Introduction
Dear Coach or Manager,
Welcome to the El Nuevo Herald Copa Latina. You will be participating in the premier adult soccer tournament in the United States. Last year proved to be a tremendous success, with more than 30,000 spectators attending the overall event. This year promises to bring even more excitement for both fans and players alike.
Registration
All players must be properly registered with the COPA LATINA. The tournament will register all players and pay any registration fees. Please refer to the “Important Dates” flyer for registration deadlines. Any violation of this rule may cause suspension of the player and furthermore, of the team. (It is your organization’s responsibility to register on time.) Each representative will be given the exact number of player registration cards. All registration cards that are not used must be returned. There is no charge to your organization for registration of players however, $15.00 will be charged for lost registration forms.
Locker Rooms
Ted Hendricks Stadium at Milander Park has locker room facilities, but, because of the number of games being played, we have to establish a set of rules for use of the locker rooms.
Every team may dress and shower in the locker room, but each team must remove all personal items from the locker room when they go to the field. The first teams of the day will be allowed in the locker room approximately one (1) hour before their game is scheduled. At half time, the teams will be allowed in the locker rooms, but must take all personal items on the field with them when they leave the locker room. (The Copa Latina is not responsible for missing articles.) At the start of the second half, the teams in the second game will be allowed into the locker rooms. At the conclusion of the first game, the teams will be allowed into the locker rooms. The teams from the first game must be out of the locker rooms five minutes before the end of the first half of the game in progress. If there are more than two games in a day, the teams will follow the same rotation as described above.
Discipline
All teams will be required to follow the rules of the tournament. Foul or abusive behavior will not be tolerated toward tournament officials, referees, or other players. Players guilty of foul or abusive behavior will be suspended for the entire tournament. If a game is not completed because of the behavior of one or both teams, the game will end in a forfeit. The team or teams that cause the forfeit will have their performance bond revoked, and the $300 will not be returned. If any team forfeits in the semifinals or finals, that team, in addition to loosing their performance bond, will not be allowed to claim any prize from the tournament. The tournament committee reserves the right to place a team in the finals if one or both teams in a semifinal game is eliminated because of a forfeit. All performance bond money will be returned to a team as soon as possible as long as the elimination from the tournament was not for disciplinary reasons.
Opening Ceremonies
3 of the 32 participating teams of this year’s Copa Latina will win $500 worth of adidas equipment redeemable at Soccer Locker in Miami.Categories for Contest:
* Uniforms, hats, sweatsuits, etc.
* Banners, flags, signs
* Ethnic themes (i.e. Mexico, Peru, USA, Colombia, etc.)
* Music
* Additional effort to create an environment (i.e. children in traditional costumes,
dancers, etc.)
* Overall creativityIt is mandatory for all teams to attend and participate in the Opening Ceremonies.1. Every team must be ready to march on the field on opening night, at Ted Hendricks Stadium at 7:00 p.m.
2. A minimum of 15 members of the official delegation, registered players, and coaching staff must be present.
3. Each participant from the official delegation shall receive a Copa Latina T-shirt.
4. Any team not having the minimum of 15 participants on time and in place for the Opening Ceremonies march is subject to expulsion from the entire tournament or fines.
The opening game will be at 8:00 p.m., with last year’s champions against a team named at the draw.
I. Eligibility:
A. Team Eligibility
1. Any team duly registered through a league and in good standing with the soccer community, or which is directly affiliated with FSSA is eligible for this competition.
2. The tournament committee will resolve any question of team eligibility.
3. A team may have a maximum of 18 players registered at any one time.
4. Only 18 players may be registered for the first round
5. Only 20 players may be registered for the second round (only 18 will be allowed to dress)
6. Team rosters of each respective team may be changed during the series of games in the competition, provided that all players meet the eligibility requirements set forth herein. No players may be added after completion of the quarterfinal games. Under no circumstances can more than 22 players ever be registered to any team throughout the tournament. (only 18 will be allowed to dress).
