eligible to participate, entry fees and other requirements.

B. Application Form
The application form must be filled out completely, signed by the coach, and mailed or delivered to the VYSA State Office. The following documents must be in the hands of the VYSA State Office no later than the applicable deadline: (1) the application,  (2) a legible copy of the team’s State Cup roster for the competition’s seasonal year, and (3) a credit card payment or a check or money order for the correct entry fee. Any part of the paperwork received after the deadline will be returned. Upon receipt by VYSA, applications and rosters will be carefully reviewed and verified by the Cup Chairs. If an application is not accepted by a Cup Chair, the coach will be notified immediately.

C. Age Divisions and Deadlines
Unless otherwise indicated in the Competition Announcement, the division of age groups will be as follows: U18-U15 boys and girls will play in the Fall and U14-12 and U19 boys and girls will play in the Spring. The official application deadline for each season will be published in the official State Cup Calendar and in the Competition Announcement.

 

The status of an application can be checked on the VYSA Website at www.vysa.com, under State Cup. Please check to make sure your team is listed as complete with the VYSA State Office. It is the team’s responsibility to apply on time.

D. Withdrawal
Notice of intent to withdraw must be made to the State Cup Director or the appropriate State Cup Chair. A team may withdraw its application and have its fee returned at any time prior to the draw. Withdrawals after the draw will be considered a forfeit. Withdrawals after the draw are strongly discouraged. A team that withdraws after the draw will be subject to the following penalties:

1. After the draw, but before rosters are frozen: The team shall forfeit its entry fee and shall be fined an additional $200.

2. After rosters are frozen and at any time during the competition: The team shall forfeit its entry fee and shall be fined an additional $300, and it may be declared ineligible to participate in future competitions. Note that after rosters are frozen, a team and its players are considered to have competed in State Cup, whether or not they actually play in a State Cup game. A team or players that withdraw after rosters are frozen, or at any time thereafter, are ineligible to compete in any other State Cup competition during that seasonal year.

 

3. If a team wins the VYSA State Championship and does not go on to Regional Competition, it  will be considered a forfeit and the team will be fined up to $1000.00. The forfeit date will determine the fine amount. This amount is above any fine amount that the Region may impose.

E. Regional and National Obligations
Teams representing VYSA at the Region I and National Championships must observe all US Youth Soccer rules and guidelines for those events. If it is determined that a team or its players have violated these rules and guidelines, a fine of up to $500 may be imposed by VYSA. This amount is above any fine amount that the Region may impose.

F. Payment Obligations
Any amount owed by a team in connection with a State Cup competition is an obligation of the team’s club. If any amount remains unpaid after notice, VYSA may place the club and all of its teams in bad standing, rendering them ineligible to compete in any VYSA-sanctioned event.

A. Competition Format and the Draw
Each seasonal year, VYSA will conduct a competition to determine a State Cup winner in each age group. Approximately ten (10) days after each application deadline, an open draw will be conducted to determine tournament seeding and "home" and "away" designations. At this time the teams seeded by the seeding committee will be placed in positions 1-8. The time and place of the draw will be included in the Competition Announcement.

 

Each seasonal year a seeding committee will be formed to gather information on all teams entered in the Competition. The top eight teams in each bracket will be decided by this committee according to information gathered by the committee and the information supplied by the team on the application form.

In the U12 age group, no teams will be seeded.

In the U13 and older age groups, up to eight (8) teams may be seeded in each age group, as follows:

1. The State Champion and runner-up from the prior year’s State Cup competition will be seeded first and second, respectively. If, however, the runner-up from the prior year wins the Region I Championships in that prior year, the runner-up will be seeded first and the State Champion will be seeded second. The placement of the other seeded teams will be determined by the information gathered by the seeding committee and the information supplied on the State Cup application form.  All other teams will be drawn at random.

2. In order to be seeded among the top eight, a team must retain at least eight (8) players from its prior year’s State Cup roster.

3. If the State Champion from the prior year does not enter the competition, the runner up will be seeded first. The teams to be seeded will then be seeded 2-8. If neither the State Champion nor the runner-up enters the competition, the teams to  be seeded will then be seeded 1-8. This will be done according to the information gathered by the seeding committee and the information supplied by the teams on the State Cup application form. 

 

4. A team must enter the next older Cup age group to preserve its seed based on its prior year’s Cup performance. 

 

5. There will be no protest or appeal of the seeding process or selection.

 

C. Assignment of Byes
 In the event "byes" are required, they will be assigned in descending order starting with the highest seed (No. 1), then the second highest seed (No. 2), and so forth, until the requisite number of byes is assigned.

D. Home and Away Designations
At the draw, the teams that are seeded in positions 1-8 will be given an automatic home designation for every game they play during the competition. If they should not advance, the team that defeats one of these teams will hold the home designation until the final game has been played. All other home and away positions will be determined at random at the time of the draw. In the semifinal and final games the team in the higher seed position shall be the home team.

