SummerFest 3v3 Official Rules

1. PLAYER REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN

Maximum roster: 6 players per team.
All players must be listed on the team's official tournament roster.
Players may only play for one team in the tournamen.
Players may play up an age division but may not play down.
Rosters become final at team check-in.
All players must check in at the Registration tent in person 30–60 minutes before their team's first scheduled match.
All players must submit a waiver and present proof of age during their check-in.

Every player must present one of the following:

Passport
State-issued ID
Official club or league player card
Birth certificate accompanied by a school ID or school online profile.

A player who cannot provide acceptable proof of age will not be permitted to participate. Use of an ineligible player or falsification of age may result in forfeiture and/or tournament disqualification. Once the check-in process has been completed successfully, players will be given a wristband, which must be worn at all times. If a wristband is ripped or lost, the check-in process must be completed again to receive a replacement.

2. GAME FORMAT

3 players on the field per team. No goalkeepers.
Minimum of 2 players required to start or continue a match.
Matches consist of two 15-minute halves. 2-minute halftime.
Pool-play matches may end in a tie.
The referee is the official timekeeper.
Tournament officials may adjust match times when necessary due to weather, delays, field conditions, or other circumstances.

MERCY RULE

A match may be ended when one team reaches a 10-goal lead.

3. SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions are unlimited.
Substitutions may take place during dead-ball situations with the referee's permission.
Players must enter and exit at the half-field mark.
The exiting player must leave the field before the substitute enters.

4. GOAL BOX

No player may touch the ball while the ball is inside the goal box.
Players may run or move through the goal box as long as they do not touch the ball.
The goal-box line is considered part of the goal box.
If a defending player touches the ball inside the goal box → PENALTY KICK.
If an attacking player touches the ball inside the goal box → GOAL KICK.
If the ball comes to a complete stop inside the goal box → GOAL KICK, regardless of who touched it last.

5. GOAL SCORING

A goal may only be scored from a touch on the offensive half of the field.

A ball played directly from a team's defensive half must touch another player in the offensive half before it can count as a goal.

6. NO OFFSIDES | NO SLIDE TACKLING | NO HEADING

There are no offsides in SummerFest 3v3. Slide tackling is prohibited. A player may slide to save or keep a ball in play when no opposing player is involved, provided the action is not dangerous. Deliberate heading is prohibited. A deliberate header results in an indirect free kick for the opposing team.

7. FIVE-YARD RULE

On all dead-ball situations, opposing players must remain at least 5 yards away from the ball.

The referee may delay the restart until the required distance is provided.

8. KICK-INS

There are no throw-ins. When the ball completely crosses the touchline, play resumes with a kick-in from the location where the ball left the field.
Kick-ins are indirect.

9. DIRECT & INDIRECT KICKS

The following restarts are INDIRECT:

Kick-ins
Free kicks
Kickoffs

The following are DIRECT:

Corner kicks
Penalty kicks

A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect kick without the ball touching another player.

10. GOAL KICKS

Goal kicks may be taken from any point along the end line outside the goal-box area. Opposing players must respect the required 5-yard distance.

11. KICKOFFS

Kickoffs may be taken in any direction.
Kickoffs are indirect.
Opposing players must remain at least 5 yards from the ball until it is in play.

12. PENALTY KICKS

Penalty kicks are direct.

The penalty is taken from the top of the center circle on the attacking side of midfield.
All other players must remain behind the midfield line.
Once the referee signals, the player takes one direct attempt at goal.
If the attempt does not result in a goal, the defending team receives a goal kick.
There are no rebounds on penalty kicks.

13. PLAYER EQUIPMENT

All players must wear:

Shin guards
Appropriate soccer footwear
Team jersey or matching team shirt

Players may not wear jewelry or equipment deemed dangerous by the referee. If two teams have conflicting colors, tournament staff may require one team to wear tournament-provided pinnies.

