EMSA Polar Cup
Laws of the Game – Rules for Playing Indoor Arena Soccer
The Polar Cup Tournament rules of play are the Alberta Soccer Association (ASA) publication, Alberta Rules of Indoor Soccer (Boarded), except for U9 and U11 games, which will follow the EMSA modified rules, which can be found HERE. U9 games will not include a 10 minute warmup period.
The ASA Rules of Indoor Soccer (Boarded) can be obtained on-line through the Alberta Soccer Association’s website at www.albertasoccer.com (on the Referee Page under Resources).
Non-Boarded Rules & Regulations (CLICK HERE)
Section 1. Registration
To register your Team, please follow Registration Information. (CLICK HERE)
Section 2. Coach Information
2.1. All communication (phone calls and emails) between teams and tournament staff is to be done through the team officials; coach, assistant coach or manager that are listed on the official team roster.
2.2. When communicating through emails, always state your team name, gender and age group, this will save time for tournament staff when replying.
2.3. Coaches and managers are responsible to communicate important tournament information to their team’s players and parents; we ask that players and parents do not contact the tournament staff directly.
2.4. Coaches and managers are responsible to know, understand and follow all tournament "Rules & Regulations", "Non Boarded rules" especially the rules for guest players/trialists.. Any team found to have played an ineligible player(s) will default the game.
2.5. Team officials are responsible for the behavior of their players, parents and spectators at all times during the tournament. Any team showing unsportsmanlike behavior will be disciplined and unruly spectators may be asked to leave the facility. Any verbal abuse to referees, staff and volunteers by any team may result in immediate expulsion from the tournament.
2.6. Scores and team stats will be posted on the Polar Cup Website.
2.7. In the event that both teams are wearing like colors, the home team will be required to change jerseys or wear pinnies as determined by the referee.
2.8. All teams are required to provide their own first aid kit along with ice packs in case of injury, some soccer centers do not have ice on hand.
2.9. Team Officials have to present their Association ID Card or government issued photo ID Cards to the referees prior to each games, and upon the request of the referee be able to provide Proof of age for their players.
2.10. The Tournament Roster must be complete by December 20, 2023.
2.11. If you are a coach of a team outside of the EMSA League you are required to upload a pdf or jpeg copy of your Official Signed District/Provincial Team Roster in the online team profile, on the Polar Cup website, prior to December 20, 2023. Your Team will not be eligible to play if this is not done.
2.12. Schedules for the tournament will be available on the website December 21, 2023. Once the schedules are posted, they are final.
2.13. Once the schedules are posted you will be able to print your game sheets, you will only need 1 game sheet per game and you will give the game sheet to the referee at the start of each game. When the game is complete the Field Marshall will collect the game sheets from the referee. Results will be posted immediately on the website once they have been confirmed by tournament staff.
NOTE: If the team has guest players, the Coaches are required to submit and print the trialist form or letters of permission for any guest players (max. 3 guest players allowed) for every game played. The forms will need to accompany the game sheet when handed to the referee at the start of each game that the guest player participates in. Photocopies of the completed forms are acceptable.(All information regarding TRIALIST FOR are https://www.polarcup.ca/guest-playerstrialist-rules/ )
2.14. All info is posted on the Polar Cup website; there will be no Coach/Team paper package.
2.15. Each location will have a designated tournament headquarters during the tournament. Any questions or concerns can be addressed to your headquarters location, and this is to be done by team officials only.
2.16. The organizing committee reserves the right to adjust tiers and groups as needed to provide balanced pools or ensure teams are competitively matched.
2.17. No refunds will be issued after the registration process is closed (December 17th, 2023).
2.18. These rules are intended to be as inclusive as possible; however, in the event of unforeseen circumstances the tournament committee reserves the right to make binding decisions upon all participants.
NOTE for the Coaches of out of town/ NON EMSA TEAMS: Non–EMSA League Teams will receive 3 admission passes (at no cost for 3 Team Officials) for the Edmonton Soccer Facilities and for Edmonton Scottish Dome. These can be picked up at the Headquarters of the Location you play your first game. Spectators will be responsible to pay the admission fee. Please see the admission fees for all Location https://polarcup.ca/facilities
Section 3. Team’s OFFICIAL District/Provincial Roster
3.1. EMSA teams currently competing in the EMSA League are not required to submit an ASA roster as these rosters are already stored on EMSA’s League Management System.
