1. What is the Tournament format, including number of guaranteed games and game durations?  How are standings determined?

2. Where is the Tournament played? What are the field sizes?

3. How many players on the field?  How many players on a team’s roster?

4. What age groups are included in the Tournament?

5. What are the Tournament match rules?

6. Are guest players allowed at the Tournament?

7. How can I register for the tournament?

8. What is the registration fee for the Tournament?

9. How are teams accepted into the Tournament?  How will teams be notified of acceptance?

10. What is the policy on team withdrawls and refunds?

11. What is your policy for cancelations due to severe weather ?

 

1.     What is the Tournament format, including number of guaranteed games and game durations?  How are standings determined? 

The Clarkstown Invitational Soccer Tournament uses a six-team bracket with a five game minimum round-robin format.  Game durations are 19 minutes of running time with no half-times.  There are no time stoppages for injury or any other reason.  Time between games is one minute so teams scheduled to play must have their team ready at the conclusion of the game scheduled ahead of them. Each team will play the five other teams in its bracket. There are no play-offs.  Standings will be determined at the end of the round-robin session based on the following point system:  3 points for a win; 1 point for a tie; and 0 points for a loss. Teams and first and second place will receive trophies or tournament shirts. Tie breakers will only be used to determine first and second place in the event teams have the same number of points at the end of round-robin play.  Tie breakers are as follows:  First tie breaker:  Head-to-head competition (Not used to break three-way ties).  Second tie breaker:  Most wins.  Third tie-breaker:  Most bonus points.  (Bonus points are awarded for goal differential for wins during the round-robin games. Last tie breaker: Sudden death shoot-out.
Note:  The Tournament Director reserves the right to change the format of a bracket if less than six teams are available to play.  This may result in a format with a play-off at the end of a round-robin qualifying session.  However, all teams will play a minimum of five games regardless of the format change.

 

2.     Where is the Tournament played? What are the field sizes and surfaces?T

The Clarkstown Invitational Soccer Tournament is held at the spacious Eugene Levy Field House at SUNY Rockland Community College (RCC) in Suffern, NY.  The Field House at RCC is one of the largest indoor soccer facilities in the NY Metropolitan Tri-State area.  The Field House contains three 40 yard X 80 yard soccer fields which are all used for our Tournament.  The playing surface is rubberized vinyl, the same surface used by the college for its indoor track meets.   The Field House has a mezzanine section above the playing field floor giving spectators a good view of the games.  There is a food concession stand with hot and cold food and beverages for sale during the Tournament. The RCC Field House is conveniently located in Suffern, NY just minutes off the NY State Thruway making it a quick commute from NYC, Northern NJ, Update NY, and Long Island.  Click here for Directions to the RCC Field House.

 
3.     How many players on the field?  How many players on a team’s roster? 

Games for age brackets U-10, U-11, U-12 and U-13 will field nine players (eight plus a keeper) with a maximum of 15 player roster.  Games for age brackets U-14 and older will field eight players (seven plus a keeper) with a maximum 15 player roster.  Games for age brackets U-8  will field six players (five plus a keeper) with a maximum 12 player roster.  Games for age brackets U-9  will field seven players (six plus a keeper) with a maximum 12 player roster.


4.      What age groups are included in the tournament?
 The Clarkstown Invitational Soccer Tournament will have age brackets for Boys and Girls U-8/9 to U-16. Additionally there will be a Boys and Girl U-19 bracket.  Adult brackets include a Men’s and Women’s Open,  and Men’s Over 40 bracket.