COMPETITION FORMAT

14. POOL-PLAY STANDINGS

Points will be awarded as follows:

WIN — 3 POINTS
TIE — 1 POINT
LOSS — 0 POINTS

A forfeited match will be recorded as a 5–0 result.

15. STANDINGS TIEBREAKERS

If teams finish pool play tied on points, standings will be determined in the following order:

Head-to-head (two-team tie only)
Goal differential
Most goals scored
Least goals allowed
Tournament Director-approved coin flip/draw

16. CHAMPIONSHIP & THIRD-PLACE MATCHES

Following completion of pool play:

CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: 1st Place vs. 2nd Place

THIRD-PLACE MATCH: 3rd Place vs. 4th Place
There are no semifinals unless specifically announced by tournament organizers.

17. TIED MATCHES IN CHAMPIONSHIP OR THIRD PLACE

Championship and third-place matches cannot end in a tie. If tied after regulation, there will be a 3-minute Golden Goal overtime. If still tied, there will be a Three-player penalty shootout. Each team selects three eligible players to take one kick each. If still tied, there will be Sudden-death penalty kicks and teams alternate one kick at a time until one team scores and the other does not after an equal number of attempts.

CONDUCT & TOURNAMENT ADMINISTRATION

18. YELLOW & RED CARDS

Referees may issue yellow or red cards for misconduct.

A player receiving a red card:

Is immediately removed from the current match.
May not be replaced for the remainder of that match.
Receives an automatic suspension for the team's next match.

The Tournament Director may impose additional suspensions or tournament removal depending on the severity of the incident.

19. SPORTSMANSHIP & ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY

SummerFest is committed to providing a safe, competitive, family-friendly environment. Players, coaches, parents, and spectators are expected to demonstrate respect and sportsmanship at all times.
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR:

Fighting
Threats or intimidation
Abusive or discriminatory language
Harassment or abuse of referees
Harassment of players, coaches, tournament staff, or spectators
Unauthorized entry onto the playing field
Dangerous or threatening behavior
Conduct that compromises the safety or integrity of the tournament

Violations may result in:

Removal from the field or facility
Player or coach suspension
Match forfeiture
Team disqualification
Removal from the tournament

Coaches are responsible for the conduct of their players, team personnel, parents, and spectators.

20. REFEREE AUTHORITY

The referee has full authority over the match from the time they enter the playing area until the match is completed. The referee's decisions regarding facts connected with play are final. Only the designated team coach may respectfully approach tournament staff regarding a rules question or concern. Abuse or harassment of referees will not be tolerated.

21. FORFEITS & TEAM READINESS

Teams are responsible for knowing their scheduled match times and arriving at the correct field prepared to play. Teams should be at their assigned field at least 10 minutes before kickoff. A team that cannot field the minimum 2 eligible players may be declared to have forfeited the match.
A forfeited match is recorded as 5–0. Tournament officials have final authority regarding grace periods and forfeitures.

22. WEATHER, DELAYS & SCHEDULE CHANGES

SummerFest may modify:

Match duration
Start times
Field assignments
Competition format
Placement-game procedures

when necessary due to severe weather, field conditions, safety concerns, delays, or circumstances beyond the tournament's control.

Teams are responsible for monitoring official tournament communications for schedule changes.

23. PROTESTS

Judgment calls made by referees cannot be protested. Questions involving player eligibility, rule application, or tournament administration must be brought to the Tournament Director by the team's designated coach. Situations that these rules do not address are the decision of the Tournament Director.
The Tournament Director's decision is final.

SummerFest 3v3 Official Rules

​

1. PLAYER REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN

Maximum roster: 6 players per team.

All players must be listed on the team's official tournament roster.

Players may only play for one team in the tournamen.

Players may play up an age division but may not play down.

Rosters become final at team check-in.

All players must check in at the Registration tent in person 30–60 minutes before their team's first scheduled match.

