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2024 GSF 5v5 Rules and Sportsmanship Guidelines

• Requirements and Logistics
  • The maximum number of players allowed per team is 15. Each team will receive 15 labeled, color-coded wristbands if necessary.
  • HS Division = High School Age, No seniors or 2024 athletes allowed.
  • All spectators must stay 15 feet away from the barriers and cones and in designated areas only. We recommend staying in the bleachers for the best viewing experience.
  • GetSportsFocus and its staff are not responsible for personal items lost or stolen during the tournament. Please make sure to secure your valuables. We recommend keeping your team’s belongings mobile so you can easily move from one spot to another.
  • No Smoking, no vaping, no drugs, no alcohol or illegal drugs, and no weapons are allowed on the school campus.
  • $10 admission at the gate, you will automatically be entered for the drawing if a raffle prize is available. Additional raffle tickets are available at $5 per ticket, 3 tickets for $10, 12 tickets for $20. We appreciate your support.
  • Mouthpieces / Mouthguards are mandatory. If you do not have one, the refs will take you out of play. We will have some for sale at the entrance. $5 per mouthpiece.
  • Softshell helmets are highly recommended but not required yet. We are looking to make it mandatory in the future. Players wearing one need to have it on properly. You will be taken out if your helmet is unbuckled.
  • MANDATORY: Please make sure to turn in your rosters by Saturday, March 23rd at 11 am. Make sure to make an effort to include your player’s name, jersey number, school, grade, and social media for identification purposes. NO SENIORS are ALLOWED at this tournament. Last-minute changes can be made, but we will randomly check the rosters on the tournament day. We will do a much better job identifying players for recognition if we have their accurate information.
  • We highly recommend your team have matching uniforms with numbers. 
  • Teams can play music during their warm-up period, but it must be turned off during the match. Only clean-tracked music or instrumentals are allowed. Please be respectful. The GSF Tournaments are family-oriented events. We do play our own music tracks during the tournament. No other music can be played during the matches. Our tournament, our music.
  • Teams can bring food and drinks, but please clean up after yourselves. SEEDS, such as sunflower seeds or nuts with shells, are NOT allowed. Please be respectful of the rules.
• General Game and Field Rules
  • Each participating team will be able to play in six 8-minute rounds in total for seeding purposes, plus playoffs.
  • We will have at least two fields set up for the matches.
  • Download the ZORTS SPORTS App for tournament schedule, field location, times, and playoff seeding. But the most convenient way to follow the tournament is to just go to our website: GetSportsFocus.com
  • Each field will have two GSF Staff to officiate and take scores. (NO Overtime in Pool Play)
  • A coin toss or RPS will determine which team gets to choose its position first. Offense or Defense.
  • The ref’s whistle will start and end each match.
  • After each rep, athletes have 10 seconds to return to the position for the next rep.
  • The defense has 4 seconds from the Offensive’s first motion to sack the QB. The defense is allowed only one false start. The second false start is a loss of rep.
  • The play clock is 10 seconds and will be kept by the head referee at each station. There will be at least two GSF Staff members at each field.
  • The clock never stops, except for an injury or referee timeout/stoppage. Ref’s will end each game with a whistle.
  • A complete round is when each team takes turns on offense and defense. Each athlete lined up will be given three reps each.
  • No substitution is allowed during a round unless there is an injury involved.
  • Substitution is only allowed halfway through each round or before the team switches from offense to defense.
  • No players can switch positions during each round.
  • Suppose time expires during a rep with a penalty. The rep will be replayed.
  • The referee’s calls are FINAL. Our GSF Tournament staff will not overturn any calls on the field.
  • Referees can and are allowed to discuss a call only if the head referee calls for it. The final call or decision is FINAL and will not be overturned by any GSF Tournament staff.
• Scoring, Points, and Penalties
  • The winner of the rep will receive a point.
  • Each player will get three reps when it is his turn.
  • Rep starts on the offensive player’s first movement.
  • Both players have a maximum of 10 seconds to get back to position and run the next play.
  • Both players must reset within the 10-second play clock.
  • Offensive players must set up and make a move after getting set within five seconds or risk “delay of game.”
  • OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: no holding, no forward blocking, no strikes to the head (You will be penalized for these, an automatic point for the defense).
  • DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: no bull rush, no strikes to the head (You will be penalized for these, an automatic point for the offense).
  • Defensive players must execute a move to get to the “QB.”
• Guidelines for Coaches and Team Managers
  • Please remind your entire organization to practice good sportsmanship behavior. Treat everyone, our referees, coaches, and staff, with respect. We are all here for our athletes to get better and ready for the upcoming 2024 football season while competing.
  • Coaches must coach from the sides opposite each other.
  • The rest of the teams must remain on the sidelines along with the rest of the coaching staff. The designated area on each sideline will be marked and must stay clear of the path of the referees. The sideline official will issue a warning first, depending on the severity of the violation. Failure to do so will result in an unsportsmanlike penalty. Failure to do so multiple times will result in a forfeit. Violation is 2 points each time.
  • Coaches are not allowed to challenge any official ruling. You can ask questions, but disrespectful behavior can result in a 2-point unsportsmanlike penalty. Failure to do so after two or three warnings results in ejection.
  • If a call is controversial, the officials and staff will meet briefly and decide on the final call. This rarely happens, but it is in place.
  • Celebrations are ok unless it violates sportsmanship guidelines. Taunting, disrespectful gestures, and actions will result in a 2-point unsportsmanlike penalty. Multiple violations can result in ejection or forfeit.
  • SEVERE PUNISHMENT WILL BE ENFORCED FOR: Sideline clearing celebration after a rep, throwing punches toward the other team’s player(s) with the intent to harm.
  • If a team is way ahead and decides to violate the sportsmanship guidelines intentionally, that team will be penalized 2 points for the first and 4 points each after. Multiple violations will result in forfeiture and the ejection of the entire team and organization.
  • Fighting will result in a stoppage and a possible player ejection for all parties involved. Just don’t fight. It is not worth it. A 2-point unsportsmanlike penalty will be enforced.
  • Sideline clearing fights and brawls will result in a forfeit or ejection from the tournament. An unsportsmanlike penalty will be enforced. Legal action may also be pursued against the team in violation. COACHES, please make sure you guys help us by getting your team under control at all times.
  • Parents and spectators are only allowed in the bleachers or designated areas. Please abide by the rules.
  • No team can switch or move players around within their organization if and when that group has multiple teams in the GSF tournament series. It is considered cheating, and we will end your participation immediately. If a team runs out of players due to injuries and/or players having to leave the tournament, that team can choose to compete with their remaining players as long as they have five or more players. If the team’s roster is reduced to less than 5, that team must forfeit the rest.
  • Coaches and managers are responsible for ensuring they are well-equipped to compete at our tournament.
• Additional Regulations and Safety Measures
  • The tournament director must clear photographers and Videographers before entering the field. NO TRIPODS allowed. Single-leg or mono are permitted.
  • Photographers and Videographers must only stay on their teams’ sidelines. ONLY GSF CREDENTIALED VIDEOGRAPHERS and PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE ALLOWED TO SHOOT FROM BEHIND OR THE FRONT THE OFFENSE. Failure to follow the rules will get you ejected from the field by the referees and security.
  • Photographers and videographers from other teams outside of GSF must sign a release for GSF and its players and staff to use any of the videos taken from the GSF events without restriction. Proper credit will be given. Photographers and videographers are prohibited from selling images, photos, and videos taken from any GSF events. This includes using pictures and moving images for future flyers and promos that are not affiliated with GetSportsFocus. For questions, please get in touch with ALF Joaquin. Our goal is to protect the athletes from being exploited.
  • DRONES are ok with prior clearance and permission from the tournament director. We need to know by Friday if you plan to fly a drone. Certain areas do not allow drones. The school district has strict rules regarding drones flying at any point in time.
  • ONLY PARTICIPATING PLAYERS, COACHES, and GSF 7v7 STAFF, including referees, are allowed on the field and the track. Parents and/or spectators are NOT ALLOWED to roam around on the track for safety purposes.
  • ANY FORM OF CHEATING qualifies for automatic team disqualification at the tournament. This includes roster modification and playing a senior in the tournament. In the age of social media, anyone can be identified, and don’t risk getting embarrassed by getting caught and someone putting you and your team out on blast.
  • Contact Information
    • QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, FEEDBACK… CONTACT ALF JOAQUIN – GetSportsFocus@gmail.com