3.2. All teams outside of EMSA League are required to upload a pdf or jpeg copy of their Official Signed District/Provincial Team Roster in their online team profile, on the Polar Cup website, prior to December 20, 2023. Your Team will not be eligible to play if this is not done.
3.3. No changes to the Official Team Roster can be made after December 20, 2023 for any team registered for the Polar Cup.
3.4. No player may participate without being on the team roster. Players not registered on a team for the Indoor Soccer season cannot be used.
3.5. Players are only permitted to play on ONE team in this tournament.
3.6. Tournament Comitee will recognize any EMSA teams with existing special dispensation to carry more players than regularly permitted. Any non-EMSA teams will need to submit a letter of approval along with their official team roster from their soccer organization to carry more players than regularly permitted.
Section 4. Tournament Roster
4.1. A Tournament Roster will need to be created by the Team Officials by adding all players (full name and jersey numbers) into the Polar Cup website (under Team’s Member Area).
4.2. Team Officials will needs to upload or type in all player’s name, jersey numbers individually into the system. They must also ensure Guest players/trialist names are clearly identified.
4.3. Completing this step will also auto populate your game sheets with the information.
4.4. In the Tournament Roster Teams are permitted to carry a maximum of 20 players for U13 to U19 age group and a maximum of 16 players for U9- U11 age group.
4.5. Tournament Roster must be completely prior to December 20, 2023 @ 4:00pm. No changes to the team roster can be made once that team’s first tournament game has been played. Any corrections requiring change after the December 17th deadline must be made at the at tournament headquarters.
4.6. A maximum of four (4) coaching staff members may be on the bench during the time of play. One of the staff members must be the same gender as the players.
4.7. All mixed-gender teams will participate in the corresponding male age group/tier/division.
Section 5. Guest players/Trialist Rules
5.1. Teams are permitted to use up to three (3) guest players (same tier and age group they are competing in or lower). Teams will follow any additional local rules & regulations pertaining to the utilization of trialist players.
5.2. Guest players must be from an Official Signed Provincial Roster registered for the current indoor season and will need to be identified on the team’s tournament roster/game sheets.
5.3. Guest forms must include name/age/tier of the team the player is currently registered on as well as a legible printed name, signature and phone number from their current coach. The guest player form must be completed for each guest player(s) and be signed by the guest player’s current coach as well as a team official from the tentative tournament team.
5.4. Coaches are required to submit and print the trialist form or letters of permission for any guest players (max. 3 guest players allowed) for every game played. The forms will need to accompany all game sheets when handed to the referee at the start of each game that the guest player participates in. Photocopies of the completed forms are acceptable.
5.5. EMSA trialists can only come from within the same zone or Club boundary Out of district teams can only use trialists from their own district only.
5.6. A guest player will be allowed on the following basis:
- Tier 1–3: can only be from a lower age / lower category or lower division as the age group of the receiving team’s tournament category in order to be registered on that team’s roster with written approval as noted below;
- Tier 4-6: can be from the same or lower age / same or lower category or same or lower division as the age group of the receiving team’s tournament category in order to be registered on that team’s roster with written approval as noted below.
5.7. Guest and trialist mean the same thing and the wording can be interchanged without changing the meaning.
5.8. No player will be allowed to play on more than one team for the tournament.
5.9. Any team found to have played an ineligible guest player/trialist will forfeit the game.
5.10. If Guest players are listed on the game sheet and they do not participate in the game, their name must be crossed off.
Section 6. Game Sheets and Player/Coach/Manager Cards
6.1. Game sheets will be available, on the Polar Cup website, under Team’s Member Area The system will automatically populate all players and Team Officials information on it.
6.2. Any player listed on the game sheet, but not participating in a particular game will need to be crossed off the game sheet. The game sheet is to correctly represent the players that will participate in the game, this includes all guest players.
6.3. Each team will need to print off their own game sheets for the Polar Cup. Game sheets are to be handed to the referee prior to the start of each Tournament game along with any trialist forms.
