5v5 SERIES SOCCER TOUR
Official Tournament Rules & Policies
1. Team Rosters
Each team may roster a maximum of 10 players. Every player must appear on the official roster and have a signed waiver and proof of age available during team check-in.
Once check-in is completed, rosters become final and may not be changed. Use of an ineligible or unregistered player will result in a match forfeit and may lead to removal from the event.
Players are permitted to participate on multiple teams; however, a player may only compete on one team per age division during the tournament.
2. Player Eligibility & Age Divisions
Age divisions are determined by each player’s birth year.
- Players may compete in older age groups (“play up”).
- Players may not compete in younger age groups (“play down”).
- Girls may participate on boys teams.
- Boys are not permitted to participate on girls teams.
If a girls team includes even one male player, that team will be classified and scheduled as a boys division team. Youth divisions are not considered coed.
3. Player Equipment
Shin guards are mandatory for all players during play.
Protective casts or braces on the hand, wrist, arm, elbow, or shoulder are allowed only if fully padded with closed-cell foam padding at least ½-inch thick and approved by the referee or Tournament Director. Final approval rests with tournament staff.
Additional equipment rules:
- No jewelry may be worn during matches.
- Field players must wear matching colored jerseys.
- Jersey numbers are optional.
- Goalkeepers must wear a color distinct from both teams.
- If jersey colors conflict, the team listed as Home must change jerseys.
4. Home & Away Teams
The team listed first on the official schedule will serve as the Home team.
5. Match Start Times & Game Length
Teams are expected to be ready at the scheduled kickoff time.
- Minimum players required to begin a match: 3
- Teams unable to field the minimum players within a 5-minute grace period may forfeit.
- To maintain the event schedule, match time may be shortened if necessary.
Match Format
- Two 12-minute halves
- 1-minute halftime
- Match ends immediately if a team leads by 10 goals
The clock does not stop for regular play. Matches end when time expires, regardless of ball position or attacking opportunity. Time may only be extended for a penalty kick.
Additional rules:
- No pregame coin toss
- Home team kicks off
- Away team chooses defending side first
- Teams switch ends at halftime
Tournament officials reserve the right to adjust schedules or match durations due to weather or operational needs.
6. Offside
There is no offside rule in 5v5 Series Soccer.
7. Heading
Heading is permitted in all age groups unless otherwise stated by the specific event organizer or governing body requirements.
Questions regarding heading policies should be directed to the onsite Tournament Director.
8. Slide Tackling
Slide tackling by field players is prohibited.
Players may slide only when:
- Saving a ball from leaving the field
- Blocking a shot
- No contact is made with an opponent
Any slide involving opponent contact will result in:
- Direct free kick
- Penalty kick if committed inside the penalty area
Disciplinary progression:
- First offense: Direct free kick
- Second offense by same player: Yellow card
- Third offense by same player: Red card
9. Direct Restarts
Kickoffs and corner kicks are considered direct kicks.
Kickoffs may move in any direction.
10. Sideline Restarts
Throw-ins are replaced with kick-ins.
- Ball must be stationary on the touchline.
- A goal may not be scored directly from a kick-in restart.
11. Penalty Kicks
Penalty kicks are taken from:
- The top of the penalty area, or
- Approximately 7 yards from goal
Physical fouls result in direct free kicks. All other fouls are indirect.
Defending players must remain at least 5 yards from the ball on all restarts.
12. Goal Clearances
Goalkeepers restart play with a goal clearance whenever a goal kick is awarded.
The goalkeeper may:
- Throw the ball
- Place and pass/kick the ball
- Dribble the ball out of the penalty area
The ball must completely leave the penalty area before play continues.
Additional rules:
- Goalkeepers have 5 seconds to restart play
- Failure to do so results in an indirect free kick for the opposing team
- Punting and drop-kicking are not permitted
- Goals may not be scored directly from a goal clearance
Once the ball exits the penalty area, normal play resumes.
13. Goalkeeper Rules
Goalkeepers may distribute the ball by throwing, rolling, passing, or dribbling.
While inside the penalty area:
- Opponents may not initiate contact with the goalkeeper
- Violations may result in a yellow card
Once outside the penalty area, the goalkeeper is treated as a field player.
A goalkeeper may not score directly by throwing the ball into the opponent’s goal.
14. Substitutions
Substitutions are permitted for either team during any stoppage in play with referee approval.
Teams attempting to delay the game through excessive substitutions may be warned or disciplined.
15. Conduct & Sportsmanship
Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their players and spectators.
Unsportsmanlike conduct, abusive language, or disruptive behavior directed toward referees, staff, opponents, or spectators will not be tolerated.
Tournament officials reserve the right to remove any coach, player, or spectator from the facility or event grounds.
16. Yellow & Red Cards
Yellow cards accumulate throughout the tournament.
Card Accumulation
- 2 yellow cards in the same match = Red card
- 3 yellow cards in one day = suspension for the next match
After serving the suspension, the player may return for remaining matches.
Card totals do not transfer between different teams a player may be rostered on.
Red Cards
A player receiving a red card:
- Must leave the current match immediately
- Is suspended for the team’s next tournament match
The team may substitute another player after the ejection.
A player receiving red cards in two separate matches during the same tournament will be removed from the event.
17. Tournament Format
Most events use a Round Robin or Pool Play format.
There is no overtime during preliminary matches.
18. Standings & Points
Pool play scoring system:
- Win = 3 points
- Tie = 1 point
- Loss = 0 points
19. Tiebreakers
If teams are tied in standings, the following tiebreakers will apply in order:
- Head-to-head result
- Goal differential
- Fewest goals allowed
- Most goals scored
- Team shootout (5 players)
20. Playoff & Championship Tiebreakers
Semifinal and Championship matches tied at the end of regulation may proceed to either:
- A 3-minute Golden Goal period, or
- Directly to Penalty Kicks
The format will be determined by the Tournament Director based on event scheduling, weather conditions, or operational needs.
If a Golden Goal period is played and the match remains tied at the end of the 3 minutes, the winner will then be decided by a penalty shootout using the 5 players on the field at the conclusion of extra time.
There will be no overtime, golden goal, or penalty shootouts during Pool Play or Round Robin matches.
21. Forfeits
Any forfeited match will be officially recorded as a 10–0 result.
22. Protests & Final Decisions
No formal protests will be accepted during the tournament.
Referee decisions regarding gameplay and judgment calls are final.
In situations involving rule interpretation, the Tournament Director will make the final decision.
Updated 5/21/2026