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.
Required Materials on GOTSPORT Registration Form Answers are as follows:
Official State Roster – If combining teams, upload as a single PDF and highlight participating players.
Player Passes – Only required if your roster does not include player photos.
Medical Release Forms – Alliance Cup or VSA forms are accepted for all players listed.
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)
Roster Size Limits:
U10: 14 players
U12: 16 players
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:
Reschedule or relocate games
Adjust game durations
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.