4-on-4 Soccer Tournament Rules

General Rules

  1. Team Composition

    • Each team consists of 4 players on the field (3 field players + 1 goalkeeper).

    • Unlimited rolling substitutions are allowed.

  2. Game Duration

    • Matches consist of two 18-minute halves with a 2-minute halftime break.

    • In case of a tie during the knockout stage, a golden goal (first team to score) will determine the winner.

  3. Playing Surface

    • Hard Court Surface: Players must be aware that the court is a hard surface, so physical contact must be minimized to prevent injuries.

    • Any reckless physical contact that results in an opponent falling to the ground may be considered a foul.

  4. Field Setup

    • The field is smaller than a standard pitch (recommended 40x25 yards).

    • Small-sized goals will be used.

Gameplay Rules

  1. Starting Play

    • Kickoff is taken from the center of the field.

    • Teams must stay in their own half until the ball is touched.

  2. Ball In and Out of Play

    • Kick-ins only: When the ball goes out on the sideline, the restart is a kick-in from the spot it exited.

    • Corner kicks are allowed and are taken from the designated corner arc.

    • Goal kicks are taken as normal.

  3. No Slide Tackling

    • Slide tackles are not allowed.

    • Any slide tackle results in an indirect free kick for the opposing team.

  4. No Aggressive Contact

    • Minimal physical contact is required due to the hard court surface.

    • No shoulder charging, pushing, or excessive force.

    • First offense: Warning

    • Repeated offenses: Foul/free kick

  5. Fouls & Free Kicks

    • All free kicks are indirect (cannot score directly).

    • Opposing players must stay at least 5 yards away during free kicks.

  6. Team Fouls & Power Play Penalties

  • A team accumulates a team foul every time they commit a foul (including handballs).

  • After 5 team fouls, each additional foul results in the team playing one player down for 3 minutes (power play for the opposing team).

  • The player serving the penalty cannot be substituted.

  • If a goal is scored against the penalized team during the power play, the penalized team may return to full strength immediately.

  1. Offside Rule

  • There is no offside rule in this tournament.

  1. Scoring & Goal Restrictions

  • Goals must be scored from past the halfway line (no goals from own half).

  1. Penalty Kicks

  • If a foul occurs inside the goal area, a penalty kick is awarded.

  • Penalty kicks are taken from 10 meters away from the goal.

  1. Red Card Consequences

  • If a player receives a red card, they are ejected from the game and cannot be replaced.

  • The offending team plays one player down for 3 minutes (power play for the opposing team).

  • If a goal is scored against the penalized team during the power play, they may return to full strength immediately.

  1. Substitutions

  • Unlimited rolling substitutions allowed.

  • The exiting player must leave the field before the substitute enters.

  1. Sportsmanship

  • Players must show respect to referees, opponents, and teammates.

  • Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in yellow or red cards.

  • Two yellow cards in a match result in a red card and ejection.

Mercy Rule

If a team achieves a 7-goal lead at any point in the match, the game is officially ended and recorded as a win for the leading team.

For the remaining scheduled game time, teams may:

  1. Trade players and continue playing informally.

  2. Use the court for practice, mini-games, or casual play as agreed upon by both teams.

  3. Mix players from both teams to balance skill levels and play for fun.

Tournament Scoring & Standings

Group Stage Scoring System

  • Win = 3 points

  • Tie = 1 point

  • Loss = 0 points

Tiebreaker Rules

If teams are tied on points at the end of group play, the following tiebreakers will be used, in order:

  1. Head-to-Head Result

    • The team that won the match between the tied teams advances.

  2. Goals For (Total Goals Scored)

    • The team with the higher number of total goals scored advances.

  3. Goals Against (Total Goals Conceded)

    • The team with the lower number of goals conceded advances.

  4. Penalty Shootout

    • If still tied, teams will go into a penalty shootout from 10 meters out.

    • Each team gets 3 penalty kicks.

    • If still tied after 3 rounds, a sudden death penalty shootout follows until one team wins.

Concussion Policy:

Policy on Procedures for Managing Concussions During Soccer Events

1. Purpose This policy outlines the procedures to identify, assess, and manage concussions occurring during soccer events to ensure player safety and prevent further injury.

2. Scope This policy applies to all players, coaches, referees, medical personnel, and event staff involved in soccer events.

3. Recognizing a Concussion A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a direct or indirect blow to the head or body. Symptoms may include but are not limited to:

Headache or dizziness

Confusion or disorientation

Nausea or vomiting

Blurred vision

Loss of consciousness

Memory loss

Sensitivity to light or noise

Balance problems

4. Immediate Response

If a player is suspected of having a concussion, they must be immediately removed from play.

The player should not be left alone and must be monitored for worsening symptoms.

A qualified medical professional or first responder should assess the player.

If unconscious or showing severe symptoms (e.g., repeated vomiting, seizures, inability to wake up), emergency medical services (EMS) must be called immediately.

5. Evaluation and Medical Clearance

A player suspected of a concussion must not return to play on the same day.

The player must undergo a thorough medical evaluation by a licensed healthcare professional.

The player can only return to play with written clearance from a qualified medical provider.

6. Return-to-Play Protocol A stepwise return-to-play protocol should be followed, including:

Rest & Recovery – No physical or cognitive activity that exacerbates symptoms.

Light Aerobic Exercise – Low-intensity activities like walking or stationary cycling.

Sport-Specific Exercise – Running drills but no contact.

Non-Contact Training – More complex drills but avoiding contact.

Full-Contact Practice – Normal training with medical clearance.

Return to Competition – Full clearance and normal gameplay.

Progression through these steps should take at least 24 hours per step, with a return to the previous step if symptoms recur.

7. Education and Awareness

All coaches, referees, and event staff must undergo concussion awareness training.

Parents and players should receive educational materials on concussion risks and management.

8. Compliance and Responsibility

Coaches, referees, and medical personnel must strictly enforce this policy.

Any failure to adhere to these procedures may result in disciplinary action.

The safety and well-being of players must always be the top priority.

This policy ensures a structured approach to concussion management, reducing the risk of further injury and promoting a safe playing environment.