Tournament Rules
2024-2025 The State Cup Rules
I. National Championships Series and State Cup Organization
A. The State Cup is a state championships competition conducted annually by the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) and US CLUB SOCCER for boys’ and girls’ teams in the 11 and under through 19 and under age groups. Conducting the State Cup competition two times each seasonal year: In the Fall, competitions are conducted for the 15-19 age groups, boys and girls. In the Spring, competitions are conducted for the 11-14 boys and girls.
The State Cup is a part of and a qualifying event for, the US Youth Soccer East Region Championships and National Championships conducted by United States Youth Soccer for VYSA teams.
This State Cup will also serve US Club Soccer teams to their National Cup Competition.
Winners of the Championships (VYSA teams) advance to the US Youth Soccer East Region Championships and in the 13U to 19U age groups, Region I winners advance to the United States Youth Soccer National Championships. Except as otherwise provided, the US Youth Soccer Championships Policy and the VYSA Championship Policy apply to the U12-U11 age group.
Winners of the Championships (US Club teams) advance to the US Club National Cup XXIV Finals.
B. State Cup Organization – The State Championships are conducted under the direction of the VYSA Director of Cups. The Director may, from time to time, appoint Site Administrators and others to represent and assist them.
II. Eligibility of Teams and Players
In order to apply to play in the State Championships, a team must secure an Official State Cup Roster. This roster will be utilized for all State Cup, Regional, and National Championship competitions and will need to be presented at all events. All players must be registered with US Youth Soccer or US Club Soccer prior to the applicable freeze date for each age group.
- The State Cup Roster – The State Cup Roster is part of the Got.Sport online registration process. You will print the State Cup Roster (called Official Game Roster) from this site. This roster now becomes the team’s State Cup Roster and will be utilized in all State Cup, Regional and National Championship activities. The State Cup Roster in Virginia is for State Cup play only and may not be used for other events, such as league and tournament play.
B. Eligibility – State Cup competition is open to the teams of any member in good standing of VYSA & US CLUB Soccer. Teams and players must be properly registered with VYSA and US Youth Soccer and/or US Club Soccer for the current seasonal year (September 1 to August 31).
If a team participates in State Cup competition and they need to complete league play prior to June 15th 2025. Teams entering the U19 age group are not required to participate in league play. No single U18 age group, this is now combined with U19’s.
C. Roster Size and Continuity – A 19U/18U, 17U, 16U, 15U, 14U and 13U team must not allow more than twenty-six (26) players on its State Cup roster at any given time during the seasonal year.
A 12U & 11U team must not allow more than twenty-two (22) players on its roster at any given time during the seasonal year.
The 13U – 18U teams must keep a roster continuity from their league roster to the State Cup roster of eleven (11) players throughout the entire National Championship Series competition. 19U teams who are not required to play league play must keep a minimum of eleven (11) players from their frozen roster throughout the National Championship Series competition.
12U & 11U teams must keep a roster continuity of 8 players throughout the State Championships and Regional Championships.
D. Rosters “Frozen” – There will be ONE FREEZE DATE for all teams entered in Fall and ONE FREEZE DATE for Spring State Cup competition. The rosters of every team entering in State Cup competition will be frozen before the first Cup play date in the Fall for the 15U-19U teams and 48 before the first Cup play date in the Spring for the 11U-14U teams.
After the State Cup roster is frozen: (1) no “additions or transfers to the roster are allowed for the State Cup competition, and (2) a team and its players shall be considered to have competed in the State Cup competition for that seasonal year, whether or not the team or players actually play in a State Cup game.
Teams and players may compete in only one USYS State Cup competition in a seasonal year. This rule has not changed and will apply to each player until the team they play on is eliminated from a National Championship Series Competition. Each Cup event is separate, State Cup, Regional Cup and National Cup. No players may move to another Cup team until the current Cup event they are playing in is finished and then only if the team they played on has been eliminated from any level of the National Championship Series competition.
E. Roster Changes –
1. Each team may make changes to their State Cup roster prior to the roster freeze date of the applicable season. Club pass players, additions and transfers may be added. Prior to the freeze date, all players that a team wants to appear on their State Cup roster must be “Locked IN” on the State Cup roster in Got.Sport. After the roster freeze deadline, no changes can be made to a roster. Verifying the correct players are checked as active is critical.
