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2023 Outdoor Cup FAQ's

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2023 Outdoor Cup FAQs

 

How do I schedule a Home Game in GotSport?

  1. To review the How to Schedule a Home Game procedures click the following:
  2. If you are a Coach/Manager click here.
  3. If you are a Club Administrator click here.

What if we need to re-schedule a Cup Game?

  1. Group Stage games can be re-scheduled from the initial date set within the GotSport public calendar.
  2. Group Stage and Knockout Round games will however lock 7 days prior to the scheduled game date and cannot be re-scheduled automatically within 7 days of the game date.
  3.  Send an email to David Jones at djones@epysa.org with the following information. Game# New Date/ Location / Time 

How does a club add a field that currently is not listed as an option?

  1. If a team desires to play on a field that is currently not listed as an option, Club Admins ONLY can add a location by following directions here.

When do Group Stage games need to be completed by?

  1. All Challenge Cup Group Play games must be played by 8:00pm on Saturday, May 7, 2023
  2. All Presidents Cup Group Play games must be played by 8:00pm on Saturday, April 23, 2023

What documents are required for Cup Games (Player Passes, Game Card, etc.?)

  1. HOME and AWAY teams will be required to print (1) PDF copy of their Player Passes AND (3) copies of the Game Card for each game. You must select the “Photo” option for printing of the game card.
  2. Standard Player Passes (laminated) are NOT to be used for Cup Competitions.
  3. Electronic versions of Player Passes and Game Card will NOT be accepted
  4. Each team must supply (3) printed copies of the Game Card to be used by the opposing coach and referee for each game
  5. Each team must have a minimum of (1) printed hard copy PDF of player passes for each game
  6. Failure to provide the printed documents outlined above may lead to forfeit of the game.
  7. Please refer to the Cup rules about the check in process for each game. 

How do I print a Game Card or PDF of Player Passes?

  1. Game Cards should be printed no more than 48 hours prior to scheduled kickoff. Cards are time-stamped for accuracy of information on the player roster.
  2. For instructions on how to Print a Game Card click here. You will select the “Photo” option. Make sure to select the correct event (State Cup NOT your League)
  3. For instructions on how to Print the PDF of Player Passes click here for Club Admins and here for Coaches/Managers. Make sure to select the correct event (State Cup not your League)

How are red and yellow cards monitored?

  1. Please refer to each Cup rules for information regarding yellow card accumulation and red card suspensions.
  2. Any suspension from yellow card accumulation or issuance of a red card in the prior game will be automatically recorded (a red line will be through the player/coach name) on the next Game Card and will be communicated by the Cup Committee to both teams prior to the next scheduled game.

Does our team need to enter scores after a Cup game?

  1. The winning team will enter the score for the game, if there is a tie, the home team will enter the score for the game.
  2. All scores must be entered within 1 hour of the game ending

Is there a fee to change an already scheduled Cup game?

  1. Please review each Cup Competition rules (Scheduling Procedure and Fields sections) for additional information relating to game change requests.

How do we change the Home and Away team assignments for a single game (ie, a Home team can no longer host and is willing to play at the opponent's field)?

  • Only the State Office can make changes to home and away team assignments. If both teams request that the Home/Away assignment be switched, please email David Jones at djones@epysa.org before the 7-day game lock with the following information:
  1. The Cup Competition
  2. The Age and Gender
  3. Currently listed Home Club and Team Name
  4. Currently listed Away Club and Team Name
  5. Date of game
  6. BOTH teams must be copied on the email request to change Home/Away assignments

What is the timeline for Cups?

  • The NCS State Cup (12U-17U - 18U-19U) and Presidents Cup (12U-18/19U) will take place between March and May, with the finals being played on May 20, 2023 at United Sports Training Center in Downingtown, PA.
  • The Challenge Cup (all ages) will take place between March and June, with the Finals scheduled for the weekend of June 10-11, 2023 at West Mont United in Royersford, PA.

*For more information on Schedules and Important Dates please visit each Cup Competition website.

Can teams use Secondary, Guest or Club Pass Players in Cup Competition?

