• The Toyota State Championship Cup is offered by the Missouri Youth Soccer Association designed as an end-of-the-year Championship Tournament for U11-U19 boys and girls teams from the state of Missouri.
• The tournament shall be structured as follows:
• Each team shall have a 3 game minimum in a round robin format followed by semi-finals and finals.
• Team and individual awards shall be presented to 1 st and 2 nd place winners.
• Applications shall be accepted on a first come first served basis.
• The Toyota Cup Committee reserves the right to drop team applications for the Toyota State Championship Cup in order to create even brackets and/or meet the restraints of field availability. After careful review, should it be found necessary for the good of the event, teams will be dropped by order of their application’s arrival at the MYSA State Office; the applications arriving latest will be the first dropped

I. TEAM ELIGIBILTY

A. REGISTERED WITH GOOD STANDING

This competition shall be open to all Missouri teams composed of properly registered youth players as defined by the rules of US Youth Soccer. Each team shall be in good standing with the Missouri Youth Soccer Association, and in compliance with and not in violation of the rules of US Youth Soccer.

Any team or player that registered and played in the US Youth Soccer National Championships-Missouri State Cup, but did not emerge as the winner, that team or player is eligible to play in the Toyota State Championship Cup during the same seasonal year. Teams must meet the application deadline date for the tournament. If a team enters the Toyota State Championship Cup and wins the US Youth Soccer National Championships-Missouri State Cup they will be refunded their entry fee and shall be dropped from the Toyota Missouri Championship without sanctions.

This competition is not open to:

• Olympic Development teams;
• teams other than Missouri Youth Soccer Association teams;
• teams that have registered and played in the US Youth Soccer National Championships - Missouri State Cup.

B. LEAGUE COMPETITION

Each team must compete in at least a four (4) team approved Missouri Youth Soccer Association league during the current seasonal year, or in a US Youth Soccer Regional League, or in a US Youth Soccer National League or with the permission of Missouri Youth Soccer Association in another state association, except for the U-19 age group for boys and girls. Said league competition must consist of a minimum of one game against each of three (3) different teams (teams cannot all be from one club) participating in the league.

C. PLAYER REGISTRATION

• Only primary and primary/transfer registered players on the team roster are eligible for competition.
• A player may not participate on more than one team in this competition.
• A team is limited to a total of less than half of its players who are affiliated with state associations other than Missouri.
• A player or team may not participate in any other Missouri Youth Soccer Association sponsored tournaments in the same seasonal year.
• Rosters shall be frozen on May 30, 2008. A copy of your state roster must arrive at the state office via fax or mail no later than 5:00 pm on June 1, 2008.

D. WITHDRAWAL

Teams that withdraw after the entry deadline date forfeit their application fee and are ineligible to play in the Toyota Cup the following seasonal year.

E. APPLICATION DEADLINE

Toyota State Championship Cup Applications MUST be received at the Missouri Youth Soccer Association State Office before the close of business on May 3, 2008. It is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm receipt of their application to make sure it has been received by the deadline date.

F. TOURNAMENT FEE

The entry fee for the Toyota Cup is $500.00.

II. PLAYERS, COACHES AND MANAGERS

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

1. The tournament is open to U11-U19 boys and girls divisions.

2. Players must be registered through a Missouri Youth Soccer Association sanctioned member organization in accordance with US Youth Soccer requirements. Each player must have a current, laminated, US Youth Soccer pass with current photo.

3. The team coach/manager must have in their possession at all times the notarized medical authorization forms for all players on the roster.

• Teams may have no more than the maximum number of players on the roster for each age group. Maximum roster size for U11 thru U16 is 18 and U17 thru U19 is 22.
• No guest players are allowed.
• Every team participating in the Toyota Cup shall have an official team roster and shall present said official game roster for every match or competition.
• Team Roster – The team roster shall be approved by Missouri Youth Soccer Association.
• For U16 and younger teams, the team roster shall not have more than 18 youth players on the team roster at any given time during the seasonal year.
• For U17 and older teams, the roster man have up to 22 youth players on the team roster at any given time during the seasonal year.
• Every team roster shall have a minimum of seven (7) players on the roster at all times.
• A maximum of five (5) transfers per seasonal year will be allowed per roster.
• Players can transfer from a team that played in the US Youth Soccer National Championship-Missouri State Cup in order to play in the Toyota State Championship Cup during the same seasonal year as long as their State Cup team did not win emerge as a State Champion. Such a player will be counted as one the five (5) allowable transfers to that roster.

