2025 NORFOLK EXPRESS SOCCER TOURNAMENT RULES

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No pets are allowed at the soccer complex except service dogs for the visually impaired.

No smoking is allowed inside the complex, including vape smoking.

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LAWS OF PLAY. Play will be governed by the FIFA Laws of the Game, except where amended by US Youth Soccer Rules of Play, and/or the Norfolk Express Soccer Tournament Rules. These rules may be modified before the beginning of tournament play. The final Tournament Rules will be published in the Tournament Program.

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REGISTRATION. All teams must be currently registered with their governing organization and present a copy of their state roster which will be kept by the Tournament Director. All teams from outside the state of Nebraska must have proof of “Permission to Travel” duly authorized by their governing organization. Each player must have a valid player card with current picture and must have a signed medical release form. The player must be available for identification by the referee prior to each game. Each coach must have a coach pass if they intend to be in the team technical area by the field during the match.

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TEAM ROSTERS, PLAYER AND COACH CREDENTIALS. U8 teams play 4 v 4 (no GK) and may have up to 8 rostered players. U9/10 teams play 7 v 7 and may have up to 14 rostered players. U11/12 teams play 9 v 9 and may have up to 18 rostered players. U13-U19 teams play 11 v 11 and may have up to 22 rostered players. Teams may include up to four guest players. Roster limits cannot be exceeded with the use of guest players. Guest players must be the same age as the team registered. Once a team is checked in, the roster is complete. A player may not play for more than one team during the tournament. A team will forfeit any game in which an ineligible player participates and will not be allowed in the championship or consolation games. No players from Premier teams are eligible for play, as designated Premier on the player pass.

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HOME TEAM. The home team should wear a lighter color jersey and will be responsible for wearing an alternate color jersey, if necessary, as determined by the referee. The visiting team should wear a darker color jersey. The team listed first in all rounds will be the home team. Teams use the side of the field with team benches and canopies and spectators will use the opposite side of the field.

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PLAYING CONDITIONS. Teams will be expected to play according to the schedule of games regardless of weather. Only the Tournament Director may reschedule games or alter the competitive format because of inclement weather or other just cause. Games will be considered complete if one half has been completed and play is stopped by the Field Representative or Referee, Commissioner of Referees or the Tournament Director. When necessitated by playing conditions or just cause, the game format may be altered to include shortening of games, shootouts, or coin tosses.

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BRACKETING AND ADVANCEMENT

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3-TEAM DIVISIONS: Each team will play each other, for two games each. The teams with the 2nd and 3rd points will play in a semi- final. The winner of the semi-final will play the team with the 1st points in the championship game.

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4-TEAM DIVISIONS: Bracket play is round robin games with each of the other teams in the division. The two high point teams advance to the Championship match. The highest point team will be the home team for the Championship.

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5-TEAM DIVISIONS: Bracket play is round robin games with each of the other teams in the division (each team gets four games). Places will be determined by points received.

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6-TEAM DIVISIONS: There are a few options for playing this division. Option 1: Two three-team brackets. Three teams in bracket A will play the three teams in bracket B. Option 2: Two three-team brackets: Each team in bracket A will play each other and one team from bracket B and teams in bracket B play each other and one team from bracket A. For either option, the top team in each pool will play in the championship. High point teams will be the home team for the championship and consolation games.

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7-TEAM DIVISIONS: One four-team and one three-team bracket: Each team will play three games. One team will have to play a fourth game which will not count towards their points. Top teams in each pool will advance to the championship. High point teams will be the home team for the championship and consolation games.

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8-TEAM DIVISION: Two four-team brackets: Each team in bracket A will play each other and teams in bracket B play each other. The team with the highest points bracket A will play the team with the highest points in bracket B for the championship game. High point teams will be the home team for the championship.

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10-TEAM DIVISION: Two five-team brackets: Each team in bracket A will play each other and teams in bracket B play each other. The team with the highest points bracket A will play the team with the highest points in bracket B for the championship game. High point teams will be the home team for the championship and consolation games.

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All games may end in a tie except for the semi-final and championship games which will go into overtime. Overtime will consist of two 5-minute periods. If the game is still tied, FIFA penalty kicks will apply. A team that forfeits cannot advance to the championship or consolation game.

 

SCORING METHOD. Points are determined by the following point system: Win = 3 points Tie = 1 point Loss =0 points A goal difference (GD) will be kept, with a maximum GD of 7 for any given game. A team that forfeits a game will give up 3 points to the declared winner of the game and will not be eligible to advance to the semifinals or final match and be ineligible for a medal. The match will be scored as a 7-0 win for the declared winner.

