I. Eligibility
A. Team Eligibility
1. Any team duly registered through a league affiliated and in good standing with the FSSA, or which is directly affiliated with the FSSA is eligible for this competition.
2. A team may only have a maximum of 18 players at anyone time on the game day roster.
3. Only 20 players may be registered for the first and second rounds.
4. Only 22 players may be registered for the playoff rounds.
5. No players may be added once the quarterfinals round begins. Under no circumstances can more than 22 players ever be registered to any team throughout the tournament. The 18 player roster of each respective team may be changed throughout the tournament provided that all players on the 22 player master roster meet the eligibility requirements set herein.
6. A team shall not be directly affiliated with a recognized professional team.
7. A team may not have more than five active professional players on its 22 player master roster.
8. Teams will be responsible for all referee fees.
9. A representative from each team must be present at the official team meeting.
B. Player Eligibility
1. Any player in good standing with the FSSA and/or their respective leagues and the soccer community.
2. A player may only register with one team throughout the entire tournament. Once a team has been eliminated, players registered on a team's 22 player master roster will not be allowed to sign up with another team still in the qualifying tournament.
C. Copa Latina Eligibility
1. The two teams reaching the final of the Copa Latina Qualifying Tournament will automatically gain entry into the Copa Latina Tournament of the following year provided all prerequisites are met. The teams will still be required to turn in a completed application and a performance bond deposit on time and follow all rules and regulations of the Copa Latina.
2. Of the team's 22 player master roster, a minimum of 12 players will have to remain on the 18 player active roster of the Copa Latina. The teams will therefore be allowed to drop 10 players from their 22 player master roster of the Copa Latina Qualifying Tournament and add 6 new players for the first round of the Copa Latina for a maximum of 18 players. Any player that registers with a team for the Copa Latina Qualification Tournament is committed to that team if the team qualifies for the Copa Latina by getting 1st or 2nd place. A registered player must obtain a written release from the team, and the coach of the team in question must confirm the release with the registration manager of the Copa Latina. No exceptions.
II. Competition Rules
A. Format
1. Teams will compete in a single elimination format.
B. Home Team
1. The designated home team will be the team on the top slot of the individual game brackets.
2. The home team will have to change jerseys or uniforms when the referee deems it
necessary.
C. Uniforms
1. Each team will be required to have a minimum of 2 different complete sets of different color uniforms for the entire tournament.
D. Match Play
1. Teams will be responsible for paying the referees for matches played. Each team will pay $80 cash per game. The money will be collected by the registration coordinator before the beginning of each game without exception.
2. Games will consist of two 45 minute halves with a maximum of 10-15 minutes for
halftime. Games tied at the end of regulation time will go directly to penalty kicks.
3. Playoffs: Quarterfinals Games tied at the end of regulation time will go directly to penalty kicks. Semifinals and Final Games tied at the end of regulation will go directly to penalty kicks.
4. Teams will be allowed unlimited substitutions during the game. Once a player has been substituted he will be allowed to re-enter the game.
5. Multiple Foul Restart: Multiple fouls committed by a team will result in a 22 yard direct free kick from the top of the semi circle of the penalty box. Fouls are those in Law 12 of the FIF A Laws of the Game which include the nine direct free kick offenses and the five indirect free kick offenses. The fouls that will be counted will be signaled by the referee displaying a blue card. Every seventh foul, the fourth official will blow a horn to advise the referee. All players shall remain at least 10 yards away and outside the penalty box except for the goal keeper. The seven foul board returns to zero once a seventh foul shot has been awarded and at halftime (foul counts do not carry over to the second half of the game).A foul in the penalty box which results in a regular penalty kick and which also coincides with the seventh foul will not provide for a 22 yard penalty kick after the regular penalty shot has been taken whether a goal is scored or not. The seven foul board returns to zero.
6. Optional Kick in: When the ball goes out of bounds at the touch line at a point 35 yards or closer to the opponent's goal line, the restart shall be EITHER by a throw in 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.
7. Except for the rules stated above, FIFA rules will apply.
8. Each team will be required to furnish a team roster and player information by the due date which will be announced at the official team meeting. The roster form must be completed in its entirety and the team contact / coach must provide us with a working e-mail address.
The player information will consist of copies of the following:
a) Valid driver license
b) Valid green card
c) Valid passport
All players information must be submitted on a standard Copa Latina Qualification form provided in the team package.
E. Pre-game Procedure
1. Both teams must be at the site 50 minutes prior to the scheduled game time. Prior to the game, the coach / manager will enter all appropriate information on the day of game report, including starting players and substitutes, and shirt number for each participant in the game. The coach or manager will present his game report to the registration manager no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled game time.
2. The referees will check the identity of each player with the information provided by the team manager.
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 checking in with the 4th game official and field manager. 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, one trainer, and 18 players are allowed on the team benches. If both coaches are ejected, the game can be forfeited.
6. 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.
F. Forfeits
1. A team will be allowed a 15-minute grace period from the scheduled kick off time before the tournament committee decides whether to award the game to their opponents.
2. A team using an ineligible player shall forfeit the game to the opposing team 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.
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 the 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 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 the Florida State Soccer Association or the United States Soccer Federation, their local soccer league, or the Copa Latina.
I.
III. 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's 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.
3. Any player or team that does bring litigation against the Copa Latina or any of the above named parties will be automatically ineligible to participate in the competition until the litigation has been ruled.
IV. General
1. Any matters not provided for in these rules shall be determined by the tournament committee, and all decisions shall be final.
2. 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.
3. The tournament committee's interpretation of the foregoing rules and regulations shall be final.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
V. 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 official Copa Latina Qualification meeting. $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.
