Bourbon Cup Tourney Rules
Summary of Specific Rules and Regulations

Administrative Rules

1. All team captains before their first game must check-in at the event registration desk and turn in their team rosters and liability wavers. They must also turn in either proof of team insurance or players cards for all players on their rosters. No players can be added to the roster after the roster has been turned into the tournament officials.
2. All players participating in the tournament must be listed on the official team rosters.
3. It is extremely important for all participating players & managers to be responsible for their conduct and behavior at all times.
4. The Bourbon Cup Tournament Directors reserve the right to use their discretion for resolving conflict or other matters not specifically provided for under these Tournament Rules.
5. The Bourbon Cup Tournament Committee, Director(s) or any sponsors of the Bourbon Cup activities shall not be held responsible for expenses incurred by any person, team, club, league, or any other association if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part. If the tournament is canceled in whole in advance, the teams will be reimbursed their tournament entry fee minus $40 fee to cover website, credit card and processing expenses. If the tournament is canceled in part after games have begun, there will not be a reimbursement of any entry fees.

General Game Rules

6. Shin guards are required during all games.
7. Each team will have a max of 18 players rostered.
8. Each team must have two sets of jerseys (primary and secondary). Each set of jerseys must have a unique official jersey color for differentiation (i.e., every player in a team must have same color jersey with a different number on each jersey). If there is a conflict in jerseys color the home team must wear their alternative jersey.
9. Games will be played with two teams each consisting of not more than eight (8) players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper.
10. Game kick offs must have a minimum of six (6) players on the field to avoid a forfeit.
11. All games are played in two 22-minute halves with 5-minute half-time interval/break.
12. There will be no offsides.
13. Throw-ins if ball goes out of bound. Throw ins are indirect and a goal cannot be scored from a throw in unless the ball touches a player who did not throw the ball before the ball goes in the goal.
14. No slide-tackling for all Divisions.
15. All substitutions are on-the-fly. Player substitutions MUST be done at the sidelines by the center line at the middle of the field only.
16. All players that are being substituted MUST leave the field First before the substituted player(s) could come in the game (just like normal game subbing protocol).
17. A “Penalty Mark” shall be drawn 10 yards from center of touch line within goal mouth.
18. Players can score directly from a kick-off spot without the need of a 2nd touch/pass.
19. All teams shall be responsible for their team spectators’ behaviors & conducts at all times.
20. Ties will stand during round-robin play.
21. Ties in single elimination rounds will be broken by shoot-out. (See Tie Breakers.)
22. Each team will play at least 3 games.
23. FIFA rules apply at all times, except there will be no off-sides & all kicks are direct.
24. Penalty kicks will be turkey shoots taken from midfield. (See Tie Breakers.)
25. Five-minute grace periods before forfeits are called. The half will be shortened accordingly.
26. Number of teams in each division and resulting standings after group play will determine who advance to semifinals. Communication as to what qualifies for semifinals will be communicated once the divisions are set.
27. Team placement is determined using:
• 3 points for each win
• 1 point for each tie

Tie Breaker

28. After round robin play, between teams with the same number of points:
• Head-to-head
• Goals against
• Goals for
• Coin toss

29. During single elimination, turkey-shoot:
• Taken from midfield,
• The ball must cross the goal line within 8 seconds of the shooter’s first touch.
• The ball remains in play for the full 8 seconds if the ball touches the goalkeeper or the goal post and remains on the field.
• All rounds: ONLY the 8 players on the field at the end of regulation play, including the goalie, can take the penalty shots.
• Five of the 8 players that were present on the field at the end of the game/end of 2nd half will be chosen for the first round of penalty shots.
• The team with the largest number of successful goals out of 1st 5 shots will be declared the winner. If the result is still tied, the shootout will continue on a “goal-for-goal” (sudden death) basis, with the teams taking shots alternately (i.e., 6th, 7th, 8th, players etc.), and the one that scores a goal unmatched by the other team is declared the winner.
• If there is still a tie at this point, then the sudden death continues and the first five players who started turkey shoot will take shots until one team scores a goal unmatched by the other team.
• No substitutions are allowed after the end of regulation play.
• Players will remain on the field.


Referees & Game Officials

30. Referee’s decisions must be respected and adhered to at all times.
31. 1 Referee per game.
32. The Referee has the final say in ALL matters regarding the game.

Red Card Offenses and Disciplinary Measures

33. Any player, coach, spectator, or team manager ejected from the game by the referee or designated tournament official must leave the playing and facility area immediately this will avoid further conflicts. Referee will stop the match until the player has left the area.
34. If a player receives 2 yellow cards, then he/she will receive a red card which will bear a 1 game suspension for their teams next game.
35. There is no accumulation of yellow cards across games.
36. If a player gets a straight red card, they will have a two-game suspension (they will miss their teams next two games).
37. Any Player/Manager that physically attacks a game officials/Referee or any officials/volunteers would be subject to immediate expulsion from the event indefinitely and possibly from any future participation in any related games/events.
38. Violent conduct consists of – Abusive or obscene language to officials, spitting, intentional violent play, violent conduct of any kind, use of physical violence, any life threats, use of drugs or alcohol, discriminatory remarks to race, color or ethnicity, or other behavior detrimental to the game or players will not be tolerated.
39. Referees will also report all game scores and red card and violent conduct incidents to the event officials/marshals in all game report cards.

Miscellaneous

• All children must be monitored & watched by responsible adults to avoid any incidents & injuries to them.
• Follow all posted rules for use of fields.
• All players need to have a current state or federal-issued ID available at the tournament. If the opposing team questions a player’s age, the opposing team can ask the referee to confirm the age of the player whose age is being questioned by using that player’s official state or federal ID.