4v4 Kickoff Tournament Rules

    • 4’×4’ goals, no goalkeepers

    • 3-game minimum, top teams advance to a championship

    • FIFA rules apply with modifications below

    • Two 12-minute halves with a 2-minute halftime.

    • Game ends early if a team leads by 10 goals.

    • Pool games can end in a tie.

    • Referees keep official time on the field.

    • All restarts are *indirect*, except for corner kicks and penalty kicks

    • Dribble-ins allowed on sideline restarts and goal kicks. The ball must be stopped before the player can start dribbling

    • No goals directly from kickoffs or dribble-ins

    • Corner kicks must be passed-in or shot directly

      *An indirect free kick requires the ball to be touched by another player (from either team) before it can be scored as a goal.

    • No goalkeeper

      • Players are discouraged from standing in front of the goal. Coaches have been advised to monitor this and referees will address it with the coach if they deem it as an issue

    • No throw-ins 

    • No offsides

    • No intentional heading

    • Opponents must be 5 yards from all restarts

    • Penalty kicks will be rewarded if a defensive player commits a direct foul (eg. contact fouls, sliding, handballs etc.) within 5 yards of their goal. The offensive team will be given an uncontested, direct freekick from the center of the field. All players must be behind the ball and may not follow the shot. Penalty kicks can result in two outcomes; 1) a goal 2) a goal kick for the defensive team.

    • Allowed on the fly near midfield on the team’s own sideline. The new player may enter once the subbing player has left the field

    • Unlimited Substitutions

  • Player Gear:

    • All players must wear shin guards and soccer cleats.

    • Players without proper equipment (shin guards or certified cleats) will not be allowed to play.

    Game Balls:

    • Home teams must provide 3 game balls.

    • Teams will use the appropriate ball size for their age group.

    • If age groups are combined, use the ball size of the older age group.

  • Win = 3 pts | Tie = 1 pt | Loss = 0 pts

    • 5-minute grace period

    • Opponent Wins with a Match Score of 5-0

    • Forfeiting teams may be removed from the tournament without refund (Event Director discretion)

    • Head-to-head

    • Goal differential

    • Goals against

    • Goals scored

    • coin toss

    1. Single elimination games go to a 3-minute Golden Goal period.

    2. If still tied, a shootout will determine the winner.

    • Coin toss will decide which team shoots first.

    • Only the 4 players on the field at the end of overtime may participate.

    • Each player takes one shot in the first round (4 per team).

    • If tied after 4 kicks, those same players continue in golden goal format, alternating in the same order until one team scores unanswered.

    • All kicks will be taken from the center of the field.

    • Two yellow cards in a game = red card (ejection).

    • Ejected players cannot return that game or play the next.

    • No replacement for ejected players.

    • Violent conduct or serious foul play may result in tournament expulsion.

    • Coaches, spectators, or team officials ejected must leave the area and may be suspended from the tournament.

    • Referees will not tolerate abusive behavior, profanity, or unsportsmanlike conduct.

    • Verbal abuse toward referees, staff, or volunteers may result in suspension/ejection.

    • No refunds for suspensions or ejections.