SKILL LEVEL: Teams are placed in divisions based on their players? competitive experience. Teams that have one or more players with competitive experience will be bracketed in the competitive division. A team that qualifies as a recreational team at a qualifying tournament will be considered a recreational team at the National Championships. In certain circumstances where there are less than four teams in any given age group or skill level, teams, competitive and recreational, could be combined within the same group.

GAME TIMES / SCHEDULE: Teams must report to their scheduled field 15 minutes prior to game-time. A team will forfeit the game if not ready to play at the scheduled time, at the discretion of the referee or Tournament Director. It is the responsibility of the coach or team captain to check the schedule for any changes the day before the tournament starts. You will not be notified of any changes.

TEAM UNIFORMS: All players must wear like jerseys during play. Each team must bring both light and dark colored jerseys with numbers. Home team must change in case of color conflict. The home team is the first team listed on the schedule. During playoffs, the higher seed will have option of color. Shin Guards are mandatory.

FIELD SIZE: 30yd x 20yd fields for U8 and below. 40yd x 30yd for U9 and above. The goals are 4 ft. tall by 6 ft. wide. The goalmouth consists of an 8 ft. radius semi-circle crease chalked in front of each goal.

GAME DURATION: Games will consist of two 12-minute halves separated by a two minute halftime or the first team to reach 12 goals, whichever comes first.

PLAYERS: A team may consist of a maximum of (6) players. Three players will be on the field at a time. There are no goalkeepers. Must have 2 players on the field to start the game.

OFFSIDES: There are no offsides in 3v3.

NO SLIDE TACKLING: Except to stop or intercept the ball. Example: a player may slide to save a ball from going out of bounds. No contact can be made with the opposing players while sliding for the ball. If contact is made during a slide tackle it could warrant one yellow card based on the referee?s discretion.

THROW-INS: Kick-Ins will be used in place of throw-ins.

GOAL KICK OR CORNER KICK: They will be awarded if the ball travels over the end line. Goal kicks may be taken from any point along the end line.

KICK-OFFS: May be taken in any direction. You cannot score directly from a kick off (ball must be 100% over the mid-line to be considered on the offensive half of the field).

DEAD BALL RESTARTS: Corner kicks and fouls are indirect. In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player?s goal area is closer than five yards away, the ball shall be placed five yards from the goal crease in line with the place of the foul.

PENALTY KICKS: Shall be awarded if, in the referee?s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by the infraction. It is a direct kick taken from the mid-line with all players standing behind the mid-line. If a goal is not scored, the opposing team is awarded a goal kick.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Subs may be made on any stoppage of play, except free kicks and penalty kicks. Teams must gain the referees attention before making a substitution. A game ball is to be provided by each team.

CREASE RULE FOR 3V3: Players cannot stand inside the goal box. Players may pass through the goal box, however there cannot be any contact with the ball inside. Any part of the ball or player's body inside the plane of the goal box is considered in the box and an extension of such. If the defending team touches the ball in the goal box, the offensive team will be awarded a goal. If the defending team touches the ball while the ball is outside the goal box but their body is inside the crease (extension of such) the offensive team will be awarded a goal. If an offensive player touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. If the ball comes to a stop inside the goal box and the play is dead a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.

OVERTIME RULES: Games ending in tie will be considered a tie, except during playoffs, where there will be one (1) five-minute “sudden death” overtime period. A coin toss will decide kickoff and direction. The first team to score during that period will be declared the winner. If the game is still tied after the five minutes, penalty kicks will be taken to determine a winner. The players from each team that were on the field at the end of the overtime period will alternate taking the penalty kicks. The team that has scored the most penalty kicks at the end of the first round wins. If it is still tied at the end of the first round, the same players will rotate in a “sudden death” penalty kick format until a winner is decided.

TIE BREAKS: Ties between 2 teams will be broken by: 1) Head to head results between teams, 2) Goal differential in pool play, 3) Goals against in pool play, 4) Goals scored in pool play, and 6) Coin toss.

TIES BETWEEN 3 OR MORE TEAMS WILL BE BROKEN BY: 1) Goal differential in pool play, 2) Goals against in pool play, 3) Goals scored in pool play, 5) Coin toss.

CAUTIONED PLAYERS (YELLOW CARD): Players that receive two yellow cards in one game will result in a red card. (Please see red card rules) Any player accumulating three yellow cards during a tournament will automatically be suspended for their next game (NO EXCEPTIONS).

PLAYER EJECTIONS (RED CARD): Referees have the right to eject a player, coach, or parent from the game. If a player on the field is ejected, the team must complete the game minus one player on the field (e.g. 3v3 – would have to play with 2 players if a player was ejected). Substitutions may still take place, but the offending team will still be minus one player on the field. The player receiving the red card will automatically be suspended for their next game (NO EXCEPTIONS). Players, coaches, or parents whom are ejected by the referee must leave the field and area around the field. The game will not restart until the opposing player, coach, or parent has been removed, yet the game clock will continue. If a player, coach, or parent refuses to leave, the game may be forfeited in favor of the opposing team. All referee decisions, in this matter, are FINAL.

PROTESTS/DISPUTES: No protests will be allowed when referring to a Referee's judgment call and all games will be considered final in this circumstance. The Tournament Director will resolve any situation not explicitly covered by the rules. The Tournament Director will also resolve any “Rule Interpretation Violation” made by the Referee. Disputes relating to the interpretation of the rules will be resolved with the Administrator/Coaches that are registered with the involved team(s) only. Individual parents or fans of the game may not represent a team if not registered as an Administrator/Coach with the involved team(s). If a “Rule Interpretation Violation” does occur a formal protest must be made by the Administrator/Coach of the team protesting before the games end and the protest must be resolved within 15 minutes after the game ends. Videotape will not be allowed as a form of protest or decision review. Initial protests are NOT accepted after the game is completed.

WEATHER RELATED ISSUES: Premier 3v3 reserves the right to modify, reschedule, or cancel the tournament due to inclement weather. The Tournament Director has the right to move or reschedule games, as well as the right to shorten game time. You will not be notified about cancellation. In case of bad weather, call [NEED HOTLINE]. If weather cancels tournament prior to the start of the first game of the tournament, 50% of the team entry fee will be retained by the tournament to cover start-up cost. The other 50% will be returned to the coach/captain within 30 days.

The Tournament Director will have final say on all disputes and interpretations of Tournament Rules.

Premier 3v3 was developed to promote exciting fun small-sided soccer for its players and fans alike. We believe our tournaments encourage fair play along with a friendly competitive atmosphere. We support GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP and feel it should be displayed by players, coaches, and spectators at all times. Abuse of the referees and event staff will not be tolerated, and could warrant disqualification of the offending person and/or team from the tournament.

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