• • Game Roster – The game roster for U17-1U19 shall be prepared by the team manager/coach and submitted to the cup chairperson (or his/her designated representative) one hour prior to game time. The game roster shall have a maximum of 18 players and a minimum of 7 players. Every player listed on the game roster must be included on the official team roster in order to be eligible to participate in a game.

B. IMPROPER PLAYER REGISTRATION

Teams found guilty of playing ineligible players shall forfeit all games in which said ineligible players participated and said teams shall not be eligible to compete for the remainder of the tournament.

Any coach, team and/or player that falsifies documents in order to participate in the Toyota State Championship Cup, shall be subject to fines, suspension and/or forfeit of games as determined by the Toyota Cup Committee. Decision of said Committee shall be final. Said Committee may recommend that a MYSA state level hearing is scheduled to further investigate said coach, team and/or player. Additional sanctions may be rendered as a result of said hearing. Should the parent of any player falsify documents in order for said player to participate in the Toyota Cup, it shall be deemed the same as the player him/herself falsifying said documents.

The Toyota Cup Committee reserves the right to request original birth certificates from any or all players in order to verify proof of age.

Any team or player that participates in the Toyota State Championship Cup, and has also participated in the US Youth Soccer National Series Missouri State Cup within the same seasonal year, shall be subject to fines, suspension and/or forfeit of games as determined by the Toyota Cup Committee. Decision of said Committee shall be final. Said Committee may recommend that a MYSA state level hearing is scheduled to further investigate said team or player. Additional sanctions may be rendered as a result of said hearing.

C. COACH AND MANAGER ELIGIBILTY

All persons who act in the capacity of a coach, manager, or trainer, must have a minimum of an USSF "F" license or an accredited trainer's certificate. A total of four (4) registered coaches, managers, and/or trainers with current seasonal year player pass shall be permitted on a team bench for each game.

III. BREACH OF RULES

A. PLAYERS

Players that receive a red card in any game shall not be allowed to compete in their team's next played game. He/She may not be replaced for the remainder of the game in which they were sent off. Player passes for anyone sent off shall be surrendered to Tournament Officials. Players sent off for violent conduct may be subject to additional penalties which shall be determined by a hearing committee appointed by the Tournament Chairperson (or his/her designated representative).

B. COACHES/MANAGERS/TRAINERS/ADMINISTRATORS

If any Coach, Manager, Trainer or Administrator is issued a send off at any Toyota Cup game he/she shall not have any involvement with that team for two (2) additional consecutive Toyota Cup games.

C. PROTESTS

1. All protests:

a. shall be filed in writing;

b. must contain the particulars and the grounds upon which the protest is filed; and

c. must be accompanied by the appropriate Appeal/Protest fee.

• A protest cannot be filed on a judgment call.
• Two copies of the protest shall be presented to this Association's Cup Chairperson (or his/her designated representative) within two (2) hours following the match that is under protest.
• All protests shall be heard by a Cup Hearing Committee, which shall be appointed by this Association's Cup Chairperson, or his/her designated representative.
• All decisions made by the Cup Hearing Committee shall be final.
• IV. PLAYING RULES

A. PROTOCOL

• Team Check In,
• Each Team Shall Submit: Two (2) complete signed copies of its official roster to Tournament Officials at team check in, and it shall have an additional copy available at the field for all games;
  • Each Team Shall Submit: Notarized medical release forms –Coach/Manager must have these in possession at the field for all games and during travel to and from games;
  • E ach Team Shall Submit: Laminated Player/Coach Passes;

Player(s) without player ID passes and medical releases may not play in games.

