Team Check in Requirements:
• Team Registration is scheduled for Friday, July 12
• Updated game schedules, AC Milan Heartland Cup Opening Ceremonies Lineup and other final tournament information will be provided at Team Registration 
• A team representative may check in the team. Players do not attend Team Registration.
• Laminated US Club Soccer, Canadian booklet player cards or passports/international player passes (International Teams Only) are required.
• Arrange player passes/books/passports in alphabetical order to match roster.
• DO NOT bring player passes of players that are not participating in the tournament to Team Registration.
• Your Team Roster/Player Waiver Form will be frozen and NO CHANGES will be made to your roster for the remainder of the tournament.
• Teams WILL NOT be permitted to play until team registration is complete.

Local and Domestic Team Requirements:
Teams are required to provide the following when checking into the tournament:
• Original copy of Player Waiver Form.
• Players must present player passes issued by the team’s Federation Organization Member (US Club Soccer, other.)
• Teams must provide proof of approval of their participation in the tournament from the team’s Federation Organization Member.
• Teams must provide an Official Roster.
• Teams from outside the State Association where the tournament is located must provide a “Permission to Travel” form (only if they are a USYS team).
• Teams must provide official roster through gotsoccer.com scheduling and registration system.

Foreign Team Requirements:
(Excludes Canada)
Teams are required to provide the following when checking into the tournament:
• Original copy of Player Waiver Form.
• Players must present player booklets or passports at registration.
• Teams must have a completed form from its Provincial or National Association approving the team’s participation in the tournament.
• Teams must provide an Official Roster.
• Teams must provide official roster through the gotsoccer.com scheduling and registration system.

Player Age Eligibility:
The age groups for this tournament shall be in accordance with the US Club and/or USYS age groups for the current seasonal year. Divisions for single age years will be implemented if there are enough entries as determined by the tournament committee.

(Born on or after)
Boys U10- August 1, 2002
Boys U11- August 1, 2001
Boys U12- August 1, 2000
Boys U13- August 1, 1999
Boys U14- August 1, 1998
Boys U15- August 1, 1997
Boys U17- August 1, 1995
Boys U18- August 1, 1994


Roster Size
Boys U10- maximum roster size of 18, but can have a total of 22 roster players
Boys U11- maximum roster size of 18, but can have a total of 22 roster players
Boys U12- maximum roster size of 18, but can have a total of 22 roster players
Boys U13- maximum roster size of 18, but can have a total of 22 roster players
Boys U14- maximum roster size of 18, but can have a total of 22 roster players
Boys U15- maximum roster size of 18, but can have a total of 22 roster players
Boys U17- maximum roster size of 18, but can have a total of 22 roster players
Boys U18- maximum roster size of 18, but can have a total of 22 roster players
***NOTE: Roster size for each individual game is a maximum of 18.


Guest Player Permitted
• 5 guest players are allowed per each team. This applies to all age groups. These guest players must be included on your roster and count towards your maximum roster size.
• Certified/Validated US Club Soccer loan/guest player forms- plus 1 copy (if applicable.) All loan/guest players must have a validated/laminated 2011-2012 US Club Soccer player pass and a 2012-2013 original notarized medical release in order to compete.
• All Guest Players- Replacement Players must meet the following criteria:
           - Guest players must be from the same USSF affiliate as the team to which they are requesting to play.
           - Players can only appear on one roster per age group.
           - Younger players are permitted to “play up” an age group, but must be listed on both rosters.

Match Length
Boys U11- 2 x 25 minute halves- No. of players: 9v9
Boys U12- 2 x 25 minute halves- No. of players: 11v11
Boys U13- 2 x 30 minute halves- No. of players: 11v11
Boys U15- 2 x 30 minute halves- No. of players: 11v11
Boys U16- 2 x 40 minute halves- No. of players: 11v11
 ** Half time will be five minutes **


Match Schedules
• Each team will play a number of games depends on number of participating teams.
• The tournament reserves the right to combine age groups, depending on the total number of teams in identified age divisions.

Teams
• The home team will be determined by which team is listed first.
• Any color conflicts will be resolved by the home team.
• Both teams will be on the same side of the field; spectators will be located on the opposite side of the field.

Player Credentials & Uniforms
• Player passes and booklets (passports for international teams) are to be presented and available to the head referee at all matches.
• Players must have jersey numbers and may not change numbers once registration is complete. If the numbers are not the same, the referee is not to allow the player to take part in the match until the numbers are the same (Example- the player changing his or her shirt, or daily match report being changed.)

Match Details
• Approved player passes, signed and laminated or Canadian booklet player cards are checked at Team Registration and officials/tournament staff prior to the start of each game.
• A team roster (roster forms will be distributed upon arrival) must be handed to referees before every match. The number each player has on the roster must be the same for each game sheet.

Player Equipment
• Shin guards are required for all players- no exceptions.
• Casts- no hard casts are permitted; soft casts are permitted with the permission of the referee.

Law of the Game
• NO GRIEVANCE TIME ALLOWED.
• NO WARM-UP IN THE GOAL MOUTHS ARE ALLOWED.
• GAMES MUST START AT SCHEDULED TIMES – no exceptions.
• All matches must be played in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game.

