Cup Rules

Tournament Rules

Check-in – ALL Teams

The team representative must check-in with tournament staff 45 min before their first game kick off on 11/13/2021 at the tournament tent. If you don’t do that, we don’t send referees over to do your game, as they are going to bring the roster with them.

Roster

We are running the tournament with verified rosters and not passcards plus rosters. Due to that change, we need all rosters no later than 11/8/21 5.00 PM (MST). If your players are not NMSSA players, they need to purchase the tournament “passcard”. If your players play in any USASA league not affiliated with NMSSA, you need to provide proof from your league that each player on your roster is in good standing with the league and eligible to play.

Acceptable verification is a league letter on official league letter head listing all eligible players signed by the league registrar or president.

Any player not verified by their respective leagues will be required to purchase a tournament passcard or will be removed from the roster by 11/8/21.

You must complete the roster form included in this package and send it back by 11/8/2021 5:00 PM (MST) via email.

Player Name – Must match exactly Must match the ID your player is using to check in
DOB - Must match the ID your player is using to check in
Affiliated Team & League – Team the player is currently playing on and the affiliated league

The player name and ID must match, we will NOT be adjusting the rosters at all or writing anyone’s name in. If we are unable to verify the player's eligibility based on the information above, the player is required to purchase the tournament “passcard”.

Referees will keep the rosters and bring them to each game. If we do not receive a roster by 11/8/2021, your team will be removed from the schedule. Players can check-in with a photo ID, we will accept any ID with picture, name and DOB.

Players

You are entitled to 25 players on the roster. All players must have good standing with USASA prior to each game. A player who does not have a passcard may not play in a game. Teams must have a minimum of seven (7) players at game time. Game time will not be held up until additional players arrive. If you have seven (7) players at game time, the game starts.

Every player must have shin guards; socks must cover shin guards. Appliances such as knee braces must be worn in such a way that they do not pose a threat of injury to other players. Casts will be allowed at the discretion of the referee. Jewelry must be removed prior to play.

Uniforms

All players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must wear a jersey of the same color. All numbers must be permanently affixed to the jersey, taped on numbers will not be accepted.No two players of one team may wear the same number.

In the event jersey colors clash, the home team, as identified in the bracket detail, must change jerseys. If you don’t have alternate jerseys you need to come to the tournament staff to pick-up pinnies. If you don’t pick them up by game time, your team forfeits the game.

Game Time and Format

Game time is forfeit time. If your team is not dressed, checked in, and ready to play at game time, you forfeit. If you forfeit a game, your team is fined $50. (This is pulled from your performance bond)

Each team is permitted seven (7) substitutes on five (5) opportunities during the match. (Halftime does not count as an opportunity) Substitutes shall only be made with the permission of the referee and must be made at the center of the field. No substitutions shall be allowed during the taking of kicks from the penalty spot in tiebreakers.

Tie games in qualifying round games shall stand with no extra time played. All games will play two (2) forty-five (45) minute halves.

All semi-final and first place games will be played to a winner. Tie games will play two (2) ten (10) minute extra time periods. (No golden goal). If still tied at the conclusion of both of the ten (10) minute extra time periods, the winner shall be determined based on FIFA Kicks From the Penalty Mark method.

Standings for qualifying round play shall be based on teams being awarded three (3) points for a win, one (1) point for a tie, and zero (0) points for a loss. Forfeits shall be entered as a 3-0 score. At the end of qualifying round play, a winner and runner-up shall be determined in each bracket in the following order:

Greatest Points Total; if tied, then
Head to head Result; if tied, then
Greatest Goal difference (goals scored less goals allowed); if tied, then
Least Goals Allowed, then
Least Cards, (Yellow cards +1, Red cards +3) then
A Coin Toss

If the tie being broken is to determine the order of teams who have already assured themselves of a place in semi final competition, the tie will be broken with a coin toss. If the tie being broken is to determine whether a team will advance to the semifinal round, the tie will be broken by the tied teams employing the FIFA Kicks from the Penalty Mark method.

Three way or more ties will be broken first. The remaining teams will restart tie breaking procedures from item A.

Should the Semi-Final Games or the Championship Final games not be played due to weather conditions that do not permit continuance of competition, these games may be declared canceled by the Tournament Director after consolation with representative team coaches. Should cancellation occur, the "highest" remaining "seeded" team in the respective division will automatically be declared the "Champion" and the "2nd highest seed" remaining as the "Runner up".

Ejections, Cautions, Etc.

Ejections, fighting and referee assault will draw fines and suspensions as follows:

Referee assault (includes spitting) $100 fine and a minimum one-year suspension
Referee abuse - $50 fine and remainder of tournament
Fighting ejection - $50 fine and remainder of tournament
Ejection - $10 fine and one (1) game suspension

If a player is sent off from the final Hatch Valley Cup game in which that player’s team participates, that player shall be suspended from the next scheduled league or NMSSA game in which that player is eligible to participate. The tournament director will keep the player passcard and will release it to the team’s state or league registrar after the tournament.

Teams are responsible for the behavior of their coaches, fans and spectators. The Referee OR the Hatch Valley Cup tournament director can suspend a game due to behavior on the field or off the field. If games are suspended due to the behavior of coaches, players or spectators, games will be forfeited by the offending team and further sanctions may be imposed by the Hatch Valley Cup tournament director or NMSSA. Sanctions can extend into the league playing season and future NMSSA sponsored tournaments.

Appeals

Decisions are made final by the Hatch Valley Cup board. Decisions are not appealable.

Covid-19 Info:

Please visit https://cv.nmhealth.org/public-health-orders-and-executive-orders/ for most up to date health orders for NM. Team managers are responsible to stay up to date on local Covid-19 Regulations and health orders.

Refund Policy:

In the event that Covid-19 forces the cancellation of the tournament, teams will have the option to receive a credit or cash refund of a percentage of their paid entry fee. This credit is to be used in future NMSSA soccer tournaments (within one year), and will be given in the following increments:

100% credit or 75% cash refund
7 days prior to tournament start (11/6/21) - 50% Refund of your entry fee paid minus $25 administration fee
Less than 7 Days - No refunds

We will not issue refunds for inclement weather or other events/situations outside of our control.