2. Field Check In:

• • Each team must report to Game Officials 30 minutes prior to each or their scheduled game times;
  • Player ID passes shall be given to Game Officials prior to the start of the game. Failure to provide player ID passes and official signed roster if requested shall result in a forfeit of game;
  • Teams without player ID passes and without a minimum of one coach pass, and without roster and notarized medical releases shall be allowed a 15-minute grace period from the reporting time to obtain the player and coach ID passes, roster and notarized medical releases. Any team that does not present the ID passes, roster and medical release forms after the grace period has expired shall forfeit the game.

B. GAME FORMATS

Divisions Game Lengths Overtime Periods Ball Size

U11 / U12 2 x 30 minutes 2 x 10 minutes #4

U13 / U14 2 x 35 minutes 2 x 10 minutes #5

U15 / U16 2 x 40 minutes 2 x 15 minutes #5

U17 - U19 2 x 45 minutes 2 x 15 minutes #5

• Overtime periods shall not pertain to bracket play. Tie games at the end of regulation playing time in round robin pool play shall stand as a tie.
• Two full overtime periods shall be played to completion.
• The outcome of games tied after both overtimes are completed shall be determined by using kicks from the penalty mark using only the players on the field at the end of the last overtime period. If a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponent, they shall reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponent and inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded. The team captain shall have this responsibility.
• The referee shall determine the goal to be used and a coin toss shall be used to determine who kicks first.
• The first team listed is the HOME team.
• The VISITING team is responsible for changing jerseys when there is a conflict.
• This Association's Cup Officials shall supply the game ball in accordance with the current state sponsor. If this Association is unable to furnish a game ball the home team is responsible for furnishing the game ball.
• Teams that advance to the finals must check in one hour prior to final game time at the designated check in site to complete and sign the official game card and present game roster for U17 and older age divisions.

C. SUBSTITUTIONS

Unlimited substitution shall be allowed at any stoppage of play with referee's approval.

D. GAME CONDITIONS (WEATHER AND FIELDS)

Suspension of games due to weather and/or field conditions considered dangerous to the players shall be at the discretion of the Tournament Officials. If the first half of the game has been completed, and play is not resumed, said game shall be considered official. If play is stopped during the first half of the game, said game shall be re-started from that point of stoppage.

E. SCORING METHOD

The standings of teams within brackets shall be based upon the number of points earned in qualifying games. Teams shall be awarded points as follows:

• Six (6) points for win;
• Three (3) point for tie;
• One (1) point for a shutout;
• If any team forfeits any game in bracket play that team shall not be allowed to advance out of their bracket;
• A forfeit shall be recorded as a score of 1-0 to the winning team.

F. TIE BREAKERS

In the event teams are tied on the basis of points earned, the teams’ placement shall be determined in accordance with the following sequential criteria:

• Winner of head to head competition (this criteria is not used if more than two teams are tied);
• Winner of most games;
• Goal differential (goals scored minus goals against) with a maximum of three (3) goals per game;
• Fewest goals allowed;
• Kicks from the penalty mark:
  • Each team shall select five players to kick. Only players on the field at the conclusion of the match may be selected to kick.
  • If a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponent, they shall reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponent and inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded. The team captain shall have this responsibility.
  • Teams shall alternate kicks – first team to kick shall be determined by referee coin toss.
  • If, before both teams have taken five kicks, one team has scored more goals than the other team could, even if it were to complete its five kicks, the taking of kicks shall cease.
  • If, after both teams have taken five kicks, both have scored the same number of goals or have not scored any goals, the taking of kicks shall continue, in the same order, until such time as both teams have taken an equal number of kicks (not necessarily five more kicks) and one team has scored one goal more than the other.

G. OFFICIATING

All referees shall be USSF registered. All games shall be officiated by a three-man or four-man system depending on age division.

H. FINAL AUTHORITY

Missouri Youth Soccer Association and the Toyota State Championship Cup Chairperson and Committee reserve the right to make certain decisions regarding this tournament, as they deem necessary, in order to improve the game and/or protect the participants. Such decisions shall include but are not limited to:

• Cancellation of games;
• Rescheduling of games;
• Changing of fields;
• Changing of sites.