7. A team shall not be directly affiliated with a recognized, professional team.
B. Player Eligibility
1. Each participant on a team competing in this tournament must be properly registered. It will take one week to register a player through the Copa Latina. Each team is responsible for providing the paperwork in a timely manner, to adhere to the one week requirement.
2. Each player must have a current player pass.
3. A player may not play for more than one competing team, during the duration of the competition.
4. A team may not have more than five active, professional players on its roster.
C. Team Selection
Following the entry deadline, the tournament committee will select the teams to participate in the tournament. All selection decisions are solely the responsibility of the tournament committee, and all decisions are final.At the time of submitting an application, all teams shall have provided a performance bond of $400.00, which shall be in the form of a cashiers or certified check or money order made payable to Se Habla Futbol. Said performance bond shall be immediately returned to any team not selected for the tournament. All performance bonds of teams selected to participate in the competition shall be returned at the end of the competition, subject to the rules on forfeits and the following insurance coverage section.$100.00 will be deducted from the team’s performance bond to cover medical insurance for all players properly registered and listed on the team’s official roster. This insurance will cover injuries sustained while playing this year’s Copa Latina Tournament games only. The injury will have to be part of the referee’s report.
II. Competition Rules:
The competition will consist of single elimination matches.
A. Tournament draw
1. Following the selection process, the tournament committee will conduct a draw to determine first-round opponents.
B. Home Team
1. The designated home team will be determined by the tournament committee at the time of the initial draw. The first team drawn will be the designated home team for the first round.
2. The home team for each succeeding round will be the first team drawn into the bracket. C. Match Play Tournament competition will be played by FIFA rules with the following exceptions:
1. A team may use a maximum of seven substitutes in any one game.
2. Substitutions will be permitted on any dead ball at the discretion of the referee. ONCE A PLAYER IS REMOVED, HE MAY NOT RE-ENTER THE GAME.
3. Each game will be played in two 45-minute halves. If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, the final score will be determined by proceeding directly to penalty kicks, as per FIFA rules. (This is true of all games except the two semifinal games, the consolation game, and the final game.)In the two semifinal games, the consolation game, and the final game, if the score is tied at the end of regulation time, two 15-minute overtime periods will be played. If the score is tied after two 15-minute overtime periods, the final score will be determined by penalty kicks, as per FIFA rules. In the overtime periods, the sudden death golden goal rule will apply.The tournament committee reserves the right to replay the final game in its entirety if the score is tied after regulation-time and two 15-minute overtime periods. If the final is to be replayed, the two teams will be informed at the end of the semi-final games.In games that are televised, there may be an official time-out at approximately half-way through each 45-minute half. The game will be stopped for the time-out by the referee as close to the half-way mark as possible, on a dead-ball occurrence.
4. The goal size will be 8 feet high and 24 feet wide.
5. Multiple fouls restart. Multiple fouls committed by a team will result in an alternative restart position. On foul-numbers 7, 14, 21, etc., play will be held up (no quick restart allowed), and the ball will be relocated for the restart, regardless of the location of the foul, UNLESS the restart is a penalty kick. The fourth official shall sound a whistle to indicate to the referee that the 7th, 14th, 21st, etc. foul has been encountered. The foul count will reset at half and full time. Fouls are only those fouls in Law 12 that are the nine direct free kick offenses and the five indirect free kick offenses.(Misconducts, offsides, foul throws, etc. do not count in the cumulative foul count. A hand-ball will count.) The fouls that will be counted will be signaled by the referee by displaying a blue card.When the restart count has been met, the restart shall be taken at the top of the penalty area arc. This is 22 yards from the goal line. The free kick is direct and shall be administered as a 22-yard penalty kick. All opponents and teammates shall be at least 10 yards away and outside the penalty area, except the goalkeeper, who must be in the penalty area and have both feet on the goal line between the goal posts.