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TIEBREAKERS. If at the conclusion of bracket play, two or more teams have the same point total, advancement to the consolation or championship games will be determined using the following tiebreakers in the order listed until a team is eliminated. Once a team is eliminated, advancement among the remaining teams will again be determined by the tiebreakers in the order listed starting with head-to-head competition. 1. Winner of head-to-head competition (criteria may not be used if more than two teams tied). 2. Goal difference (goals for minus goals against) with a maximum goal different of 7 per game and one point deducted for each red card. 3. Fewest goals allowed. 4. Number of shutouts. 5. Fewest red cards. 6. Penalty kicks

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WATER BREAKS. In hot conditions, the referee will ask both teams if a water break is wanted and if at least one team wants the break there will be a water break. Players have to get their drinks then stay on touch line. Free subbing is allowed after checking in at the flag and acknowledged by the ref.

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YELLOW CARDS, RED CARDS, AND EJECTIONS. A player who has received a yellow card will leave the field immediately but can be replaced by another player immediately. The player receiving the yellow card can re-enter the game at the next legal substitution for his/her team. Any player who has received a red card will leave the immediate field area and will not have contact with the rest of the team or coaches for the duration of the game. That player will be ineligible for the next game. At the discretion of the Tournament Director, the suspension may be increased and could result in ineligibility for more than one game. No substitution will be permitted for a player who has been ejected during a game. An ejected coach or fan must leave the field area and be out of sight of players and match officials before play is restarted. An ejected coach is suspended for the next game.

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GRACE PERIOD. A game may begin if a minimum number of players are present. For 4 v 4 a minimum is 3, for 7 v 7 a minimum is 4, for 9 v 9 a minimum is 5, and for 11 v 11 a minimum is 7. A (10) ten-minute grace period will be extended beyond the scheduled kick off time if a minimum number of players are not available at the scheduled kick off time. A team with the minimum number of players must start the game as soon as the players are at the field after the originally scheduled start time. If at the end of the 10-minute grace period the team does not have a minimum number of players, the referee will suspend the game and report the failure of the team to appear to the Tournament Director. The Director may declare a forfeit.

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UNIFORM. Each player will wear an official uniform and each player’s number must be different. The goalkeeper is not required to have a number on his/her jersey. Players must wear a shirt during warm-ups prior to competition. ALL PLAYERS MUST WEAR SHINGUARDS THAT ARE SIZED PROPERLY.

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BALL. All teams will play each game with the ball size designated for play by the Norfolk Soccer Express Tournament. Ball size is as follows: U8: 3, U9-12: 4, U13-19: 5.

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DANGEROUS EQUIPMENT / CASTS. A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to him or herself or another player. The referee has the final determination if the equipment is safe to the player or another player on the field of play and this includes hard casts, soft casts, and braces, which must be padded and approved by the referee before starting the game.

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SUBSTITUTIONS. Substitutions must be made from the center flag with the consent of the Field Referee. For teams U12 and below, substitutions are allowed anytime the ball is out of play for either team. For teams U13 and above substitutions may be made prior to a throw-in by either team if the throwing in team has subs, prior to either team's goal kick, after a goal scored by either team, during a stoppage of play for an injury and in accordance with the Laws of the Game. A cautioned player can only return at the next legal substitution time for his team.

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GAME LENGTH. Age Game Length, Half time, Overtime (champ. or cons. games only)

U8 Two 20 minute halves 5 min. None

U9 & 10 Two 25 minute halves. 5 min. Two 5 minute halves

U11 & 12 Two 30 minute halves. 5 min. Two 5 minute halves

U13 thru U19 Two 35 minute halves. 5 min. Two 5 minute halves

Overtimes and shoot-outs will be used only as necessary in championship and consolation matches. If one team is ahead by 10 goals or more in the second half of the game, and both coaches agree, the referee may call the game completed.

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SHOOT-OUTS (PENALTY KICKS). If a winner is not determined after the overtime period, shoot-outs will be used to determine a winner consolation or championship matches and will be run in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game. The referee chooses the goal at which the kicks will be taken. The referee tosses a coin and the team who wins the toss has the option of shooting first or last. The visitor team will call the coin toss. Both teams take five kicks; kicks are taken alternately by the teams. If before both teams have taken five kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score, even if it were to complete its five kicks, no more kicks are taken. If after five kicks the score is tied, kicks continue until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of kicks. Only the players on the field at the end of the match are allowed to take kicks. A different player must take each kick and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick. When a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponents, they will reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponents and inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded.

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AWARDS. U8 team players will be given participation awards. For divisions older than U8, awards will be given to each player on the teams finishing first and second. The number of awards given to a team will not exceed the roster limit.

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REFUND. Once a team is accepted into the tournament, no refund will be given. If all or a portion of the Norfolk Express Soccer Tournament is canceled due to just cause, refunds will be issued as follows: No games played – 50% of total cost. One game played – 30% of total cost. Two games played – 10% of total cost. Games will be considered played when completed in regulation time, shortened time, or shoot-outs.

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PROTESTS. No protests will be allowed and referee abuse will not be tolerated.

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