Palo Alto Tall Trees Tournament Rules Summary This rules summary is provided to the referees as a service. These are not the official rules of the competition. NO warranty is made that this summary is up to date.
Player Passes
Player and coach passes are required. Acceptable player and coach credentials are current, laminated: All passes must be from the same governing body.
- US Club player and coach passes
- USYSA (CYSA) passes.
Player Counts
A maximum of 14 players may be dressed for any single 7v7 match.
A maximum of 16 players may be dressed for any single 9v9 match.
A maximum of 18 players may be dressed for any single 11v11 match.
Referee Crew
Referees are expected to arrive 30 minutes before their first match. That is 7:30 for the 8:00 AM Matches! Check in with the site Tournament Coordinator at the venue Tournament Tent (i.e., JLS, Cubberley next to the bleachers).
Assignor contacts: -- Mike Endsley 650.224.6016
- Black shorts and socks expected.
- Okay to wear yellow if team is in yellow.
- Okay for ARs to be in yellow and center in different color.
- If you wear a hat - it should be black.
- Keep on schedule!
- Collect pay envelope after match quickly. CR pay the ARs. ARs don't wander off.
- Lunch and snacks provided.
- Deal with contentious coaches diplomatically - do not get angry - "I might have missed it, coach" will diffuse a situation.
Age specific - 7v7
Use Build Out Line in 7v7 matches
Deliberate heading
No heading in U11 and younger matches. IFK
Match Length
All matches --
- 7v7 (U09-U10) - 20 minute halves
- 9v9 (U11-U12) - 25 minute halves
- 11v11 (U13-U!4) - 30 minute halves
Injury time will NOT be added to the length of the game, except under extreme circumstances and at the sole discretion of the referee. There is only minimal time between matches
Substitutions
Do NOT permit "excessive" or "time-wasting" substitutions. Do not permit coaches to use unlimited free substitutions as a means to disrupt the match.
Late Start
Notify the Field Marshall if the team(s) are not ready to go within 5 minutes of the scheduled start time.
IFAB "Only Captains"
Youth leagues are not adopting the IFAB requirements for captain armbands and the "only captains" mechanic. Posted July 22, 2025
Overtime, Winner Required
Ties in preliminary games will stand. Ties in Championship and Consolation games will be resolved immediately with kicks from the mark to determine the winner. There will be no overtime games in this tournament.
Other
Home team listed first on the schedule.. Home team changes color if conflict.
Send offs
Any player who receives a red card will automatically be suspended for the next match of the tournament. A suspension due to a send off due to a second caution in the same match may be waived at the discretion of the Tournament PAD Committee.
The referee shall complete a send off report within 24 hours. Contact Assignor for details.
Terminate Matches
The Referee may terminate any game at his/her own discretion if:
- A team leaves the field during the play of the game without the Referee’s approval.
- The Referee sends a team from the field for frequent and/or violent misconduct.
- There is extreme sideline area misconduct by any coach, player, parent or spectator that causes interruption of the game.
Official Tournament Rules
Link. | 
