LEAGUE FORMAT

Games are played with a team of 4 (1 goalkeeper + 3 outfield players), vs another team of 4.

GAME FORMAT

Each regular season match will consist of two periods each 7 minutes long with a half-time rest period of 1 minute.

The Semi-Final matches will consist of two periods each 10 minutes long with a half-time rest period of 2 minutes.

The Final will consist of two periods each 15 minutes long with a half-time rest period of 5 minutes.

The referee can add some time at the end of each half for time lost due to fouls, injuries, or one team wasting time.

DRAWS

If the score is tied at the end of the second period during the regular season, the match will end in a draw.

If the score is tied at the end of the second period of a Semi-Final match (including away goal rule) the game goes straight to penalty kicks.

If the score is tied at the end of the second period of the Final match, two periods, each 5 minutes long, with a half-time rest period of 1 minute will be added. Should the score still be tied at the end of the extra time, the match goes to penalty kicks, where the winning team is named Copa ACDA Champions.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT

In some occasions, the winner of a tie game is determined by penalty kicks. Teams take turns to kick from the penalty mark, until each has taken five kicks. However, if one side has scored more goals than the other could possibly reach with all of its remaining kicks, the shoot-out immediately ends, regardless of the number of kicks remaining; this basis is called "best-of-five kicks.”

REGULAR SEASON

A league format in which the four teams in the group play all other teams in the group once (condensed this tournament from twice), in hopes to take the number 1 spot of the table.

The tiebreaker criteria are as follows:

  1. Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss)

  2. Greatest goal differential in all group matches

  3. Most goals scored in all group matches

These 3 games are played in a span of 3 weeks.

SEMI-FINALS

Once each team has received their spot in the table, the semi-final bracket is made in which 4 games (2 legs each team) are played; 1st place vs 4th place and 2nd place vs 3rd place. The winners then qualify for the Copa ACDA Final, for a chance to hoist the “Copa ACDA".” The Semi-Finals, and the Final games are played on the same day.

League Table, Copa ACDA Fall 2023

Semi-Finals Bracket, Copa ACDA Fall 2023

TWO-LEGGED TIE

A two-legged tie is a contest between two teams which comprises two matches or "legs", with each team as the home team in one leg. The winning team is usually determined by aggregate score, the sum of the scores of the two legs. For example, if the scores of the two legs are:

  • First leg: Team A 4–1 Team B

  • Second leg: Team B 2–1 Team A

Then the aggregate score will be Team A 5–3 Team B, meaning team A wins the tie.

AWAY GOAL RULE

The away goals rule is a method of tie-breaking in football (soccer) when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. Under the away goals rule, if the total goals scored by each team are equal, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" win the tiebreaker.

EXPLANATION

Example A

  • In the first leg, the final score is: Team A (Home) 1–0 Team B (Away).

  • In the second leg, the final score is: Team B (Home) 1–0 Team A (Away).

In this example, the aggregate score is 1–1, but as neither team scored an away goal, the match will progress to the next tie-breaker, extra time.

Example B

  • In the first leg, the final score is: Team A (Home) 1–0 Team B (Away).

  • In the second leg, the final score is: Team B (Home) 2–1 Team A (Away).

In this example, the aggregate score is 2–2. However, because Team A scored an away goal in the second leg while Team B, in the first leg, did not, Team A will progress to the Copa ACDA Final as they scored more away goals than Team B.

Example C

In the first leg, the final score is: Team A (Home) 1–0 Team B (Away).

  • First leg: Team A (Home) 1–0 Team B (Away).

In the second leg, the final score goes as follows:

  • Second leg, after 90 minutes: Team B (Home) 1–0 Team A (Away).

  • Second leg, after extra time: Team B (Home) 2–1 Team A (Away).

In this example, the aggregate score is 1–1 after 90 minutes in the second leg and neither team has scored an away goal, the match goes into extra time. The score remains level 2–2 on aggregate after extra time. However, Team A has now scored an away goal and competition rules count away goals after extra time, Team A will thus progress to the Copa ACDA Final, as they scored more away goals than Team B.

Example D

In the first leg, the final score is: Team A (Home) 1–0 Team B (Away).

  • First leg: Team A (Home) 1–0 Team B (Away).

In the second leg, the final score goes as follows:

  • Second leg, after 90 minutes: Team B (Home) 1–0 Team A (Away).

  • Second leg, after extra time: Team B (Home) 1–0 Team A (Away).

In this example, the aggregate score is 1–1, but as neither team scored an away goal, the match will progress to the next tie-breaker, extra time. Since no further goals are scored there, the match will progress to a penalty shootout.

Example E

  • First leg: Team A (Home) 0–1 Team B (Away).

  • Second leg: Team B (Home) 1–2 Team A (Away).

In this example, the aggregate score is 2–2. However, because Team A has scored more away goals than Team B, Team A will progress to the Copa ACDA Final.