NJPS Global Cup

 

NJ Play Sports Global Cup - Official Tournament Rules

 

Team Requirement

  • Teams play 5v5 consisting of 4 field players and 1 goalkeeper.
  • This is an Open Gender tournament. There are no minimum or maximum gender requirements.
  • There is no maximum roster size.
  • Only registered players may participate.
  • Goalkeepers must wear a jersey or provided pinnie that clearly distinguishes them from both teams.

 

Group Stage Game Times

  • Games consist of two 18-minute halves.
  • 2-minute halftime.
  • The game clock is a running clock and will not stop for injuries, substitutions, or delays.
  • Games begin promptly at their scheduled start time.

 

Minimum Players / Forfeits

  • All games will start at scheduled time
  • A minimum of 3 players is required to begin a match.
  • Teams with fewer than 3 players will result in a forfeit.
  • We allow a 5 minute grace period. This grace period is for teams still getting ready, teammates running late, etc. Game clock will be running during the grace period. After 5 minutes the game is officially ruled a forfeit.

 

General Rules

  • Kick-ins will replace throw-ins.
  • There is no offside rule
  • Goals may not be scored directly from kickoff.
  • Opponents must remain 3 yards away during all kickoffs and free kicks.
  • Unlimited substitutions are permitted. Referee permission is not required.
  • Players not currently participating must remain outside the field of play.

 

Goalkeepers

  • Goalkeepers may not punt the ball.
  • Goalkeepers may:
    • Throw the ball.
    • Place the ball on the ground and kick it.
    • Kick the ball over midfield.
  • Goalkeepers may slide only inside their own penalty area.
  • Any goalkeeper slide resulting in reckless or excessive contact may result in a foul or penalty.

 

Ball Out of Play

  • Balls leaving the field over the sideline restart with a kick-in.
  • If the ball strikes the net, play is stopped and an indirect free kick is awarded beneath the point of contact.

 

Fouls & Misconduct

  • No slide tackling. Any field player who slides to challenge an opponent will be penalized.
  • Dangerous play including kicking, tripping, charging, pushing, striking, holding, or reckless contact is prohibited.
  • Only one defender may challenge a player who is shielding the ball against the wall.
  • Deliberate handballs will result in a free kick or penalty kick. If a player deliberately handles the ball to deny an obvious goal or goal-scoring opportunity, the player will be issued a red card.
  • Unsportsmanlike conduct, abusive language, taunting, or arguing with officials may result in disciplinary action.

 

Free Kicks & Penalty Kicks

  • All free kicks are indirect.
  • Opponents must remain 3 yards away.
  • Penalty kicks will be awarded for qualifying fouls or deliberate handballs inside the penalty area and will be taken from the designated penalty mark as directed by the referee.

 

Yellow Cards

  • A player receiving a yellow card must leave the field for 2 minutes.
  • The team must play short during this penalty.
  • No substitute may replace the penalized player.
  • If the opposing team scores during the penalty, the player may return with referee approval.
  • Two yellow cards in the same match result in a red card.

 

Red Cards

  • Players receiving a red card are immediately ejected.
  • Their team will play one player short for the remainder of the match.
  • The player is automatically suspended for their team’s next tournament game.
  • NJ Play Sports reserves the right to extend suspensions or remove players from the remainder of the tournament for serious misconduct.

 

Knockout Matches

  • If a knockout match is tied after regulation:
    • One 5 minute Golden Goal overtime period will be played.
    • If still tied, teams proceed to penalty kicks.

 

Penalty Shootout

  • Each team selects 5 players.
  • A coin toss determines shooting order.
  • Teams alternate penalty kicks.
  • If still tied after five kicks each, sudden death penalties will be used.
  • Players may not shoot a second time until all eligible players have taken a penalty.

 

Tournament Standings

Group standings are determined by:

  1. Points (Win = 3, Draw = 1, Loss = 0)
  2. Goal Difference
  3. Goals Scored
  4. Head-to-Head (two-team tie only)
  5. Fewest Goals Allowed
  6. Team Conduct Score (TCS)
  7. Coin Toss

 

Team Conduct Score (TCS)

If teams remain tied after the first five tiebreakers, the Team Conduct Score (TCS) will be used. Teams begin the tournament with 0 conduct points, and points are deducted for disciplinary actions throughout group play as follows:

  • Yellow Card: -1 point
  • Indirect Red Card (resulting from a second yellow card): -3 points
  • Straight Red Card: -4 points
  • Yellow Card followed by a Straight Red Card in the same match: -5 points

The team with the higher Team Conduct Score (the fewest points deducted) will be ranked higher.

 

Sportsmanship

NJ Play's ultimate goal is for you to have fun. Please keep this in mind while participating. While games may become intense, please maintain sportsmanship. Any behavior or abusive language to another player or referee, and is considered unacceptable by the referee, may result in suspension or ejection from a game or the event.