The Pinnacle Cup St Louis will be played under FIFA Laws and Regulations with the following modifications: 

 

I. TOURNAMENT FEES • Please refer to tournament website for tournament fees https://www.thepinnacleloans.com/pinnaclecup .  Teams that drop from the tournament after March 31st will not be refunded their team application/registration fee. . 

 

TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS 2020 Marconi Ave St Louis Missouri 63110.  Contact Bill Lally, Pinnacle Cup Committee Chair at  314-497-5037 or blally@pinnaclerealestateadvisor.com.  

 

CHECK-IN 

 

All teams must check in 30 minutes before the team’s first game or earlier with Tournament staff. • Updated game schedules will be provided at Final Team Check-in. • All participants must complete a waiver prior to attending the tournament. 

 

Teams will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis through the application deadline (divisions may fill before this date). After May 31st, teams will be placed on a waiting list and duly notified of their acceptance.

 

Division:  Men’s Open 18+ premier 

 

 

Number of Players 

 

a) Teams shall have no more than 18 players on the roster and 7 players on the field at one time, including the goalkeeper. 

 

b) Once registered for a team’s roster, a player is prohibited from joining another team’s roster at any point in the Tournament

 

Substitutions 

 

Substitutions may be made on the fly through any part of the game. 

 

Players coming off the field must exit the field with both feet across the sideline before the substitute may enter.  

 

Players coming off the field must exit the field on the sideline where their respective teams bench is located. They cannot exit on the opposite side of the field. 

 

Players not on the field of play must remain two (2) yards behind the touchline and not within the distance of the goal area from the corner of the field.

 

Teams will be allowed unlimited substitutions.

 

The Field • The field shall be approximately 60-75 yards long by 35 - 45 yards wide. The field shall be marked with lines four inches in width. 

 

The Ball • A size 5 Capelli Tribeca ball will be provided and used for the tournament. 

 

Equipment: Each team will be provided 12 Capelli Jersey kits which includes one for Goalkeeper.   Rosters consisting of more than 12 players will be charged $80 per player up to the max roster of 18.   

 

Shin Guards are advised, but not required. Capelli Socks will be provided to each team.. 

 

Footwear: Players may used flat, turf, molded or plastic cleats (no screw-in studs or metal cleats allowed) 

 

NO JEWELRY 

 

The game shall be played by two teams each consisting of not more than seven players on the field, one being a goalkeeper.  If you do not have enough players a forfeit may result in your referee being taken off your field to referee another game. 

 

• A game can start with five players. A game cannot be played with less than four players. If a player is ejected in this situation, the game will be forfeited in favor of the opposition. 

 

 

Only players on your roster who have completed all paperwork by the required forms deadline are allowed to participate in the tournament.  

 

Duration of Game • Games shall be two periods of 25-minute halves. • Half time shall not exceed 3 minutes • During Playoffs, if a game is tied at the end of regulation, it will advance immediately following the FIFA Laws of the Game procedure for kicks from the mark best of 5.   

 

Kick-off o Away team listed on the schedule will start with the kick-off 

 

Home team selects their preferred direction  

 

A goal CANNOT be scored directly from a kick-off. 

 

Kick-in  When the whole ball passes over the touchline, either on the ground or in the air, it shall be kicked back into the game in any direction from the place where it crossed over the touchline by a player of the opposite team to that which touched it last. The ball must be stationary on the touchline or within 1 foot of the touchline “outside of the field of play.” Even if the ball is placed outside of the field, the rules will perform as if the ball is placed “on the line.” Therefore, a misskick that results in the ball not entering the field will result in a loss of possession of the kick-in, since the ball was started “in bounds” or on the line. It shall be deemed in play immediately once it has been touched. The kick-in shall be taken within 6 seconds of the time it is placed on the line. The player taking the kick-in shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player. The player of the opposing team shall be at least 15 feet away from the spot where the kick-in is being taken. o

 

A goal CANNOT be scored directly from a kick-in. 

 

• Free Kick All free kicks shall be classified as "direct free kick" (from which a goal can be scored directly).  

 

When a player is taking a free kick, all of the opposing players shall be at least 15 feet from the ball, until it is in play. 

 

The ball must be stationary when the free kick is taken, and the kicker shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player.  

 

Infringement: ▪ If the player taking the free kick, after having kicked the ball, plays it a second time before it has been touched or played by another player, a direct free kick shall be taken  by a player of the opposing team from the spot where the infringement occurred. However, if it is committed within the goal area, a direct free kick shall be taken from the point outside the goal area nearest to the spot where the infringement occurred. 

 

▪ If the team taking the free kick takes more than 6 seconds to do so, the referee shall award a direct free kick to the opposing team. 

 

• Corner Kick When the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, excluding that portion between the goal posts, either in the air or on the ground, having last been played by the defending team, a corner kick shall be awarded. On a corner kick, the ball shall be stationary and placed within 18 inches of the corner of the field. 

 

The corner kick shall be taken from the side of the field closest to where the ball went out of bounds. The player taking the corner kick shall not play the ball a second time until it has been touched or played by another player. The player of the opposing team shall be at least 15 feet away from the spot where the corner kick is being taken. 

 

A goal CAN be scored directly from a corner kick. 

 

Goal Clearance 

 

When the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, excluding that portion between the goal posts, either in the air or on the ground, having last been played by the attacking team, the goalkeeper, standing within his own goal area, shall throw it back into play, beyond his own goal area. The ball shall be deemed in play as soon as it has passed outside the goal area. The players of the opposing team shall remain outside the goal area until the ball is in play. A goal CANNOT be scored directly off of a goal clearance. 

 

Infringement If the ball is touched or played by the player of the same team, as the goalkeeper who is making the goal clearance, or by a player of the opposing team inside the goalkeeper’s goal area, the goal clearance shall be retaken. 

 

If after having cleared the ball, the goalkeeper touches it again before it has been touched or played by another player, a direct free kick shall be awarded to the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred. 

 

Goalkeeper 

 

 Once the goalkeeper possesses the ball in his/her hands, he/she may not punt or drop kick the ball into play. The ball may be thrown or rolled into play or the goalkeeper may play the ball to their own feet. During a goal clearance (the ball left the field of play over the end line last touched by the attacking team), the goalkeeper may only throw or roll the ball back into play and it must clear the goal area prior to being touched by another player. Once the goalkeeper has put the ball back in play he/she may not touch it again with his/her hands until it has touched another player. 

 

Kick-in When the whole of the ball passes over the side line, either in the air or on the ground, the team in possession of the ball shall put it back into play by kick-in. The ball shall be place on the line. In case the ball is place outside the line or inside the field, the team loses possession and a kick-in shall be taken by a player of the opposing team from the spot where the infringement occurred. 

 

A goal CANNOT be scored from a kick-in 

 

Slide tackle  

Contact Slide tackles are not allowed and a free-kick will be awarded for the opponent. Only goalkeepers and non player contact slides are allowed. 

 

Penalty kicks

Shall be awarded if, in the referee’s opinion, a scoring opportunity was nullified by an infraction (the infraction does not automatically result in a red card). Penalty kicks are DIRECT kicks place inside 3 feet from the top of the goal box.

Delay of Game

The referee has the official time on the field and holds the right to take necessary action if he/she feels that a team is delaying the game. Any player may be cautioned with a yellow card if it is deemed by the referee that the player is intentionally wasting time, such as if a player intentionally kicks the ball long distances away from the playing field in order to waste time. The referee has the official time on the field.

Forfeits

Teams are given five minutes from scheduled game time, or from delayed start time due to unforeseen circumstances, before the referee issues a forfeit. The PINNACLE CUP Director must approve all forfeits before the game is considered an official forfeit. The Tournament Director has the option to replay a forfeited game if deemed necessary. Any team forfeiting three games during pool play may be removed from the tournament. Any team forfeiting one game during the playoffs may be removed from the tournament.

 

Five-Yard Rule

In all dead-ball situations, defending players must stand at least five yards away from the ball. If the defensive player’s goal is closer than five yards (15 feet), the ball shall be played five yards from the goal line in line with the direction of play prior to the penalty.

 

XI. Scheduling 

 

• Teams will be divided into 8 groups of 4 for pool play. 

 

• Teams are guaranteed 3 games. 

