May 22-24, 2026  

Tournament Venues

• Portage Soccer Complex: 4422 Bishop Ave, Portage, MI 49002

• River Oaks County Park Soccer Complex: 9050 E Michigan Ave, Galesburg, MI 49053

Contact

Tim Martin at tournaments@portagesoccer.com

Check In, Online Only

To be completed by 5pm on the Monday before the tournament.

Please note: Documents must be from the same governing body, it is not permissible to mix USYS and USClub paperwork.

Check in on GotSport:

• Create a Tournament Roster in GotSport

• Upload as PDFs only into the event registration tab:

• KISS Liability Form

• If applicable, Guest Player Form for all guest players. Michigan teams can obtain a guest player form here: https://htgsports.net/tournamentcenter.aspx

• If applicable, Permission to Travel Form. These forms can be obtained from the appropriate state associations.

• USClub teams do not need permission to travel forms as their USClub documents are proof of travel approval from USClub.

• Teams coming from a CONCACAF nation must have the check-in documents as listed as well as a completed form from its Provincial or National Association approving the team’s participation in the tournament.

Items coach or manager to have on them at all times during the tournament:  

• Medical Release Forms for each rostered player

• Concussion Parent Athlete Form for each rostered player

• Player and Team Officials cards for all rostered players and team officials

• Risk Management Cards and SafeSport & CDC Heads Up Concussion Certificates for all team officials

Team Registration & Roster restrictions

• Documents must be from the same governing body, teams are not permissible to mix USYS and USClub paperwork.

• Guest Player Maximums (from outside the club): A maximum of 5 guest players are allowed for an 11v11 team and 3 guest players for an 9v9 or 7v7 team.

• Guest Player Maximums (from within the club): An unlimited number of club pass players may be allowed provided 50% of the team’s tournament roster consists of players from the original current season’s league roster.

• Maximum Roster Size & Age Brackets:

• 4v4 u7-u8: 8 players max

• 7v7, u9Y*-u10: 12 players max

• *u8 teams playing u9 will be placed in a u9Y division if appropriate

• 9v9, u11-u12: 16 players max

• 11v11, u13-u19: 22 players max*

• *11v11 teams may only dress up to 18 players per game. They may rotate these players for each game to reach 18 dressed-player max. The referee must be notified about players that are not dressed if they are on the team bench.

Uniform & Personal Equipment

• The home team is the first team listed and should wear a light-colored kit; the away team should wear a dark-colored kit. Both teams must bring two sets of uniforms to each game. If there is a conflict, the team in violation of the uniform code will be required to change. If it is unclear, the home team will be required to change.

• All uniforms must have numbers and there should be no duplicate numbers on the field. If there are duplicate numbers, those players should have proper credentials or be properly registered as a guest player with the tournament. Any disputes over a team with duplicate numbers will be resolved by the Tournament Directors.

• Shin guards are mandatory and must be covered by socks.

• Hard or soft casts will be allowed upon approval of the referee and/or the Tournament Directors.

Team Bench & Spectators

Both teams will have their bench on the same side of the field and spectators will be on the opposite side. The halfway line will divide the opposing teams and spectators. Coaches are responsible for the spectator’s behavior, dissent will not be tolerated.

Ball size

The home team will provide the game ball

• U7-u12 will use a size 4 ball

• U13 and above will use a size 5 ball

Laws of the Game

FIFA rules apply to all games, unless listed differently in the Tournament Rules.

Length of Game

• (4v4 & 7v7) 2 x 25 minute halves

• (9v9) 2 x 30 minute halves

• (11v11) 2 x 35 minute halves

• Note: There is no overtime during preliminary rounds. Games are on a running clock, there is no stoppage time or injury time.

Substitutions

Substitutions may be made with referee’s approval only. Substitutions may be given at these times:

• Before a goal kick

• Before a throw-in for your team or on the opponent’s throw-in if the opponent is substituting

• After a goal

• At halftime

• After an injury (one for one)

• After a yellow card has been issued (one for one)

Heading Policy

• All players age 10 and younger, regardless of what age group they play in, may not head the ball

• All players in the u11 age group or younger may not head the ball

• A purposeful header by these players shall result in an indirect free kick awarded to the opponent at the spot of the infraction. If a header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick shall be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurs.

7v7 Provision

• We will utilize a one ref system for 7v7 games.

• We will utilize the Build-Out Line:

• The Built-Out Line will be marked halfway between the top of the penalty box and the midfield.

• Offside is called from the build out line to the end line.

• When the goalkeeper has control with their hands of the ball during play, the opposing team MUST move behind the Build-Out Line until the ball is put in play by the goalkeeper.

• Once the opposing team is behind the Build-Out Line, the goalkeeper's six-second count will begin and can then pass, throw, or roll the ball into play to a teammate - punts or drop kicks are not allowed. After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the Build-Out Line and play resumes as normal.

