Cookie’s Best Rules
Area 2F Championship Tournament
October 25, 2025
TEAM SELECTION AND PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Teams for Cookie’s Best shall be regular season teams nominated to the Tournament by their Regional
Boards. Each region is free to set the criteria in which their regular seasons “best team” is determined.
Players must be the appropriate age for division they are playing in. Playing up will be allowed if
permission was granted in writing at the beginning of the season as per AYSO governing documents.
Otherwise the player is ineligible. Playing down is not allowed.
Each team will consist of a head coach and players. Teams may also have one assistant coach. Coaches
and Assistant Coaches must be listed on the roster, currently registered volunteers, have taken Safe Haven
since July 2011, CDC Concussion training, SafeSports, and have done LiveScan if volunteering in
California. All coaches, head and assistants, must be certified at the following levels:
• 10U – U10 Certified
• 12U – U12 Certified
• 14U – Intermediate Certified
There will be no exceptions to the required certifications. If the team does not have a properly certified
Coach, they will not be able to play. Only coaches listed on the roster may be on the sidelines with the
players. No team parents on team sideline.
AYSO ID CARDS
Remember that all players and coaches MUST have AYSO photo ID cards.
There is no requirement that you bring a full roster if you do not wish to do so. However, every player on
your regular season roster must be invited to play. The point of the tournament is to celebrate the best
TEAM.
TOURNAMENT RULES AND FORMAT (Violation of ANY of the rules listed below may
disqualify coaches from future Area Tournaments including the upcoming Kit Carson All Star
Tournament)
Tournament games shall be conducted in accordance with the Laws of the Game as set forth by FIFA
together with AYSO’s Tournament Rules. National AYSO rules and regulations regarding substitutions,
uniforms, age of participants, etc., shall apply. The referee shall resolve any disputes on the fields. The
Tournament Director or a person designated by the Tournament Director shall handle any protest or
disciplinary matter. Teams shall have registered players and coaches on the side of the field designated
for them. Spectators will not be allowed on the same side of the field as coaches and players and will
view the game in a designated spectator area. By participating in this Tournament, it is understood
that all Kid Zone guidelines will be strictly enforced. Tournament officials reserve the right to eject
participants/spectators from the fields if they do not follow the Kid Zone guidelines.
All players MUST receive equal playing time. This Tournament follows the “THREE BEFORE
FOUR” policy as approved by Area 2F and Section 2 for short-sided games.
Number of games played, bracketing and format will be based on teams in the age bracket and most
teams will play 2 games on the day of the Tournament.
Games will start on time. It is the head coach’s responsibility to verify their game times on the day of the
Tournament to ensure there were no last minute changes to the game schedule. If a team is not present
and ready to play within five minutes of the start time, they will forfeit the game and the opposing team
awarded the forfeit points. Late starting games may be shortened at the discretion of Tournament
officials.
Failure to appear for a scheduled match is considered a very serious violation of our Good Sportsmanship
philosophy and the rules of this Tournament in particular, and sanctions will be imposed against the
responsible coach(s) and possibly even the coach's Region. This may include disqualification from future
Area tournaments, including the Kit Carson All Star Tournament.
The home team (listed first on the schedule) provides game balls and chooses sides. Please have these
inflated and ready to play! Visitors kick-off.
The referee's clock WILL RUN on substitutions. Keep your players ON THE FIELD and substitute them
quickly. Substitution time is 1 min maximum.
Substitutions at 14U will be free substitutions.
Breaks at the half are 5 minutes in length. Matches will end at the scheduled time for that game regardless
of the referee's clock!
The divisions shall be:
• 10U Girls/Boys – 7 v 7, no more than 10 players per team, (unless
regular season roster was larger) 16 min. half
• 12U Girls/Boys – 9 v 9, no more than 12 players per team, (unless
regular season roster was larger) 20 min. half
• 14U Girls/Boys – 11 v 11, no more than 15 players per team, (unless
regular season roster was larger)23 min. half
GOAL KEEPERS
Goal keepers are considered as all other players with the regards to playing time. In addition, they must
follow the following guidelines:
• 10U – no more than half a game in the goal
• 12U – no more than three quarters in the goal
• 14U– can be in goal entire game (providing the three before four rule is followed)
REFEREES and VOLUNTEERS
All teams must supply AT LEAST one referee. Referees must be assignable as centers – and extra help
will be needed!
Volunteers should sign up directly or coordinate through their regional Referee Administrator.
Tournament staff reserves the right to make changes in the referee schedule if deemed necessary.
Referee’s may not referee team they are representing.
SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT VOLUNTEERS AND REFEREES
Referees are AYSO volunteers. Some are experienced, some are not, and AYSO creates a safe place for
them to volunteer. Any dissent by players, coaches or spectators could result in a caution or send-off by
the referee. An additional 1 or 2 points could be deducted from the team’s record for poor sportsmanship
at the discretion of the Tournament Director/Area Director or their representatives. Coaches are
responsible for their spectators. Should spectators become unruly a coach may be carded and points
deducted.
REQUIRED PAPERWORK
All teams must check in at least 45 minutes before their first game. Please be aware that there might be a
line first thing in the morning so plan accordingly.
This is what you are required to have, if you do not have these items, you will be asked to step to the end
of the line until the coaches who do have all their items ready have been checked in.
• Player & Coach ID cards. Player medical releases can be printed or have instant access to on your
phone. You will need to show us you can access instantly.
• Roster and 3 filled out game cards with jersey numbers
WINNING
Total points determine the winner. Points are assigned in the following way:
• Win – 6 points
• Tie – 3 points
• Loss – 0 points
• Shutout – 1 additional point (an earned shutout, including 0-0 tie; does not include
forfeits)
• Goals – 1 point for each goal scored, maximum of 3 points per game win or lose
• Sportsmanship points –
o 1 point DEDUCTED for each goal over a 5 goal differential
o 2 points DEDUCTED for each send-off (player,coach)
• Forfeit – 7 points (listed as a 1-0 win with no shutout points as it is not an earned win)
• All coaches MUST make adjustments once you are ahead by 3.
TIE BREAKS
Two and three way ties based on points in Preliminary round games will use all of the following
procedures in the order listed until a winner is determined:
1. The winner in head to head competition.
2. The team with the fewest send-offs.
3. The team with the most Goals Ahead – (goals scored per game less total goals allowed; maximum
of 5 “Goals Ahead” per game played.
4. The team with the fewest goals scored against the team.
5. Kicks from the mark (shootout).
WINNER OF FINALS
All final games shall end with a winner (no ties). Ties at the end of final games shall be resolved by two
five (5) minute overtime periods. Both periods shall be played fully. Substitutions may occur at the start
of each overtime period. Substitutions need not follow the “three before four” rule, since each player shall
already have played at least three fourths of the regular time match. If the score remains tied at the end of
the overtime periods, then kicks from the penalty mark shall be used to determine the winner.
RINGERS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS
Any team substituting an unregistered player, or a player who did not play on that team during the regular
season, or a player not sanctioned to play on the team by the team's home regional board (e.g., a
suspended player), will be completely disqualified from the Tournament. Any roster exceptions need to
be presented in writing by your Regional Commissioner. The request must then be emailed for approval
by the Tournament Director/Area Director.
.