What:  OUSL is hosting “LEAGUE CUP 2011”.  The League Cup is a competitive tournament and each team will play a minimum of three (3) reduced length games.  All brackets have at least two preliminary games on Saturday and one preliminary game with possible playoffs on Sunday (see Tournament Format section below).  League Cup is only for OUSL registered teams.  No loan players are allowed.  Scores and standings will be kept in all age divisions.  The coaching philosophies that the OUSL ascribes to will be maintained (i.e., every child will play at least 50% of each game, and coaches should have their players play all positions).

When:  November 12 and 13, 2011.  All games will be played at the standard OUSL playing fields. 

Who:  U08, U10, U12, U14, and U19 teams that participated in the OUSL seasonal year are eligible to compete (U06 teams are not eligible).  Participation is voluntary, a team may choose not to participate; also individual players may choose not to participate.  Players must play on the same team they played with during the OUSL season.  Only players who have played in at least five league games are eligible to play in the League Cup (unless player missed league games due to injury).  Due to limited number of fields and the tournament format, only a limited number of teams can be accepted in each bracket.  Applications will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.

How:  Teams will be required to register on-line for the tournament no later than October 29th.  Only checks made payable to OUSL will be accepted.  NO CASH.  On-line tournament registration is found on the OUSL web site, Tournament – League Cup.  On-line registration will be accepted until mid-night of October 29^th.  The Tournament Director reserves the right to accept a late registering team if including the team simplifies the tournament scheduling.  On-line registration is the ONLY method used to register for this tournament.  For those of you who do not have an on-line account with CalSouth, you may send an email to the League Scheduler/Webmaster, dperea_ousl@verizon.net, with your division (i.e., G08) and team name, email must be from the Head Coach or person responsible to register the team assigned by the Head Coach.  Payment coupon will be sent to the person by reply email.  Teams will be accepted to the tournament once payment is received by the Tournament Director.  Payment must be received by November 4^th so that teams can be accepted and the game schedule created. 

Fee:  The Tournament Fee, per team, will be as follow:

Teams that withdraw from the League Cup after the registration deadline may be entitled to a refund at the discretion of the Tournament Director.  No refunds will be granted after the tournament schedule has been posted.  On-line registration fees must be mailed to OUSL, P.O. Box 2091, Orcutt, CA 93457, payable to “OUSL”.  Once check has been received, your on-line application will be accepted.  You will receive an email when your team has been accepted to the tournament. 

Mandatory Check-in:  Each team must send a representative to the mandatory team check-in.  The tournament check-in will be held on Wednesday, November 9th from 6:30pm to 8:00pm, at the Orcutt Academy multi-purpose room. (Please plan on attending the Annual General Membership (AGM) meeting being held at the same place and time).  The team representative will receive the League Cup package and will verify players’ uniform numbers.  Any team that misses the mandatory check-in will have one point deducted from each preliminary round or round-robin game.

Tournament Format:  Each bracket’s tournament format is based on the number of teams entered in the bracket.  The Tournament Director establishes each bracket’s format after registration is complete.

Tournament Conduct:  See OUSL Mission Statement and Coaches Code of Ethics and OUSL Code of Ethics.  Special Note:  A coach, parent, or spectator that is ejected during a game shall be banned from all OUSL venues for the remainder of the “League Cup”.

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS:  Check the website for additional information: www.ousl.org.

Tournament Director: Tim Trenkle - tm_ousl@hotmail.com - 878-0967 

COME JOIN THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT OF THE OUSL LEAGUE CUP

Spirit of the Game:

“Let the players enjoy the games. Let them have a day of fun and competition.”

LEAGUE CUP RULES

General:  Only OUSL Tournament registered players are allowed to compete.

1)     All REFEREE decisions are final.  NO PROTESTS will be accepted.

2)     Shin guards are mandatory for all players.

3)     Medical Release Forms are mandatory for all players.

4)     All participating players must play 50% of each game. 

Substitutions:  Unlimited substitutions allowed upon the following circumstances:

1)     Any Stoppage Time by the Referee, except Indirect/Direct kicks

2)     Injury, if play is stopped, on a one-for-one basis.

3)     A player receiving a yellow card must be substituted for immediately and may return to normal play after the next normal stoppage in the game.

4)     Keeper substitution only permitted at half time or if keeper is injured.

5)     Other than an injury, no substitutions permitted during the last two (2) minutes of the each half (or overtime period).

Awards:

1)     All players will receive participation recognition.

2)     Trophies will be awarded for first (1^st) and second (2^nd) place in each bracket.

3)     For each bracket with 6 to 7 teams entered, award will be presented for third (3^rd) place.

4)     For each bracket with 8 or more teams entered, awards will be presented for third (3^rd) and fourth (4^th) place.

5)     Check the master schedule for when awards will be presented (usually after the last game). 

