• Drones and Aerial video and photography are NOT permitted at any time.   
• Alcoholic Beverages & Smoking are Prohibited.

Tournament Headquarters

Tournament Headquarters will be located at 10228 Bailey Rd., Suite 203, Cornelius, NC 28031

Tournament Director:  Jason Strange, 704.804.4910 

Online Check In (U11 and U12 Competitive Teams) required.  There is a $20 fee associated with check in due at the time you begin.

Competive Teams -  all teams must check in online.  Recreation and YA teams scroll down to onsite registration.

"US Club Soccer" Carded Teams

• US Club Soccer Roster (including guest players)
  • Players may participate with only one team at the tournament.  Players may not be rostered to more than one team or play in multiple age divisions in the tournament.

• US Club Soccer Passcards (players and coaches)
  • Only the front side that shows picture & date of birth needs to be scanned/emailed.
  • Coaches cards must be submitted. 

• US Club Soccer Medical Waiver (please do not submit during online check-in)
  • Medical Waivers are not required for online check-in, but MUST be present at the fields for each player throughout the duration of the tournament.

Teams that ARE NOT carded with "US Club Soccer"

(If your team is USYS or NCYSA carded, please follow instructions below)

• Team Roster Form (including guest players)
  • This form is found below.
  • State Associations roster forms will not be accepted including NCYSA.
  • Players may not be rostered to more than one team or play in multiple age divisions in the tournament.

• Proof of Birth (for players and guest players) (including guest players)
  • Pass cards issued by State Associations cannot be accepted.
  • Please use the Tournament Roster Template as proof of birthdate. 

• US Club Soccer Medical Authorization Form (please do not submit during on-line check-in)
  • This form is found below.
  • Medical Waivers are not required for online check-in, but MUST be present at the fields for each player throughout the duration of the tournament.
  • Medical waivers from USYS, NCYSA, SAY, etc. will not be accepted. 

Roster Sizes / Match Format

     Youth Academy U8 - U10 (born 2015 - 2013)

• 7v7 Match Format
• 2 x 25 min. Halves
• Size 4 Ball
• Tournament Format - standings will be kept
• Teams will play a minimum of 3 matches with a possible final
• Players CANNOT play for more than one team within this event

     Recreational U8 - U10 (born 2015-2013)

• 7v7 Match Format
• 2 x 25 min. Halves
• Size 4 Ball
• Tournament Format - standings will be kept
• Teams will play a minimum of 3 matches with a possible final
• Players CANNOT play for more than one team within this event

     Recreational & Competitive U11 - U12 (born 2012 - 2011) Recreational U13 - U19 (born 2010 - 2003)

• 9v9 Match Format
• 2 x 30 min. Halves
• Size 4 Ball
• Tournament Format - standings will be kept 
• Teams will play a minimum of 3 matches with a possible final
• Players CANNOT play for more than one team within this event

    Recreational U13 - U19 (born 2010 - 2003)

• 9v9 Match Format for U14s, 11v11 for U15 and Older Division
• All divisions are COED - must have min. 2 girls on field at all times during game
• 2 x 30 min. Halves
• Size 5 Ball
• Tournament Format - standings will be kept 
• Teams will play a minimum of 3 matches with a possible final
• Players CANNOT play for more than one team within this event

 Laws of the Game

         Unless otherwise specified below, all FIFA Laws of the Game shall be used.

         Offside will be called at all U11-u19 older games.

         Offside will not be called at U8-U10 games, but cherry-picking will not be allowed.

         Build-out lines will be used for goal kicks in U8 - U10 games. 

         Punting is not allowed in U8 - U10 games.

*All games have a running clock.  Extended time due to injuries or other stoppages will not occur unless decided by the tournament director or site coordinator.

Age Divisions

The Energy United Summer Showdown intends to provide the following brackets. The tournament reserves the right to combine age brackets if registration and/or playing level of teams dictates. It is our goal to make a fair and competitive playing environment for all to enjoy. 

