Platform Soccer Tournament

Good Games Start With Clear Rules

Bring your team, respect the game, and enjoy the tournament. Captains must share these rules with every player.

Know Before You Play

18+ players
5–7 players per team
Turf shoes only
One team per player
Stay outside the goalkeeper circle
Respect players and referees

1.Teams & Registration

Players must be 18 or older. Registration is open to everyone — Platform affiliation is not required. Men and women may play, with no required team mix.
Register a full team or join the free agent list. Registration closes November 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific.
There are 16 team places; additional teams may join a waiting list.
Each team registers 5–7 players, a unique team name, shirt color, captain, and backup captain.
Provide each player's real first and last name, phone number, and emergency contact, plus the captain's contact details. Players must confirm their participation. Identification may be checked.
Each player must accept the rules and complete the venue's required waiver before playing.
Teams must be available November 8 and, if they qualify, November 15. Every individual player does not have to attend both days.
Free agents are offered available places first come, first served, based on completed registration time. The player and captain must agree to the placement. The player has 24 hours to accept. Placement is not guaranteed.
Organizers may form a free-agent team if there are at least five players, a captain, and an available team place.
A player may register with only one team. Teams cannot borrow or transfer players between tournament teams.
The captain handles registration and payment and shares schedules, rules, and updates with the players. Tournament management communicates with teams through their captains.
Initial player lists must be completed by the registration deadline.

2.Player Replacements

Each team may make ONE permanent player replacement during the entire tournament, including the knockout stage. This may replace a player who does not show up.
The captain must give the manager the outgoing and incoming players' names and the new player's phone number. The manager must approve and record the change before the new player plays.
The new player cannot be registered with any other tournament team, including an eliminated team.
The replaced player cannot return or join another team.
A replacement does not cancel a team penalty or disciplinary decision.

3.Shirts & Equipment

Teammates must wear matching shirt colors. Official soccer jerseys are not required. The goalkeeper should wear a different color.
If shirt colors clash, one team must change shirts or wear different-colored vests. The referee or manager decides which team changes. Shared vests will be available.
Team names and clothing must not include threats, hate messages, or sexual content.
Soccer turf shoes only. Long-stud soccer cleats and American football cleats are not allowed.
Remove jewelry. The referee may reject unsafe equipment.

4.Match Rules

Five players play at a time, including the goalkeeper. At least four players, including a goalkeeper, are required to start and continue. Three or fewer means a forfeit. The other team may still play with five.
Each match has two 10-minute halves with no halftime break. Teams may switch sides quickly.
Each 30-minute slot includes 5 minutes to warm up, 20 minutes of play, and 5 minutes at the end for referee-added time or delays.
The clock runs during normal stoppages and stops for a serious injury or emergency. Teams cannot request timeouts.
A coin toss decides the first-half kickoff; the other team starts the second half.
Unlimited substitutions are allowed during a stoppage with the referee's permission. The outgoing player must leave before the substitute enters. Tell the referee before changing goalkeepers.
Only the goalkeeper may enter the half-circle in front of the goal. The goalkeeper must stay inside it and may use their hands only inside it.
An outfield player entering the half-circle commits a foul. A goal resulting from that violation does not count.
The goalkeeper playing or kicking a ball outside the half-circle also commits a foul, even while standing inside.
There is no offside. Slide tackles are not allowed. Goalkeepers may dive safely inside their goal area.
No pushing, holding, tripping, dangerous kicking, or deliberate handball by outfield players.
Opponents must stay at least three meters away for free kicks. Penalties are taken from the field's penalty mark.
If the ball hits the side walls or overhead net, play continues. If the ball leaves the playing area, restart with a kick-in, not a throw-in.
Organizers provide match balls. Time-wasting may result in a warning or yellow card.

5.Group Games & Points

November 8 has four groups of four teams. Each team plays the other three teams in its group once, for three games per team.
Win: 3 points. Draw: 1 point. Loss: 0 points. Group games may end in a draw; no penalty shootouts.
The top two teams in each group advance.
Teams are ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored, then points from games between the tied teams. Goal difference means goals scored minus goals conceded.
For three or more tied teams, the head-to-head comparison uses games between those teams. If still tied, a random draw decides.
Results and standings are updated after games.

6.Finals & Placement Games

November 15 includes quarterfinals, main semifinals, placement semifinals, and matches deciding places 1–8. Only the eight qualifying teams return. Every qualifying team plays three more games.
Quarterfinal winners enter the main semifinals; those winners play the championship final, and those losers play for third place.
Quarterfinal losers enter the placement semifinals; those winners play for fifth place, and those losers play for seventh place.
The bracket is updated on the website, social media, and through captains as positions become confirmed. Names are added as soon as known. The full knockout bracket is finalized after the group stage ends.
All tied knockout and placement games go straight to penalties, with no extra time.
Teams take three penalties each, alternating turns. Stop early if the result is already decided. If still tied, take one each until one team scores and the other misses in the same round.
Only players on the field at the final whistle may take part. Both teams must have the same number of eligible kickers. Every eligible player must take a turn before anyone takes another.

7.Arrival & Forfeits

Check in at least 15 minutes before the team's first scheduled slot.
A team has a maximum five-minute grace period after scheduled kickoff to have at least four players ready, including a goalkeeper. Arriving late does not extend the scheduled finish time.
A forfeit is a 3–0 loss unless the actual score already gives the winning team a goal difference greater than three. If both teams fail to attend, both get zero points and no goals.
Using an unregistered or suspended player may result in a forfeit after the manager checks the facts.
A second no-show may lead to removal after a warning to the captain.
If a team withdraws or is removed before finishing the group stage, all its group results are removed.
If a qualifier withdraws before knockouts begin, the next team in its group may be offered the place. After knockouts begin, its next opponent advances without playing.

8.Conduct & Cards

Respect referees, players, staff, and spectators. No abuse, threats, hate speech, or fighting.
A yellow card is a warning. Two yellow cards in the same match mean a red card. Yellow cards do not carry over to another match.
The red-card count resets for the next match.
Serious misconduct may still lead to a longer suspension. Fighting or threats may lead to removal for the rest of the tournament.
Serious or repeated team misconduct may lead to team removal. A suspended player cannot play for another team.
Spectators must stay outside the playing area.

Red Card Policy

A red card means your team plays with one fewer player for 3 minutes.

First Red Card

The player leaves the field for 3 minutes.
The team plays with one fewer player for those 3 minutes.
Afterward, the same player or a substitute may enter with the referee's permission.

Second Red Card in the Same Match

The player leaves again, and the team plays short for another 3 minutes.
Afterward, a substitute may enter with the referee's permission.
That player cannot return for the rest of that match.

9.Referees & Complaints

Referee decisions about play are final. Only the captain or acting captain may raise a concern.
Report player-eligibility or recorded-score complaints within 15 minutes after the match.
The manager checks the records and referee report, then makes the final tournament decision.
Teams must continue playing while a complaint is reviewed. Refusing to play may result in a forfeit.

10.Golden Boot

The player with the most counted goals wins $100 and the Golden Boot trophy.
Count goals from group games, quarterfinals, main semifinals, the third-place game, and the championship final.
Penalties during these games and successful penalty-shootout kicks also count.
Goals and shootout kicks from placement semifinals and fifth- and seventh-place games do not count.

11.Safety, Weather & Photos

The referee, manager, or venue may stop unsafe play. Rain alone does not automatically cancel a match.
For a serious injury or emergency, the clock stops and play resumes only when safe.
An interrupted game resumes with the same score and remaining time when possible; otherwise, the manager announces the next arrangement. A team causing abandonment through misconduct may forfeit.
Captains receive schedule changes and must share them.
Photos and videos may be taken for tournament coverage and Platform's social media. Tell the manager before the event if you do not want to be featured.
Phone numbers, identification details, forms, and emergency contacts remain private. Team names, schedules, results, and event coverage may be shared publicly. Other marketing requires separate permission.

12.Payment & Refunds

Entry is $420 per team for 5–7 players. Captains have 24 hours after receiving Zelle instructions to pay.
Registration is confirmed after payment is checked and a confirmation is sent. Unpaid places may be offered to another team.
If the organizer cancels the tournament for any reason, captains receive full refunds.
Withdraw by October 25, 2026, at 11:59 PM: full refund.
Withdraw October 26 through November 1, 2026, at 11:59 PM: $320 refund after a $100 deduction.
Withdraw November 2 or later: no refund unless a complete replacement team is approved, registered, and paid. Refunds follow confirmation of the replacement and go to the captain.
All deadlines are Pacific Time.