 

V. Game Sites
As a condition of acceptance into the competition, applicants must agree to play anywhere they are scheduled within the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Team officials are expected to inform their players and parents of this requirement prior to entering the competition. Game sites are assigned (and may be re-assigned) by the Cup Chairs, taking into account field availability, referee availability, travel distances, weather considerations, scheduling efficiency and where possible, home and away designations. A team with a "home" designation may or may not be assigned to play in its home region and may be assigned (or re-assigned) to a game site in another region of the Commonwealth or the District of Columbia. This shall not be grounds for protest.

 

Each club entering 3 or more teams in the competition is strongly urged to provide 1 field each weekend during the Fall and/or Spring State Cup Competition. Location of games after the home and away draw will be determined by the numbers of fields available in each playing region.

 VI. Team Obligations

A. Team Availability
Pursuant to USYS rules, State Cup games take precedence over all other games. Teams and their respective leagues must arrange league schedules to avoid conflicts with State Cup game dates. State Cup game dates will be published in advance, but due to weather contingencies, these must be regarded as subject to change. Except as noted below in paragraph B, teams should plan to be available every weekend from the start of the competition until the final match.

B. Schedule Conflicts
Teams entered into State Cup Competition are expected to be available on the planned game dates. VYSA will do it’s best to play the Cup schedule as published. Religious holidays and PSAT testing will be taken into consideration when planning the schedule. The SAT testing dates most often occur during the Columbus Day weekend, but when they fall on a State Cup weekend the State Cup games will not be rescheduled. Unlike the PSAT testing, the SAT tests are offiered many other weekends during the year.

 

 The Cup Committee will determine the conflicts with  the religious holiday of Yom Kippur on Saturday, September 22 and PSAT testing on Saturday October 20  and will require teams to submit a request for reschedule 2 weeks before the scheduled conflict for Yom Kippur and PSAT testing.  Each request will list the names of the players that will be effected and will be emailed to the State Cup Director and each Cup Chairman.  Requests for a date change for Yom Kippur must be emailed no later than September 8 and requests for a date or time change for PSAT testing must be emailed  no later than October 6, 2007.

 

If the game scheduled for a Saturday is changed because of a religious holiday request of a PSAT testing problem, we will play the game in question on Sunday of that weekend. Some fields have been secured for this purpose and the games will be scheduled at the discretion of the State Cup Director. Home and away status will not be considered. There will be no protest of this decision.

 

If one team in an age group has a weekend off, (except for byes) the whole age group will have the weekend off. This is an effort to keep the numbers of weeks between games equal for each age group. If a large number of teams and age groups are effected by requested dates off, and Sunday games are not possible, the semifinal and final dates may go to raindate weekends.The ability to keep games on the same track will only be possible if the weather allows play each weekend. It is primary for us to keep the schedule on track to make the semifinal and final games on the selected weekend.

 

The rain dates will be flexible and will not be changed for other tournaments. It is the coach’s responsibility to inform players of these schedule requirements and expectations. There should be no expectations on home or away venues or schedules as published or changed. Any field choices or schedule changes will not be grounds for protest.

C. Home Team Responsibilities
The designated home team shall:

1. Contact the visiting team at least seventy-two (72) hours before the game to verify game date, kick-off time, travel directions and uniform colors.

2. Arrange for field preparation, set-up and takedown (unless otherwise arranged). Fields must be properly measured and lines painted, including a spectator line three (3) feet back from the touch line on both sides of the field.

 

VII. Game Officials

A. In all preliminary games:

 

Three (3) officials shall be assigned for each preliminary State Cup match in the U12-U19 age groups.

  

Cup Chairs shall be responsible for notifying the State Referee Assignment Coordinator of requirements for officials.

 

B. If an assigned official fails to appear at a preliminary match within 15 minutes of the scheduled kick-off time, and the coaches agree to a substitute, the game may be played. If the game is played, the results shall be official and no protest will be honored regarding the use of a substitute official. 

C. If an assigned official fails to appear for a semifinal or final match, the Site Administrator designated by the Cup Chair will provide a substitute official.

D. In the event the game officials’ uniform color conflicts with either team’s color, the game officials will change colors.

VIII. Rules of Play
Except as modified herein, the FIFA Laws of the Game shall govern all State Cup play. (See paragraph I for special requirements applying to final games. 

A. General Rules of Play

1. Both teams and a maximum of four (4) team officials for each team shall take the same side of the field. Spectators shall take the other side of the field. The home team shall choose which side the teams will take. The Site Administrator, or the referee if no Site Administrator is present, shall decide upon other arrangements if required by site contingencies.