  • Use of secondary, guest and club pass players in cup competitions is strictly forbidden. The novelty of the Cups is the fact that all rosters are ‘pure’. All non-primary players should be removed from Cup Rosters and all lineups. Rosters can be printed from your Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer account.
  • There is one exception: NCS State Cup and Presidents Cup teams advancing to Regional Competitions may add club pass players to their Regional Rosters subject to the rules of the US Youth Soccer East Region Championships and East Region Presidents Cup.

When is the 2023 Cup Roster Freeze?

  • The roster freeze for the NCS State Cup (12U-17U) is February 24, 2023 at 5PM.
  • The roster freeze for the NCS State Cup (18U-19U) is April 21, 2023 at 5PM.
  • The roster freeze for the Presidents Cup (all ages) is February 24, 2023 at 5PM.
  • The roster freeze for the Challenge Cup (all ages) is February 24, 2023 at 5PM

How do I contact opponents?

To communicate with your upcoming opponent, you have two options:

  1. Use the chat feature located within GotSport. Instructions are located here.
  2. On the public Cup page, click on the (Clubs) tab in the top right corner. Select the Club, then click on the (Team Name). Click the (View Contact) button that will list the Team Officials in GotSport for that team.

Is my league sanctioned as a Cup Qualifying League?

In order to participate in any Outdoor Cup Competition, a team must participate in an Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Cup Qualifying League. The following is a current list of Cup Qualifying Leagues. For specific information about Cup Qualifying League requirements please visit the Rules section for the National Championship Series, Presidents Cup and Challenge Cup. Eligibility rules apply to all three Outdoor Cup competitions.

  • Atlantic Premier League/Pennsylvania Area Girls Soccer League
  • Central League
  • Central Pennsylvania Youth Soccer League
  • EDP-EPYSA
  • EDP-Mid Atlantic & South Atlantic Conferences
  • Inter County Soccer League
  • Lanco Soccer League
  • Lehigh Valley Youth Soccer League
  • NorCenPenn Soccer League
  • Reading Berks Juniors Soccer League
  • Rock Soccer League
  • York USA

What format does each Cup follow?

  • The NCS State Cup is a single elimination tournament. Age group champions will advance to the US Youth Soccer East Region Championships to be held (12U-17U) - May 20, 2023 at United Sports Training Center and (18U-19U) - June 10-11, 2023 at West Mont United in Royersford, PA. Teams that elect not to participate in US Youth Soccer East Region Championships or the US Youth Soccer National Championships are subject to a fine. The US Youth Soccer East Region Championships may select Wildcard teams to participate. This is at the sole discretion of the East Region Committee and have yet to be determined for 2023.
  • The Presidents Cup is a world-cup style tournament for all age groups. The competition includes a group stage followed by a knockout round to determine a champion. Games are played at home/away fields. An age group requires four (4) teams for competition to be offered. If less than four (4) teams enter, (1) combined age groups may be created at the discretion of the cup commissioner, (2) teams may enter a different cup competition, or (3) teams may have their registration fee returned. Age group champions and wild cards, if any, will advance to the East Region Presidents Cup to be held June 17-21 in Charleston, WV. Teams that elect not to participate in regionals or US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup are subject to be fined.
  • The Challenge Cup is a world-cup style tournament for all age groups. The competition includes a group stage followed by a knockout round to determine a champion. Games will be played at home/away fields. An age group requires four (4) teams for competition to be offered. If less than four (4) teams enter, (1) combined age groups may be created at the discretion of the cup commissioner, (2) teams may enter a different cup competition, or (3) teams may have their registration fee returned. There is no competition beyond the state-level. Teams are not guaranteed three games, but most teams will play at least three games.

 What days will Cup games be played on?

  • NCS State Cup games are expected to be played on (or before) the weekend they are scheduled by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer. 
  • Presidents Cup and Challenge Cup Group Stage games are scheduled when agreed upon by both teams. ​
    • All Challenge Cup Group Play games must be played by 8:00pm on Saturday, May 6, 2023
    • All Presidents Cup Group Play games must be played by 8:00pm on Saturday, May 6, 2023
  • For the 2023 NCS State Cup, Presidents Cup and Challenge Cup any potential bye scenarios and home team determinations will be made by blind draw.
  • NCS State Cup home team determinations are made based on the following:
    • In first round, the top team listed in the bracket will play at home.
    • If Team A played home in the previous game and Team B played away, Team A will be away.
    • If both teams played home/away, a coin flip will be conducted by the Cup Committee to determine home field of the next scheduled game.
    • Please note that weather-related scenarios or playoffs, etc., could alter the above.
  • For the 2023 NCS State Cup, Presidents Cup and Challenge Cup any potential bye scenarios and home team determinations will be made by blind draw.
  • NCS State Cup home team determinations are made based on the following;
    • In first round, the top team in the bracket will play at home.
    • If Team A played home in the previous game and Team B played away, Team A will be away.
    • If both teams played home/away, a coin flip will be conducted by the Cup Committee to determine home field.
    • Please note that weather-related scenarios or playoffs, etc., could alter the above.
  • Presidents Cup and Challenge Cup home team determinations are made by blind draw.
  • All Cup Finals will be scheduled by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and may not follow the procedures above. Please plan accordingly, as Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer cannot honor schedule requests for the finals. Playoff games may be scheduled on Saturday or Sunday.

How many players can play on game day?

  • 9U and 10U – 12 players can play on game day.
  • 11U and 12U – 16 players can play on game day.
  • 13U and above – 18 players can play on game day.

*Teams (13U-19U) may roster 22 players for the Cup Competition but only 18 are eligible to participate on game day. Only the 18 players eligible for the game are to appear on your lineup that you present to the referee and opponent. Players designated as 'not playing' cannot dress in their team uniform. They must dress in street clothes or a different colored jersey. The players designated as 'not playing' may sit with their team in the team area, bench or technical area. Once made ineligible from the lineup, a player may not participate in that game. However, ineligible players are still subject to the Laws of the Game and can receive yellow/red cards for indiscretions.

How do teams handle assigning/paying referees?

  • All referees are assigned through Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer's certified assignors.
  • After the match is entered and confirmed in the GotSport online system, the Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Cup Committee will assign referees to the match.
  • Each team will pay HALF of the total referee fees for each match, except for the Finals. For a breakdown of referee costs per game please click here.

*For all referee scenarios and referee payment information, reference the Referee Section of the specific Cup Competition Rules your team is participating in.

How will seeding be determined?

  • For the 2023 NCS State Cup, 2-4 teams may be awarded a bye, however no seeding will occur based on prior year’s accomplishments. Any bye scenarios for the 2020-2021 NCS State Cup will be determined by blind draw. The number of teams given a bye is based on the number of entrants. If there are 10 or fewer teams included in the draw, 2 teams may be seeded. If there are more than 10 teams included in the draw, then 4 teams may be seeded.
  • The Presidents Cup and Challenge Cup groups will be determined by a blind draw.

How do teams report scores?

  • The winning team will enter the score for the game, if there is a tie, the home team will enter the score for the game.
  • All scores must be entered within 1 hour of the game ending

  • Teams then have until 10:00am the following morning to appeal the score or cards entered by the referee. Once a game card is signed by both team’s officials, the score and cards are official and cannot be protested. 

  • If a score is entered incorrectly, you must contact the Director of Soccer Operations before 10:00am the day following the game to file an appeal (David Jones djones@epysa.org). Any appeal received after this deadline will not be considered.

When and Where will Cup Finals take place?

  • NCS State Cup (18U-19U) - June 10-11, 2023 at West Mont United in Royersford, PA
  • Challenge Cup (all ages) - June 10-11, 2023 at West Mont United in Royersford, PA

How do I know if my team is Cup eligible?

  • See the top section of each Cup Competition Rules for information on eligibility. Eligibility rules apply to all three Outdoor Cup competitions.

Who should I contact with questions regarding Cups?

Who should I contact with Referee questions?

What is the Registration Fee for Outdoor Cups?

  • National Championship Series (NCS): $350
  • Presidents Cup: $325
  • Challenge Cup: $300

*Referee fees are NOT included in the registration fee. Referee fees are split between opponents in accordance with the current Referee Fee Schedule that can be found within each Cup Competition Rules.

*Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer is responsible for all Outdoor Cup Finals Referee Fees

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