Vermont Alliance Cup General Info/Rules

Vermont Alliance Cup General Info/Rules

GENERAL TOURNAMENT INFO

2025 VERMONT ALLIANCE CUP REFEREE REGISTRATION LINK

If you are a USSF certified referee and you are interested in attending our event as a referee - please register here

FAN CONDUCT AND REFEREE ABUSE

There will be zero tolerance for referee abuse and poor fan conduct.  The northeast is experiencing a referee shortage and hundreds of new and young referees have been infused into our game.  Please remind your families that there is no tolerance for referee abuse and that field marshals or officials may remove parents/fans from games if they are berating officials and/or at their discretion may abandon a game due to poor fan conduct.  Additionally, all of our referees at the tournament are USSF certified and have passed appropriate referee certifications.

ATHLETIC TRAINERS

There will be certified athletic trainers available at both sites in case of injuries.  

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:

The tournament schedule should be released approximately 1 week before the event on or around June 12th, 2025.  Please be patient as we create brackets and release the schedule.

TOURNAMENT AWARDS

All teams finishing in first place will receive championship medals provided by the tournament directors at Cup Headquarters, VT Alliance Cup staff will take a team photo of your team with a tournament champions sign.

TOURNAMENT BALLS 

All fields will have a tournament ball for games for both teams.

ONLINE TEAM CHECK-IN:

All teams must complete online check-in through GotSport by Monday, June 16, 2025. There will be no in-person check-in.

Please read directions carefully and make sure that your files are complete and in the correct order.  Files must be uploaded by 6/16/25. 

These can be accessed in GOTSPORT under: Club Management --> Teams --> (click team) --> Team Registrations at top tab --> (click "2025 Vermont Alliance Cup" from list) --> (click tab for "registration") --> click "edit" and attach the files for the "Registration Form Answers"

Please follow the link here for detailed instructions on this - https://support.gotsport.com/as-a-club-admin-how-to-upload-documents-for-event-check-in

 

Required Materials on GOTSPORT Registration Form Answers are as follows:

  1. Official State Roster – If combining teams, upload as a single PDF and highlight participating players.

  2. Player Passes – Only required if your roster does not include player photos.

  3. Medical Release Forms – Alliance Cup or VSA forms are accepted for all players listed.

  4. Guest Player Documentation:

    • Guest Player Roster (players from outside your club only; 3 max for 7v7/9v9, 4 max for 11v11)

    • Guest Player Passes (one file)

  5. CLONE Roster in GotSport
  6. Roster Size Limits:

    1. U10: 14 players

    2. U12: 16 players

    3. U14/HS: 22 players


TOURNAMENT RULES

GAME LENGTHS

- All 7v7 and 9v9 games will be 2 x 25 minute halves

- All 11v11 games will be 2 x 30 minute halves

GUEST PLAYER LIMIT

Guest player rules: no more than 3 guest players for 7v7 or 9v9 and 4 guest players for 11v11.  For the purposes of the Vermont Alliance Cup, we are defining guest players as a player from outside your club.  If you are combining teams with players from within your own club, these DO NOT count as guest players.

TOURNAMENT SCORING:

Our tournament standings will be determined by classic tournament scoring.  Here are the rules/protocols for tournament scoring:

Win - 3 points

Tie - 1 point

Loss - 0 points

Max Goal Differential: 5

TIEBREAKER HIERARCHY:

Tie-Breakers in order:

1) Head to Head

2) Record against common opponent ranked in highest order

3) Goal Differential

4) Most shutouts

5) Least goals allowed

6) Most goals scored

7) Coin Flip

NOTE, in a three way tie, the tie-breaker will find out who the number one seed is.  Once the number one seed is determined, the tie-breaker will go back to the top and reset with the two remaining teams.  

Example Situation (3 Way Tie-Break)

STANDINGS

Team A: 2-1 w/ +5 GD (Beat Team C+D and lost to team B)

Team B: 2-1 w/ +3 GD (Beat Team A+D and lost to team C)

Team C: 2-1 w/ -1 GD (Beat Team B+D and lost to team A)

Team D: 0-3 w -10 GD (Lost to team A+B+C)

In the following scenario, Head to Head and Record Against Common Opponent, can not be used because there is a 3 way tie and each team that is tied at 2-1 beat each other.  The GD tie-breaker would determine that Team A is the #1 seed because they have the highest GD.  Now that the #1 seed is determined, the two teams left in the tie-breaker are Team B and C.  Despite Team C having a lower GD, they would advance as the #2 seed, because with the two teams remaining, Team C beat Team B.