All players must submit a waiver and present proof of age during their check-in.

Every player must present one of the following:

Passport

State-issued ID

Official club or league player card

Birth certificate accompanied by a school ID or school online profile.

2. GAME FORMAT

3 players on the field per team. No goalkeepers.

Minimum of 2 players required to start or continue a match.

Matches consist of two 15-minute halves. 2-minute halftime.

Pool-play matches may end in a tie.

The referee is the official timekeeper.

Tournament officials may adjust match times when necessary due to weather, delays, field conditions, or other circumstances.

MERCY RULE

A match may be ended when one team reaches a 10-goal lead.

3. SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions are unlimited.

Substitutions may take place during dead-ball situations with the referee's permission.

Players must enter and exit at the half-field mark.

The exiting player must leave the field before the substitute enters.

4. GOAL BOX

No player may touch the ball while the ball is inside the goal box.

Players may run or move through the goal box as long as they do not touch the ball.

The goal-box line is considered part of the goal box.

If a defending player touches the ball inside the goal box → PENALTY KICK.

If an attacking player touches the ball inside the goal box → GOAL KICK.

If the ball comes to a complete stop inside the goal box → GOAL KICK, regardless of who touched it last.

5. GOAL SCORING

A goal may only be scored from a touch on the offensive half of the field.

A ball played directly from a team's defensive half must touch another player in the offensive half before it can count as a goal.

6. NO OFFSIDES | NO SLIDE TACKLING | NO HEADING

7. FIVE-YARD RULE

On all dead-ball situations, opposing players must remain at least 5 yards away from the ball.

The referee may delay the restart until the required distance is provided.

8. KICK-INS

There are no throw-ins. When the ball completely crosses the touchline, play resumes with a kick-in from the location where the ball left the field. Kick-ins are indirect.

9. DIRECT & INDIRECT KICKS

The following restarts are INDIRECT:

Kick-ins

Free kicks

Kickoffs

The following are DIRECT:

Corner kicks

Penalty kicks

A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect kick without the ball touching another player.

10. GOAL KICKS

Goal kicks may be taken from any point along the end line outside the goal-box area. Opposing players must respect the required 5-yard distance.

11. KICKOFFS

Kickoffs may be taken in any direction.

Kickoffs are indirect.

Opposing players must remain at least 5 yards from the ball until it is in play.

12. PENALTY KICKS

Penalty kicks are direct.

The penalty is taken from the top of the center circle on the attacking side of midfield.

All other players must remain behind the midfield line.

Once the referee signals, the player takes one direct attempt at goal.

If the attempt does not result in a goal, the defending team receives a goal kick.

There are no rebounds on penalty kicks.

13. PLAYER EQUIPMENT

All players must wear:

Shin guards

Appropriate soccer footwear

Team jersey or matching team shirt

Players may not wear jewelry or equipment deemed dangerous by the referee. If two teams have conflicting colors, tournament staff may require one team to wear tournament-provided pinnies.

COMPETITION FORMAT

14. POOL-PLAY STANDINGS

Points will be awarded as follows:

WIN — 3 POINTS TIE — 1 POINT LOSS — 0 POINTS

A forfeited match will be recorded as a 5–0 result.

15. STANDINGS TIEBREAKERS

If teams finish pool play tied on points, standings will be determined in the following order:

There are no throw-ins. When the ball completely crosses the touchline, play resumes with a kick-in from the location where the ball left the field.
Kick-ins are indirect.

WIN — 3 POINTS
TIE — 1 POINT
LOSS — 0 POINTS

THIRD-PLACE MATCH: 3rd Place vs. 4th Place
There are no semifinals unless specifically announced by tournament organizers.

17. TIED MATCHES IN CHAMPIONSHIP OR THIRD PLACE

SummerFest is committed to providing a safe, competitive, family-friendly environment. Players, coaches, parents, and spectators are expected to demonstrate respect and sportsmanship at all times.
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR: