TOURNAMENT RULES & GUIDELINES

GAME FORMAT

Bracket Play (first 3 games) for all teams in all divisions will be comprised of two 40-minute halves with a five-minute halftime break. All games except the Championship Games will end at the end of regulation time (i.e.,  games ending in a tie will remain tied). This includes Consolation games.
Championship Games will be two 40-minute halves with a ten-minute halftime break.
Championship matches ending in a tie will move to overtime, consisting of two (2) ten (10) minute halves. The Golden Goal rule applies (first goal wins). If a Golden Goal is not scored in overtime, a shoot-out will determine the champion. The shootout will consist of kicks taken from the penalty mark in accordance with NFHS to determine the winner.

PLAY CONDITIONS

Home team is listed first on the schedule and will wear LIGHT jerseys. Teams listed second will be the visitors and will wear DARK jerseys. In case of uniform color conflict, the home team shall change to an alternate colored jersey. Teams will locate on opposite sides of each field. The home team shall be entitled to choose which side of the field to occupy, unless the visiting team is also the host team, in which case the visiting team shall choose which side of the field to occupy. The home team shall provide 3 game balls.

All players are required to use shin guards. No shin guards = no play.

In the event of inclement weather, the Tournament Director and/or Referees will determine whether or not the game is to be played. Once the game has begun, the decision to continue to play rests solely with the center referee. Games are considered official if one-half of the match has been completed. The score at the stoppage of play shall be considered the final score.

REFEREES
Every effort will be made to staff each game with a three-referee system. However, if it becomes necessary a two-referee system will be used.

DISPUTES & PROTESTS

The Tournament Director and/or Tournament Committee shall settle all disputes. NO PROTESTS WILL BE ALLOWED. All interpretations of the rules and other decisions made by the referees, Field Marshals, and the Tournament Committee will be final.

SUSPENDED GAMES

If, in the opinion of the game officials, a game must be terminated for misconduct of players, bench or spectators, the offending team may be suspended from further play and will forfeit that game and all remaining games. All previous points earned remain as played. Additionally, the home league and state association will be contacted as appropriate. The Tournament Committee shall decide the outcome of the game and the number of points, if any, to be awarded.

BRACKET PLAY SCORING SYSTEM

Team standings will be based on the point totals to determine the winner of each Bracket.
Teams will be awarded points on the following basis.
6 points Win
3 points Tie
0 points Loss
1 point for a shutout. If game tied 0-0 each team will garner 4 points.
1 point for each goal up to three
Maximum point total per game is 10 points. Tie games will stand in bracket play.
In the case of a forfeit, the winning team will be awarded a 3-0 win.

The referee's report will constitute the official game record.

In the event of a tie in points at the end of bracket play (after first three games) the Tie-Breaking decision will be determined in the following order:

1:  The winner in head to head competition.
2:  Team with best total goal differential (goals-for minus goals-against with a maximum of 4 goals per game),
3:  Fewest total Goals AGAINST,
4:  Most total Goals FOR.
5:  Most Total wins
6:  Most Shut outs
7:  If a tie still exists after steps 1 through 6, the winner will be determined via coin flip conducted by the Tournament Director.

DETERMINATION OF FLIGHT/PLACE WINNERS AND AWARDS:

here will be six divisions in this year’s Tri Valley Classic Tournament:
1. Invitational Early Division (Flights A & B)
2. Invitational Late Division (Flights A & B)
3. Gold Early Division (Flights A & B)
4. Gold Late Division (Flights A & B)
5. Silver Early Division (Flights A & B)
6. Silver Late Division (Flights A & B)

Division Championship: Top Ranked team Flight A vs. Top Ranked team Flight B

Consolation Games: In every division the 2nd ranked team in A plays the 2nd ranked team in B, 3rd vs 3rd, etc. Consolation matchups may be changed by the Director to allow teams to play non-league opponents.

Awards: Plaques will be presented to the First and Second Place teams from each Division.

OTHER RULES

NFHS High School Rules apply to this tournament unless otherwise noted.
The tournament Committee’s ruling will be final regarding any issues not covered in these rules and guidelines

NOTE
NO alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or pets are allowed at any of the tournament sites.