VietCredit 2020 Championships Rules & Regulations

Tournament Format:

UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, THE GAME WILL BE PLAYED ACCORDING TO FIFA LAWS.

  • The format of the event is 7-a-side. The match will consist of two 10 minute periods, with 2 minute halftime, and using a size 5 ball.
  • Actual match length will be determined by the referee and organizer only based on the schedule.
  • Each team must have a minimum of 4 players on the field to play the match. A maximum of 12 registered players allowed per team and they are not allowed to be changed at any time without the approval in writing from the organizer.
  • The “Qualifying Events” are a double elimination format. The “Championship Finals” follow a Semi-Final > Final, or Semi-Final > 3rd Place Playoff, all games are played 1 time. Only the winning team of a qualifying round will progress to the Grand Finals to play with the host team.
  • The host team is automatically included in the finals without needing to win the qualifying round event.
  • The offside law will not apply.
  • Heading the ball is allowed. Throw-ins for sideline out of bounds.
  • All players are required to wear shin guards and proper equipment for their own protection.
  • Substitutions will be unlimited and will occur without stoppage of play. However, all players must have the referee’s permission before they can enter the field of play and they must wait for the substituted player to leave the field.
  • Teams must be on the field and ready to play for the scheduled kick off time. If a team is late to the field they will be penalized by two goals (eg. The late team will start the match losing 0-2). If a team is more than 5 minutes late for the match, they will forfeit the game by a score of 0-3.
  • The referee’s word in all cases is final. The referees have been instructed to issue cards to any player who shows dissent, or uses offensive language for any reason.
  • If a player receives two yellow cards in a match this will result in a red card and a one match ban.
  • Straight reds will result in a player being dismissed for the remainder (without replacement) of the active game as well a one match ban for the following game. (Bans can be increased upon the organizing committee or referee decision)
  • Any acts of intentional violence may result in a team being disqualified from the tournament based on the organizer’s decision and referee’s report.
  • All games are on a fixed schedule and your team is expected to be at the field at least 5 minutes before your scheduled game time. The organizing team is not responsible for your team being on the field at the assigned game time. You must manage it by being aware of the schedule.
  • In order to enter the field area you must be a player or coach.
  • Coaches and teams supporters will not question the decision of the referee. Sideline coaching / instructions by team supporters is NOT allowed. If supporters continue with bad language/sideline coaching or attempt to distract the Referee from the game, the Referee will ask the Team Manager to restrain their supporters. If this appeal is not heeded, the Referee may issue a report to the organizer, and the team may be disqualified from the event.
  • In this case, the Referee reserves the right to default the infringing team, abandon the game and submit a report to the Organizing Committee for a decision. If, for any reasons a match could not be played, the match may be rescheduled at the discretion of the organizer.
  • No protest shall be entertained as the decision of the referees and the organizer is final.
  • No players/coaches/team representatives are allowed to talk to referees off the pitch. If this is an issue, the referee or offending team will be penalized without warning at the organizers sole discretion.

PLAYER REGISTRATION

  • All players’ team lists must be submitted in advance of the tournament.
  • All players must bring along their original valid passport or other valid government picture identification card on all days of the tournament for verification purposes.
  • All teams will be required to register as a team with ALL players at least 2 days before the qualifying event they are participating.
  • If a player does not have his/her original passport or respective ID validation, then he/she will not be registered and will not be allowed to participate until they produce the original.
  • Players are required to wear appropriate attire including boots and shin guards. Any player inappropriately dressed can be disqualified from playing.
  • Teams are required to have numbers on their jersey that relates to their team/player registration.
  • Teams are suggested to bring two (2) sets of numbered uniforms of different color. In the event of a color clash, the teams should decide before the game time who will be required to make a change. Any delay in the game due to this will be reduced in the playing time of the game.
  • The players, manager, and coach will be responsible to monitor and ensure that any player/s under suspension are not fielded for subsequent matches, if a team is found in violation, they will lose any game that applies.
  • The Organizer reserves the right to remove any player at any time from the competition. This includes before, during, and after any event. This is at the sole discretion of the organizer.

COMPOSITION OF TEAMS

  • Each team is allowed to register up to 12 players. At any one time, there will be only seven (7) players on the pitch with a maximum of five (5) as substitutes on the bench.
  • Each team is allowed to register 3 Officials (coaches/managers/staff). Team Officials must wear a different shirt than players.

ELIGIBILITY

  • All Players – Players can only play for 1 team.
  • Use of ineligible players may render the team to be disqualified from the tournament, or at least loss of game where they were found to have an issue.
  • Female players are allowed.
  • All players’ team lists must be submitted before the start of the tournament.
  • All team managers must sign a waiver document releasing all parties working for or organizing of the Tournament of all liabilities associated with the tournament.

Tie Breakers:

  • If a match ends in a draw during the Qualifier Event, it will immediately go to penalty kicks. Best of 3, then sudden death (1 for each each team until 1 team fails to score and the other does score).
  • In the Championship finals, the match will be decided using the following format:

Golden Goal:

  • The teams will immediately line up for a Golden Goal extra time period:
  • A coin toss will determine who starts.
  • 5 players on the field per team (to be determined by the coach). These players must have been on the field when the final whistle is blown.
  • Every one minute the play will be stopped by the referee’s whistle, one player from each team must leave the field.
  • After each minute play will continue from the center circle with teams alternating initial possession of the ball.
  • When only one player is left on each team, a drop ball will start from the center. The last player may act as a goalkeeper; they can use hands inside the box as a regular keeper is allowed.
  • If a goalkeeper is removed from play, one of the outfield players who is on the field may take the goalkeepers place. This player must wear the goalkeeper shirt at a minimum.
  • The first team to score a goal wins the match. No substitutions are allowed in this extra period.
  • All players not on the field of play must leave the field. Only the players in play and the coach may remain.

Delays:

  • Matches will continue as scheduled except in the case of severe rain or lightning. The decision to postpone a match will be at the discretion of the tournament organizer.
  • If a match has less than 8 minutes remaining the score at the time will stand.
  • In the event of a rain delay, a make-up match will be played in the following format as decided by the organizer:
  • FORMAT 1: Kickoff as normal. Every 1 minute, each team must remove a player from the field until there is only one player left for each team. The first team to score a goal wins the match.
  • FORMAT 2: Best of 3 penalty kicks, then sudden death (1 for each team until 1 team fails to score and the other does score).

Medical & Liability:

  • A medical team may be on site during the tournament play hours to provide assistance to anyone that needs it. In the event that they need to be transported to the hospital it will be prioritized and is under the discretion of the medical personnel and guardian of the person if any. If there is no medical team on site, players are instructed to work with the property management for any issue.
  • The government, APFT, Asia Pacific Events, it’s organizers, sponsors, and partners, will not be held liable for any death, disability, personal injury, loss of property or any other loss howsoever arising from any cause whatsoever at any time during the course of this tournament.

Awards & Prizes:

  • All registered players will receive a Certificate of Participation.
  • In all Qualifying rounds, the top 2 teams will receive trophies. In the Grand Finals the top 3 teams will receive trophies and Medals.
  • There may be additional awards announced at a later date.

IF YOU SEE ANY ISSUES WITH THE RULES & REGULATIONS, OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS WE ARE HAPPY TO SUPPORT. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ORGANIZER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE RULES & REGULATIONS AS NEEDED AT ANY TIME IN ORDER TO BEST FACILITATE THE ORGANIZATION, SAFETY, AND FAIR PLAY OF THE TOURNAMENT.