Point System:

            WIN                  =          6 POINTS

            LOSS               =          0 POINTS

            TIE                   =          3 POINTS

            FORFEIT*         =          8 POINTS

            SHUTOUT         =          1 POINT

            GOALS             =          1 POINT EACH UP TO 3 PER GAME

            RED CARD       =          2 POINT DEDUCTION

* A forfeit shall occur if a scheduled team is not on the field ready to play at the scheduled start time.

** If a team plays four games in a preliminary round, the fourth game does not count for points or tie breaker determination. 

Preliminary Round or No-Playoff

Tie Breaker Determination:      

1)     Winner Head-to-Head

2)     Goal differential (forfeits not counted)

3)     Fewest goals against

4)     Most goals for

5)     Most Shutouts (forfeits not counted)

6)     Most total wins (a forfeit will count as a win)

7)     Head-to-Head goal differential

8)     FIFA penalty shootout 

Playoff Tie Breakers:  If a playoff game is tied at the end of regulation play, the winner shall be determined by:

1)     Up to two five (5) minute overtime golden goal periods (sudden death) with a two (2) minute half time.

2)     FIFA penalty shootout 

Game Length: All game times shall be as follows:

1)     Under 8, two (2) 10 minute halves

2)     Under 10, two (2) 12 minute halves

3)     Under 12, two (2) 15 minute halves

4)     Under 14, two (2) 18 minute halves

5)     Under 19, two (2) 15 minute halves 

Other Rules:

1)     The home team will take the north/west side of the field and the visiting team will take the south/east side.  Home Team will provide three (3) game balls.

2)     Partisan spectators will stay on their teams appointed side of the field. If space permits, coaches, spectators, and players not on the field of play must remain at least six feet behind the touchline and at least eighteen yards from the corners of the field. Coaches, players, and spectators are not allowed behind the end line and goals for any reason.

3)     Game cards will be provided by the tournament for all games and must be properly filled out by the referee and given to the Field Marshall after each scheduled game.

4)     Any games terminated because of fighting will earn the team(s) expulsion from the tournament without refund and all games played will be forfeited. Results will be recalculated for forfeiture points, unless their opponent having won the game earned the same or more points from the win, which will stand as a win and factor for tie breaker determination as a win.

5)     A player receiving a RED CARD will be ejected from the field of play and must completely leave the field upon which play is being held.  A two (2) point deduction for each RED CARD received will affect the team’s total points.  A coach, parent, or spectator ejected from the field of play must completely leave the field upon which play is being held.  The team they represent will have a two (2) point deduction for that game only.  If a player receives a red card, the player is suspended for the remainder of that game and the next game.  If a coach, parent, or spectator is ejected from a game, that individual is banned from all OUSL venues for the remainder of the tournament.

6)     NO alcoholic beverages are allowed.  NO dogs are allowed.  NO smoking is allowed.

7)     Coaches and players must remain in their Coaches Box (Technical Area).

8)     EVERYONE NEEDS TO CLEAN UP THEIR AREA AFTER EACH GAME.

9)     All players on the field must be attired in matching uniforms (except the goalkeeper) to the satisfaction of the referee. The goalkeeper will be attired in an outfit that is different from the opposing keeper, all other players on the field, and the referee. In cases of uniform color similarity, the designated home team (listed first) will wear pinnies.

10)  No equipment shall be worn that is dangerous to another player (any cast constructed of hardened material, whether padded or not, is defined as being dangerous equipment).

11)  Reminder: No jewelry is permitted to be worn anywhere on a player. Taping of jewelry is not permitted. Medical alert bracelet/necklaces are allowed, if taped.

12)  Shin guards, covered by socks, are mandatory in all games. Players not wearing shin guards will not be allowed to play.

13)  No one may play if they are bleeding or there is blood on their uniform. The player must leave the field and may be substituted at the coach's discretion. The uniform must be changed. The player may return to the game after bleeding is stopped, the wound is covered and the player is wearing a uniform without blood on it.

14)  A referee may wait for up to 5 minutes after the scheduled start time for one or more of the teams to complete pre-game check in or provide the minimum number of players to begin the match.

15)  If a game cannot be started on time or must be temporarily suspended for safety issues (such as lightning or other severe weather conditions), or cannot be completed as scheduled due to weather conditions, the referee or a team official should call the Tournament Director at 805-878-0967 for guidance.

16)  For a suspended game that cannot be completed during the allocated game time slot and the Tournament Director has determined that the match cannot be completed, if the first half of the match has been completed, the match will be considered completed and the results considered final. 

17)  The Tournament Director will work with the teams to attempt to reschedule games not played or abandoned in the first half through no fault of either team. A reschedule may not be possible in all cases. Games that require a result for advancement of teams or points to determine winners may be scheduled for shootout completion as determined by the Tournament Director.

18)  If weather does not permit the completion of the tournament to determine champions, the Orcutt United SL may either cancel the tournament or reschedule teams to complete the tournament in a round robin shootout format, to be determined. Teams that participate in these contingency tournament completion scenarios must meet the criteria of all playing rules (e.g., be there at the scheduled time, minimum number of players, proper equipment, etc.).

19)  The decision of the Tournament Director regarding game completion, cancellation, or reschedule is final.