 

• All games do count in the group standings for determining play-off placement 

 

• Abandoned Match: If a game in progress is canceled for any reason, it is considered complete when one half of a game is completed. 

 

• No overtime will be played during group competition. 

 

• Teams will be awarded three points for a win and one point for a tie. 

 

• A forfeit score will be recorded as a 3-0 victory. 

 

• The maximum recorded “goal differential” in any one game shall be 7. 

 

• Score should be verified with the referee at the end of each match. Any scores that are marked incorrectly on the game card will affect the standings. 

 

• Following preliminary rounds, criteria in order of importance will determine placement for the play-off brackets: 

 

Greater number of points. Each team receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. o Head to head record. (This will not be considered if three or more teams are tied) 

 

Goal difference. Subtract total goals allowed from total goals scored. 

 

Goals Scored.

 

If still tied, teams will advance to kicks form the mark prior to the playoff game. 

 

ADVANCEMENT PROCEDURES • Top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs. 

 

If the teams are tied after regulation in playoffs (including finals), will advance directly to kicks from the mark. The FIFA tie-breaking procedure of kicks from the penalty mark will be used to determine who advances. A 5 person shoot-out will take place, if still tied will go to sudden death. 

 

UNSPORTING BEHAVIOR • Unsportsmanlike behavior is not tolerated on or off the field. • Know and understand the laws of the game. Educate players on the technical/tactical/physical demands of the game. • Zero tolerance for fighting or heckling. Persons exhibiting these behaviors will be asked to leave the premises. • Zero tolerance for verbal or physical acts of discrimination by players, coaches, other match officials or spectators. • Be a positive role model. Set the standard for sportsmanship with the opponents, referees and spectators. • Encourage moral and social responsibility. • Encourage players to have fun and to keep a positive attitude about winning and losing. • Show pride and support for your club, state and country, but be respectful of other nation’s customs and traditions. 

 

Any player, coach spectator or participant who is ejected from a game or participates in any misconduct will be contacted by tournament headquarters at a minimum and the local authorities will be called if necessary. Misconduct by any of the above listed may result in a warning, game forfeit, tournament disqualification or other action if necessary. 

 

YELLOW CARDS  If a player receives a yellow card during a game, he must leave the playing field and sit on his bench for 2 minutes running time. The official will keep the time. Another player MAY be substituted for the cautioned player. If the team is playing with only six players, they will have to play short for 2 minutes running time. In coed leagues, if a female is cautioned, the team must continue to play with two female field players while the cautioned player sits out. In the event that the team has no female substitutes, they will need to play short for two minutes. 

 

RED CARDS  The player receiving a second caution or red card will not be allowed to play for the remainder of that game and must leave the playing area and leave the facility. • The player must leave the playing area and his team shall play short until the first stoppage in play after five (5) minutes running time, excluding any stoppage of time by the referee for injury, half-time, or any other reason. 

 

Once expelled, the player concerned may not re-enter the game, nor may he sit on the reserves bench. The player who enters the game for the one expelled shall only enter the field after he has received the consent of the referee and the ball is not in play. • The player will serve the suspension in the next game. 

 

Violent Conduct by a player of coach may result in more than a one game suspension by tournament committee decision. 

 

VIOLENT CONDUCT 

Should a team, player or fans be involved in a fight or serious incident at the facility 

 

Players involved in a fight or serious incident will be automatically kicked out from the tournament and further punishment of other team members will be determined by the tournament director. 

 

Teams involved in the incident will be removed from the tournament with no refunds. Fans causing problems or incidents will be escorted off the premises immediately. 

 

The tournament committee will make a ruling on the incident and notify teams of disciplinary action. All decisions are final and non-disputable. 

 

PROTESTS • No protests will be heard on any judgment calls by the referee. All decisions by the referee are final. 

 

• Protests on player eligibility and other technical matters may be made in writing and submitted to the Pinnacle Cup Director within one hour of the conclusion of the match. 

 

• Express concerns regarding violations prior to the start of the game or at the time the incident occurs. 

 

• If you have a problem regarding the rules or procedures at your game, take the following steps: 

 

Notify the referee immediately so that a correction can be made. 

 

If the situation is not resolved, notify the field manager and a tournament official will respond. 

