Rules

Tournament will be held in accordance with FIFA Standard Laws of the Game except for modifications outlined below:

Youth divisions U11 & U12 (9v9) 

• Heading will NOT be allowed
• Two 30 minute halves in preliminary and medal rounds

Intermediate, Scholastic & Futures (11v11)

• FIFA Rules
• Two 35 minute halves in preliminary and medal rounds

All ages: 

• Either team may substitute at any stoppage of play with the notification and approval of the referee
• Preliminary Game rounds will end in a tie. Over-time format will apply to medal round games Only. One ten minute overtime will be played to completion. If the game is still tied, penalty kicks will be taken to determine a winner.
• Any player or coach ejected from a game (Red Card) may not participate in the team's next game including medal rounds

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• Coin Toss - Home and Away teams will be determined by coin toss conducted by the Official or Administrative Staff
• Tie breakers - If there is a tie in determining team placement, the following steps will be taken to break the tie: 

1. Head to Head Record
2. Total Points
3. Goals allowed
4. Goals scored
5. Coin toss 

Multi-Team (3+) The tie breaking system above will be used (in order) until the highest seeded team is determined. Once the highest seed is determined, the remaining tied teams will RESTART the above process from the BEGINNING of the tie breaking system.

• Coaches must complete their roster online, ensure athlete info has been completed online, and provide proof of age.
• Rosters 22 player Max, 1 Coach, 1 Assistant Coach, 1 Scorekeeper  
  • ​Teams will not be allowed to switch/move players to other teams without prior mutual consent between coaches and the CSMG administration. Teams engaging in this behavior will be expelled from the tournament.
  • Score Keeper - All teams are required to provide an official score keeper as part of your roster for each game. We strongly recommend that the score keeper be an adult. The home team's score keeper will be the official score keeper for that game and should sit with with the administration and volunteers at the scorer's table or tent during the contest as facilities allow. The visiting team will keep score as a secondary or back up score book.
• Team Check-Ins - Prior to the first game of the tournament each team will be required to have their roster, waiver info and proof of age checked by the Site Director at that location. If proof of age hasn't been pre-submitted to the CSMG , plan to arrive 15 minutes early to your first game to avoid delays. 
• Equipment & Roster Checks will be administered at the same time with the game official present. Coaches are responsible to ensure their players are properly equipped. 
• Age Challenges - 
  • Age challenges MUST be launched by COACHING STAFF to the OFFICIALS. We encourage this is done PRIOR to the start of the tournament or ANY game. 
  • An age challenge launched at the conclusion of any game(s) or while a game is in play will have NO effect upon the results of those games, tournament standings etc. 
  • Coaches are REQUIRED to have proof of age with them at each game. If pre-submitted to CSMG, copies will be at the check in tent for officials to retrieve. The athlete will NOT play in that or any subsequent game until proof of age is produced. 
• Forfeitures - A team may not intentionally forfeit a contest even though the game may have no consequence on the seeding of the tournament at the conclusion of round robin play. Any team intentionally forfeiting a contest will be disqualified from further competition and the remaining teams will be re-seeded.
• Inclement Weather -  in the event of inclement weather, the ShopRite® Nutmeg Sate Games Administration reserves the right to modify the schedule and all tournament rules in order to safely and fairly complete the tournament successfully. No refunds due inclement weather rescheduling.
• Grace Period - All teams will be given a 15 minute grace period beginning at the start time of their scheduled game. At the end of 15 minutes if a team representative has not contacted/responded to the CMSG administration trying to reach them, a forfeit will be declared. All decisions are made IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR ATHLETES. Stay in Communication!
• Practice vs Game balls -  Teams are to provide their own practice & game balls. 
• Ejections: Any player or coach ejected from a game (RED CARD) may not participate in the remainder of the tournament. Any player or coach receiving 2 yellow cards will be suspended from playing in the next scheduled game. 
• The tournament director has the right to alter rules, bylaws and bracket structure as needed to ensure safe and fair play

Notice:  
The Nutmeg State Games cooperates with the United States Olympic Committee, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. All athletes must abide by the rules of their association, which may include restrictions on the number of athletes from the same school or team that enter the Nutmeg State Games. All athletes should realize that each is responsible for making certain he/she is not in violation of existing rules and regulations. All athletes must be amateurs as defined by the Nutmeg State Games and/or a National Governing Body rules for their particular sport.

Coaches

C.I.A.C. Member school coaches may only coach or instruct member school athletes in the sport they coach during the school year according to the following parameters:

Girls Team Sports: Out of Season			Boys Team Sports : Out of Season
Basketball	3		Baseball	5
Field Hockey	6		Basketball	3
Lacrosse	6		Football	6
Soccer	6		Ice Hockey	3
Softball	5		Lacrosse	6
			Soccer	6

In addition, C.I.A.C. coaches may not coach more than One (1) team in non-school out-of-season tournaments/camps/clinics unless the total number of athletes does not exceed the aforementioned minimum on the chart provided.