Nations Cup Rules

Nations Cup Soccer Rules

NATIONS CUP SOCCER

For the purpose of the Nations Cup Soccer, all players must be duly registered with the VMSL and/or affiliate league (EDSA) of the VMSL. All other players outside of the Edmonton district must follow the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and Alberta Soccer Association (ASA) protocols.

PLAY REAL SOCCER - NO BOARDS - NO 3 LINES - NO OFF-SIDES - NO SLIDE TACKLES

35 MINUTES HALVES - 10 v 10 and 8 v 8

Proposed Tournament Dates: From April 18th to May 8th, 2022

ADMISSION IS $3 PER PERSON OR 4 TICKETS FOR $10

TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR ONLY

ATTENTION ALL PARENTS AND GUESTS

EACH PERSON ENTERING THE PLAYING AREA DO SO AT HIS OR HER OWN RISK. CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 MUST BE SUPERVISED AT ALL TIMES BY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS WHEN ATTENDING GAMES IN THE FIELD OF PLAY AREA. VICTORIA SOCCER CLUB AND/OR VMSL ARE NOT LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISION OR CARE OF THE SPECTATORS

Registration Deadline: January 30. Teams must be registered and the Entry Fee (TBD) must be submitted by first team meeting.

Field Location: Nations Cup Soccer will be played from April 18th to May 8th, 2022. All games will be played at Victoria Soccer Centre 14020-142 Street NW. 780-457-3759 Edmonton, AB T6V 1H9.

Entry Fees: $800 Per Team non-refundable after February 15 th, 2019.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION:

email us at: info@vmsl.ca

If your team has an outstanding balance to VMSL for the current 2019-2020 indoor season, your Nations Cup Team and players will not be allowed to participate. kindly arrange for a Full payment at the earliest possible time to avoid your nations team from being withdrawn from the tournament

Objective

To bring the most talented and skilled soccer players and teams from the Edmonton and surrounding areas representing their Nation.

Team Registration

Any individual may apply to enter a team in the Nation Cup Soccer tournaments; priority for entry into each event will be given to teams who were entered in the previous year,after which time applications will be accepted on a first come basis. Entry fees are non-refundable.
The Nations Cup Soccer Committee reserves the right to extend deadlines to improve the quality of the tournament.
A team must represent a specific country, as recognized by FIFA.
Only one team per country will be allowed to enter in each tournament per division.
The deadline for team applications is January 30.
The deadline for team roster submission is March.

Eligibility for All Players to qualify in as follows:

Eligibility for all players to qualify is as follows: Country of birth, Parentage, Grand parentage, Citizenship and Country of Origin not represented.
Teams shall give priority to players who have heritage to the country they intend to play for first before allowing other players into their roster.
A team must represent a specific country, as recognized by FIFA.
Players with dual Citizenship, can decide which nation they select to play for without any challenge from the other Nation team manager or coach.
Each nations team will be allowed to import an unlimited number of players from other countries that do not have their nation team participating in this competition as long as that nations team does not have enough players from your own Nation available.
Players that do not have their country of origin represented may be granted special permission to place a team composed of unlimited players from other nationalities that are not represented in this tournament.
Where a country's team has reached the 20-player maximum roster, a player who is eligible to play for that country can play for another country subject to the approval of the Rules Committee.
Players of the age of 45+ are allowed to play for both divisions of 35+ and 45+ for the same country. If their country is not represented in either 35+ or 45+ divisions, they will be allowed to play for another country of their choice.
Players of the age of 55+. Teams can register players between the ages of 50 years old and under 55 years old. A player must be 50 years old the year of the game being played; however, each team is allowed to have no more than 5 players between the ages of 50 - 54 registered on the game sheet at the date of the game being played.
Rules amendment introduced on October 1st 2019: A player who turns 35/45/50 years of age in the winter season before December 1st shall be eligible to play before his 35th/45th/50th birthday. A player who turns 35/45/50 years of age before July 1st in the summer season shall be eligible to play before his 35th/45th/50th birthday.
Team managers or coaches are allowed to release players from their team roster if they so choose and those players released are free to play for any other team subject to the approval of the rules committee.
If a player does not wish to play for his country of birth, Parentage, Grand parentage or Citizenship he may request to be released from that country's manager or coach. If that country’s manager or coach refuses to release that player, the player may request the Rules Committee to deal with issue. Any decision made by the Rules Committee decision will be final.
If a nations team roster is at its maximum of 20 players, all other players requesting a release from the team shall be granted release by the coach or manager without any delay within 48 hours, thereby enabling the player to play for another nation of his choice.
If cut from a team, the released player must have the Player release form Nations Cup signed by the coach/manager of the team that released the player. All release forms must be issued to players by March 15th, 2020 and emailed to info@vmsl.ca by March 18th, 2020.
All rosters will be reviewed by the Nations Cup Soccer Committee office for possible eligibility issues. Once the review process is completed by the office, the rosters will then be circulated to the relevant teams for further review and possible challenge. Teams may challenge players at the Roster Challenge and the tournament draw. It will be held on Wednesday March 13th, 2020 at 7:00 PM. Any further discrepancies found on a team’s roster after the roster challenge will be brought to the attention of the Nations Cup Soccer (VMSL) Tournament Committee.
Any player who is challenged and unable to provide proof of heritage for that particular team will be removed from the roster and deemed ineligible for that year’s tournament. Teams will have 5 business days after the roster challenge to replace that player with an eligible player.
Teams may challenge players on another team’s roster if:
1. player's ethnic origin is in question;
2. A players eligibility is in question;
3. A player is suspended.
Players providing falsified proof of heritage will receive a life time ban from playing in the Nations Cup Soccer (VMSL). The Nations Cup Soccer (VMSL) Committee reserve the right to request a physical copy of proof of heritage prior to the players participation in their next game. Failure to do so, may result in games being forfeited and the player will have to attend a discipline hearing.
An ineligible player is defined in any one of the following ways:
1. His application for registration contains a false statement concerning country of origin, date of birth or age.
2. He is included in a game sheet under a different name.
3. He plays the game without being properly identified in the game sheet.
4. He plays in the tournament while suspended according to the Nations Cup Rules.
If a country plays an ineligible player during any game during any round of the tournament the following consequences occur:

The country forfeits every game in which that player played. The score shall be 3-0 in favor of the opposing team.
The ineligible player shall be suspended from any further play during the Nations Cup.
At the discretion of the tournament rules committee the team may be fined and shall pay that fine before playing the next scheduled game.
The VMSL shall keep a record of ineligible players who received consequences from breaching the Nation’s Cup Rules and reserve the right to prohibit such players from participating in future Nation’s cups sponsored by the VMSL or from participating in the VMSL league.
Sub-rule D above shall apply to any coach or manager found to have participated in the use of an ineligible player during the Nation’s Cup.

Teams will not be allowed to transfer players during the course of this tournament.
There are no Trialists for the purposes of this tournament, but players that are 45+ are allowed to play for the 35+ group based on their qualifications (refer to paragraph 8 above).
Rosters submitted will be considered final.
Any protest of a match result must be filed with the Tournament Committee within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the game being protested.
The Tournament Committee as represented by one person designated as the discipline chair will deal with discipline.
Hearing decisions will be given as soon as possible to all involved parties. All discipline decisions will be enforced pending further appeals or protests from the concerned parties. The appeal process shall be governed the VMSL Rules/Bylaws posted on the website. Any appeal must be submitted through the Appeal on the VMSL website accompanied by the sum of $150.00.
Registration or roster infringements noticed by the Tournament Committee may be addressed by the Tournament Committee via means of a hearing in which the team(s) shall be invited to explain the discrepancies.
The Discipline Committee shall consist of three members to be determined.

The responsibility for the player eligibility rests solely on the team manager. Managers who fail to uphold the rules may have their country removed from the tournament.

Upon request players in the Over 35's [must be born in 1985 or earlier], Over 45's [must be born in 1975 or earlier], Over 55's [must be born in 1965 or earlier], for the over 55's division you will be allowed 5 players between the ages of 50 and under 55 will be required to provide proof of age with photo I.D. before each match. Players failing to provide acceptable photo I.D. and proof of age will not be permitted to participate.
Age criteria for players competing in any of the "Over" age categories are determined by day of birth, meaning all players must be the required age as of April 15 th of the current year.
Protests regarding player eligibility must be received by the Nations Cup Soccer committee during a pre-cup meeting to be called.
No protests regarding referees decisions will be entertained. At the discretion of the tournament committee, should a player be found to be ineligible after the tournament starts, the team may be disqualified and any affected games will be recorded as a 3:0 defeat.
Any player who legitimately qualifies for more than one country who wishes to transfer from one country to another must have the manager of the new country's team submit a request to the Tournament Committee with proof of eligibility and request approval from the committee prior to the tournament commencement.
Players participating in the qualifying tournament may not then represent another nation during the actual tournament.
Players can ONLY play for one team in the same age group and if you are 45+ you will be allowed to play for the 45+ division in any given year of the tournament. Players are prohibited from playing for any other team, any other country or in any other age category. Special dispensation may be granted upon application to the tournament Committee in writing.

Home Team Responsibilities

The visiting team shall wear their primary uniform color as registered with the EDSA for this tournament.
The home team shall change uniforms in the event of their uniforms not being distinguishable from the visiting team. Training “bibs” or “pinnies” are NOT allowed in any Nations Cup Soccer Game.
The home team shall provide 2 suitable game balls for the match, in case a game ball is not provided by the VMSL.

Only Turf or Indoor Multi Surface shoes are allowed to be used when playing in all VMSL and Nation Cup games, cleated and outdoor shoes are not permitted in the field of play. The Referee will give a warning and may not allow the player to continue playing until proper shoes are provided

Duration of games

Indoor games will be played in two (2) equal periods of thirty-five (35) minutes. The maximum half-time will be three (3) minutes.
Games are played 10 v10 on the large field and 8 v 8 small field - No Boards - No 3 lines - No game delay - No Power Play - No Slide Tackles.
There will be no overtime played during round robin games.
In the event of an injury where team staff is required to come onto the field. The referee will stop the clock.

Game Sheets

Both teams must provide a printed game sheet from the website to present to the game official prior to entering the field. The game sheet must be fully and properly completed identifying the players’ names, jersey numbers, VMSL (or other program) ID numbers as well as the names and VMSL or EDSA ID numbers etc. for the coaches and managers participating at the game.

Cards

All players registered in the tournament shall carry their Edmonton and District Soccer Association (or other) player cards with them when playing or attending games at which their team is involved and must produce this card on demand by a tournament official. Players can also use a photo of their player card, providing the player produces a piece of government issued ID that matches the player card
All players, coaches and managers must present their player identification cards to the game official prior
to their participation in a game of this tournament.
A team using altered or defaced player identification cards or providing false information to obtain a
player’s identification card will be banned from the tournament and all future tournaments and will be fined
an amount as determined by the tournament’s discipline committee.

Rosters

Each team will be allowed to have a maximum roster of 20 players including goalkeepers and import players.
All players must be of the minimum age of 35+/45+/55+ years old and provide proof of country of origin.
Any player who is challenged and unable to provide proof of heritage for that particular team will be
removed from the roster and deemed ineligible for that year’s tournament. Teams will have 5 business
days after the roster challenge to replace that player with an eligible player.
Teams may challenge players on another team’s roster if:
A player's ethnic origin is in question;
A players eligibility is in question;
A player is suspended.
Rosters submitted will be considered final.
Teams may apply to the Nations Cup Soccer Committee to replace players that cannot play due to an injury or suspension, and are listed on their roster, provided the application is submitted by April 10th

Free agent players

A player is only considered a free agent if:

1 The country of heritage for that player is not entered in the tournament (that player will need to declare their country of free agency on their team’s roster).
2 The player is released from the country of his/her heritage and has a maximum of one release form.

If cut from a team, the released player must have the Nations Cup Soccer release form by the coach/manager of the team that released the player. All release forms must be issued to players by April 10, 2019 and submitted into the office by April 10h, 2019.

Trialists

There are no trialists for the purposes of this tournament, but players that are 45+ are allowed to play for the 35+ group based on their qualifications (refer to paragraph 8 above).

Transfer of Players

Teams will not be allowed to transfer players during the course of this tournament.

