Carolina Sand Blast - TOURNAMENT RULES


FIELD SIZE
The field of play is between 35-40 yards long by 20-25 yards wide (depending on beach erosion/tides, etc). There are no “6 or 18-yard”boxes. The goals are smaller than regulation. Ropes lines will identify boundary, Cones will identify half-field line.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS
4v4 format with 8 player roster. A team is allowed to play-down in event of injury or roster size. In Co-Ed divisions, at least 1 player on each team must be of the opposite gender, and must be an active player at all times on the field otherwise the opposing team wins by forfeit and will be scored as a win.

SUBSTITUTIONS: There are unlimited substitutions. Substitutions can be made "on the fly" (at any time), but the exiting player must leave the field before the substitute may enter. Players must enter and leave the field at their half line, unless the player coming off is injured.

OFF-SIDE'S
There is no off-sides.

SCORING
The ball must be beyond the half-field line of your opponent when shot in order for a goal to be counted.  However, if ball is unintentionally deflected into the net by defending team from a pass originating from the other half, goal will count.  If the ball enters the net from the shooting team’s own side of the field as a shot, the goal will not be counted and possession will go the defending team at the place where the ball was shot from. 
 

GOALKEEPERS
No Keepers! Any player may prevent the ball from scoring, however no hands may be used.

THE REFEREE
One referee per field. Referee will be located at half-field. Two referees per field in the finals, one on each side at half-field.

LENGTH OF GAME
*Three 10-minute periods with 5-minute break between. No time-outs. Referee keeps the time. Switch sides each period. (*NEW RULE)

UNIFORMS / EQUIPMENT
Teams must wear shirts/uniforms of the same color. Tank tops will be accepted.  For boys’ divisions, one team may play without shirts only if the opponent is in agreement (like-colored sports bras are acceptable for women).

FOOTWEAR: Bare feet, socks, or rubber socks only. No neoprene with hard soles;  No shoes.

 

Footwear Examples (click photo to enlarge)

 

Unaccaptable footwear...

 

Unaccaptable footwear...

 

Accaptable footwear...

 

Accaptable footwear...

 

 

FOULS
Players committing numerous or hard fouls will be yellow carded and may be asked to leave the field for two minutes, resulting in their team playing short a player. This rule is enforced at the referee's discretion.

More serious fouls, or a second yellow card, may result in a red card. The red-carded player is removed from that game, and the next game. There is no "penalty box", therefore all restarts are direct kicks, unless the foul prohibits a clear goal scoring opportunity (for example, a tackle from behind on a break-away, hand ball, etc., or if the foul is in the attacking half-field, and is flagrant. A penalty kick (10 paces from the goal line), will be awarded at the discretion of the referee.

GOAL KICKS
Because there is no 6-yard box, goal kicks will be taken from 5 feet off the goal post.

KICKOFFS, RESTARTS & FREE KICKS
ALL restarts are direct kicks (there are no throw-ins). Opposing player walls must be 5 paces (judged by the referee) away. There are no walls in the case of penalty kicks. Fouls committed within five paces of the goal line, will be moved back to five paces away.  Kickoffs may go backwards first. Encroachment on restarts by a defending player is not allowed. The first offense receives a warning. A yellow card will result thereafter at the referee's discretion.

LATE FOR GAMES
Your team must be ready to play per tournament schedule, or adjusted announced times. There will be no grace period. If your team is not ready at game time, your team will forfeit.

TIES
During group play, ties will remain ties except where teams with the same record need to advance to the next round. The following criteria will determine who advances in this order: Head-to-head, Total Points, Goals For, Goals Against, Goal Differential, Shut-outs, then PK's. In the semi-final (if required) and final games, there will be two 5-minute sudden-death halves, with a 1-minute half time. If the game is still tied, penalty kick shootout rules apply.

FORFEITS
Six (6) points will be awarded to the winning team for any forfeit.

FIGHTING/ INTIMIDATING/ PROVOKING BEHAVIOR
ZERO-TOLERANCE. Those involved will be red carded at the referees’ discretion and suspended from the tournament. This includes anyone from the bench or sidelines who joins in. NO EXCEPTIONS. Team manager/coach will be notified & warned that if problem persists then the entire team may forfeit the match and may result in ejection from the tournament.

NO SLIDE TACKLING
At no time are you allowed to leave your feet (slide tackling) when attempting to take the ball away from an opponent, or when battling for a loose ball. You can slide to save the ball from going in the goal or out of bounds, or to take possession of a loose ball, if no opponent is within playing distance of the ball and would be endangered by the slide.

ALCOHOL/TOBACCO USE
Tournament and State Park rules forbid the use of alcohol or tobacco at the tournament or within spectator’s range of the tournament fields.

DAMAGE TO Carolina or Kure Beach/ HOTELS, ETC…Property damage to hotels, motels, restaurants, business establishments by teams/ players/ persons associated with this tournament and/or that are involved in unlawful activity, may result in your team being disqualified from the tournament and banned from future tournaments. The damage will be the responsibility of the individuals/entire team. We appreciate and take care of our island, we hope you do too.

REFUND POLICY No refunds will be considered unless tournament is cancelled due to inclement weather prior to the event; in which case 75% refund will be given to account for administrative and advertising fees.


Tournament Point System

Win - 6 points
Tie - 3 points
Loss - 0 points

Shutout - 1 point
Goals - 1 point per goal up to 3

10 points maximum possible per game