• U8 Boys & Girls - recreational & youth academy (birth year 2015 and later)
• U9 Boys & Girls - recreational & youth academy (birth year 2014 and later)
• U10 Boys & Girls - recreational & youth academy (birth year 2013 and later)
• U11 Boys & Girls - recreational and competitive (birth year 2012 and later)
• U12 Boys & Girls - recreational and competitive (birth year 2011 and later)    
• U14 Coed - recreational (birth year 2009 and later)    
• U16 Coed - recreational (birth year 2007 and later)    
• U19 Coed - recreational (birth year 2004 and later)    

A team's age bracket will be determined by the birth year of their oldest player. Coed teams must include a minimum of 2 girls on the field at all times. If they are not able to play with two girls, temporarily, the team must play down - they may not have more than 7 boys on the field at any point in the game.

Substitutions

Substitutions shall be unlimited, but made only at the following times:

a) Goal kick, after a goal, half time, at the beginning of an overtime period, throw in – by the team in possession and by the team not in possession (only if the team in possession has a substitute), after a yellow card – for carded player. 

b) An injured player may be substituted for at the discretion of the referee. If a substitution is made for the injured player, the opposing team may also make one substitution (with the referee’s acknowledgment).

Home Team

Team listed first is the designated Home Team. The Home Team should wear light colored jerseys and must change when the referee determines a conflict to exist with the Away Team.

Forfeits

Teams not at the field ready to play with a minimum of 5 eligible players for U10s, 7 eligible players for U12s/U14s, and 9 eligible players for U15 and older  at the scheduled game time will forfeit the match at the discretion of the tournament director.  Forfeited scores will be counted 5 – 0.  Teams forfeiting games will not be able to advance to the playoff rounds.

Heading Rule at Age Group Divisions U12 & Younger

Whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped. The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the ball with his or her head. If deliberate, the proper restart is an indirect free kick to the opposing team. If this occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If the play by the head is deemed inadvertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.

Inclement Weather

Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear at their respective field site, ready to play as scheduled, unless notified by the tournament that the match has been moved or postponed.. Failure to appear will result in the forfeiture of the match. Only the Tournament Director(s) may cancel or postpone a match. Referees may suspend a match only in case of severe weather, at his/her discretion. The Tournament Director reserves the right to make the following changes in the event of inclement weather:

· Relocate and/or reschedule a match.

· Change a division structure.

· Reduce scheduled duration of a match.

· Cancel a match.

In the event of inclement weather, forcing play to be halted and preventing the match from completing during the scheduled time, the score shall stand if at least one-half of the match has been completed.

Player’s Equipment

All players must wear shinguards. No metal-rimmed glasses or jewelry of any kind will be allowed. Casts, splints or body braces made of a hard substance in its final form such as leather, rubber, plastic, plaster or fiberglass must be covered on all exterior surfaces with no less than ½ inch thick, high density polyurethane, or an alternate material of the same thickness and similar physical properties to protect the injury. A medical release for the injured player signed by a licensed physician must be available at the game site.  Players may not play with these casts without the approval of the Referee.

Rules for Advancement

Teams will be awarded points on the following basis:

· Six (6) points for each Win

· Three (3) points for each Tie

· Zero (0) points for each Loss

· One (1) point for each goal scored up to a max of three (3) per game.  Losing teams receive points also.

· One (1) point for each shutout

· Examples: 
A 0-0 tie will be scored as 4 points for each team (3 for tie, 1 for shutout)
A 4-2 game will be scored as 9 points for the winning team (6 for win, 3 for goals) and 2 points to the losing team (2 for goals).

