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AYSO Region 0144 - South Irvine, California

Fall 2018 Core Program Playoff Season Policies & Protocols

The Playoffs are a separate season from the regular season for the 10U, 12U, and 14U divisions of the Fall Core Program season. The Playoffs are used to determine the team or teams which participate in the Area 11-Q Playoffs and the City of Irvine Mayor's Cup.

All teams must qualify to participate in the Playoffs where qualification includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • All teams must earn a minimum of number of Referee Points during the regular season to qualify. Please refer to the Referee Points program under 'Referees' by clicking here to learn how certified and registered (in the current year) referees can earn Referee Points.
  • The number of Referee Points to be earned is based on a formula:
    Round up the following: # of Games in the regular season * 2 Referee Points per game * 2/3
    Example: 7 games * 2 RPs/game * 2/3 = 9.3 which rounds to 10 Referee Points.

Fall 2018 Core Program Playoff Policies & Protocols

AYSO Region 144 Policies and Protocols for the 2018 Membership Year

  • All standard AYSO Region 144 policies & protocols apply.
    • Player Playing Time: The question of player playing time always comes up with respect to the playoffs. The current AYSO Region 144 policies & protocols apply. Thus, no player may play the entire game unless all players have played a minimum of 3/4 of the game.
    • Standard game durations apply for each division: 25-minutes for 10U, 30-minutes for 12U, and 35-minutes for 14U
  • Playoff Tournament Format:
    • If there are three (3) or more teams in a division that qualify for the playoffs, then the playoffs are played in a World Cup tournament format. A World Cup tournament format means the teams that qualify are placed in a pool or pools of 3- to 4-teams. The top teams from pool play move on to single elimination playoff games. Pool play and the single elimination playoff games policies and protocols are defined below.
    • If only two (2) teams in a division qualify for the playoffs, then a single final game is scheduled.
    • If only one (1) team in a division qualifies for the playoffs, then this team is the sole representative for the Region to the Area 11-Q playoffs and the City of Irvine Mayor’s Cup tournament.
    • If no teams in a division qualify for the playoffs, then no team will represent the Region at the Area 11-Q playoffs and the City of Irvine Mayor’s Cup tournament.

Playoff Policies and Protocols

Pool Play

Treat pool play games like regular season games:

  • Games can end in a tie. No overtime.

3-teams in a pool format

A 3-teams pool will be played as follows:

  • Highest ranked team (Home) versus Lowest ranked team (Away)
  • Middle ranked team (Home) versus Lowest ranked team (Away)
  • Highest ranked team (Home) versus Middle ranked team (Away)

If there are only three teams in the division that qualified for the playoffs, then either:

  1. If the highest ranked team and middle ranked team both beat the lowest ranked team, then the Regional Commissioner can change the third match into the final. Or,
  2. A final match will be scheduled between the top two teams in the pool. See the tie breaker policy and protocol for resolving any ties between two or more teams.

4-teams in a pool format

A 4-teams pool will be played as follows (Teams go from highest – 1 – to lowest – 4 – based on regular season rank):

  • Round 1
    • 1st (Home) versus 4th (Away)
    • 2nd (Home) versus 3rd (Away)
  • Round 2
    • 1st (Home) versus 3rd (Away)
    • 2nd (Home) versus 4th (Away)
  • Round 3
    • 1st (Home) versus 2nd (Away)
    • 3rd (Home) versus 4th (Away)

If there is only a single pool that contains four (4) teams, then a final will be played between the top two (2) teams from pool play. The tie breaker policy and protocols apply if two (2) or more teams are tied at the end of pool play.

Determining standing during pool play

  • Three (3) points to the winning team,
  • One (1) point to each team for a draw, and
  • No (0) points to the losing team.
  • One (1) point will be deducted for a coach or assistant coach dismissed by the referee. The match is terminated (and the Regional Commissioner will decide the winner) if both the head and assistant coaches are dismissed by the referee.
  • One (1) point will be deducted if one or more spectators are dismissed by the referee.
  • One (1) point will be deducted if a player is sent-off for Serious Foul Play or Violent Conduct.

Tie breaking policy and protocol

If three or more teams are tied, then use the following rules to eliminate one team at a time. Then, start over until only two teams remain. The rules are:

  1. Head-to-head games.
  2. Sum of goal differentials per game - maximum of +/- 3 goals per game.
  3. Sum of goals allowed per game – maximum of 3 goals allowed per game.
  4. Regular season standings
  5. Regional Commissioner determines winner if still tied at this level

Single Elimination Game Rules

A winner is required for single-elimination games. If time allows, then the preferred approach is to use overtime periods. If time does not allow for overtime, then use Kicks from the Penalty Mark (per the Laws of the Game) to determine the winner.

The field marshal or referee if a field marshal is not present has sole authority to decide if the match will be determined using overtime or to go straight to Kicks from the Penalty Mark.

A player sent off during regulation time may not return for overtime or Kicks from the Penalty Mark.

Any coach, parent or spectator dismissed during regulation time may not return at any time (including after the match ends).

Overtime policy and protocols

Both overtime periods are five (5) minutes for all divisions. Both overtime periods are played in their entirety – the first team to score a goal does NOT win. The game continues until both 5 minute overtime periods are completed. The referee is the sole time keeper and can decide to add time to either or both overtime periods.

All available players for a team must play in at least one of the two overtime periods.

Modifications and clarifications to the Laws of the Game Kicks from the Penalty Mark

General policy, protocols, and reference

The Referee selects the goal. One assistant referee is responsible for administering players taking the kicks. The other assistant referee is responsible for judging goal keeper encroachment and a goal being scored during the kicks from the penalty mark.

A standard coin toss will be used to determine who will take the kick first. The team winning the coin toss decides which team will kick first.

All players active in the game are eligible to take kicks from the penalty mark.

If a player on a team has been sent off, then the other team does not have to remove a player as compensation as would be required by FIFA rules.

Each kick is taken by a different player and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick. All players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, remain on the center line with each team on opposite sides of the center circle. Players should be in order along the line starting with the next player to take the kick on the intersection of the center circle with the center line. Players completing a kick return to the end of the line.

The goal keeper is a player, may take a kick at any point and must take a kick if all other players on the team have taken a kick.

Determining a winner

The winning team is determined in one of two ways:

  1. Initially, the winning team is determined by the best of the first five kicks.
  2. If the teams are still even after the first five kicks, then it proceeds one round a time. Each team gets a kick in the round. The winner is the team scoring a goal in a round where the other team does not (score a goal).

Other policies and protocols

Player send offs (red cards) & coach/parent/spectator dismissals must be reported by the Referee immediately to the Regional Referee Administrator. The referee must also submit a written report.

Match Conduct (Standard Operating Procedures)

Pre-game

  • Please remind parents and have them remind grandparents that dogs and other animals are not allowed at AYSO games. The only exception is properly identified service dogs -- emotional support or therapy dogs are not allowed at AYSO games.
  • Coaches will have a properly printed line-up card in ascending jersey number order printed out of Blue Sombrero.
  • Players will be ready to play at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. Ready to play means:
    • Proper matching uniforms. Non-matching socks, shorts, etc. are not acceptable. Every player, except the goal keeper, will match all of the other players on the team.
    • Shin guards on.
    • Proper shoes.
    • No earrings, no necklaces, no wrist bands (except medical ID bracelets which shall be taped close to the skin)
    • No hard plastic or metal clips in player's hair.
    • No casts or splints. And, no bands or braces with hard buckles or hard components of any kind.
  • The home team provides 3 properly inflated balls that have no damage to the referee.
  • Coaches will ensure that the field is playable including: 1) goals are properly assembled and anchored; and, 2) corner flags are in place at least 30 minutes prior to the game.
  • Setup
    • The ends of umbrellas, feet, blankets, etc. must be a minimum of 6-feet off the touchline. If space allows, then the ends must be 9-feet off the touchline.
    • Teams are on opposite touch lines. The home team decides which side of the field to setup on.
    • Parents must be on their side of the field and in their technical area. That means they are between the tops of the penalty areas and 9-feet off the touchline (unless there is insufficient space whereby they must be 6-feet off the touchline.
    • Coaches must remain within their technical area which is 1-yard off the touchline and 8-yards either side of the center line. Coaches caught out of their technical area during the game are subject to immediate dismissal by the referee since they are receiving the warning in this policy & protocol.
    • There will only be two coaches allowed per team. The two coaches must be identified to the referee during the team check-in. And, if neither the coach nor the assistant coach are the same gender as the players, then please inform the referee who the same gender as players registered volunteer with AYSO Safe Haven training is (per AYSO Safe Haven requirements).
    • Coaches are responsible for telling their parents what cheering means and that they are only allowed to cheer. Cheering happens AFTER the play happens. It is coaching if they are providing instructions as the play is developing or happening -- coaching by a spectator is considered cheating and will be treated as misconduct. Spectators or parents cannot move to the coaches' technical area to coach since the only individuals allowed to coach are those identified above.
  • "World Cup" ceremonial entrance is recommended for the final. The coin toss will be conducted about 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the match to allow for a ceremonial entrance by both teams. Both teams will line up on either side of the corner flag at a corner designated by the Referee during the pregame. The goal keeper at the start of the game will be first in line. The captain(s) will come next. Then, all of the players. Coaches are not included in the ceremonial walk-on -- players and the referee team only. Teams will enter the field together and fan out from the center mark so one team is to the right of the referee team (in the center) and the other is to the left. Everyone will face the away team first (thank parents and coaches as well as pose for pictures). Then, turn and face the Home team second. From there, teams will go to their respective touchlines and get ready to begin the match.

Match instructions

  • Substitutes and substitution breaks
    • All substitutes should be wearing pinnies to distinguish them from players.
    • Coaches need to inform the players coming off to get a pinny from the substitute and report to the assistant referee. The substitute walks on the field and becomes a player. This makes it easy for the assistant referee to know who the substitutes are and who should be on the field.
    • Coaches need to inform the assistant referee of goal keeper changes.
    • Players who are staying in must stay on the field. Parents should hand waters to the players. Coaches and parents stay off the field during substitution breaks.
    • Substitution breaks are not coaching opportunities - this is a change in players on the field. Coaches must be prepared with their substitutions prior to the substitution break. Substitutions should take no more than 1-minute.
  • All coaching instructions shall be positive, instructional and encouraging (PIE). Coaches are reminded that any comment directed at - or about - an opposing team's player is unacceptable. Coaches have been warned herein and are subject to immediate dismissal for PIE violations.
  • If, in the opinion of the Referee, a spectator, parent, or coach is behaving inappropriately, then the Referee has the authority to dismiss them from the match. Dismissal means the individual can no longer be seen by the referee. That person cannot use a phone or other device to contribute to the match. Thus, any person dismissed must sufficiently until the referee cannot see them anymore.
  • Coaches and spectators shall not question any decisions made by any member of the referee team. Nobody is entitled to an explanation of the referee team's decisions. Questioning or openly disagreeing with any of the referee team's decisions is considered dissent and may result in immediate dismissal.

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AYSO Region 144 - South Irvine, California

PO Box 14726 
Irvine, California 92623

Email Us: [email protected]
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