 

WEATHER PROVISIONS 

 

• Severe weather is a possibility. All weather decisions are the sole decision of the tournament committee.

 

• If weather or the condition of fields makes it impossible to carry out the tournament to its full extent, the tournament committee will make the necessary decisions concerning the rearrangement or cancellation of games for any reason. Every effort is made to play all games in their entirety. Fees are nonrefundable, if games or the tournament are canceled for any reason..  

 

Tournament Rules

PINNACLE CUP ST LOUIS

 

2023 OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

 

The following sets forth the rules and regulations that will apply to the Pinnacle Cup Soccer Tournament, (the “Tournament” or “Pinnacle”) for 2023.  The Pinnacle Loans is the signature sponsor and the Pinnacle Cup Director of the Tournament ( “ the Pinnacle Director”). The Pinnacle Cup Directors are located at 2020 Marconi Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110 (email: info@pinnaclerealestateadvisor.com; phone: 314-497-5037.)  The Pinnacle Cup is currently intended, but is not guaranteed, to be produced for livestream on the internet. Note: The Pinnacle Director shall have the power and authority to determine all matters with respect to the Tournament and the Rules, including without limitation to make a final determination with respect to the applicability of or compliance with any Rule and the right to suspend or waive the requirements of any Rule, all and in each case, as it may determine, from time to time, in the exercise of its sole discretion. All references herein to any decision, election, determination, exercise of rights or other action by  the Pinnacle Director means, in each instance, the exercise of such right or taking of such action in the Pinnacle Director’s sole, exclusive and non-reviewable exercise of its discretion. 

 

TOURNAMENT:

Up to thirty-two (32) teams shall have the opportunity to participate in the Pinnacle Cup St Louis tournament in one of eight (8) groups of four (4) teams; the top two (2) teams from each group will advance to  single elimination, “knock out” rounds, beginning with the Round of 16, then the quarterfinals (eight teams), then the semifinals (four teams), then the Title Game (two teams); the winner of the Championship Game will be declared the winner of the Pinnacle Cup. The number of Teams that will compete is at the Pinnacle Director’s sole discretion.  The Pinnacle Cup tournament Director may elect to include fewer or more than thirty-two (32) Teams in the Tournament.  The Team that wins the Tournament will receive a cash prize of $100,000.00. The Team Prize shall be allocated among such Team’s Participants (as defined below) as such Team determines, subject to certain restrictions contained herein.    

 

ROLES

Each Team shall be initially composed of “Participants.”  A “Participant” is defined as either (i) an individual who applies on the Website and has been accepted by the Pinnacle Director to participate in the Tournament, or (ii) a person designated in a roster submitted by a Charity (as defined below).  A Participant may be a “Player,” a General Manager (“GM”), a “Coach,” a “Trainer,” a “Promoter” or other roles as defined by the Pinnacle Cup Director’s.   

Player – A Player is someone who is on a Team’s roster of individuals available to play in the Soccer games in the Tournament.

 

GM – There must be one GM per Team.  The GM is the individual who registers a Team with the Pinnacle Cup Director and who oversees all aspects of the Team, including, without limitation, recruiting Players, communicating with the Pinnacle Director, managing the roster, and otherwise handling the team’s application to play and participation in the Tournament.

 

Head Coach – A Team may have one Head Coach, or may elect not to have a Head Coach.

 

Assistant Coach -- A Team may have one or more Assistant Coaches, or may elect not to have an    

 

Promotor – A Team may have one or more Promoters, or may elect not to have a Promotor.  A Promoter is someone a Team believes will assist the Team in gaining entry to the Tournament, soliciting Fan support or will help the Team in some other way off-the-court. 

 

Other – A team may have one or more individuals in other roles. An individual in any non-specifically defined role is anyone who does not fit one of the role descriptions immediately above. 

 

A GM may also be a Player; however, he or she will count towards one of the permissible roster spots designated for Players.  

A GM, Coach, or Booster WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO SWITCH ROLES TO A PLAYER AFTER THE ROSTER DEADLINE  72 before the first game to be played in its assigned Group. 

 

A Coach or a Booster or others may be added to a Team’s roster at any point before or during the Tournament as long as that Coach or Booster or Other registers on the Website and submits to any and all other forms of registration. 

