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GGS Gold Cup - 3 vs 3 Tournament Format and Rules of the game


Laws/Rules are the same as it would be in a full sided competition, unless modified in the rules below.

PLAYER REGISTRATION: All players must be listed on their teams' roster form before the tournament begins. Any team or player determined by the event director to have falsified age or skill level will be dismissed from the tournament and will not be eligible for a refund.

ROSTERS: No changes or substitutions to rosters will be allowed after the start of a team's first game. All rosters are final at the start of the team's first game. PLAYERS: SIX (6) is the maximum number of players on a team; THREE (3) field players at one time. Players may only play on one team in the tournament. There are no goalkeepers in 3v3 soccer. Substitutes may occur at any dead ball situation, but players must get referees attention and enter and exit at the half-field mark only.


COACHES: Three (3) is the maximum number of coaches that can accompany a team on the sideline during a match. Coaches may not cross beyond the midline and shall remain near the team’s sideline area.


TEAM UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT: All players must wear jerseys/shirts during play and each team must bring both a light and a dark colored jersey/shirt. If both teams are wearing the same color a coin flip in qualifying play will determine the team to change uniforms. In playoffs the higher seed will have the option. All players must wear shin guards. Any player without shin guards will not be allowed to play. A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to them or another player (including any kind of jewelry). Event wristbands are an exception and must be worn while playing and until participation in the event is over. Teams are responsible for providing game balls. Here are the following sizes for each group: U6-U8 = Size 3; U9-U12 = Size 4; and U13 & up = Size 5.


FIELD DIMENSIONS: Length 35-40 yards, Width 25-30 yards. U8 and under will play on fields, Length 25-30 yards, Width 15-20 yards.

GOALS & GOAL BOX: The goals are between 4-6' high by 6-8' wide. The goal box is between 10-12' wide and 6-8' long, and is located directly in front of the goal. No player may touch the ball within the goal box, however any player may move through the goal box. If any part of the ball or player's body is on or across the line it is considered in the goal box; the player is an extension of the box. If a defender touches the ball in the goal box, a goal is awarded to the offensive team. If the defender OR the ball is in the box and contact is made, a goal is awarded. If an offensive player touches the ball within the goal box, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team. If the ball comes to a complete stop in the goal box, regardless of which team touched it last, a goal kick is awarded to the defensive team.

GAME DURATION: The game shall consist of two 12-minute halves separated by a two-minute halftime period OR the first team to reach 12 goals, whichever comes first. Games tied after regulation play shall end in a tie except in playoffs. A team, at the discretion of the referee and the tournament director will be forfeited at game time if they are not present. Teams are responsible for waiting until their seed for playoffs has been determined. There are no time outs in 3v3 soccer.

GOAL SCORING: Goals can be scored from anywhere on the offensive half of the field of play. The ball must last be touched (either by offense or defense) within the attacking team's offensive half of the field. A goal cannot be scored directly from a kick off. For a goal to be awarded during a kick off the ball must first be kicked completely off of the halfway line, into the offensive half of the field (If the entire ball is not completely within the offense half of the field when last touched during kick off, no goal will be awarded, and a goal kick will be given).


TIEBREAKERS: (after qualifying play) Ties in standings between two teams will be broken by; 1) head to head results between tied teams; 2) goal difference in qualifying play; 3) most goals scored in qualifying play; 4) least goals allowed, 5) if head coaches agree, a coin toss; else a shootout. Ties between three or more teams will be broken by; 1) goal difference in qualifying play; 2) most goals scored in qualifying play, 3) least goals allowed, 4) shootout with 1 team receiving a first-round bye by random draw. If the criteria for 3 or more teams eliminates all but 2 teams, the criteria for a tie between two teams (above) will be used to determine the rank of the two teams. A forfeit will be entered as score of 6-0.

PLAYOFF OVERTIME: Overtime shall consist of sudden death overtime period, maximum length of three minutes, with a coin toss to decide kick-off direction. The first team to score in overtime is the winner. If no team has scored in the three minute-overtime periods, the winner shall be decided by shootout. A coin flip will decide which team starts the penalty kick round. The three players from each team remaining on the field at the end of overtime will alternate with each penalty kick, with the higher scoring team winning after the first round. If the score remains tied after the first round of penalty kicks the same field players will rotate in a sudden death penalty kick format until one team scores unanswered.

FIVE YARD RULE: In all dead ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards (15 feet) away from the ball. If the defensive player's goal area is closer than five yards, the ball shall be placed five yards from the goal area in line with the place of the infraction.



RESTARTS: All dead ball kicks to restart play (kick-ins, free kicks, kick-offs), with exception of corner and penalty kicks, are considered to be indirect free kicks. The rule defining when a kicked ball is in play after the first touch in a restart is from full sided soccer. Our rules do not alter that rule in any way. In the full sided game of soccer, the ball is considered in play when it is kicked and moved. The distance to be moved is minimal and the kick need only be a touch of the ball with the foot in a kicking motion or being dragged with the top or bottom of the foot. Simply tapping the top of the ball with the foot or stepping on the ball is not sufficient.


GOAL KICKS: May be taken from any point on the goal line, and not in the goal box area.


KICK OFF: May be taken in any direction. For a goal to be awarded during a kick off the ball must first be kicked completely off from the halfway line, into the offensive half of the field (If the entire ball is not completely within the offense half of the field when last touched, no goal will be awarded).


PENALTY KICKS: Shall be awarded if, in the referee's opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by the infraction. It is a direct kick taken from the middle of the halfway line with all players behind the halfway line. If a goal is not scored, the defense obtains possession with a goal kick. Penalty kicks are not live balls.


PLAYER EJECTION (RED CARD): Referees have the right to eject a player from the game for continual disobedience or because of an incident that warrants sending the player off. The team may then continue with the remaining players on their team. If the ejected player was on the field, he may be replaced by an eligible rostered player on the team. The tournament director will decide the number of games in the suspension.


FORFEITS: Any team forfeiting two consecutive games in qualifying play or forfeiting a game in playoffs will be removed from the tournament.

PROTESTS: There will be no protests.

SPORTSMANSHIP: Players, coaches and spectators are expected to act in good sportsmanship always. Abuse of the referees will not be tolerated. Spectators are prohibited from entering the field of play at any time during the match. Any instance of such conduct will disqualify the responsible team from the event.


GENERAL: GGS and/or the host organization will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by any team due to the cancellation in part or whole of any Division or any part of this tournament.


CASTS: Orthopedic casts of any kind are not permitted; however, soft braces can be worn with written approval from a doctor, and judgment as to safety is at the discretion of the referee. The referee has the final say at each game for soft braces.







1820 A D Mims Rd,

Ocoee, FL 34761


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