GENERAL

The tournament is open to all boys’ and girls’ teams in U-8 thru U-14 birth years from USSF, USYS, Us Club Soccer, USSSA, CYSA-S or AYSO affiliates.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

The application deadline is November 6, 2026. Qualifying applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and teams will be notified by email.

REGISTRATION

By registering your team, you are committing to play all scheduled games for your team. Games not played will be classified as a forfeit under the rules below. ALL teams are committed to ALL playing games, as scheduled.

MANDATORY CHECK-IN

Teams must check in at the MANDATORY Check-In one hour prior to the team’s first game. Failure to appear on time at mandatory check-in will result in automatic disqualification from the tournament without refund. Check in is one hour prior to the team’s first game of the tournament. Rosters will be locked upon completion of the mandatory check-in. Please see the tournament check-in process details at tournament’s website, https://805thanksgivingclassic.com

GAME CARDS

Teams will be required to bring their game cards to each game and collect them from the referees after verifying the score each game. Game cards must be brought to the nearest field marshal tent to input the score prior to the game. Teams are responsible for collecting their game cards throughout the tournament.

CREDENTIALS

This is a US Club sanctioned event. At the Mandatory Check-In, teams must provide the required credentials. All U.S. teams must provide valid laminated Player I.D. Cards with photographs, and signed Medical Release Forms. These I.D. Cards and Medical Release Forms must be available for a tournament official to inspect at any time during the tournament. No player card, no play.

ROSTERS

U13 – U14: Can roster up to 22 players but only 18 players may be in uniform and participate in each game 

U11 – U12: Can roster up to and play a maximum of 16 players

U8 – U10: Can roster up to and play a maximum of 14 players

GUEST PLAYERS

Teams may use an unlimited amount of guest players but are still subject to the maximum roster size rules above. 

PLAYERS CAN ONLY PLAY FOR ONE TEAM THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE EVENT.

RULES OF PLAY

U13 – U14: 30 minute halves, 11v11 field, Size 5 ball

U11 – U12: 30 minute halves, 9v9 field, Size 4 ball

U8 – U10: 25 minute halves, 7v7 field, Size 4 ball

Group Games are “complete” upon completion of one half of play regardless of the circumstances of termination during the second half with results based on the score at the time the game is called. Group games can end in a tie.

Semi-Final or Final games will go directly to FIFA Kicks from the Mark to determine the winner.

SUBSTITUTIONS

Substitutions are unlimited. Teams may substitute only with the referee’s permission at any stoppage of play.
 

HOME TEAM

The first team listed on the schedule is designated as the home team. The home team will choose which side of the field they wish to occupy, and the visiting team will take the opposite side across the field. Home teams will provide 3 game balls subject to referee’s approval. Home teams will wear white/light colored jerseys. The home team will choose the direction in which they would like to play before the initial kickoff.

VISITING TEAM

The Visiting Team will be the team who appears second on the game schedule. The visiting team will wear dark jerseys. The visiting team will be required to switch to alternate jerseys to accommodate a color conflict as declared by the referee. The visiting team will be awarded the initial kick off.

SPECTATORS

All spectators are to be on the same side of the field as their team benches. In the spirit of sportsmanship, we ask spectators not to go to the other team’s side of the field.

ZERO TOLERANCE ABUSE POLICY

If any person touches, confronts, chases, bullies, follows, cusses at, threatens, waits for, tries to fight, attacks or assaults a referee – the team they are there in support will forfeit all remaining games and tournament entry fees and will be reported to their appropriate governing body.

EQUIPMENT

It will be at the game Referee’s discretion to determine the safety and suitability of player equipment including the wearing of a hard brace or cast. Referee’s will perform safety checks prior to the start of each game

CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS

A player receiving two cautions (yellow cards) in a single game will be given an ejection (red card). A player who has been ejected (sent off), will not be replaced. If a player has received two yellow cards and was ejected from the prior game, they may participate in the next game. A player who is ejected for a straight red card will be suspended for the next game. If the referee determines that the ejection is for violent conduct, the player will not be allowed to participate in the next TWO scheduled games, at a minimum. Further suspensions for Violent Conduct or Referee Abuse may be issued at the discretion of the Tournament Director or tournament official. A coach who has been ejected (sent off) will be suspended the same as a Player ejection. During game suspension(s) for coaches: there will be NO contact between the team and the coach during the game and the coach must be out of sight and sound of the field. Additionally, the coach must not be involved in unacceptable conduct (defined as coaching his/her players by any means or method, or harassment of opponents/players/referees/staff). Failure to adhere to this rule will result an immediate ejection from the tournament for the coach.

SUSPENDED AND TERMINATED GAMES

If in the opinion of the referee, a game must be terminated for misconduct of players, bench, coaches, or spectators; the offending team could be suspended from further play and will forfeit that game and all remaining games and tournament fees. All previous points earned remain as played.

INJURY

Additional time will not be added to the game for injuries unless determined by event official. All games will be played on a running clock.

REFEREE DECISIONS

The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his/her discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee. No protests or disputes.

SCORING, STANDINGS AND TIEBREAKERS

Three (3) points for each win

One (1) point for each tie

Zero (0) points for each loss

In the event two teams are tied in standings at the end of bracket play, the teams to advance will be determined as follows:

  1. The winner in head to head competition
  2. Best goal differential in overall competition
  3. Most goals for
  4. Least goals against
  5. Most total wins
  6. Most shutouts
  7. Coin toss made by two tournament officials present. The results will be communicated to each team manager.

In the event three or more teams are tied in points at the end of bracket play or in the determination of a wild card team, the tournament will look to eliminate or advance teams based on applying criteria 2 through 6 above until teams are advanced or eliminated. After applying each tiebreaking criteria, the tournament will attempt to fill the spot(s) available from the remaining teams. If a tie prevents all spots from being filled, the teams who qualify will be advanced, the teams not involved in the tie for the remaining spots will be not be advanced, and the teams tied for the remaining spots will be evaluated under the next criteria on the list. If all tie-breaking procedures have left three or more teams tied, team names will be randomly selected by draw by at least two tournament officials present the result of which will then be communicated to each team manager.

PLEASANT VALLEY FIELDS RULES

  1. No dogs are allowed at Pleasant Valley Fields
  2. Drive cars only in designated areas
  3. Follows all signs and direction from parking attendants.
  4. Park is only designated areas. Cars parked in non designated areas are subjected to be towed at owner’s expense
  5. No overnight parking. Cars left overnight are subjected to be towed at owner’s expense.
  6. No artificial noisemakers are allowing during the tournament
  7. Parking fee is $15.00 cash per car per day. Motorhomes are not allowed due to parking restrictions.
  8. Pleasant Valley Fields, Eagles Soccer Club or the 805 Thanksgiving Classic is not liable for any damage or loss to personal property that occurs at the fields

Participants and spectators that violate the above rules will be removed from premises and not allowed to return.

WEATHER

Games may be shortened, rescheduled, relocated, or cancelled at Tournament Director’s discretion for safety.

REFUND POLICY

In the event of inclement weather or other circumstances beyond the tournament’s control that result in the complete cancellation of the event before any games are played, the 805 Thanksgiving Classic Tournament may issue a refund of up to 50% of the tournament registration fee or offer a credit toward a future tournament.

Teams that withdraw on or before October 14, 2026, which is 45 days before the tournament begins on November 28, 2026, are eligible for a full refund of the tournament registration fee, less a $150 administrative fee. GotSport software and processing fees are nonrefundable.

No refunds will be issued for withdrawals submitted after October 14, 2026, disqualification, forfeits, failure to check in, failure to provide required credentials, or removal from the tournament due to a violation of tournament rules.

GUARANTEED GAMES

All age groups and divisions are guaranteed three (3) games, with three games scheduled between Saturday, November 29th – Sunday, November 30th

COACHING CONFLICTS

If a coach has two (2) teams participating in the tournament, they are guaranteed to not have coaching conflicts in group play. If a coach has more than two teams participating in the tournament, we will do our best to accommodate but cannot guarantee there will not be a coaching conflict. Semi-Final and Finals are not guaranteed to be conflict free.

BRACKETING

Eight team flights: will consist of two (2) brackets of four (4) teams. Each team will play the others within its bracket for a total of three (3) preliminary games with the top team in each bracket advancing to the Championship Game

Six team flights: will consist of two (2) brackets of four (3) teams. Each team will play the others in the opposite bracket for a total of three (3) preliminary games with the top two teams with the highest points (wildcards) from any bracket advancing to the Championship Game.

Five-team flights: will consist of one (1) bracket of five (5) teams. Each team will play three (3) scheduled games. The two (2) teams with the highest point totals after these games will advance to the Championship Game.

Four team flights: will consist of one (1) brackets of four (4) teams. Each team will play the others within the bracket for a total of three (3) preliminary games. The first and second place teams will advance to the championship game.

APPEALS/FAIR PLAY

Any matter not covered by the Rules of the event will be decided by the Tournament Director or designated official. All referee decisions are considered final. Red cards and ejections will not be rescinded. We will not review any video to support any protest, objection, complaint or matter of judgement. Cheating will not be tolerated. Any team caught cheating, in any manner, will immediately be forfeited out of the event