2. No artificial noisemakers are permitted.

3. The home team shall provide the game ball. 

4. Each field player (except goalkeepers) shall wear a numbered jersey. The number shall be affixed to the back of the jersey and shall be clearly visible. Each player must wear a different number. Numbered jerseys for goalkeepers are optional in State Cup competition (but are required in Region I Championships and the National Championships). Goalkeepers must wear colors that distinguish them from other players and referees.

5. The away team shall have choice of colors. In the event of a conflict, the home team must change if so directed by the referee.

6. The home team shall make available on request a copy of these Rules and Procedures for the referee.  

 

7. All US Youth Soccer players passes used for VYSA State Cup competion must be LAMINATED prior to participating in any VYSA State Cup match.

B. Pre-Game Procedures
1. In the U12-U16 age groups, the home team provides the official Game Day Report form and the away team provides a "stick-on" roster. The complete Game Day Report is then provided to the referee. 

 

2. In the U17-U19 age groups, the home team will provide the official Game Day Roster to the referee. This Game Day roster will list the 18 players that can participate in the match during that game on that day.The other players (numbers 19-22) may sit on the team’s bench but must be dressed in street clothes. They can wear no part of the team uniform. At the time of the kick off, the roster of 18 players will be set and no changes can be made to the Game Day Roster. 

 

The Game Day Report form will be filled out with the names of the 18 players on the Game Day Roster. The away team will provide the "stick on" roster with the names of the 18 players on their Game Day Roster. This Report form and the Game Day Roster will be presented to the referee..

2. Each team must present for inspection by the referee a copy of its approved and frozen State Cup roster and its laminated USYS Player Passes. The referee must check the laminated USYS Player Passes against (1) the players, (2) the Game Day Report form, and (3) the State Cup roster. The referee will verify each player’s identity and verify consistency of the documents. Checking passes, players and rosters MAY NOT be waived by the referee or the coaches. The referee may prohibit the participation of a player whose identity cannot be verified or whose documents are inconsistent or improper.   

If checking of the State Cup roster and passes against each player is not done, the coaches of both teams will be considered to be at fault. This may be grounds for a hearing on the validity of the game.

3. The State Cup roster and the laminated USYS player passes must be available during the entire Cup match. They must be made available on request of the referee or a State Cup official. 

C. Grace Period
Games must start when scheduled except:

1. A fifteen (15) minute grace period is given to each team to present its State Cup roster and  the laminated USYS Player Passes to the referee for inspection. Failure to comply results in a forfeit with no right of appeal and a forfeit fee will apply.

2. A fifteen (15) minute grace period is given to each team (11 v 11) which cannot field eleven (11) players at game time. After fifteen (15) minutes, the game will start provided that the team has at least seven (7) players. If less than seven (7) players are present at the end of the grace period, the team forfeits with no right of appeal and the forfeit fee will apply.

 

3. A fifteen (15) minute grace period is given to each U12,(8v8) team which cannot field eight (8) players at game time. After fifteen (15) minutes, the game will start provide the team has at least five (5) players. If less that five (5) players are present at the end of the grace perion, the team forfeits with no right of appeal and the forfeit fee will apply.

 

4. These two 15 minute grace periods will run concurrently and the game will start or be forfeit no later than 15 minutes from the official scheduled game time.

2. If a game is tied at the end of regulation, the tie shall be resolved by playing two equal overtimes according to the age group specifications. If tied after both overtimes have been played, penalty kicks in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game will break the tie.

4. Games shall be played in accordance with the following Age Group Specifications :
           Age Group       Game Length        Overtime Play                Ball Size
 Under 19, 18, 17  2 - 45 minute halves    2 - 15 minute periods       #5
 Under 16, 15         2 - 40 minute halves    2 - 15 minute periods       #5
 Under 14, 13         2 - 35 minute halves    2 - 10 minute periods       #5
 Under 12                2 - 30 minute halves    2 - 10 minute periods       #4

E. Substitutions
Substitutions are unlimited and may occur at the following times with the consent of the referee: (1) prior to a throw-in by the team in possession; (2) prior to a goal kick by either team; (3) after a goal by either team (4) to replace an injured player, with the opposing team being permitted to substitute one for one; (5) for a cautioned player; (6) at half-time. and (7) before each overtime period.

 

1. If a player or coach is cautioned or ejected in connection with a State Cup game, the caution or ejection is to be recorded on the Game Day Report by the referee. Ejections must also be reported by telephone to the Cup Chair by the referee AND by the coach of the team involved.

2. Players or coaches ejected from a State Cup game are prohibited from participation in the next following USYS National Championship game, whether it be the next VYSA Cup game, the first game of the Region I Championships, the first game of the National Championships, or the first VYSA State Cup game of the following seasonal year  (State Cup suspensions are served only in connection with USYS National Championship Series games and have no bearing on league or other tournament play.) Each season the coach of each team must verify the eligibility of the players on his/her roster and determine if a sit-out is necessary. Ejections and cautions issued in connection with State Cup play may be referred to the VYSA Board of Directors for further disciplinary action.