 

If a Team has a Participant who does not fit one of the above roles, but whom the Team wants on its roster, please email info@pinnaclerealestateadvisor.com to request  the Pinnacle Director’s authorization.  

 

The Pinnacle Director may disqualify any person from being a Participant in the Tournament if  the Pinnacle Director believes that such person’s participation is or may become harmful to or interfere with the integrity of the competition, competition, production and/or telecast or livestream of the Tournament. 

PRIOR TO COMMENCEMENT OF PLAY EACH PARTICIPANT MUST REVIEW AND ACCEPT IN WRITING PRODUCER’S PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (THE “PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT”), WHICH IS ALSO A REQUIREMENT FOR COMPLETION OF THE PARTICIPANT’S PROFILE ON THE WEBSITE. 

TEAM ROSTERS 

To be eligible to compete in the Tournament, a Team’s roster shall consist of at least ten (10) Players by 12 pm (NOON) CT on May 31, 2023. 

 

CHARITY 

Donating to Charity.  A Team may designate a Charity (as defined below) to which it will donate a percentage of its winnings, provided that such organization is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (such non-profit organization, a “Charity”). In the scenario described in this paragraph, the Pinnacle Director will not issue payment of any winnings directly to the Charity the Team has designated. The Team and its Participants will be solely responsible for any and all contributions, payments, or donations made to the designated Charity. PARTICIPANTS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION. THE PRODUCER IS NOT PROVIDING AND WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY TAX ADVICE TO TEAMS, PARTICIPANTS, OR THEIR ADVISORS. 

Charity-Sponsored Team.  

 

A Charity may apply to participate in the Tournament as a Team. In order to enter the Tournament, an individual representing the Charity would still have to be the GM, and would register the Team on the Website pursuant to these Rules.  Any individuals who desire to play for the Charity Team will still have to register themselves pursuant to these Rules, and the GM will have to invite them to join the Team, as described herein.  Notwithstanding any provision of these Rules, (i) a Charity Team is responsible for all obligations and requirements otherwise imposed on its Participants in these Rules, (ii) all Participants designated by a Charity shall participate solely as designees of the Charity Team and at its direction, and (iii) any rights or benefits, including any prize, award or other benefit, otherwise granted to Participants in these Rules shall instead belong solely to the Charity applicant. Should a Charity Team enter and win the Tournament, the Pinnacle Director will make payment exclusively to the benefit of the Charity and will not split or provide any separate payment to any other Participant playing on behalf of the Charity. 

 

PARTICIPANT DISCLOSURES 

 

Any Participant who has been arrested, charged with or convicted of a violent felony, in each case that has resulted in any term of imprisonment or any form of incarceration within the last seven (7) years (i.e., since April 2016), or who is identified on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons Lists (the “SDN List”) issued by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (including if such identification first occurs during the Tournament) may, in the Pinnacle Director’s sole discretion, not be eligible to participate (or continue to participate) in the Tournament and, if so barred from participation, shall not be eligible to win any portion of any prize.  the Pinnacle Director may also exclude from participation in the Tournament any individual who has been convicted of, or found liable for, any form of sexual offense, irrespective of whether a conviction led to imprisonment or any form of incarceration or has any other criminal history. Failure to disclose a history of criminal convictions, arrests or charges or identification on the SDN List may result in a Participant’s immediate disqualification from the Tournament and may also result in the disqualification of the Participant’s entire Team. A Participant with any history of such criminal convictions, arrests or charges specified above, or any knowledge that he or she is identified on the SDN List must notify  the Pinnacle Director of such history or identification by sending an email to info@Pinnaclerealestateadvisor.com not later than 12:00 pm (NOON) (CT) on May 31, 2023. 

 

Such emails must include date of offense, location of offense, arrest and/or conviction, and disposition of the case, as applicable. If the Participant has not provided the Pinnacle Director with any such information by such date/time,  the Pinnacle Director shall assume that such Participant has represented that he or she has no criminal history and is not identified on the SDN List. In addition to the foregoing disclosure,  the Pinnacle Director shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to perform a formal background check in connection with any matters concerning Participant’s background, as well as check Participant against the SDN List, and  the Pinnacle Director shall have the right to use such results to assess whether Participant may participate or continue to participate in the Tournament. Participants may be asked to provide all applicable information required of him/her in order for  the Pinnacle Director to complete such formal background check and/or check of the SDN List, and Participant’s failure to do so may be grounds for disqualification from the Tournament. 

