MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs 2021 Competition Guidelines

Competition Format

Playoffs

• 32 teams from each age group (U15, U16, U17, U19) will play a single elimination tournament to determine one Champion per age group.
• Teams are seeded #1 to #32 based on their overall points per game.
• Teams eliminated from the R32 or R16 will enter the MLS NEXT Cup Showcase.

Showcase

• All teams will play 3 games in 4 days.

Tiebreakers for Divisional Standings

In the event two or more teams finish the MLS NEXT Regular Season with an equal number of points per game, the following procedure (in order of priority) will be used to break the tie and determine the final standings:

• Points Earned Head-to-Head Matches
• Total Number of Wins per Games Played
• Goal Differential per Games Played
• Goals For per Games Played
• Away Goals Differential per Games Played
• Away Goals For per Games Played
• Home Goal Differential per Games Played
• Home Goals For per Games Played
• Coin Toss (tie of two Clubs) or Drawing of Lots (tie of three or more Clubs)

Note: only Divisional Games will count toward the Tiebreakers for Automatic Qualification from the Division

Tiebreakers for Wildcard Standings

In the event two or more teams finish the MLS NEXT Regular Season with an equal number of points per game, the following procedure (in order of priority) will be used to break the tie and determine the final Wildcard standings:

• Points Earned Head-to-Head Matches
• Total Number of Wins per Games Played
• Goal Differential per Games Played
• Goals For per Games Played
• Away Goals Differential per Games Played
• Away Goals For per Games Played
• Home Goal Differential per Games Played
• Home Goals For per Games Played
• Coin Toss (tie of two Clubs) or Drawing of Lots (tie of three or more Clubs)

Note: Divisional and Wildcard Games will count toward the Tiebreakers for Wildcard Qualification from the Division

Playoff Roster Rules

Playoff Rosters and Game Day Rosters

Teams are permitted a 23-player Playoff Roster with 18 players eligible to dress for each match. Players on the Playoff Roster who are not dressed for the game, may sit on the bench, but are expected to represent their club in a professional manner.

Players are not eligible to rostered on another Playoff or Showcase team during the R32 thru QF as long as their team is active in the Playoffs.

If a team is eliminated from the Playoffs, the player may join another Showcase team provided they do not play more than 3 games in 4 days. The player is not eligible to join another Playoff team unless the team qualifies for the Semi-Finals.

When a team qualifies for the Semi-finals, they are permitted to adjust their 23-player roster with other players registered at their club prior to the Roster Freeze deadline.

• June 22 at 12pm CT - Deadline for all Playoff and Showcase rosters
• June 29 – Deadline for Changes to U15 & U16 Semi-Final/Final Rosters
• June 30 – Deadline for Changes to U17 & U19 Semi-Final/Final Rosters

Showcase Roster Rules

Showcase Rosters and Game Day Rosters

Teams are permitted a 23-player Showcase Roster with 18 players eligible to dress for each match. Players on the Showcase Roster who are not dressed for the game, may sit on the bench, but are expected to represent their club in a professional manner.

Players can be rostered on multiple Showcase teams within the same club. However, players should only play the equivalent of 3 games in 4 days.

If a team is eliminated from the Playoffs, the player may join another Showcase team provided they do not play more than 3 games in 4 days.

When a team qualifies for the Semi-finals, they are permitted to adjust their 23-player roster with other players registered at their club prior to the Roster Freeze deadline.

Rules of Competition

Game Length

• U15 = 40-minute halves, 15-minute halftime, 3-minute water breaks (25th and 65th minutes)
• U16 = 45-minute halves, 15-minute halftime, 3-minute water breaks (30th and 75th minutes)
• U17 = 45-minute halves, 15-minute halftime, 3-minute water breaks (30th and 75th minutes)
• U19 = 45-minute halves, 15-minute halftime, 3-minute water breaks (30th and 75th minutes)
• Referee will keep the official time for each match.

Extra Periods / Penalty Kicks

• If a Playoff game is tied at the end of Regulation, then teams will proceed directly to penalty kicks. If the score is tied after five (5) rounds of penalty kicks, then each round will become sudden death.
• If a Showcase game is tied at the end of Regulation, then the game will be completed and recorded as a tie.

Substitutions

• Consistent with Regular Season, each team is permitted seven (7) substitutions over 3 stoppages, including Half-Time

Weather Delays

If a game is postponed due to weather, we will address using the following scenarios:

If the game can be resumed later in the day or next morning (at discretion of MLS NEXT)…

• We will do our best to continue the match from the moment of the delay. A continued match will restart at the minute the match was postponed with the same score and disciplinary record. If there is a lengthy delay, the same players who ended the match do not have to be on the field when the match resumes.

If we cannot complete the match and we meet minutes played threshold…

• U15 games will be considered complete upon the 60th minute of play.
• U16, U17, U19 games will be considered complete upon the 75th minute of play.

If we cannot complete the match and we do not meet the minutes played thresholds (above)…

• We will use a penalty shoot-out to determine a winner.
• In the event we cannot perform a penalty shoot out, we will perform a coin toss to determine a winner.

Discipline

Regular Season

• Any suspensions earned during the Regular Season will carry over into the Playoffs and Showcase

Yellow Card Accumulation

• Yellow card accumulation will reset for all players entering the Playoffs.
• If a player earns three yellow cards in the Playoffs, they will be suspended for the next game.
• There will be no Yellow card accumulation in the Showcase.

Suspensions Earned at the Playoffs

• Any send off or other suspension earned at the Playoffs and Showcase will apply to the next Playoff or Showcase game. If the team no longer has any Playoff or Showcase games at the event, then the suspension will carry over to the 2021-22 season.

Sideline Behavior

Code of Conduct

• Fair Play
• Respect: Process, Schedule & Discipline
• Competitors on the Field, Partners off the Field
• Recruitment: No connection with opposing players

Player Behavior

• Fun & Enthusiastic
• Professional
• Passionate
• Respectful of Referees, Opponents, Fields, Facilities, Volunteers, Parents, and all Staff

Coaches

• Respect: For the Opponent, Your Club, MLS NEXT, and the Game
• Fair Play
• Passion & Competitiveness
• Focused: On the Game, Not the Referee
• Leadership: Meaningful Feedback, Managing Emotion, Pressure, and Situation

Game Reporting

Pre-Game Rosters and Schematics

• Clubs should enter Game Day rosters at least three (3) hours before kick off.

Substitution Cards

• Players entering the match must present a substitution card to the AR prior to entering the field of play.

Post-Game Report

• Referee will submit the Game Report after receiving verbal confirmation from each head coach similar to the Regular Season.