• During a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the Build-Out Line for a goal kick restart and may only cross the Build-Out Line once the ball is put in play.

• Restarts/Free-kicks - All free-kicks outside of the penalty area will be indirect. All restarts from inside the penalty area will conform to FIFA rules for penalty kicks, which will be marked 8 yards from the goal line.

Division Standings

• Win = 3 points

• Tie = 1 point

• Loss = 0 points

Tie Breakers (group play)

1. Head to Head (skip if more than two teams are tied)

2. Net score - Goals scored less goals allowed (max. 4 per game)

3. Least goals against

4. Most goals scored (max. 4 per game)

5. Penalty kicks. 5 per team, alternating. If tied after 5 each, 1 per team will be selected until the tie is broken. (The penalty shooters can be anyone who is dressed to play and rostered).

6. All Division winners are set and then the wildcard process takes place.

Ties Breakers (semi-finals and finals)

• Ties During Championship or Playoff Games are settled by penalty kick elimination: When semi-final and final matches are still tied after overtime the FIFA laws of the game for Penalty Kicks apply. Players do not have to be on the field at the end of the second overtime period. Coin flip will determine who will go first (visiting team calls). Five penalty kicks per team. The most goals scored after five kicks for each team wins the game. If the score remains tied, teams will alternate shooters until there is an unmatched goal between the teams. After all eligible players on the field of play have taken kicks; teams will start with their first kickers again and in the same order.

• The tournament committee reserves the right to shorten or eliminate overtime periods in order to keep games on time.

• If for any reason the finals game is unable to be played, the champion shall be determined by a coin toss by the Tournament Committee

Wildcard Selection Process

Placement of the Wildcard Teams is at the discretion of the Tournament Committee

The selection of a Wildcard team, if required, shall be determined by:

1. Non-group winner with the most total points

2. Non-group winner with the most wins

3. Winner of the game, if applicable, played between the tied teams

4. Net Score - Goals scored less goals allowed (max. 4 per game)

5. Least goals against

6. Penalty kicks. If both teams advance, the Tournament Directors will decide the opponents at the next level of play.

Failure to Field a Team

• A team that fails to field 7 players (5 for Under 10 and below) 5 minutes after the scheduled kick off, will forfeit. The score will be 4-0.

• Any team who forfeits a game will not advance from their bracket.

• Any use of illegal players will result in a forfeiture of all games.

Referee’s Decisions are Final

• Referee's Decisions are Final - No Protests - No Appeals

• The tournament uses a USSF certified assignor and all referee assigning is done through Game Officials. Furthermore, out-of-area referees will need to show photo proof to verify identity.

• Disputes: Any disagreement which cannot be resolved by the listed rules will be settled by the Tournament Directors.

• Score disputes: In situations where there is a disagreement about the score between teams/coaches/managers etc., the Tournament Committee will determine the outcome by referring to the original signed game card from the game. Please make sure that the score is correct prior to signing the game sheet.

• Final Rulings: The final interpreter of the foregoing rules and regulations and any matters not provided for in these rules will be the Tournament Committee, whose decisions shall be final.

• Any player or coach ejected from a game will be ineligible to participate in the next scheduled game. The player/coach passcard is to be turned in to the site headquarters immediately following the initial suspension game. A red and yellow card report is provided to the club, league, and/or affiliated organization that teams participating in the tournament come from.

• There shall be no dissent between players and/or coaches and the referee. Questioning a referee is considered dissent. All coaches are responsible for the actions of their spectators, specifically verbal abuse of referees. Such abuse will not be tolerated by the tournament and any decisions will be made by the Tournament Committee.

Facility Rules

All school, park, and facility rules must be adhered by while on premises. Violators will be asked to leave.

Dogs: There are NO DOGS allowed at any of the venues for the tournament. While River Oaks County Park does allow dogs, for the safety of all involved, the tournament does not allow dogs.

Inclement Weather

The Tournament Directors and Committee have the right to stop games due to weather and will adhere to a 30 minute delay from the latest lightning/thunder.

Games interrupted by weather:

• Will continue if time permits within the game’s allotted time slot.

• If time does not permit, the score at the time of game stoppage will stand.

If a game is unable to be played at all within its allotted time slot, the game will be posted as a 0-0 tie.

Refund Policy

Due to circumstances or conditions beyond our control, the Tournament Committee will not be responsible for any refunds under any circumstances.

Any teams that withdraw before the registration deadline will receive a full refund less a $100 administration fee.

Any team withdrawing after the registration deadline will receive no refund.

Cancellation Policy

Should the tournament not have enough teams to conduct a tournament and the tournament is cancelled, team fees will be refunded due to tournament cancellation.

Questions? Contact us at tournaments@portagesoccer.com