Spring 2012 MARS Tournament Rules
Divisions and Advancement:
U14 Girls Elite
Each team will play three games in a round-robin format. The champion will be determined based on points.
U14 Girls Premiere
Teams will be divided into 2 groups (A and B) with each team playing 3 games within its group.The top two teams from each division based on points will meet in an elimination final (no semifinals) to determine the champion.
U14 Coed Elite
Each team will play three games in a round-robin format. The champion will be determined based on points.
U14 Coed Premiere
Teams will be divided into 2 groups (A and B) with each team playing 3 games within its group.The top two teams from each division based on points will meet in an elimination final (no semifinals) to determine the champion.
High School Girls Elite
Each team will play two games in a round-robin format. The champion will be determined based on points.
High School Girls Premiere
Teams will be divided into 2 groups (A and B) with each team playing 3 games within its group. The top two teams from each group based on points will meet in an elimination round (semis and final) to determine the champion.
High School Coed Elite
Teams will be divided into 2 groups: Group A with four teams and Group B with three teams. Each team will play three (Group A) or two (Group B) games within its group. The top two teams from each group based on points will meet in an elimination round (semis and final) to determine the champion.
High School Coed Premiere
Teams will be divided into 2 groups: Group A with four teams and Group B with three teams. Each team will play three (Group A) or two (Group B) games within its group. The top two teams from each group based on points will meet in an elimination round (semis and final) to determine the champion.
In the event of weather or other delays, the participating clubs of MARS may elect to take measures to shorten
tournament formats, including but not limited to:
(1) Playing shorter halves.
(2) Deciding games by penalty kicks.
(3) Eliminating semi finals in brackets with two groups.
DIVISION RANKING CRITERIA:
Teams will be awarded points during group (round-robin) play based on match results as follows: WIN=3 POINTS, TIE=1 POINT, LOSS=0 POINTS. In the round-robin portion of the tournament, any games that conclude regulation time in a tie are scored as a tie - no overtime is played. At the conclusion of round-robin and/or group play (including crossover matches), teams will be ranked in their playing group based on the points earned from wins and ties only. Any situation in which two or more teams have the same number of points, the tie will be
broken by using the following criteria in the following order, one after the other as needed:
1. Head to Head Competition - If 3 or more teams are tied; only #2, 3, and 4 will be used.
2. Extra Points (The Winning Team receives one Extra Point for each goal mrgin of victory. Maximum of 3 awarded per game)
3. Least Goals Against
4. FIFA Penalty Kicks (at a time/site to be determined by the Tournament Directors)
SEMI FINAL and FINAL MATCH TIE BREAKING
If at the end of regulation play a game is tied, after a maximum 5-minute break, teams will play a 10-minute sudden death overtime period, first team to score is declared the winner. The 10-minute period will be split into two 5-minute halves with golden goal (1st goal scored) winning the match. If at the end of the full 10 minute overtime period the game remains tied, FIFA Penalty Kicks will be used to determine a winner. If time, weather or other material factors interfere with the ability to determine a final winner, the Tournament Director may declare two
teams as co-champions.
A forfeit shall be awarded if a team is not present and prepared to play within 10 minutes of its scheduled match time. The score for a forfeited match will be 3-0. A team that forfeits any match will lose all playoff advancement opportunities.
ABBREVIATED GAMES:
If a game is suspended due to weather and cannot be restarted, or if it is suspended due to darknesss, AND the game is over half-way complete, the game will be considered final - providing it is not an elimination game which was tied at the time of suspension. If the game is NOT over half-way complete, it must be resumed at the point of suspension at least until the half-way point is reached.