 

3. If a player or coach is ejected from a State Cup game, they must leave the field and the area surrounding the field. At no time is either the ejected coach or the ejected player to be close enough to the field to participate or comment on the game. The referee will send the player or coach off and will make the determination of the distance each must be from the field. If a player is ejected, the coaching staff or manager must make sure that the player ejected from their team is in the charge of an adult from their team. In other words, when a player is sent off and is removed from the sidelines, a responsible adult from the player’s team must be chosen to take care of the player during the remainder of the game.

G. Terminated Games
Games terminated due to inclement weather, darkness, or for other reasons (assuming neither team was at fault), even during FIFA penalty kicks, must be replayed in their entirety. If a game is terminated by a referee based on the conduct of either team, a hearing will be held to determine penalties, including forfeiture of the game. If a team terminates a game before the referee signals the game ended, the team will forfeit the game and a hearing may be held to determine any additional penalties.

1. The Game Report will be completed by the referee including cautions and ejections, if any. The completed Report must be signed by the referee and all other game officials. 

2. The completed Game Day Report is then provided to the winning team.

3. The winning team shall

    1. notify the Cup Chair of game results within two (2) hours including score, overtime or penalty kicks, if any, and cautions and ejections, if any
    2. mail (or deliver) the Game Report to the Cup Chair within twenty-four (24) hours
    
I. Special Requirements for Final Games

1. In advance of the final game in each age group, the remaining teams will be required to prepare and submit a US Youth Soccer National Championship Roster ("blue roster") and a portion of the Game Line-up & Referee’s Report in accordance with instructions to be provided by the Cup Chairs.
2. Approximately forty-five (45) minutes before the final match, player verifications and document checks will be conducted by a designated VYSA official at or near the game site. Players will be required to sign the US Youth Soccer National Championship Roster and the Game Day Line-up & Referee’s Report in the presence of a representative of the VYSA Board of Directors. The coach or team manager must also sign the US Youth Soccer National Championship Roster. (Players absent from the finals may sign the US Youth Soccer National Championship Roster at the Region I Championships.)

IX. Protests, Appeals and Referee Assaults and Abuse 

      A plea of ignorance to the rules and regulations of the National Championship Series Policy and/or the  VYSA Championships Policy is not sufficient ground for a protest or appeal. Playing in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, whether at the State, Regional or National level is a privilege.

The National Championship Series Policy can be found on line at www.usyouthsoccer.org.

A. Game Protests
To be valid and eligible for consideration, the protest of a game regarding a matter not described in paragraph  F below must be communicated and received, at least orally to

1. the referee and the opposing coach before departing from the game site; and 
2. the Cup Director within twenty-four (24) hours of the kick-off time of the game being protested.

B. Protest Documents and Fees
The protest must be delivered in writing, by hand, email or mail to the Cup Director within forty-eight (48) hours of the game being protested. Written protests must adequately describe the issue or incident under protest and the circumstances that apply. The protest fee of $300 must be by credit card or cash, certified check or money order made payable to VYSA. The fee if not paid by credit card, must be express mailed to the VYSA State Office to arrive on the first possible business day after the protest is lodged. The State Cup Director will provide a copy of the protest to the coach of the opposing team.

C. Protest Decisions
A protest shall be decided by a Protests Committee composed of the Cup Director and the 2 Cup Chairs. If the Cup Director or a Cup Chair is unavailable for any reason, the Cup Director shall appoint another impartial individual to replace the unavailable Director or Chair.

D. Appeals
The decision of the Protests Committee may be appealed to the Adjudication Committee of VYSA. The appeal must be submitted in writing within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of the Protests Committee decision. The appeal must be accompanied by credit card payment or cash, certified check or money order in the amount of $300 payable to VYSA.

E. Other Matters for Adjudication
Any other matter not involving a seeding decision, game protest or the assault or abuse of a referee, assistant referee, or other game official under paragraph  F below may be presented to the Adjudication Committee for adjudication. The request for adjudication must be submitted in writing not later than forty-eight (48) hours after the occurrence of the incident or issue in question, and it must be accompanied by cash, certified check or money order in the amount of $300 payable to VYSA.

F. Assaults and Abuse of Game Officials
The Adjudication Committee of VYSA has the original and exclusive jurisdiction over alleged assaults or abuse of referees, assistant referees, and other game officials by players, coaches, managers or other team or club officials. The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) requires that any player, coach, team or club official accused by a referee, assistant referee, or other game official of assault be immediately suspended from all soccer-related activities until a hearing on the allegation can be conducted.

 

Revised September 2007