6.4. Ensure all players (including all guest players, labeled as “guest”) are listed on the game sheet. Any player not listed on the game sheet prior to kick off will not be eligible to play.
6.5. Make sure that the jersey number for each player is correct on the game sheet and corresponds with the jersey number the players are wearing during the game.
6.6. Field Marshals will collect the game sheets from the referees following the end of the game. If a field marshal is not present to collect the game sheets the home team, brings the game sheets back to the Polar Cup Headquarters at your current location.
6.7. Players are not required to have player’s cards for the competition. However, players are required to provide proof of their birthdate upon request.
6.8. Team Officials have to present their Soccer Association ID Card or Government issued photo ID Cards to the referees prior to each games, and upon the request of the referee be able to provide Proof of age for their players.
6.9. Please note: Absolutely no player registrations will be approved at tournament headquarters, please ensure you have enough players prior to entering the tournament
6.10. In the Tournament Roster Teams are permitted to carry a maximum of 20 players for U13 to U19 age group and a maximum of 16 players for U9- U11 age group.
Section 7. Games:
7.1. Format of Games:
7.1.1. All games shall consist of two 25 minutes halves. All PDP games consist of two 45 minutes halves
7.1.2. Each team is guaranteed a two minute break at half time.
7.1.3. Warm-up time is usually two to three minutes on the field prior to kickoff (usually determined by the game officials prior to the start of the game – time permitting).
7.1.4. Each team is permitted a one-minute time out during stoppage at any point during the game. During that time out the clock is stopped.
7.1.5. Tournament organizers reserve the right to shorten game times as necessary during the tournament.
7.1.6. All round robin games can end in a tie, only games that need a result will go to penalty kicks to decide a winner.
7.1.7. Each team will play a minimum of three (3) games and Gold & Silver medals will be presented after the last games in the group are played.
7.1.8. The Mercy Rule will be in place for the tournament. No team will be given more than a 5 goal win differential. Tie-Breaking procedures will use stats AFTER the mercy rule is applied. For example if a team wins 6-0, they will only receive credit for 5-0 regardless of actual score
7.1.9. All referees are ASA certified or equivalent and are assigned by the tournament referee assignor. Their decisions on their interpretations of the Laws of the Game are final
7.1.10. Teams are allowed unlimited substitutions.
7.1.11. Format:
- U9-U11 BOARDED 7v7
- U13-U19 BOARDED 6v6
- U9-U11 NON BOARDED 8V8
- U13-U19 NON BOARDED 9V9
- PDP 2006/2007 11V11
7.2. Pool Format:
7.2.1 Teams will be grouped into Pools for the tournament (Pool A, Pool B, Pool C, etc.)
7.2.2. Depending on the number of teams in each group, the Pool Format can vary.
7.2.3. All round robin games can end in a tie, if teams are tied in points after the round robin please see the tie-breaking rules to determine placement
7.2.4. All Final games need a result, if the games are tied after regulation time then they go straight to penalty kicks to determine a winner. There is no overtime in the tournament.
7.3. Point:
- WIN: 3 points
- TIE: 1 point
- LOSS: 0 point.
7.4. Tie Breaking Procedures:
Two Teams Tie:
· Head to Head
· Goal Differential
· Least Goals Against
* Fair Play (Y/R cards)
· PK’s
Three or more Team Tie:
· Goal Differential
· Least Goals Against
* Fair Play (Y/R cards)
· PK’s
7.5. Game Balls:
- U9-U11 Size 4
- U13-U19 Size 5
- PDP 2006/2007 Size 5
7.6. Forfeiting Games:
7.6.1. If a team forfeits a scheduled game the opposing team will be awarded a 3-0 win as well as 3 points.
7.6.2. Should both teams forfeit a scheduled game the final score will be recorded as N/S (no show) and no points will be awarded.
7.7. Delayed Games
7.7.1. On-field issues that delay or interrupt a game, such as facilities cleaning carpet, will result in shortened playtime as the clock will be running as if a normal game were in progress. There will be no additional make-up time allocated.
Section 8. On –Field Emergency:
8.1. Referees should ask Facility Management to call Emergency services and a Team Official should attend to the injured player until emergency responders arrives on site.