Slide Tackle Rule:

No slide tackles are allowed ("no sliding to play the ball when an opponent is in the vicinity"). Players deliberately slide tackling should be assessed either a yellow or a red card depending on the severity of the infringement as determined by the referee. The slide tackle rule also applies to goaltender if they slide to tackle an opponent. However, a goalkeeper can slide to save the ball as long as he plays or attempts to play the ball with his hands.
Slide tackling involves contact by an opponent when challenging for the ball and will result in a direct free kick, or penalty kick if inside the penalty area, being awarded to the opposing team. Sliding within the vicinity of an opponent which demonstrates a lack of concern for the safety and well being of an opponent, where no contact is made, is defined as playing in a dangerous manner, and will result in an indirect free kick being awarded to the opponent at the spot of the infraction unless inside the goal area where it will be brought out to the edge of the goal area parallel with the goal line.
Factors for consideration - the referee will assess the motion of the player sliding, the proximity of players, the control of the player when challenging for the ball, and any contact made when determining if a slide tackling or sliding offense has been committed.

Game misconduct cards:

During the preliminary round, quarter-final and semi-final, if a player receives a yellow card in two consecutive games he will incur a ONE GAME SUSPENSION to be served the following game.
However, for the purpose of the final game (for gold- silver or bronze) the yellow cards are deemed to be zero. By way of explanation if the player received his second yellow card during the semi-final game, the yellow card will be wiped out so that he becomes eligible to play the final game.

Misconduct, Discipline, Protests and Appeals

Any protest of a match result must be filed with the Tournament Committee within 30 minutes of the
conclusion of the game being protested.
The Tournament Committee will solely conduct all misconduct hearings and appeals.
Hearing decisions will be given as soon as possible to all involved parties. All discipline decisions will be
enforced pending further appeals or protests from the concerned parties.
Registration or roster infringements noticed by the Tournament Committee may be addressed by the
Tournament Committee via means of a hearing in which the team(s) shall be invited to explain the
discrepancies.
The Discipline Committee shall consist of three members, of which at least one must be a director or staff
member of the VMSL, and none of which has a potential conflict with the teams affected by any potential
decisions of the Committee.
Appeals to hearings may be heard by the Tournament Chair or his/her designate and two others who
were not involved in the original hearing once a $50 Administration Fee is posted to the VMSL (refundable
only if the appeal is upheld).

Referees and Referee Assignments

Referees will be assigned as per the VMSL Rules and Regulations. We will be using certified ASA referees.
The Referee can give a BLUE CARD with a minimum 3 minutes cool down period off the field to any player involved in any minor altercation and/or confrontation during a game. Teams can replace players from the bench. Any issued blue card is mandatory regardless whether a team has any replacement players on the bench.
Tournament officials will not tolerate abuse, harassment or intimidation of game officials or tournament volunteers by players, coaches, managers or spectators. Teams / Individuals who indulge in such actions, will be disqualified from this, and future tournaments.
Coaches and managers who refuse to co-operate in controlling unruly players or fans of their teams will also be liable for disqualification.
Players spitting on the field of play and bench areas is a very serious issue. "Spitting is disgusting at all times. It's unhygienic and unhealthy, particularly if you spit close to other people or in an indoor soccer field. You would not spit inside your house so why should you do it on the football pitch. Spitting near other people or on the indoor soccer pitch it could certainly increase the risk of passing on infections to other players and children who play or participate at the facility. Certainly, spitting is a nasty habit that should be discouraged by all team players and managers – and it should be discouraged by the clubs." Referees are directed that if anyone is caught spitting on the indoor Victoria soccer fields any time during and after games the referee will issue an automatic RED CARD which will result in a suspension for the remainder of the game and a bar from the facility at the discretion of the Victoria Soccer Club.

Subbing:

players can sub-off at any time as long as the other coming out is off the playing field." Players must sub at center field, with the player coming off exiting before the new player enters the field of play. A referee may issue a yellow card to an offending player or players. A player is considered to have left the field when he is outside the field of play between the ends of his team’s bench area, and as long as he is not interfering with play.