 

APPLICATION TO AND QUALIFICATION FOR THE TOURNAMENT

In order to start the application process, an individual who wishes to enter a team in the Tournament must purchase a slot on the Pinnacle Director’s website. The purchaser must then complete all basic information requested by the Pinnacle Director (collectively, a “Profile”), including, without limitation, biographical data, playing history (with position), height, weight and all other information about such individual, including digital photographs, to be submitted as instructed and described in the application section on the Website.

 

Participants on a Team must complete all basic information requested by the Pinnacle Director (collectively, a “Profile”), including, without limitation, biographical data, playing history (with position), height, weight and all other information about such individual, including digital photographs, to be submitted as instructed and described in the application section on the Website. 

 

If an admitted Team adds a Player(s) to its roster after May 31, 2023, that Player or those Players must complete all other forms of registration required by the Pinnacle Director, including, but not limited to medical records, if the Pinnacle Director requests, as described herein and the Team must submit a Player Registration Fee. 

 

Participants must show their current valid and unexpired picture identification (current passport, driver’s license or state or military identification card) acceptable to the Pinnacle Director at the time of on-site registration. 

 

Participants must be legally eligible to enter the United States and may be required by  the Pinnacle Director to submit documentation that proves the foregoing. 

PARTICIPANTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING ANY AND ALL LICENSES AND/OR REGISTRATIONS AND FOR PAYMENT OF ANY AND ALL TAXES AND OTHER FEES THAT MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATION IN AND THE WINNING OF THE TOURNAMENT. 

 

The Pinnacle Director is not obligated to assist, advise, or perform any duties or provide any help in any form for any Participant seeking to gain legal entry to the United States. 

The application process will be open during the period from 12:00 pm (NOON) (CT) on December 1, 2022 until 12:00 pm (NOON) (CT) on May 31, 2023. Each applicant must provide all information requested of him or her by the Pinnacle Director.  The Pinnacle Director shall own all right, title and interest in and to all of the materials that an applicant submits, enters or otherwise chooses to include on the Website whether in the form of pictures, writings or otherwise. 

 

Any person who fails to register with the Pinnacle Director and to satisfactorily complete any and all required forms and registrations (as determined by the  the Pinnacle Director) before 12:00 pm (NOON) (CT) on May 31, 2023 or otherwise fails to provide all information requested of him or her by the  the Pinnacle Director from time-to time, may, in the  the Pinnacle Director’s sole discretion, not be permitted to participate in the Tournament. The  Pinnacle Director retains the right to accelerate the admission process for any Team by admitting for entry into the Tournament any Team and its Participants at a date and time prior to or following May 31, 2023. 

 

The GM is solely responsible for assembling and obtaining Players for a Team roster from those individuals who apply to play in the Tournament and shall do so using the online process provided and described by the Pinnacle Director. To be eligible to play in the Tournament, a Team will be required to designate its hometown and have an eligible roster (i.e., at least 8 Players) prior to 12:00 pm (NOON) (CT) on May 31, 2023, pursuant to the Rules described above. The GM may offer any individual applicant who is registered as a Player a spot on his/her Team.  Such an individual must have accepted the invitation and agreed to play for the GM’s team before he or she will be a Player on such Team. An individual may only be a Participant of one Team. Players on Teams that do not gain admission to the Tournament will be permitted to join a Team that has gained admission 

 

PURSUANT TO THE RULES ABOVE. A GM may withdraw his or her offer to an individual selected to join a Team at any time prior to 12:00 pm (NOON) (CT) on May 31, 2023 and a Player may withdraw his or her acceptance to join a Team at any time prior to 12:00 pm (NOON) (CT) on May 31, 2023. 

Except in the Pinnacle Director’s sole discretion, no Participant will be permitted to play, coach, or otherwise participate in the Tournament on behalf of a Team unless he or she has completed all registration requirements on the Website as specified herein. 

