Objective of the Game

The game is played for leisure, team play, friendship, and healthy competition. Fair play is the essence of the game.

Dimensions of the Playing Sand Court. The playing sand courts are rectangular and use the following dimensions:

Penalty Area. Two flagpoles delineate the penalty area on each side of the playing court. The two flagpoles are placed 10 yards from each corner. Two imaginary lines, parallel to the base lines and unifying the penalty flags, define the penalty areas. The exact positions for penalty kicks shall be the center of these penalty lines.

Corners and Center of the Playing Sand Court. Four flag poles are placed in each corner of the playing sand court. Two flags are placed in the center of the court and define the mid-court line.

Goals. 

Ball. Size 4 ball will be used for U-8 to U-11. Size 5 ball will be used for U-12 and older.

Teams Formation

Number of Players. Two teams of five (5) players play the game on each team. One of the five shall be the goalkeepers, and therefore allowed to touch the ball with his or her hands and/or arms in their respective goalkeeper's area. In order for a match to start and continue, both teams must have a minimum of four (4) players. Failure to be able to start the game due to insufficient players shall result in a forfeit with the other team winning 3-0.

Substitutions. With the exception of the keeper, there are no limits for substitutions as of number of substitutions or timing for substitutions. A substitute player is allowed to enter into the playing sand court only after the player that is being substituted has left the playing sand court.

Substitution Infraction. If a player breaks rule 3.2 and enters the field before a teammate has left, the team that has committed the infraction shall be punished with a free kick to be awarded to the other team. Such free kick shall be taken from the center of the field.

Goalkeeper Substitution. Goalkeepers may be substituted during the game.

Minimum Number of Players. The minimum number of players on the field per team is four (4). If a team remains with less than four (4) players due to injury or disciplinary expulsions, that team shall be declared the loser of that game, regardless of the score at the time the game was stopped and the score of the game will be 5-0 for the winning team.

Eligibility. All players must have birth certificates or present at check in 1 hour (minimum) prior to your first game on site. Adults teams may check in with either their birth certificates or Drivers License 1 hour (minimum) prior to your first game on site.

The Players Equipment

Safety. A player shall not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself/herself or another player, including any kind of jewelry, as determined by the referee.

Footwear. It is strictly forbidden to wear any kind of hard footwear or equipment that may cause injury to another player. The players shall be authorized to wear socks and/or elastic ankle and/or foot wraps. No hard reinforcement is allowed in any braces or wraps used. Tape is allowed to hold socks in place.

Uniforms. The players' uniforms consist of shorts and shirts. Players of the same team shall wear uniforms with the same design and color. The goalkeepers shall wear uniforms of contrasting color with all other players. In case the two teams wears shirts or shorts of the same or similar colors, the team listed first will change their shirts and/or shorts, as determined by the referee.

Refereeing

Referees. The game shall be directed and officiated by one referee. The referee shall have full authority to enforce the Rules. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.

The Game: Start, Duration and its Rules

Start of game. The referee shall make a coin toss to decide which team has the option to kick-off or the choice of the side of the court. The players of the opposing team shall be positioned at least at five yards from the ball. After a goal, the game continues and restarts with a new kick-off, taken by the team that has allowed the goal. A goal can be scored directly from the kick-off. All kicks are direct.

Duration of the Game. The game has three (3) periods of ten (10) minutes each. The teams shall have two (2) minutes in order to change sides at the end of each period, alternating the starting kick-off.   In the event of a serious injury that drastically reduces the time of play, the tournament director may consider rescheduling the game. If such injury occurs in the second or third period of play, only that period will be considered to be replayed and the score from the first or second period will carry over. A game may be considered complete if one full period has been played.

Ties. For round-robin tournament play, if the score is tied at the end of 3 periods, the tie shall stand. For semi-final and finals play, there shall be a five (5) minute "golden goal" overtime period, in which the winner of the game shall be the first team to score a goal. If the game is still tied, each team shall take a series of 5 alternating penalty kicks. If the score is still tied, alternating penalty kicks shall be taken until one team has the advantage with both teams having taken the same number of kicks. All players that played in the game must be used when taking kicks. Every eligible player must take one kick before any player may take his second kick. Second and subsequent kicks must be taken in the order established with the first round of kicks.

Ball in and out of Play. The ball is in play at all times from the start to the finish of the game, including when it rebounds from a goal post or the crossbar into the court, or it rebounds off the referee on the court. The base lines and the goal lines form part of the court. The ball is considered out of play when it touches outside the sidelines or outside the base lines.

Scoring a Goal. A goal is scored when the ball entirely crosses over the goal line, in the air or on the ground between the goal posts and under the crossbar. The goal shall be validated, provided that no infringement of the Rules of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal, as determined by the referees, and has occurred during playing time.

The Dropped Ball Rule. A dropped ball is a way of restarting play after a temporary stoppage becomes necessary, while the ball is in play, for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Rules of the Game. The referee drops the ball at the place where it was located when the play was stopped. Play restarts when the ball touches the sand.

Fouls and Infractions

Fouls. If any player commits any of the infractions listed below, there will be a direct free kick taken from the place where the infraction occurred. All free kicks are direct. The player who is faulted must be the one to take the free kick or penalty kick, unless seriously injured as decided by the referees and, in such case, his substitute shall take the kick. The referees shall allow play to continue when the team that suffered an offense will benefit from such an advantage, and shall penalize the original offense if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time. In case the infraction results from a hand touch, any player from the team that has been awarded the direct kick can execute the direct kick. It is considered a foul, and a direct kick is awarded to the opposing team, if a player commits any of the following offenses in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force: 1. To kick or trip an opponent. 2. To grab, hold, push, charge or to intentionally obstruct an opponent. 3. To touch the ball with the hand or arm. This does not apply to the goalkeeper in his own area, or if a player's hand or arm unintentionally touches the ball. 4. To jump at an opponent player.

Yellow Card. A referee shall show a yellow card to and when a player: 1. Commits a serious foul in the interpretation of the referee. 2. Shows by an act or word, disagreement to the referee's decision. 3. Shows lack of sportsmanship. 4. Commits an infraction during a free kick, or during a kickoff. 5. Intentionally denies with a foul an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent. 6. Enters in the court, during a substitution, before the player being replaced has entirely left it or he enters the court from an incorrect position.

Red card. A player is shown a red card, and sent off from the playing area and from the competition area, if he or she commits any of the following offenses: 1. Is guilty of serious foul play. 2. Is guilty of violent conduct. 3. Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language. 4. Receives a second yellow card in the same match. The red-carded player's team shall continue to play without a replacement player for five (5) minutes. The referee will report the reason why the player is shown a red card to the appropriate authorities, which will analyze the possibility of additional sanctions.  Red Cards shall automatically result in a minimum of 1 game suspension.

Unsportsmanlike Behavior off the Court. A coach, a team delegate, or a player on the bench who shows by word or action, violent dissent from any decision taken by the referees, or is guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct toward the opponent team, spectators or any tournament official, will be shown a red card by the referee and sent away from the competition area. The referee shall report the reason why a coach, a team delegate, or a player on the bench has been punished with a red card to the appropriate authorities, which will analyze the possibility of additional sanctions.

Free Kicks

Free Kick. The referee will award a free kick from the point where a foul was committed. The player who suffered the infraction must execute the kick. The kick shall be "direct", from which a goal can be scored directly against the defending side. A player, after executing a free kick, may not touch the ball twice consecutively. The breaking of this rule will be punished with a free kick where the infraction occurred.

No Walls. If the infraction is committed against the offensive team in the offensive team's attacking end, no defensive players may form a wall. Until the free kick is executed, all players must position themselves behind or on the same line as the ball placed at the point where a foul was committed, and they must remain at a minimum distance of five yards from the ball. The defensive goalkeeper must remain in his penalty area and at least five yards from the ball. If the infraction is committed in the offensive team's defensive end, all other players, excluded the player taking the free kick, must remain at least five yards away from the place of the infraction, wherefore the free kick will be taken. The players, except the defending goalkeeper, cannot position themselves in the area directly between the goal, toward which the kick is taken, and the ball. No players shall enter in such area before the free kick has been taken. No players shall be allowed to touch the ball before it has touched the sand, the defending goalkeeper, a post or the crossbar.

Infractions during Free Kicks. If any irregularity happens when a free kick is being taken, the following will occur: If the team that is taking the free kick commits the irregularity, a new free kick shall be awarded to the defending team from the point where the infraction has taken place. Any player of that team shall be allowed to take the direct kick. If the originally infringing team commits the irregularity, and a goal is not scored because the ball has been blocked, a new free kick will be taken from the point where the original or new infraction has taken place, kicking teams choice. In case this point is in the penalty area, a penalty kick shall be awarded. If the irregularity is committed by the originally infringing team, and a goal is not scored because an infraction of invasion of the restricted area has occurred, the free kick shall be repeated by the same player. If the originally infringing team commits the irregularity and a goal is scored, the goal shall be validated.

Penalty Kicks

Penalty Kick . A penalty kick shall be awarded when a player inside his own team's penalty area commits a foul, while the ball is in play. The player who has suffered the infraction must take the penalty kick. The ball shall be placed at 10 yards distance from the center of the goal. All players shall position themselves outside the penalty area, and they can enter into the penalty area only after the ball has moved as the result of the execution of the penalty kick. When taking a penalty kick, a player is allowed to place the ball on the spot of the foul and make a small sand lump, thus elevating the position of the ball. The player who takes the penalty kick must do it in a continuous movement. Any player can play the ball once it rebounds from the defending goalkeeper. The player who has executed the penalty kick shall not be allowed to play the ball once it rebounds directly from a goal post or from the crossbar.

Goalkeeper's position. When defending a penalty kick the goalkeeper must position himself on the goal line between both goal posts.

Infractions during penalty kicks. If the team that is taking the penalty kick commits an irregularity and the goal is scored, the shot will be repeated. If a goal is not scored, the defending goalkeeper shall restart the game. If the defending team commits an irregularity, the free kick will be repeated in case a goal has not been scored as the result of the penalty kick. If the defending team commits an irregularity and a goal is scored, the goal shall stand.

Goalkeeper Rules

The Goalkeeper's Restart. The goalkeeper's re-start is awarded when one player of the attacking team plays or deflects the ball over the base line, excluding the goal itself. The goalkeeper shall restart the play with his hands and has five (5) seconds to do so, from the moment he stands and he has control of the ball. If the goalkeeper delays the game for more than five (5) seconds, or re-starts the game passing the ball to his feet, the other team shall be awarded a free kick from the mid-court line. The goalkeeper cannot score a goal using his hands. In such case the other goalkeeper shall re-start the play. The goalkeeper can score a goal only as a regular player, kicking the ball only once it has been passed to him by another player.

The Pass-Back Rule. The goalkeeper shall not be allowed to touch the ball with his/her hands or arms when a ball is returned to him/her from a player of his team, including a header or an inbound pass, without the ball having touched an opponent player. An infraction of the "pass-back rule" results in a penalty kick against the team that did commit the infraction.

Corner Kicks

The corner kick shall be given when a player of the defensive team plays or deflects the ball out of bounds through his/her team's base line, not a goal. A player of the attacking team must take the corner kick. The ball shall be placed within a 1yard radius from the corner. A corner kick is a direct kick. The defending players can position themselves at a minimum distance of five yards from the corner. If a defending player shall touch or block the ball inside the five-yard radius directly from a corner kick, the corner kick shall be repeated. . When taking a corner kick a player has five (5) seconds to execute the kick from the moment that he has possession of the ball. If a player shall infringe his five- (5) seconds time limit, the opponent goalkeeper shall restart the play.

Ball Inbound

The ball inbound is the method of restarting play when the ball touches outside a sideline. The ball inbound must be taken from behind the sidelines. The game shall be restarted from the point where the ball crossed the sideline. To inbound, the players shall use their hands (both hands, starting their action holding the ball behind their head and keeping both feet on the sand), or feet. A goal cannot be scored from a ball inbound. The player shall have five (5) seconds to inbound the ball. By infringing this rule, the ball inbound shall be reverted to the opposing team. Do not mound the sand for a kick-in.

Offsides

There is no offsides.

Conduct

Coaches and Players. Coaches are not only responsible for their own conduct, but also for the conduct of their players, parents and spectators. Players and coaches ejected from a match (Red Card) must sit out the remainder of that match plus the next match. All red cards reported on the game card will be evaluated by the Tournament Committee for appropriate suspension. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to impose a two game suspension for violent misconduct or no game suspension for a professional foul. Players and coaches ejected for assault MUST sit the next two (2) tournament matches. Red cards issued after the end of regulation play or as a result of physical assault are subject to review by the Tournament Rules Committee and a more strenuous penalty may be imposed.

Others. Spectators, parents and coaches may be ejected for unruly behavior. Each team will be responsible for their team supporters.

Tournament

General. The Tournament Committee's interpretation of these rules shall be final and binding. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to decide all matters pertaining to this tournament.

Arrival. Teams should arrive at the scheduled field 30 minutes prior to game time to be checked in by the appropriate official. Teams may warm-up in any area other than the field of play and directly behind the goal area while a game is in progress. Space will be provided throughout the tournament area for warming up.

Protests. No protests will be allowed.

Forfeits. A team shall be allowed a 5-minute grace period after the scheduled kick-off in the preliminary rounds before the match is awarded to their opponent. A minimum of 4 players constitutes a team, and if 4 players are present the match may not be delayed. If during the course of the match a team falls below the minimum 4 players, the game will be forfeited to their opponent. A team that has forfeited a game may not advance to the finals. If an apparent group winner forfeits, the group team with the next best record will be declared the group winner. A forfeit in the preliminary rounds shall be awarded as 3 points for a win with the score 3-0.

Points. At the conclusion of the preliminary matches, each team will be ranked according to their performance. This ranking will determine the teams that will meet in the final matches. The ranking criteria are as follows: Win - 3 points; Tie - 1 point; Loss - 0 points; Win by forfeit - 3 points. The team with the most match points finishes first.

Ties. In the event of a tie within a division, the following tiebreaker rules will be applied in order:

A match that has been cancelled by the Tournament Committee will be awarded a 0-0 tie.

Divisional Play.

Weather. Regardless of weather conditions, coaches and their teams must appear on the field of play as scheduled, ready to play unless notified by a member of the Tournament Committee. Failure to appear will result in forfeiture of the match. Only the referee or the Tournament Committee can cancel or delay a match.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation before the match - Preliminary Rounds. Referee and/or the Tournament Committee may reduce the length of a match, and subsequent matches. If a match is cancelled the Tournament Committee will award a 0-0 tie.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation before the match - Championship Rounds. If a championship round cannot begin, a shoot-out will take place to determine the winner. If a shoot-out cannot take place, the match will be decided by the toss of a coin.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation during the Match - Preliminary Rounds. The match will be considered completed and the score will stand if one period has been completed. If less than one period of the match has been completed, the Tournament Committee will award a 0-0 tie.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation during the Match - Championship Rounds. The match will be considered completed and the score will stand if one period has been completed. If less than one period of the match has been completed or if a tie exists at the stoppage of play, a shoot-out will take place to determine the winner. If a shoot-out cannot take place the winner will be decided by the toss of a coin.

Inclement Weather causing postponement of the Tournament. Severe inclement weather could cause the postponement of the tournament to the rain date. Refunds will not be issued if the tournament is postponed.

Inclement Weather causing cancellation of the Tournament. Severe inclement weather could cause the shortening or cancellation of the tournament, even if already postponed until the rain date. In the event some games have been played, the Tournament Committee will endeavor to determine standings based on the games played. Regardless, refunds will not be issued if the tournament is shortened or cancelled due to inclement weather, regardless of the date.

Game Day Rules

The Goalkeeper/Penalty area is 10 yards deep by the width of the field and marked with flags. The goalkeeper can use his hands in the Goalkeeper area.

The goalkeeper shall re-start with his hands to another player when a player of the attacking team plays or deflects the ball over the base line, there is no goal kick. There is no keeper restart from the field of play using his feet. Once in possession of the ball, the goalkeeper can only restart with his hands. The goalkeeper cannot score a goal using his hands.

Ball can be in bounded from the sidelines using either hands or feet.

A small mound of sand may be formed for the ball on free kicks, NO OTHER TIME.

There is no offside's.

Age Requirements . Divisions will be formed by age as follows:

What is Beach Soccer?

A faster, hotter version of the world's most popular sport. A soft sand surface allows players to try diving headers, bicycle kicks and exciting tricks more freely. The sport is spectacular. The sand adds another dimension to the sport, putting aerobic strength, teamwork and individual skills to the test. The ball is in the air most of the time, with quick flicks, juggling and volleying all becoming increasingly important in order to stay away from an unpredictable surface. There are an average of sixty shots at goal and eleven goals per game at the pro beach soccer level so it's not surprising that it has been dubbed a "soccer highlight show" by the media.

The rules of the game are generally the same as grass soccer except the following:

A Short History

The first games of beach soccer were played more than thirty years ago on the beaches of Brazil. The game has become very popular in its home country where pick-up and more organized matches dominate beach space.

In the 1980's beach soccer started creeping northward with tournaments cropping up in San Jose, Virginia Beach (the North American Sand Soccer Championships are held there with more than 200 teams participating each year), Cape Cod, Newport, Atlantic Beach, Miami and New York. There are now more than fifteen tournaments in the United States that attract more than 10,000 beach soccer players.

The first Pro Beach Soccer event was held in 1993 on the Beach of Miami Florida. The Pro Beach Soccer Tour, operated out of the United States, is now a sixteen-stop summer long endeavor that attracts audiences of more than 5,000 people per match. Pro Tournaments are hosted in Europe, North America, South America and Asia.

The first Cape Express Beach Blast was held in 2003 with 72 teams and 10 fields. In year two we had 262 teams with 30 fields. Year three say 56 fields and 560 teams. Year four we maxed out at an even 600 teams. Year 5 ??? Do not wait to REGISTER!