The object of The Robbie is to promote the game of soccer through sportsmanship, fair play and quality competition. These rules are intended to support that objective, however all rules have their limitations and every participant, whether player or official, is expected to act in a manner that brings credit to the game. Doing so will add to the enjoyment of everyone.
1. Laws of the Game
All games shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as observed by the Ontario soccer Association and
the Canadian Soccer Association.
Note: Under 10 (7v7) and Under11 (9v9) games shall be played by the Rules of Small Sided Soccer .
2. Team Eligibility
All participating teams must be currently registered with their provincial, state or national association. Teams from outside the jurisdiction of the
Scarborough Soccer Association must have proof of permission to travel, duly authorized by their governing association. All Teams based outside of
Ontario must also show proof of Medical Insurance for all their players.
For the tournament teams may register up to a maximum of 14 players in the U-10 Division, and 18 players for all other Divisions.
All players registered and on the team roster may dress for any game.Teams will be accepted to play in the tournament at the sole discretion of the
Robbie Committee.
Any Team withdrawing from the tournament after the Robbie Tournament Deadline will forfeit its entry fee.
3. Age Divisions
Players must be born on or after January 1st of the following years:
Age Year Age Year Age Year
U-10 2000 U-11 1999 U-12 1998
U-13 1997 U-14 1996 U-15 1995
U-16 1994 U-18 1992
4. Team and Player Registration
Unless otherwise approved by The Robbie Committee, all teams must register with The Tournament Committee at Robbie Headquarters on the day
before the tournament commences. Registration is from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Teams failing to register as required may, at the discretion of The Robbie Committee, be dismissed from the tournament, forfeiting their
entry fee.
Players= Identification with a photograph of the player duly authorized by their appropriate provincial, state or national association shall be presented
at registration. Teams from soccer jurisdiction where such documents are not available may be required to provide proof of age by passport, birth
certificate or other identification approved by The Robbie Committee. At registration a copy of the validated team roster with a number of wristbands
corresponding to the number of players on the roster shall be given to the team official. These bands must be attached by the team official to each
player’s wrist prior to their first game. No alterations or additions to the original validated copy will be permitted.
Only players whose names appear on the validated team roster are permitted to play in the tournament.
5. Guest Players
A maximum of 3 guest players are permitted. Guest players must be registered with their provincial, state or national association.
Any team using guest players from another club must have a Temporary Registration Permit for any such playeras per OSARules and Regulations
(or equivalent to as per their governing body).
Players from the same club are not considered guest players.
6. Substitution
There is no limit to the number of substitutions during a game. Substitutions may be made at any stoppage of play at the discretion of the referee. No
substitution shall be allowed for a player ejected from the game by the referee.
7. Game-Sheets
Game-Sheets (Official Robbie Game Sheet only) must be completed and signed by a team official and presented with the validated team roster
and the player book or card to the field convenor for verification no later than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled kickoff time.
8.Discipline
The Robbie Tournament has adopted the OSA Discipline by Review System. Any player ordered from the field of play by the referee for
misconduct shall receive an automatic one game suspension and shall sit out his/her next scheduled game.
In cases of violent conduct or misconduct against a game official, the offending player shall be dismissed from the tournament.
Any team official being ejected from a game must appear before The Robbie Discipline Committee prior to his/her teams next scheduled game.
Anyone disputing his/her ejection from a game, may request a hearing. Such request must be made in writing accompanied by a $75.00 hearing fee in
cash. The person requesting a hearing must notify the field convenor of his/her intentions within 30 minutes of the conclusion of the said game.
9. Protests
Protests must be made in writing by the team manager or coach and must be accompanied by a fee of $75.00 in cash. Protests must be received by the Robbie Tournament Committee within one hour of the conclusion of the game being protested. In the event that a protest is upheld the protest fee shall be returned. No-one may protest a game in which his/her team has not participated.
10. Extraordinary Weather
In the event of severe weather conditions (e.g. continuous heavy rain, lightning, excessive heat or poor field conditions), the Robbie Committee has authority to change the duration of games, or any other function of the tournament including the following:
a) Relocate and/or reschedule any game
b) Reduce by up to 50 percent, the schedule duration
c) Cancel any preliminary game which has no bearing in determining group winners or wildcards
d) Considering a game complete if 25 percent of the game or less remained unplayed when abandoned by the referee.
e) The City has the right to cancel fields in the case of lightning
11. Scheduling
Scheduling and the assignment of referees are the responsibility of the Robbie Committee.
12. Determining Group Winners
Each team shall be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and no points for a loss. In the event of a failure to show, the offending team shall forfeit the game. If both teams fail to show, a ruling will be made by The Robbie Committee.
At the end of the preliminary round, the group winner shall be the team with the most points. If teams are tied on points, the following criteria shall be used to determine the winner:
a) Most wins
b) Winner of the game between the two teams tied (applies to 2-way ties only)
c) Best goal differential (ie. goals for minus goals against)
d) Most goals scored
e) Kicks from the penalty mark as per FIFA (The time and location of such kicks to be determined by The Robbie Committee).
13.Wildcards
Should it be necessary to provide additional teams for quarter-final or semi-final games, wildcard teams may be selected. Such teams will be those with the best non-qualifying record in that age division, determined by the number of points accumulated. In the event of a tie, criteria 12a, 12c, 12d, 12e shall apply.
In the first playoff round, no wildcard team shall play against a team from the same preliminary group. (In such an event “ALL” teams shall be rotated until there is no conflict).
14. Extra Time Rules
In the event that a game is tied in a play-off round (quarter, semi, or final game), the following procedure shall determine the winner:
a) Two 10 minute sudden death overtime periods (Golden Goal)
b) Kicks from the penalty mark as per FIFA.
Note: Only players on the field of play at the end of overtime shall be eligible to take part in taking kicks from the penalty mark.
15. Failure to Show
Teams shall be allowed a 15 minute grace period after the scheduled kick-off time before they are considered to have failed to show. A minimum of 7 players (5 in U-10 and 6 in U-11) constitutes a team and the game shall be started if a team has at least that number of players. The period of grace shall only be allowed if a team has less than the minimum number of players required present at the field.In the event of a failure to show, the offending team shall forfeit the game. If both teams fail to show, a ruling will be made by The Robbie Committee. (A team pulling out of the Robbie and not being able to be replaced shall be considered a forfeit).
16. Forfeited Games
At the discretion of The Robbie Committee,
teams that fail to show, or otherwise forfeit a game, may be subject to dismissal from the tournament and forfeit all entry fees without appeal. Furthermore, such action may be reported to the governing body of the team involved.
The opponent of a team which has forfeited a preliminary game shall be awarded a 2-0 win and 3 points in group standings.
17. Abandoned Games
The Robbie Committee will review the circumstances of any game abandoned by the referee. The finding of the Committee and subsequent decision shall be final and not subject to any appeal. (An abandoned Game is not considered a forfeit).
18. Arrival Time for Tournament Finals
Teams qualifying for the final game of a division shall report to the stadium convener 45 minutes prior to the scheduled kick-off time.
19. Player Uniforms and Equipment
The equipment of all players must conform to the Laws of the Game as set out by FIFA. All players must wear a number on the back of their shirt. This number must coincide with the player’s name and number as shown on the game sheet. Each player on a team shall have a different number.
If team colours clash, the home team shall be responsible to change colours; the home team being the first team listed in the schedule. At the discretion of The Robbie Committee, a team that does not observe the colour change or number requirements of this rule may forfeit the game. The wearing of shin guards is mandatory.
20. Field Convenors
Field Convenors appointed by The Robbie Committee shall be on duty at each game location. They are responsible for checking team rosters, player cards and wrist bands before each game.
21. Game Equipment
Game balls may be supplied by the sponsor. If a ball from a sponsor is not available each team will supply a regulation size ball, from which one will be selected by the referee to be used in the game.
Under 10, 11 and under 12 age groups shall use a size 4 ball. All other age groups shall use size 5.
22. General
The Robbie Committee and/or the Scarborough Soccer Association will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team if the tournament is cancelled in whole or in part. The Robbie Committee and/or the Scarborough Soccer Association reserve the right to resolve all matters pertaining to The Robbie International Soccer Tournament.
The Robbie Committee’s interpretation of the rules and all other tournament documentation is final.
Footnote:
The Robbie International Soccer Tournament is bound to observe and enforce rules as laid down by FIFA, except where amended by the foregoing Rules of the Robbie International Soccer Tournament.