Spectators

Players, officials and spectators are allowed to take part in or attend matches only on the condition that they observe the rules, regulations, and bylaws of the Association.
Every affiliated association, league, club, or team is responsible to the VMSL and Victoria Soccer Center Facilities Board of Directors for the actions of its players, officials, and spectators and is required to take all precautions necessary to prevent spectators from threatening or assaulting officials, team officials and players.
In the event of any affiliate association, league, club, or team being proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Directors to have been guilty of any violations of the Rules of Indoor Soccer, rules and regulations and bylaws of the Association, or of any misconduct, the Board of Directors shall have power to order the offender or offenders to be removed from membership or connection with the Association, suspended for a stated period, fined, or dealt with in such a way that the Board of Directors may think fit. No member so dealt with shall be eligible for membership in any other association affiliate without the special permission of the Board of Directors.

Miscellaneous

Infringements of any of the above rules may result in a discipline hearing in which the VMSL Discipline
Director or his designate shall determine a course of action.
For anything not covered in any of the Tournament Rules and Regulations, please refer to the VMSL and Nations Cup Rules and Regulations. All extenuating circumstances will be dealt with by the Tournament Chair(s).
Team withdraws. teams are not allowed to withdraw their team after Februaty 15th, 2019 and the $750 Fees are non-refundable. (no exceptions will be made)

The Tournament Committee reserves the right to make a final and binding ruling on player eligibility. All players are required to wear numbered shirts that correspond with the assigned number on the game sheet provided prior to each game. (Game sheets are available on the VMSL website).

Tournament Format

Most points are to be awarded as follows: Points are to be awarded as follows:
3 points for a WIN
1 point for a TIE
0 points for a LOSS

Schedule and game format

Group stage is a round robin format with each team playing the other three teams in their group. The top two teams in each group advance, while the other two are eliminated.
If teams are tied after 70 minutes, a PK competition of 5 shots will decide the winner, if the game is still tied after 5 PK's, each team will take one PK sudden death to determine the winner.

Quarter Finals

The top 8 teams (2 from each group) continuing to the next round of 4 groups.
If teams are tied after 70 minutes, a PK competition of 5 shots will decide the winner, if the game is still tied after 5 PK's, each team will take one PK sudden death to determine the winner.

Semi - finals will be arranged as follows:

Division 35+

The 4 teams will play the Semifinal and final games.

Winner of group A will play winner of group C. Winner from this game will play the final for Gold and the loser team will play for 3rd and 4th place
Winner of group B will play winner of group D. Winner from this game will play the final for Gold and the loser team will play for 3rd and 4th place
If teams are tied after 70 minutes, a PK competition of 5 shots will decide the winner, if the game is still tied after 5 PK's, each team will take one PK sudden death to determine the winner.

Division 45+

Winner of group A will play winner of group B
If teams are tied after 70 minutes, a PK competition of 5 shots will decide the winner, if the game is still tied after 5 PK's, each team will take one PK sudden death to determine the winner.

Division 55+

Winner of group A will play winner of group B
If teams are tied after 70 minutes, a PK competition of 5 shots will decide the winner, if the game is still tied after 5 PK's, each team will take one PK sudden death to determine the winner.

Tie Breakers

If, at the end of regulation time, a game in the knock-out phase (including the final) is tied, the game willbe decided by 5 penalty kicks and then one sudden death PK.

Ties within the pools will be broken using the following procedure:

a. Two-way tie:

Head to Head
The higher goal difference
Most goals scored
Coin toss.

b. Three- or four-way tie:

The higher goal difference, based on games among the teams tied
Most goals scored based on games between the tied teams
Least goals against based on the games between the teams tied.
Coin toss.

Any player red carded for two bookable offences will be automatically suspended for the following game.
Any player who is ejected and / or receives a red card for violent conduct will be suspended at the discretion of the disciplinary committee.
Red card and ejection suspensions may, at the discretion of the committee, be carried forward to future tournaments. Note: this also applies to the qualifying tournaments.

Players and coaches are reminded that this is an ASA sanctioned tournament. Any, reports of misconduct, particularly toward game officials, will be submitted to the governing body for appropriate action.

NATIONS CUP SOCCER AND VMSL GAMES ARE SANCTIONED BY BOTH EDSA AND ALBERTA SOCCER ASSOCIATION

Fair play is a fundamental part of the game of football. It represents the positive benefits of playing by the rules, using common sense and respecting fellow players, referees, opponents and fans.

NATIONS CUP SOCCER AND VMSL PLAYS BY THE SAME FIFA RULES, WITH: