Official Rules for the 2025 Newport Mesa Cup

General

This is a Class I & III tournament open to all Boys & Girls U6 – U19 that are teams affiliated with USSF.  Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.  The Tournament Committee reserves the right to accept or deny any application.  All decisions, judgments and rulings of the tournament referees and tournament officials are final.  NO PROTESTS WILL BE CONSIDERED.

• May 23-24, 2026
• Fields in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and the surrounding areas
• Last Year’s Player Cards will be used (2025-2026 player cards)
• We will be playing with the NEW (Fall 2026) USSF Age guidelines: (Aug 1 – July 31).
• Medals to all players from Champion and Runner-up teams
• 3 game minimum
• Added time allowed
• Unlimited loan players
• NO FRIDAY NIGHT CHECK-IN. 
• Out-of-State teams will be Guaranteed Entry when their application and payment is received at least 30 days prior to the event.

Registration

• Check-in:  A team representative must register their team at Tournament Check-In located at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex HQ, 2750 Fairview Rd, Costa Mesa, at least 1 hour before your first game.
• Check-in Items required:  Player Cards (with photos), Medical Releases, a completed and signed Tournament Roster Form.  Teams traveling from outside of Cal-South/Cal-North must bring the approved Travel Permission Document certified by their appropriate home association.

Eligibility

• Open to all Boys & Girls teams U6 – U19, affiliated with USSF 
• Bracketing (IMPORTANT) is based on the New USSF Fall 2026 Ages (Aug 1-July 31)
• Coaches must be licensed and in possession of a current coaching card.
• The coach or team administrator must attest to the accuracy of their roster and cards by signing the tournament roster form. 
• Goalkeepers can play on up to two teams in the same age group, but only as a GK and must be listed on the Roster, as a GK, prior to the Roster Freeze (before the first game)
• Field Players can NOT play on more than one team within their own age group. However, players are permitted to play on up to two teams in different age groups. But, they must be listed on the rosters prior to the first game.
• Teams may use unlimited, eligible loan players.
• Rosters are limited to 14 players for  U6 – U10  (7v7).
• Rosters are limited to 16 players for U11 – U12 (9v9).
• Rosters are limited to 18 players for U13 – U14 (11v11).
• Rosters are limited to 22 players for U15 – U19, but only 18 per game.

TEAMS

• Home teams will be identified as such on the schedule.
• Teams must bring two sets of jerseys.
• There will be NO COIN TOSS.  
  • The HOME team will get choice of:
    • Sidelines
    • Side to defend
  • The HOME team will:
    • Provide the game balls
    • Change jerseys in the event of a color conflict
    • Kickoff
• Minimum # of players to start a game: 8 players for the 11v11 brackets
• Minimum # of players to start a game: 7 players for the 9v9 brackets
• Minimum # of players to start a game: 6 players for the 7v7 brackets.
• No supporters are allowed behind the goals.

Important Reminder about your Age Group.   It’s NOT Birth Year anymore!

• Enter our tournament using the NEW USSF FALL 2026 Ages (Aug 1 – July 31).  
• You can “play up”, but it would be best to let us know that this is your intention.

LAWS OF THE GAME

• FIFA laws will be used, with the following exceptions and directives:
• Substitutions are permitted on any stoppage, with the permission of the referee.
• The referee may show yellow/red cards to coaches.
• In order to keep the schedule on time, the referee may end a game early, if there is only 5 minutes until the next scheduled game.
• The referee is permitted to add up to 1 minute per game.
• In the event of a tie game in a final, the winner will be decided by “Kicks from the Penalty Mark” (no overtime periods will be played).  To keep games on schedule, it may be necessary to move the Penalty Kick Shootout to a designated “shootout” goal.  Any player, who has not been sent off, may be selected to participate in the “Kicks From the Penalty Mark” tie-breaker.

Age Group:

U6 – U10      

Gametime: 50 min.

Ball Size: 4

# of Players: 7v7

Field/Goal Size: Smaller

Age Group:

U11 – U12

Gametime: 50 min.

Ball Size: 4

# of Players: 9v9

Field/Goal size: Smaller

Age Group:

U13 – U15

Gametime: 60 min.

Ball Size: 5

# of Players: 11v11

Field/Goal Size: Full 

Age Group:

U16 – U19

Gametime: 70 min.

Ball Size: 5

# Players: 11v11

Field/Goal Size: Full 

Small-Sided Fields:

U6 – U10 Divisions:

Build out lines. 

No Punting is allowed. 

No Heading allowed

U11 Division:

Build out lines.

No Punting is allowed.

No Heading allowed

U12 Division:

No Build out lines. 

Punting is allowed. 

Heading is allowed.

Player Equipment:

• Shinguards are required.
• Casts – No hard casts.  Soft casts are permitted, but only with the permission of the referee.
• Goalkeepers may wear baseball-type caps with the approval of the referee.