 

A Player who is on the roster of a Team that is not selected to participate in the Tournament may join the roster of a Team that is selected to participate after May 31, 2023 provided that the Team to which he is transferring has an available roster slot.  

 

The Pinnacle Director reserves the right to alter, amend, and change a Team's name as provided by the GM, at any time. A GM may not name his or her team in any way that  the Pinnacle Director  finds offensive, in its sole discretion, or that in any way does or could be perceived to violate the intellectual property rights of any individual, entity, organization, or business, including but not limited to any university, high school, or professional sports organization. 

 

Team Eligibility.  Throughout the application process and immediately following 12:00 pm (NOON) (CT) on May 31st, 2023,  the Pinnacle Director will review each Team’s page on the Website and first determine which Teams are eligible to participate in the Tournament. 

Team Selection.  After determining which Teams are eligible to participate in the Tournament, whether a Team makes the final cut to be in the Tournament is in the Pinnacle Director’s sole discretion. As a guide to applicants, in making such determinations,  

 

The Pinnacle Director will consider, among other factors, the following: (i) the content and completeness of the applications of each of the Team’s Participants; (ii) the Team’s satisfactory completion of the registration process; (iii) the level of Soccer talent a Team possesses including, without limitation, the highest level of play for each Player on a Team (i.e., high school, collegiate, professional, etc.); (iv) the Team’s submission of the entry fee; and (v) other criteria that  the Pinnacle Director deems important to the integrity, competition, production and/or telecast of the Tournament, including certain criteria that the Pinnacle Director will publish and make available to applicants. 

 

Team Invitation. The Pinnacle Director will make final selections and announce those Teams who are invited to participate in the Tournament on the Website by no later than May 31, 2023.  Subject to the other terms and conditions set forth herein, up to thirty-two (32) teams will be selected to play in the Tournament.

 

Participant accounts MUST BE CREATED WITH TRUE AND ACCURATE FIRST NAMES AND LAST NAMES AND ALL OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION PROVIDED MUST BE ACCURATE AND VERIFIABLE. PRODUCER RESERVES THE RIGHT IN ITS DISCRETION TO ELIMINATE OR DELETE ANY ACCOUNT AND DENY ENTRY TO ANY INDIVIDUAL FOR WHOM IT IS UNABLE TO VERIFY AND CONFIRM AS LEGITIMATE. 

A PARTICIPANT MAY NOT ALSO BE A REGISTERED SUPPORTER OF HIS OR HER TEAM OR ANY OTHER TEAM. 

COMPETING IN THE TOURNAMENT

 

The Teams selected to participate in the Tournament will compete in one of eight (8) Groups; each Group will be composed of four (4) teams.  The Pinnacle Director, in its sole discretion, will assign a ranking or tier to each of the thirty-two (32) teams slated to compete in the Tournament. Each Tier will comprise eight teams (8) that are ranked according to  the Pinnacle Director’s evaluation of their relative skill and/or merits. Tiers will be ranked 1-8, with Tier 1 Teams considered the top quality Teams, Tier 2 the next, and so on. Each Team within a particular Tier will be selected via random draw and assigned to one of eight (8) Groups, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. No Tier 1 Team will be matched in a Group with another Tier 1 Team; likewise, no Tier 2 Team will be matched with another Tier 2 Team and so on. At the conclusion of the selection process all thirty two (32) Teams will be matched in a Group with one (1) Tier 1 Team, one (1) Tier 2 Team, one (1) Tier 3 Team, and one (1) Tier 4 Team. 

Group play for the Tournament will commence on July 6, 2023 at the Creve Coeur Soccer Complex in Maryland Heights, Missouri. Each Team will play three (3) games within its Group, competing against each team in its Group once. Each match will result in a winning team. The top two (2) Teams in each Group will advance to the Round of 16 and will compete against the advancing Teams with whom they have been paired. (e.g. Group A 1st place vs. Group H 2nd place, etc.)

 

Each Team is solely responsible for costs and expenses, including, without limitation, travel, HOTEL COSTS, AND MEALS in order to appear and be able to play in the Pinnacle Cupt.  the Pinnacle Director shall determine the time and date that each Team will play during the Tournament; following such determination, all times and dates are locked and may not be changed other than by  the Pinnacle Director. 