8.2. If there is a serious injury that occurs in the first half and results in a stoppage in play for more than 10 minutes the Tournament Committee, in consultation with the Referee in Chief, will determine how the result for that game will be determined.
8.3. Where game time remains greater than 10 minutes game play will resume with the final score determining the outcome.
8.4. Should the score be tied and game play can resume with less than 10 minutes remaining on the clock coaches may elect to go to penalty shots to determine a winning team.
8.5. If less than 5 minutes remains on the clock the Penalty Shoot-out is not an option and game play will resume until time runs out.
8.6. Should one coach wish to play out the remaining time whereas the other coach desires a penalty shootout a flip of the coin by team captains will resolve the issue.
8.7. Where resolution requires a coin flip the referee will request tournament officials oversee the coin flip.
Section 9. Rules of Play/Discipline/Protests:
9.1. Rules of Play
The tournament follows FIFA Laws of the Game and the current EMSA/ASA rules. All players, coaching staff, assisting personnel and team supporters are expected to obey the laws of the game and respect all tournament officials and referees.
9.2. Suspended Players & Team Officials
Players and team officials who are currently serving a suspension from their regular league games must email the Tournament Coordinator by no later than December 20th,2023 to request special permission to participate in the Polar Cup. If an email is not received by the deadline the person is not permitted to participate in any games. Permission will not be granted after the deadline has passed. The email must list the suspended person’s name, association they are currently registered with, team they are playing for in Polar Cup, age group, gender, division, total length of suspension and reason for suspension. The Tournament Coordinator may request further information on the suspension from the Association that the team is registered in. The EMSA Discipline Director will be consulted regarding the request and a decision will be emailed back to the team prior to the tournament. Suspended persons only have permission to participate upon receiving an approval email from the Polar Cup Tournament Coordinator.
9.3. Discipline
Red cards will result in an automatic minimum one (1) game suspension. Team Officials are responsible for ensuring their player does not play in the next game. The Discipline/Tournament Chairperson will only notify the team if more than a one game suspension is merited. Two yellow cards in a single game will result in an automatic one (1) game suspension to be served the following game. The onus is on the team’s coaches to ensure that suspensions are served.
U9 and U11 is considered “mini-soccer” and players are learning the game, the consequence of Red/Yellow/Blue cards is modified to consider the development of the player. Teams affected by these modified rules will not play short-handed while serving time penalties.
i) No cards will be shown to U9 players. However; for offenses that are considered serious the referee can instruct the coach to temporarily remove the player from the field of play to instruct the player on game conduct. The team will not play shorthanded.
ii) Red Card - U11 players receiving a Red Card not as a result of 2 yellow cards will sit in the box for 5 Minutes Stop-Time then proceed to their team bench where they will remain for the duration of the game.
iii) Yellow Card - U11 players receiving a Yellow Card will sit in the box for 2 Minutes Stop-Time. Players receiving a second caution (Yellow Card) in the same game will sit in the box for 2 minutes then proceed to their team bench where they will remain for the duration of the game.
iv) U11 Players receiving a Red Card will not serve any additional suspension and are able to return to regular play for subsequent games. Notwithstanding, the Polar Cup Disciplinary committee reserves to right to issue game suspensions to any player, including U9 & U11, involved in violent conduct.
v) Blue Card – Referees are discouraged from issuing Blue Cards to U11 players except for repeated re-occurrences. Upon noticing a Technical Offense the referee shall stop play immediately (unless an advantage situation exists) and correct the action instead of issuing a Blue Card. Example, too many players will result in immediate game stoppage until the issue is corrected. Any goals scored by a team with too many players on the field shall not be counted.