In the event of a tie in points at the end of bracket play; the winner for advancement to Semi-Final or Finals will be determined as follows:

1. The winner in head to head competition. (If there is a 3 team tie, proceed to the next tie breaker)
2. Goal differential, max of +/-3 per game (Team wins 4-0, only gets +3 GD, losing team gets -3)
3. Goals For (max 5 goals per game)
4. Goals Against (max 5 goals per game)
5. Shoot-Outs*

When the tiebreaker system is used, the criteria are followed from 1 through 4 until one team is eliminated and then the criteria starts over again at Rule #1.  Rules are repeated until one team remains.

Resolving Ties in Semi-Final and Final Match

If the semi-final or finals match are tied at the end of regulation time, the teams will be given a five minute rest. The match will then be decided by FIFA, Kicks from the Penalty Spot Procedure as outlined in the Laws of the Game; using only the players remaining on the field. There will be no overtime. 

Protest

There will be no protests.  All officiating decisions are final.

Sideline Behavior

Both teams will sit on the same side of the field.  Only coaches and trainers may stay on the player’s sideline.  Spectators are only allowed on the opposite side of the field from the coaches and players and are limited to being in the designated area from penalty box to penalty box.  No spectators are allowed behind the goal areas. Harassment of the officials from coaches, spectators or players will not be tolerated.

Whistles, air horns, megaphones, artificial noisemakers and//or similiar devices are prohibited at all venues and events.  Air horns are for use soley by competition officials to signal when fields must be cleared due to inclement or dangerous weather conditions.  

Send-offs

· If a player receives a red card or two yellow cards during a match, that player will sit out the rest of that match and also their next match.  Players serving Red card suspensions are allowed to sit on the bench during their team’s game but are not allowed to be in uniform. 

Coaches

· A coach or other authorized bench personnel sent off during a match must leave the field immediately upon being sent off and must remain away from the field during the team’s next match.

NO alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park or the parking lot of any of the game sites. Your team will be subject to forfeiting 1 game.  Smoking or use of tobacco products on or near playing fields is prohibited at all times.

Outdoor Grilling is prohibited at all tournament venues.  

Game Balls:  All game balls will be provided by the tournament at each field. Extra balls may be supplied by either team IF approved by the referee. 

*The tournament will be played in accordance with FIFA Laws of the Game except as modified by these rules above.

Tournament Cancellation

The Independence Soccer Club and the Tournament Director(s) reserve the right to decide all matters pertaining to the tournament – and may, in their sole discretion, delay, postpone, or cancel the tournament, or otherwise alter the tournament structure (such as the duration of and/or number of games for teams),  The decision of the Independence Soccer Club and the Tournament Director(s) on these matters shall be final, and shall not entitle any team to a refund or other return of entry fees paid, except as provided below (subject to any exception set out below, entry fees are nonrefundable).

If the tournament is canceled for any reason before any tournament matches are played, teams will receive a refund of 80% of fees paid or 100% credit towards another Independence event that occurs within the subsequent calendar year. Teams will have the option to choose between these options. 

Outside of complete tournament cancellation, other circumstances may arise in which the Independence Soccer Club, based on the totality of circumstances, decide to provide a refund of some or all of team entry fees (or for particular teams based on impacts from weather and other circumstances).  Any such decision to alter the no-refund policy is in the sole and absolute discretion of the Independence Soccer Club, and any such decision shall not constitute a binding commitment with respect to future similar circumstances or other teams.   

The Energy King Summer Showdown, Tournament Director(s), and Independence Soccer Club will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by tournament participants (including, without limitation, for travel, lodging, or meals) if the tournament is delayed, postponed, cancelled, or otherwise altered for any reason.

Hotel Services

To insure the quality of service provided at the 2023 Energy United Summer Showdown, Independence Soccer Club has appointed T2C Sports as our official Hospitality Service of the tournament. Teams are not mandated to book hotel reservations through T2C Sports but it is highly recommended to ensure teams have the best accommodations and are protected in the event of tournament cancellation. 

Please email Lauren.Fine@T2Csports.com or call 704-281-5445 to discuss hotel options. Of visit the T2C Sports website HERE.