Tournament and Match Schedules

• Referees will by USSF certified referees.
• All teams will be guaranteed three games. The format will consist of pool play leading to a Championship Game.  Pool Play games can end in a tie.  Unless the pool is made up of five teams, in which case the winner of the pool will be declared the Champion and the second place team, the Finalist.  In flights with only four teams, the first and second place team in the pool will play in the final.
• No team will play more than two games per day.  
• Teams that are not ready to start their match on time will forfeit the game.
• In the event of a game not going the full time, a game will be considered complete and official if it has completed at least the first half of play.
• In the event that the referee deems it necessary to abandon or terminate a game due to weather or safety issues, the Tournament Director has the authority to determine an alternative means to decide the outcome of the game.  This could include Kicks from the Penalty Mark or another means.
• In the event that the referee terminates a game due to the behavior of the players, coaches, or spectators, then the Tournament Director has the authority to determine a winner based on the report of the referee and other Tournament Officials.  For example, if a team is winning but displays a behavior that the referee deems to necessitate the termination of the game, that team could be sanctioned with a loss by forfeit.
• The Jack Hammett Sports Complex (The Farm) will serve as Tournament Headquarters (not all teams will play at this venue).

Scoring System (10-Point System)

• Game Reports should be reviewed carefully by the referee and the team representatives directly following the game for the accurate recording of scores and Disciplinary Cards (red cards and yellow cards), as these effect the scoring and tie-breaker system.
• 10-point scoring system
  • Win  =  6 points
  • Tie   =  3 points
  • Loss =  0 points
  • Shutout = 1 point (exception: a 0-0 tie, earns only 3 points for the tie)
  • Each goal scored = 1 point (up to a maximum of 3)
  • Deduction of 2 points for each Send Off (Red Card) to a player or coach.
  • A forfeit will be recorded as a 1-0 score.  At the discretion of the Tournament Director, all games involving the forfeiting team can be adjusted to 1-0 scores.
• Tie-Breakers
  • In the event of a tie in points for determining advancement out of pool play, the following tie-breakers will be used:
    • Head-to-head
    • Fewest goals allowed
    • Goal differential (Maximum +8 Goal Differential per game)
    • Most shutout wins
    • Fewest Send Offs (Red Cards), including coaches
    • The Tournament Director will decide what tie-breaker to use -- a coin toss, an odd/even digit on a stop watch, or a Penalty Kick shootout, depending on logistical and timing limitations.

Conduct and Discipline

• Team and spectator conduct
  • Coaches are responsible for the behavior of their players, parents and spectators.
• Players, Coaches and Team Administrators sent off or dismissed from a game will serve AT LEAST a one game suspension.  The Tournament Director has the authority to suspend the individual for the remainder of the tournament if he deems it warranted.  The Tournament Director can issue a spectator a game suspension due to undesirable behavior.  It will be the responsibility of the coach to enforce such a suspension.  Failure to do so can result in the team forfeiting.
• Team Benches are NOT on the same sideline. Parents are to be on the same side as their team bench.  We prefer you do not sit behind the Assistant Referee on your side.
• Spectators need to remain 2 yards from the sideline (touchline).
• No Animals! (Though we love animals, the City and our Insurance does not).
• No Animals! (Though we love animals, the City and our Insurance does not).
• No Smoking
• No Artificial Noisemakers (like horns, clackers, cow bells, whistles, radios, drums, etc.)
• No Alcohol !!!!!
• No Drones
• The Field Marshall will pull and hold cards for players and administrators sent off (red carded) or dismissed and return them upon eligibility or elimination from the tournament (unless an offense of a serious nature occurred, in which case the card, along with a report, will be sent to the appropriate jurisdiction).

Termination

• If a match is terminated for any reason, the Tournament Committee will determine what course of action is to take place and the possible impact on the standings.  It is understood that upon acceptance to the Newport Mesa Cup that weather or other natural occurrences are an act of God.  Further, your acceptance to the tournament acknowledges any decisions by the Tournament Committee regarding facilities are final, without appeal and that no compensation will be awarded.  Games will NOT be rescheduled.

Refund Policy

• Full refunds will be made to all teams not accepted.
• Teams must drop, in writing, prior to 11:59pm, May 3, 2026 to receive a refund.
• Requests for withdrawals from the tournament will only be accepted from Administrators (Contact Person or Coach) listed on the team application for the tournament.
• Refunds provided to teams that drop prior to the deadline, will be assessed a $100.00 administrative fee.
• Teams that drop after the May 3, 2026 deadline will forfeit their entire entry fee.
• If the tournament is cancelled as a result of weather or an Act of God, after May 3, 2026, teams will receive a full refund less an administrative fee of $150. 
• If the tournament is cancelled once it begins, refunds will be given according to the following schedule:

Three Matches Played = No Refund
Two Matches Played = $100 Refund
One Match Played = $200 Refund
Cancellation of All Matches = Full Refund, less $150 administrative fee

Protests and Disputes

• No protests will be considered….NONE!
• The Tournament Director or his designee has the authority to make decisions on any matters not specifically covered by these rules and regulations.  Decisions by the referee may not be appealed.  Decisions by the Tournament Director or his designee may not be appealed.  All game results will be considered final and no protests will be allowed.

The Hosting Organization and Mailing Address for Payments: 

Newport Mesa Soccer Club

PO Box 10157

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

www.NewportMesaCup.com

Contacts:  Tournament Director:    

Jerry Laterza

Email: jerrylaterza@me.com

Cell: (909) 630-1068