The current rostering system will not allow any player changes to the State Cup Roster after midnight on the applicable freeze date. Any changes prior to this date must still be verified by the registrar. It is the responsibility of the coach of the team that has changed its roster to ensure that the changes are official by the deadline.
2. Your State Cup Roster and your league roster no longer need to mirror each other prior to the freeze date. You may add players from your club to your State Cup rosters that don’t play on your league team. Your team may make changes to the league roster at any time since the rosters are two separate rosters now, but once the State Cup Roster has been Locked IN and frozen any players added/transferred to your league roster are ineligible for State Cup play with your team.
• They must be the appropriate age.
- 19U/U18 January 1, 2006 or later
- 17U January 1, 2008 or later
- 16U January 1, 2009or later
- 15U January 1, 2010 or later
- 14U January 1, 2011 or later
- 13U January 1, 2012 or later
- 12U 9v9 January 1, 2013 or later
- 11U 9v9 January 1, 2014 or later
Each Player pass in VYSA or US Club has the name of the player’s club, which is what is required in a “club pass”.
F. Eligibility Rule Violation – Violations of player or team eligibility rules will result in the forfeiture of any games in which an ineligible team or player has participated. Any coach or team official found to have rostered an ineligible player is, together with the team, ineligible to compete further in State Cup competition in the current seasonal year. Any coach, manager, or official found guilty of knowingly using an ineligible player is not eligible to compete further in Regional or National competitions in the current and the subsequent seasonal year. The coach is ultimately responsible for verifying player eligibility.
III. Competition Announcements, Applications, Deadlines and Withdrawals
A. Competition Announcements – The announcement of State Cup competitions for the Fall and Spring seasons will be published on or about July 15 and February 15, respectively. The Competition Announcement will be made available on the various websites and will include an application form and other pertinent information about competition dates, age groups eligible to participate, entry fees and other requirements.
B. Application Form – The application form must be filled out online in the Got.Sport system and the application fee must be paid online by credit card.
The State Cup Roster must be approved by your Club Registrar by the roster freeze deadline. If any part of the application is not completed online or a State Cup roster is not in the hands of the State Office by the deadline, the team will not be eligible for State Cup Competition. The State Cup application can be completed, and the roster available at application, but teams may continue to add to or make changes to the State Cup roster up to the roster freeze deadline.
C. Age Divisions and Deadlines – Unless otherwise indicated in the Competition Announcement, the division of age groups will be as follows: 15U-19U/18U boys and girls will play in the Fall and 11U-14U will play in the Spring. The official application deadline for each season will be published in the official State Cup Calendar and in the Competition Announcement.
Games shall be played in accordance with the following Age Group Specifications:
| Age Group | Game Length | Overtime Play | Ball |
| 19,18, 17 Under | 2- 45 minute halves | 2- 15 minute periods | #5 Ball |
| 16, 15 Under | 2- 40 minute halves | 2-15 minute periods | #5 Ball |
| 14, 13 Under | 2-35 minute halves | 2-15 minute halves | #5 Ball |
| 12, 11 Under | 2-30 minute halves | 2-10 minute periods | #4 Ball |
D. Withdrawal – Notice of intent to withdraw must be made via email to the VYSA Director of Cups (ray@vysa.com). A team may withdraw its application and have its fee returned at any time prior to the seeding and draw meeting. Withdrawals after the draw will be considered a forfeit. Withdrawals after the draw are strongly discouraged. A team that withdraws after the draw will be subject to the following penalties:
1. After the draw and any time during the competition: The team shall forfeit its entry fee and shall be fined an additional $1000.00, and it may be declared ineligible to participate in future competitions. Note that after rosters are frozen, a team and its players are considered to have competed in State Cup, whether or not they actually play in a State Cup game. A team or players that withdraw after rosters are frozen, or at any time thereafter, are ineligible to compete in any other State Cup competition during that seasonal year.
2. If a team wins the State Cup Championship and does not go on to the Region I Cup Competition, it will be considered a forfeit. The fine will be $2,000.00. This amount is above any fine amount that the Region I may impose. A team that forfeits the Region I Cup Championship by their refusal to participate in the Region I Cup Competition may be ineligible for State Cup Competition the following seasonal year. The final decision will rest with the VYSA Director of Cups on eligibility for future Cup completion.
E. Payment Obligations – Any uncollected amount owed by a team in connection with a State Cup competition is an obligation of the team’s club. If any amount remains unpaid after notice, VYSA may place the club and all of its teams in bad standing, rendering them ineligible to compete in any VYSA-sanctioned event.