 
5.      What are the Tournament match rules?
 

Tournament match rules will be modified FIFA Laws of the Games as follows:

1. The duration of the games for Day Sessions will be 19 minutes running time with one minute between games.
2.  Substitutions will be unlimited and may be made on goal kicks, injury, your own throw-in, after goals, or at any other time subject to the approval of the referee.
3. Corner kicks will be taken.
4. There are no offsides.
5. Free kicks will be per FIFA rules with the opposing team at least 7 yards from the ball.  Penalty kicks will be taken from a point of 25 feet away from the goal.
6. An indirect free kick will be awarded if a goalkeeper’s punt or throw, or a goal kick, crosses midfield without first bouncing or touching a player from either team.  An indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team if the ball hits the ceiling or light fixture.  Such free kicks will be taken from the center line.
7. Throw-ins will be taken for balls which touch the curtain separating the fields or cross the touch line.
8. In the event of a conflict of colors, the first team listed on the schedule will change shirts.
9. Decisions of the referees and Tournament Officials will be final and not subject to appeal.
10. Players must wear indoor soccer shoes which do not leave marks on the playing surface.  Every team must have two sets of jerseys.
11. Each team participating in the tournament will do so at its own risk and agree to accept responsibilities for injuries.  Rockland Community College, the Clarkstown Soccer Club, USSF, USYSA and US Club Soccer specifically disclaim responsibility for any injuries taking place during the Tournament.
12. All non-participants and spectators are expected to observe the games in progress from the second level balcony.  Participants in the next game scheduled will remain on the second level balcony until advised to prepare to play.  Teams should enter the area behind the field of play three minutes prior to their scheduled game time.
13. Ejected players or coaches may not participate for the remainder of the Tournament.  A team may replace an ejected player in the next game.

An unlimited number of guest players from the same Club as the team participating may play in the Tournament. Teams will be permitted up to three guest players from outside their Club.   All guest players must be age appropriate and have player passes.

 

   7.  How can I register for the Tournament? 

Registration for the Tournament may be done via mailing an application to the Clarkstown Soccer Club along with payment of the registration fee or by registering on-line via the following On-Line Registration.  Payment for the on-line registration fee may be made via credit card or check.  All checks should be made payable to the Clarkstown Soccer Club and mailed to: Clarkstown Soccer Club, Attn: Debra Catoliato CIST Registrar, PO Box 1961, New City, NY 10956 Teams will not be accepted into the Tournament until their registration check is received.  We will not reserve tournament spots for teams with payment in full. At the day of the Tournament, each team must present their team roster and player passes to the registration desk at the entrance to the RCC Field House.  Our Tournament is sanctioned by US Youth Soccer - Eastern NY Youth Soccer Association and US Club Soccer.  We will accept player passes from either organization.

 

   8.  What is the registration fee for the Tournament?
 

The Tournament registration fee for U-10 and older teams is $300 if received prior to November 15, 2009.  The fee after November 15 is $320.  For teams U-8 and U-9 the registration fee is $210 if received prior to November 15, 2009.  The fee after November 15 is $230.

 

   9. How are teams accepted into the Tournament?  How will teams be notified of acceptance?
 

Teams are accepted on a first come/first serve basis with preferences given to teams and clubs that have participated in past Clarkstown Invitational Tournaments.
Teams that are accepted will be posted on our web site at www.cscsoccer.org .  We will post team acceptance as quickly as possible.

   10. What is the policy on team withdrawals and refunds?
 

Teams that are accepted into the Tournament are expected to play in the Tournament.  There are no refunds for teams that do not play in a bracket that they have been accepted into.  Additionally, those teams will not be invited back to particpate in future Tournaments.  Teams that wish to withdraw from a session may do so without penalty if the Tournament Director approves the withdrawal. Typically that withdrawal will depend on whether another team can be found to fill the bracket.  In the event that the Tournament Director declares a bracket unplayable either due to weather conditions, facility conditions or not enough team registrations in the barcket, teams will be given the option if available of playing in another bracket or receiving a full refund.    

  11. What is your policy for cancelations due to severe weather ?
 

Our Tournament will be openand we will play sessions if the Rockland Community College is open.  If the College is closed we are will cancel those session impacted byteh closure and advise teams via notification on our web site.    Also teams may check www.cancellations.com to see if Rockland Community College is closed.    In the event of our Tournament is canceled in any part due to weather we will follow our policy in item 10 above.