Substitutions
• Substitutions may be made with the consent of the referee at the following times:
          - After a goal by either team
          - At half time
          - Prior to goal kick by either team
          - After an injury by either team when the referee stops play
          - Prior to a throw-in. The team in possession of the ball for a throw-in may substitute. If the team in possession of the ball chooses to substitute, the opposing team may also substitute at that time.

• A player may be substituted on at a stoppage of play with the permission of the referee (NOTE: Tournament regulations may limit when substitutions may be made by specifying specific stoppages in play when substitutions can be made (ex: at goal kicks and corner kicks, on your team’s throw-ins, when a player is cautioned); otherwise substitutions may be made at any stoppage only with the permission of the referee, and
• If the age group is 15 & under, free substitution is allowed.

Match Delays, Suspensions, Cancellations
• Weather
         - Games called off due to inclement weather will be at the discretion of the Tournament Director by the sound of an air horn in which all games will conclude and start at the same time.
         - Games called off during the first half by the referee or Tournament Director, because of weather conditions, will be decided as follows: the team up by 2 goals or more shall be awarded a win. If the score differential is 1 goal or less, the game will be recorded as a time
         - Games called off during the second half by the referee or Tournament Director, because of the weather conditions, will be confirmed complete and will be scored according to the score at the time the game is called off.
         - Due to circumstances of conditions beyond its control, the Tournament Director will not be responsible for the loss of any funds due to the cancellation of all or any part of this tournament.
         - Tournament has the right to shorten the length of games or halves to due to inclement weather or playing conditions.

Tournament Scoring System
Win = 3 points
Tie = 1 point
Loss = 0 points
• In the elimination stage, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, a 10 minute overtime will be followed. If the match is still tied, kicks from the penalty mark, as per FIFA laws, will decide the match.
• In the pre-determined pairings for the elimination stage, adjustments will be made accordingly if the wild card team comes out of the same preliminary round bracket. Match-ups may be changed by tournament director if this situation occurs.
          - Tie-breaker procedures:
                   o Head-to-head competition                 
                   o Goal differential (goals for & goals against)
                                 – example 7 goals for, 1 goal against = +6
                   o Goals for
                   o Goals against
                   o Penalty kicks

Forfeits
• If a team does not show up for a game, loses on protest, or is omitted from the tournament, the score is set at 0-3.

Match & Score Reporting
• The official match report for each complete match must be verified (i.e., score, cautions, sendoffs) immediately after the game by the team coach or manager. Match reports that are not verified by 30 minutes after the completion of each game stand as submitted and may not be contested or appealed.
• Tampering with match scores and report will result in an automatic disqualification from the AC Milan Heartland Cup.

Protest and Disputes
• Red cards will be administered as per FIFA Laws of the Game.
• A player sent off for a second caution will not be allowed to play for the remainder of that game and the next game.
• The referee will display both the yellow and red cards to indicate the dismissal for a second cautionable offense.
• A player sent off for any other reason will not be allowed to play for the remainder of that game and the next game at a minimum.
- Violence may result in more than a one (1) game suspension by the tournament director.
• If a player receives a Red Card, the player pass will be retained by the referee and forwarded to tournament headquarters.
• After suspension is served, the coach may pick up the pass at headquarters.
           - No protests will be heard on judgment calls by the referee. All decisions by the referee are final.
           - Protests on player eligibility must be stated prior to the start of the game.
           - Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their team and supporters.
           - Protests on other technical matters may be made in writing and submitted to headquarters along with a $500 fee by the team coach.
           - Express concerns regarding violations prior to the start of the game or at the time the incident occurs.
           - If you have a problem regarding the rules or procedures at your game, take the following steps:
                   o Notify the referee immediately so that a correction can be made.
                   o If the situation is not resolved, notify the tournament director and the official will respond.
                   o For United States teams, the tournament director will be notified along with the Federation Organization Member of that team in which disciplinary action is taken or required.
                   o For CONCACAF teams, the tournament director will notify the US Soccer Federation of any disciplinary action taken or required to that team’s provincial or national association.

Game Balls
• The tournament is responsible for supplying the game balls. All balls are FIFA approved. The sizes are as follows:
            - Boys & Girls U9-U12 : size 4
            - Boys & Girls U13-U19 : size 5

Referees
• All referees will be USSF Certified.

Injuries
• Medical staff will be on site.
• Coaches are considered guardians for underage participants when the parents are unavailable, and for all players regardless of age, when impairment of mental status renders the player incapable of making decisions.
• A coach’s decision to allow a participant to play, contrary to the recommendation of the medical staff, may leave the coach open to legal liability.
• If the coach is under the legal age, the team is required to have official representation of the legal age at the field who will serve as the legal guardian.
• Coaches are responsible for having emergency medical information for all players in their possession at all times.
• Referees are responsible for summoning the coach and the first aid personnel on to the field in the event of an injury.
• The injured player will first be evaluated on the filed by first aid staff.
• If further evaluation is warranted, the injured player will be moved to the sideline when medically safe, according to emergency medical protocol.

Refunds
• There will be no refund if an opposing team does not show up for the game.
• Tournament cancellation due to weather or other conditions WILL NOT result in a refund of the entry fee.