IV. Competition Format, the Draw and Seeding
A. Competition Format and the Draw – Each seasonal year, we (VYSA & US CLUB Soccer) will conduct a competition to determine a State Cup winner in each age group. Some days after each application deadline, the teams seeded by the seeding committee will be placed in positions 1-8.
B. Seeding – Each seasonal year a seeding committee will be formed to gather information on all teams entered in the Competition. The top teams in each bracket will be decided by this committee according to information gathered by the committee and the information supplied by the team on the application form.
1. The following will be taken into consideration as teams are placed in seeded positions for the Cup each year.
To be considered when looking at seeding all age groups:
• Returning State Cup final 4 teams, teams in Regional competition and teams in National competition;
• All other applicant’s rankings from immediate past season of State Cup competition.
• Age group played during last year’s State Cup;
• Numbers of players returning from the roster;
• INFORMATION GIVEN TO THE SEEDING COMMITTEE IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF THE STATE CUP APPLICATION. THIS WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR SEEDING PURPOSES.
The seeding process will be difficult and will depend a great deal on the amount of information supplied by each team.
Competition Format
Each competition will follow the rules, requirements, procedures, and play format as outlined for each individual competition. In general, each competition will begin with round robin group play, unless ‘play in’ games are necessary to leave a remaining Top 16. Advancement scenarios to State Finals will be determined based on the format of the competition and the number of teams in the competition, age group, and bracket.
Play Format and Advancement
In the 19U/18U through 15U age groups up to eight (8) teams may be selected for seeding in each age group. These teams will be separated into different Play Groups A, B, C & D in a 16-team age group, two seeded per group.
Play groups will be formed in each age group. The number of teams in each group will be determined by the number of allocations accepted within each level of play, maximum of 16. More than 16 teams will have to qualify via a ‘play in game’.
The competition will be scheduled in a “Round Robin” format where possible. Ideally 16 teams in 4 divisions and the team with most points after 3 games will advance to Semi-finals.
However, depending on the number of teams entered per age group and the relevance of a specific game’s outcome to the standings, teams may play more games. If we have more than 16 team registered by age group, then we will have either one or two rounds of ‘play In games’. These Play In Games will be single elimination to see which teams advance through to available spots within the Top 16 teams and therefore Group Play.
All decisions rendered are under the jurisdiction of the VYSA Director of Cups (or designee) and may not be appealed.
Point System
- Determination of standings within a sub-group. Competition with 6, 8, 12 or 16 teams.
- Standings of teams within sub-groups are based upon the number of points earned in qualifying games.
Teams earn points as follows.
b. Round robin points:
Three Points for a win
One Point for a tie
Zero Points for a loss
c. Tie Breakers: In the event teams are tied on the basis of points earned, the team’s placement/ advancement will be determined in accordance with the following sequential criteria.
1. Winner of head-to-head competition (this criteria cannot be used if more than two teams tied).
2. Winner of most games.
3. Goal differential (goals scored minus goals against) with a maximum of five goals per game.
4. Fewest goals allowed.
5. Kicks from the penalty mark (as described in National Championships Rule 242 Section 2 (c)).
NOTE: If more than two teams are tied, the sequence will be followed until a team is eliminated/advanced. The remaining teams will then restart the sequence at Point “b” above until the tie is broken.
If FIFA penalty kicks have to be taken, there will be a draw by the Director of Cups. First team drawn will receive the bye next team drawn will be the home team against the remaining team in the first contest of PK’S. The winner of the first contest will then compete against the bye team in PK’S to determine the group winner. The bye team will be the home team. This is only used if there are more that two (2) teams tied after going through the Tie Breakers.
A. As a condition of acceptance into the competition, applicants must agree to play anywhere they are scheduled within the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Team officials are expected to inform their players and parents of this requirement prior to entering the competition. Game sites are assigned (and may be re- assigned) by the Cup Director, taking into account field availability, referee availability, travel distances, weather considerations, scheduling efficiency and where possible, home and away designations. A team with a “home” designation may or may not be assigned to play in its home region and may be assigned (or re-assigned) to a game site in another region of the Commonwealth or the District of Columbia. This shall not be grounds for protest.
