2026 National Capital Fall Classic Rules
 
The National Capital Fall Classic is the perfect way to finish off the outdoor season with competitive games, in a well-organized event with great facilities.

The tournament management committee will review all team applications and at its sole discretion, will determine the acceptance of a team application and the committee’s decision is final.

Teams not accepted will receive a full refund of their fees.
Tournament director / committee may from time to time make decision for the betterment of the teams and players and their decision is final.

 Stay and Play Policy: Out of town teams requiring hotel accommodations MUST comply with the Stay & Play policy requirements and utilize our hotel booking partner by HTG Sports .
Festival Dates: U9-U11 Boys and Girls 
•    Boys - Saturday, October 3 
•    Girls – Sunday October 4
Tournament Dates: U12-U18 Boys & Girls
•    October  3rd & 4th 
Festival Format
Teams will be allotted the maximum number of minutes permitted for a festival
•    Schedules will be available approximately 7-10 days in advance of the event

•    U8 -U9 is 5v5
     3 games - 25 minute games ( straight play , no halves ) 

•    U10-U11 is 7v7
     3 game format - 30 minute games (  15 min halves)   

•    U12-U13 is 9v9
3 game format - 40 minute games (20 min. halves ) 

Tournament Format

Duration of Games  
The following competitions shall not exceed the permitted time limit per day:
•    Under-12 and Under-13 - 3 games of 40 minutes ( 2 x 20 minute halves ) 
•    Under-14 and older  - 3 games of 70  minutes ( 2 x 35 minute halves )
There must be a minimum of one (1) hour between each game played by any team.

Game Day maximum for Grassroots Players Classification 

Teams may only dress and play up to a maximum of twenty (20) Players in each game of the tournament unless tournaments (for Under-12 and Under-13) are subject to Canada Soccer Grassroots Standards at which maximum match day roster of eighteen (18) players in each game apply.
•    5v5 (with GK)(for Outdoor U8-U9 teams ONLY) is 12 players
•    7v7 (With GK) (for Outdoor U10 -U11 Teams ONLY) is 12 players 
•    9v9 (With GK) (for Outdoor U12-U13 Teams ONLY) is 16 Players 
U12 and above Tournament Event
•    Will consist of a round-robin format, played over both days, with a minimum of 3 group games + playoffs on Sunday
•    If a playoff game (including the finals) are tied at the end of regulation, it goes immediately to FIFA penalty kicks (5 shooters per team to start)
•    The event will be tiered, subject to the number of applicants in each division
Cost
•    U8 Teams - $375 
•    U9-U12 Teams - $550
•    U13+ Teams - $795
Tournament Director Contact Information
Jim Lianos: osugm@osu.ca / 613-266-1224

Team Check in Information
For teams participating in the OSU National Capital Fall Classic, teams are required to do an electronic check-in.
All teams must have a certified coach on the bench at all times. 
 
ONTARIO teams are required to submit an official Ontario Soccer Roster, for Proof of Player Registration.
OR a Festival Roster signed by the Club and including each player's Full Name, Date of Birth and Ontario Soccer ( OS ) number, along with a confirmation that all players have been approved to play in OS soccer for the current outdoor season.

QUEBEC teams are required to submit an official Roster including each player's Full Name, Date of Birth and Association Player Number.

Travel Permits
•    Out of town teams MUST provide us with a travel permit from their home district / province by no later than September 15
Game Sheets
•    We will print each team all their game sheets and provide them to you.
What you require for the team check in?
•    Ontario Soccer Team roster or equivalent from your provincial body.
•    Player books or player cards for each player and team official.( does not apply to Ontario Teams for U9-U12.
•    Out of town teams require a travel permit from their Association 
Note: Without the items outlined above players will not be able to participate in the event.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
•    All teams MUST register ON-LINE through our website ( link can be found at the top of this page )
•    Once registered please email us and let us know what Tier you would like to place your team. Tier 1 or Tier 1 ( Tier 1 is the highest competition) 
•    Registration fee is due upon registration.
•    Payment can be made by:
E-Transfer to: payments@osu.ca ( preferred option) 
 
•    Registration Deadline: September 18th
•    Teams will NOT be considered accepted until full payment of festival fee is received.
•    The person listed as the Primary contact when registering your team online will be receiving all communications.
•    Number of divisions per age group will be determined by the number of teams entered for the event.
•    Festival will try to match teams of similar caliber at its sole discretion, but reserves the right to combine levels as required for scheduling purposes.
•    Schedules will be posted online on the festival website 7-10 days before the start of the festival.
•    Festival reserves the right to make schedule changes if warranted.
REFEREE PAY ( included in tournament fees) 
 
U12-U18
•    Centre Referee - $40-$57 per game 
•    Assistant Referee - $41 per game  ( if AR’s are used )
REFUND POLICY:
•    Refunds will be refunded in full to teams that are not accepted to the festival.
•    No refunds will be granted to teams that have already been accepted in the festival.

PROTEST RULES
No protests regarding a Referee’s decision(s)- All Referees’ decisions are final.
Protests regarding non-Referee decisions will be permitted.
All Non-Referee protests must be in writing and accompanied with a protest fee of $300 payable in cash or money order. Protest fee will ONLY be refunded if the protest in question is deemed to be valid.
All potentially affected parties will be notified of the protest and each will be permitted to make a presentation (of five minutes maximum duration) to the Tournament Management Committee or Director, which will make a decision on the same day that the protest is filed or upon receipt of all reports; its decision will be final and binding.
ONLY PROTESTS AND DISPUTES THAT FOLLOW THE ABOVE PROCESS WILL BE WILL REVIEW.

SUBSTITUTION RULES
Substitutions may be made at the following times, with the consent of the Referee:
•    on any goal kick;
•    on a team’s own throw-in, or on the opposing team’s throw-in if the team is making a substitution;
•    after a goal is scored;
•    at half-time;
•    in replacement of an injured player; and
•    in replacement of a player who has just been shown a Yellow Card.
Substitutions will be unlimited in number. Substitutions will not be allowed for a player ejected from the game.
TEAM ELIGIBILITY
•     All teams must be registered with their Provincial, State, or National Association. 
•    Each team must include with tournament application written proof of team travel permission authorized by its governing Association. 
•    In North American and International Class Tournaments, all teams from outside Ontario must supply proof of accident/injury/illness medical insurance to the Tournament Host no later than seven (7) days prior to the tournament. 
•    Teams may only use Players who are registered with them, except as otherwise stipulated. 
•    All Youth team regardless of the competition must have a minimum of one (1) registered Team Official on the bench at all times. 

If a team does not have a registered Team Official on the bench prior to the game or at any time during the game, the game will be abandoned and result awarded to the opposition.