Red Cards, in addition to the immediate suspension, are an automatic minimum one (1) game suspension. Two yellow cards in a single game will result in an automatic one (1) game suspension to be served the following game.
b) If a player receives a second red card in the tournament, that player must report, with the affected teams’ coach, to HQ immediately after his or her team’s game. The player will not be permitted to participate in any further tournament play and may face further disciplinary action.
c) It is the coach’s responsibility to ensure that their players serve their discipline during the tournament.
d) Players who are ejected from a game for U13 and up must immediately leave the field of play and either go to their dressing room or leave the field area. They cannot remain in the hallway between the dressing room and the field of play. However, they can go upstairs and watch the rest of the game provided they have removed their team jersey and/or are wearing something to completely cover their team jersey.
e) Any coach/manager who is ejected from the game must leave the playing area as defined under section d. An ejected coach could be suspended from their next game. This will be determined by the Discipline Committee based on the Referee Report. Any coach suspended will be advised before their next game.
f) Any suspended player/coach/manager serving a next-game suspension cannot be in the dressing room or hallway prior to the game and cannot enter the field of play for the warm up or for the end of game handshake.
g) If the nature of the suspension warrants, The Discipline Committee will convene and advise the coaching staff of its findings. The regular process of appeals remains available if needed.
9.4. Protests
9.4.1 Protests of any tournament game results will be reviewed provided that the protest is in writing and accompanied by payment of $100.00. Cheques are to be made payable to the EMSA . The tournament headquarters must receive written submissions within one hour of the protested game’s completion. Protests related to application of the “Rules of Indoor Soccer” by game officials will not be accepted. Successful protests will result in the $100.00 being refunded.
9.4.2Playing ineligible players will result in the forfeit of any game the said player participated in. Affected teams will be awarded a 1 to 0 score as well as three points.
Section 10. Rules for Penalty Kicks
Should the score be tied following the conclusion of regulation time (2X25 minute halves) and a clear winner of the match needs to be declared (as is the case with the Gold and Silver medal matches), the following penalty kick procedure will come into effect.
Before the start of kicks from the penalty mark, teams shall be required to equalize the number of players on each team e.g. if one team has 15 players and the other team has 20 players, the team with 20 players must reduce their team size by 5 players. These 5 players will be outside the technical area during the duration of the penalty kicks.
The penalty shots involve five players from each team participating as the “shooters”. They can be any player (even the goaltender) who is dressed for the game and / or who is on the game sheet (i.e. back-up keepers who are designated as player 18 on the game sheet). The first shooter is determined via the flip of a coin. As per regular penalty kick procedures, the referee places the ball on the penalty spot located just inside the goalkeeper’s box. On the referee’s signal (a blow of the whistle) the designated shooter takes their shot. Each of the teams will alternate kicks until all five players from both teams have had their one chance or until a winner is declared. If a tie remains after this time, players who have not had the opportunity to shoot will take individual turns during a sudden death round of penalty kicks. If all the players have had a turn and a tie remains, the turns begin anew. Any offences which occur during the penalty shoot-out procedure will be dealt with by the game officials as per the Laws of the Game.
Players who are not shooting are asked to remain with their respective teams on the bench. The game official must ask if the player and the keeper are ready to begin before the whistle is blown. The goaltender used for the penalty kick must be the same person who was on the field in goal at the completion of regulation time with the only exception being that the referees have determined that an injury prevents the keeper from fulfilling his/her obligation in the penalty kick. At this point, the team may select an alternate from any player dressed for the game.
Section11. OUT OF PROVINCE TEAMS/NON-EMSA TEAMS
11.1. Travel Documents All out of province teams must submit travel sanction forms with their roster on or before 4:00pm on December 17, 2023.
11.2. Facility Waivers (Non-EMSA teams): All teams who are not playing in the EMSA league for the 2023/2024 Indoor season must provide EMSA headquarters with facility waivers for each player / coach / manager / bench attendant prior to their first game or confirmation from their home zone that they hold in their possession copies of the team’s waiver forms. Waiver forms are available on each facility's website.
Section 12. Awards Presentations
Only Gold and Silver medals shall be awarded to each of the age / tier categories. A team official is required to pick up the respective medals’ set from headquarters and distribute to the players.
A REMINDER TO ALL:
This tournament is for the enjoyment of our youth. Coaches are asked to keep in mind the importance of proper conduct on behalf of themselves, their players, their fellow coaches, their parents and all their spectators. Remember that without the opposing team, there would be no competition. Furthermore, although competition is healthy, we must remind ourselves of the fine line between competition and unsportsmanlike behavior. Let us remember the importance of both the time of year as well as the season that are upon us. Thanks for joining us this year!