B. Each club entering 2 or more teams in the competition is strongly urged to provide 1 or more fields each weekend during the Fall and/or Spring State Cup Competition. The location of games after the home and away draw will be determined by the numbers of fields available in each playing region. Teams from clubs that make no attempt to provide fields will receive the last field assignments as the teams are placed on game fields during scheduling.
VI. Team Obligations
A. Team Availability – State Cup games take precedence over all other games. Teams and their respective leagues must arrange league schedules to avoid conflicts with State Cup game dates. State Cup game dates will be published in advance, but due to weather contingencies, these must be regarded as subject to change. Except as noted below in paragraph B, teams should plan to be available every weekend from the start of the competition until the final match.
B. Schedule Conflicts – Teams entered into State Cup Competition are expected to be available on all game dates. VYSA & US CLUB will do it’s best to play the Cup schedule as published. Religious holidays for all age groups and SAT testing for the U19/18 age groups will be taken into consideration when planning the schedule. No other testing types or dates will be considered for a reschedule. The application letter will give the details of any scheduling variances that the Cup Committee will consider.
If the game scheduled for a Saturday is changed because of a religious holiday request, or SAT testing date, we will try to play the game in question later in the day or on Sunday of that weekend. Some fields have been secured for this purpose and the games will be scheduled at the discretion of the State Cup Director. Home and away status will not be considered. There will be no protest of this decision.
VII. Game Officials
A. In all preliminary games – Three (3) officials shall be assigned for each preliminary State Cup match in the U11-U19 age groups. Cup Director shall be responsible for notifying the State Referee Assignment Coordinator of requirements for officials.
B. If an assigned official fails to appear at a preliminary match within 15 minutes of the scheduled kick-off time and the coaches agree to a substitute, the game may be played. If the game is played, the results shall be official, and no protest will be honored regarding the use of a substitute official or outcome of the game.
C. If an assigned official fails to appear for a semi-final or final match, the Site Administrator designated by the Cup Director will provide a substitute official. In the event the game officials’ uniform color conflicts with either team’s color, the game officials will change colors.
VIII. Rules of Play, except as modified herein, the FIFA Laws of the Game shall govern all State Cup play.
A. General Rules of Play –
1. Both teams and a maximum of four (4) team officials for each team shall take the same side of the field. Spectators shall take the other side of the field. The home team shall choose which side the teams will take. The Site Administrator, or the referee if no Site Administrator is present, shall decide upon other arrangements if required by site contingencies.
2. No artificial noisemakers are permitted.
3. No Drones of any kind are permitted in the vicinity of any State Cup game.
4. The home team shall normally provide the game ball. During tournament play, the game ball will be furnished by Nike.
5. Each field player (except goalkeepers) shall wear a numbered jersey. The number shall be affixed to the back of the jersey and shall be clearly visible. Each player must wear a different number. Numbered jerseys for goalkeepers are optional in State Cup competition. Goalkeepers must wear colors that distinguish them from other players and referees.
6. Home Team – Visiting Team: Home team will be listed first on all schedules and will wear light colors. The away team will wear dark colors. Should a conflict arise with uniform colors, the home team shall change to an alternate uniform. In the event of a conflict, the home team must change if so directed by the referee.
7. The home team shall make available on request a copy of these Rules and Procedures for the referee.
8. All US Youth & US Club Soccer player’s passes used for State Cup competition must be LAMINATED prior to participating in any State Cup match. You are NOT allowed to have passes from both sets of organizations for the same rostered team.
9. Every team official, to a max of four, that intends to take the team side of the field during a State Cup game must have a current year LAMINATED team official pass or club pass. This pass is the same as the player’s passes and must have a picture of the team official and be approved by the registrar. Some leagues issue a club pass for officials and some issue a team official pass. Either pass will be accepted.
B. Pre-Game Procedures – See additional documents.
You are NOT allowed to have passes from both sets of organizations for the same rostered team.
D. Game Durations, Overtime, and Ball Requirements – See Additional Document
F. Ejections – See Additional Document
IX. Protests, Appeals and Referee Assaults and Abuse – See Additional Document
A plea of ignorance to the rules and regulations of the National Championship Series Policy and/or the VYSA Championships Policy is not sufficient ground for a protestor appeal. Playing in the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series, whether at the State, Regional or National level is a privilege. The most current National Championship Series Policy can be found online at www.usyouthsoccer.org. *
The Director of Cups retains the final decision-making authority while following the applicable rules for any game day protest for Play IN games, Group games, Semi-Finals or Finals in this competition.