TEAM ADVANCEMENTS/CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:

GROUPS OF 4:

- Each team plays 3 games against the other teams in their bracket 

- The top 2 teams will play in a Championship match on Sunday based on pts and the tie-breakers below

GROUPS OF 5:

Everyone will play two group games on Saturday.  Every team will then automatically be entered into a playoff.  You will get your third game in that playoff.  After the end of group play, teams will be ranked 1-5.  Seeds 1-2-3 will get a bye to the semi-finals where they will get their 3rd game.  Seeds 4 and 5 will play a play-in match for their third game.  The winner will advance to the semi-finals.

GROUPS OF 6:

- GROUPS of 6 are split into two brackets of 3 (Bracket A and Bracket B)

- Each team plays the 3 teams in the other bracket

- The top 2 teams regardless of bracket according points and the tie breakers below advance to the championship match

GROUPS OF 7:

Everyone will play two group games on Saturday.  Every team will then automatically be entered into a playoff.  You will get your third game in that playoff.  After the end of group play, teams will be ranked 2-7.  Seed 1 will get a bye to the semi-finals where they will get their 3rd game.  Seeds 2-7 will play a play-in match for their third game.  The winners will advance to the semi-finals.

PLAYOFFS OVERTIME PROCEDURE
If any championship game is tied, teams will play 5 minute golden goal overtime.  If there is still no winner, teams will then go into FIFA penalty kicks.  Any shooter on the team may shoot.  PKs will be a group of 5 shots.  If still tied, it will be golden goal pks with the remaining players who have not taken a penalty kick

ADDITIONAL U10 RULES

The build out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting.

When the goalkeeper has the ball, either during play (from the opponent) or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play.

Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play. (punting/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.

The build out line will also be used to denote where offside offenses can be called.

Players cannot be penalized for an offside offense between the halfway line and the build out line.

Players can be penalized for an offside offense between the build out line and goal line.

If a goalkeeper punts/drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense If the punt/drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred.

No slide tackling.

U10 players are not allowed to head the ball intentionally. The restart is an indirect free kick for the opposing team.

 

DISCRIMINATION AND LANGUAGE POLICY

We have a strict no tolerance policy for racism or any form of discrimination. Any player, coach, or spectator engaging in inappropriate or offensive behavior will be immediately removed from the tournament.

We expect all attendees to:

  • Respect all participants – players, referees, coaches, spectators

  • Use appropriate language – no discriminatory or offensive remarks

  • Promote sportsmanship – on and off the field

Let’s work together to create a respectful and positive environment.

 

WEATHER POLICY - THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

In the event of thunder or lightning, play will be suspended for at least 30 minutes. The timer will restart after each thunderclap or lightning strike.

Suspension Notification:

  • Tournament staff will sound an air horn (3 five-second blasts).

  • An email will follow within 10 minutes detailing schedule updates.

During Suspension:

  • All individuals must return to their vehicles.

  • Do not return to the field until an "All Clear" is given (via air horn & email).

Game Official Status:

  • U14/U16/U19: Games are official after 20 minutes.

  • U10/U12: Games are official after 15 minutes.

After Suspension:

  • A single one-second air horn blast will signal that play may resume.

  • Teams will be given a 5-minute warm-up.

  • Any team not on the field within 15 minutes will forfeit the match.

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE WEATHER AUTHORITY

In case of inclement weather, tournament officials reserve the right to:

  1. Reschedule or relocate games

  2. Adjust game durations

  3. Cancel games not affecting advancement

Final decisions on rescheduled times/locations are non-negotiable. Failure to appear will result in a forfeit.

Bracket Determination (if cancellations occur):

  • If all teams play the same number of games: standard tiebreakers apply

  • If uneven games played: win percentage, then standard tiebreakers

We understand this can be inconvenient, but the safety of all participants is our top priority. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Sponsors

Earthycars

Affiliates

VSA

VSL

VSL

alliance cup logo

alliance cup logo

Region1

USYSA