6. Optional Kick-In: When the ball is to be played into touch after going over the touchline, at a point 35 yards or closer to the opponent’s goal, the restart shall be EITHER a throw-in (as per Law 15) or a kick-in. The kick-in shall be taken by placing the ball on the touchline where it exited play. Opponents shall be back ten (10) yards. The kick shall be considered indirect (A goal cannot be scored directly.) In addition, there is no offside on the kick-in. If the kick is taken incorrectly (either wrong location or ball not on the touchline for kick), the possession will be given to the other team. The 35-yard point will be marked by a 3-foot line and a flag. Outside the 35-yard area, a throw-in only is allowed.
D. Pre-Game Procedure
1. Both teams must be at the site at least 50 minutes prior to the scheduled game time. Prior to the game, the coach/manager will enter all appropriate information on the game report, including starting players and substitutes, pass numbers, and shirt numbers for each participant in the game. The coach or manager will present his game report to the site director no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled game time.
2. The referees will check the identity of each player with a player pass and collect the player passes.
3. Only at this time may a player be challenged. The referee will note the player's name on the game report. The player will be allowed to play. No player's eligibility can be challenged or protested after the beginning of each game.
4. A player who arrives at the playing field after the start of the game may enter the game after showing his player pass to the opposing coach/manager, showing his pass to the referee, and being checked by the referee. Players not listed on the game day roster will not be allowed to sit on the team bench.
5. If the coach is ejected, his assistant may conduct the team. Only two (2) coaches and one trainer are allowed on the field with the team. If both coaches are ejected, the game can be forfeited.
6. If the game is not completed, it must be replayed in its entirety; however, if the non-completion of the game results from misconduct clearly traceable to one or the other or both of the contending teams, its management, or its followers, as determined by the tournament committee, the tournament committee shall decide as to the disposition of the game.
7. Any game that results in a forfeit will result in the forfeiting team or teams to lose their performance bond.
8. In case of adverse weather or unplayable field conditions the Copa Latina director reserves the right to any of the following actions: * Delay play for a period of time.
* Reschedule games.
* Anything deemed necessary to preserve the integrity of the tournament.
E. Forfeits
1. A team will be allowed a 15-minute grace period from the scheduled time before awarding the game to their opponents.
2. A team using an ineligible player shall forfeit to the opposing team the game in which the player played provided that the protest procedures are carefully followed.
3. A team using an ineligible player shall be expelled from the competition.
4. A team shall also forfeit a game to the opposing team for failure to comply with the rules of the competition or for other just causes, as determined by the tournament committee.
F. Team Uniforms
1. When the uniforms of the two competing teams are similar enough to create possible player-identification problems on the field, as determined by the referee, the home team shall change their uniform.
2. All team players except the goalkeeper must wear the same socks, shorts, and shirts.
3. Goalkeepers must wear colors that distinguish them from other players and game officials.
4. Clearly visible numbers, at least eight inches high, must be worn on the back of the players' jerseys. Each player on a team must wear a different number.
5. No players shall be permitted to participate in any tournament game unless he conforms to the soccer rules of player decorum.
6. All sponsor logos on team uniforms must be approved by the tournament officials. (Logos of companies competing with tournament sponsors will not be accepted.)
G. Player Discipline
1. Any player serving a suspension in his or her own league or any other competition will not be eligible for tournament play, until that suspension has been served, including Copa Latina.
2. Automatic minimum suspension shall be one game, but the tournament committee has the authority to increase the period of suspension, depending on the referee report. Any suspension for violent conduct or foul and abusive language directed at the referee or tournament official will result in a suspension for the duration of the tournament.
3. Only games in this tournament and the qualification tournament will be counted for the purpose of crediting toward disciplinary suspension.
H. Team and Player Breaches of Rules.
1. The tournament committee shall have the power to disqualify and remove from further competition in this tournament any team or player(s) of any competing team who may be proven guilty of any breach of the rules of FIFA, or the United States Soccer Federation or the Copa Latina.
2. All notices of disqualification or suspension shall be forwarded by mail to the affected team(s), except in the case of the minimum one-game suspension, which shall be effective without notice.
I. Litigation Prohibition.
1. No Division, Affiliate Member, Other Affiliate Member, Associate Member, National State Association, Autonomous National Organization, Commission, official, league, club, team, player, coach, administrator or referee may invoke the aid of the Courts in the United States without first exhausting all available remedies within the organization and as provided by the rules and regulations of the Copa Latina Tournament.
2. For violation of this rule, the offending party shall be subject to the sanctions of suspension and fines, and shall be liable to the Copa Latina Tournament, its sponsors, and its affiliates for all expenses incurred by the Copa Latina Tournament, its officers, its sponsors, and its affiliates in defending each Court action, including but not limited to the following: a) court costs.
b) attorney fees.
c) reasonable compensation for time spent by Copa Latina Tournament officials and employees in responding to and defending against allegations in the action, including responses to discovery and court appearances.
d) travel expenses.
e) expenses for anything necessitated by the Court action.
III. Protests:
Any protest concerning a game played in the tournament shall be referred to the tournament committee to determine the protest. That determination shall be final.
A. No protest on referee judgment or discretion calls will be accepted.
B. Verbal notification of intention to protest must be given to the site director immediately following the game (within one hour).
C. The protest must be in writing and must describe in detail the grounds for the protest.
D. The original and five (5) copies of the signed protest must be submitted, along with a protest fee of $150.00 to the tournament committee within 24 hours of the match to which it relates, unless the next match in the competition for either team involved in the protest is to be played in less
than the 24-hour period. In that case, the written protest must be filed with the tournament committee 3 hours before the scheduled competition involving either of the teams in the protest.
E. The protest fee of $150.00 must be paid by certified check, cashiers check, or money order payable to Se Habla Futbol.
F. The protest fee shall be returned if the protest is upheld.
IV. Game Officials:
A. Game officials shall be selected by the tournament committee or person to whom the tournament committee delegates the responsibility, in writing, subject to the following limitations:
1. Officials' fees shall be paid by the tournament.
V. General:
A. Any matters not provided for in these rules shall be determined by the tournament committee, and all decisions shall be final.
B. In the event unusual conditions necessitate rescheduling, curtailment, or cancellation of games, the tournament committee shall have absolute authority to make changes to best serve the interest of the tournament
as a whole.
C. The tournament committee's interpretation of the foregoing rules and regulations shall be final.
D. The tournament committee and/or tournament will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team, due to cancellation in part or in whole of the tournament, or for any travel incidental to competition.
E. All team-sponsor-markings must be first approved by the tournament officials, in order to assure non-competitive companies with the Copa Latina Tournament sponsors. The name of the team, the players' uniforms, etc., that feature a particular sponsor should first be approved.
F. Any case of ambush marketing by a team or player(s) participating in the Copa Latina deemed harmful to the tournament by the tournament officials may result in the individual player(s) being suspended or the team forfeiting the tournament.
VI. Fines and Disciplinary Actions:
The tournament committee shall have the right to impose the following fines and/or suspend a player or team from the tournament. Violation Maximum fine
1. Failure to attend the Copa Latina official draw. $200.00
(Additional performance bond deposit required) $200.00
2. Failure to submit roster and player passes on due date. $ 50.00
Every day thereafter $ 15.00
3. Failure to submit game roster 15 minutes prior to start
of game. $ 25.00
4. Failure to line up 11 starting players on time. $ 25.00
5. Designated home team not having a secondary set of
uniforms. $ 25.00
6. The tournament committee reserves the right to impose additional fines and penalties if deemed necessary to uphold the integrity of the tournament.