 

Each Team will receive 12 Capelli jersey kits to wear during the Tournament, and each Player on the Team must wear such jersey, shorts, and socks and may not wear any other jersey, shorts, and socks. Additionally, members of the Team’s sideline personnel, including coaches, GM’s, team managers, or others may be provided with specific shirts or other apparel that must be worn while the games are being played. During the Tournament, each Team will play one to two games per day. Once a Team fails to advance from Group play, it will automatically be eliminated from the Tournament and no longer be eligible to play or to win the Team Prize. A Team will go on to the Round of 16 if it finishes in the top two (2) positions in its Group, and may thereafter advance in the Tournament only if it wins its game in each successive round.  

The Pinnacle Tournament Director retains the right to disqualify any Team or Participant at any point in the Tournament for any reason if the Pinnacle Cup Director believes that the participation of such Team or Participant is or may become harmful to or interfere with the integrity, competition, production and/or telecast of the Tournament, including without limitation to enforce the rules of the Tournament, promote the entertainment value of the event and to maintain the reputation of the Tournament and avoid any impropriety or even the appearance of impropriety. 

 

If a Team is disqualified from the Tournament, is not present for any game in which it is scheduled to play or if a Team determines that it is unable to compete in the Tournament, the Pinnacle Director shall have the right to select a replacement Team from among the pool of previously eliminated Teams. If a Team is disqualified from the Tournament during play, all results from its previous victories stand and cannot be challenged or changed.  The Pinnacle Director retains the right and authority to replace a disqualified team with another team (including for the championship game). 

 

Each Participant is prohibited from gambling and from associating with those who gamble in connection with the Tournament. If a Participant is found to be involved with gambling in association or in connection with the Tournament, including having taken any form of consideration, whether directly or indirectly from those who gamble in connection with the Tournament, that Participant shall be disqualified from the Tournament and shall be banned for life from competing in the Tournament in future years. Upon discovery of a Participant's involvement or association with gambling in connection with the Tournament,  the Pinnacle Director may notify all appropriate law enforcement authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, local police departments and all offices of prosecution who retain jurisdiction over the illegal activities. 

 

If at any time a Participant feels he or she is unable to participate in the Tournament for health or other reasons, Participant may elect to drop out and not continue his/her participation in the Tournament, so long as such Participant gives reasonable advance notice to his/her Team and the  the Pinnacle Director. If, at any time, a Participant fails to appear for any game and/or event in connection with the Tournament and the failure to appear is unexcused and unapproved by the Team or the  the Pinnacle Director, he/she will be disqualified and he/she shall not be eligible to receive his/her share of the Team Prize. A GM is not required to appear at a game, but he/she must communicate in writing to  the Pinnacle Director (or its designee) that he/she will not be attending a game. If a Participant is injured during competition and is unable to continue playing, his or her Team will not be able to replace Participant, but if such Team goes on to win the Team Prize, the injured Participant (other than a Participant on a Charity Team) will have the right to share in such Team Prize, subject to any separate agreement among such Team’s Participants.

 

The winning Team may allocate its Prize among each of its registered Participants in whatever manner it has decided to allocate the Team Prize, and the  the Pinnacle Director will pay the Team Prize according to such allocation; provided, however, that each Team playing in the championship game is required to memorialize in writing, in a manner that the Pinnacle Cup Director shall deem acceptable, before the championship game how it will allocate the Prize to its Participants if it is the winner. Additional information may also be required as part of such allocation process (e.g., social security numbers, completion of IRS Form W-9, etc.).  Participants on the winning Team will also be required to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and Publicity Release prior to receiving any portion of the Team Prize. 

 

The Pinnacle Director retains the sole and exclusive right to determine the method of payment for the Team Prize. 

 

Any Participant or Team who receives any form of compensation apart from the Team Prize, in exchange for appearing and/or playing in the Tournament, whether such compensation is direct or indirect compensation or in the form of sponsorship or otherwise, must inform  the Pinnacle Director of such arrangement. Failure to inform  the Pinnacle Director of any outside compensation may result in such Participant's and/or Team’s disqualification from the Tournament. 

 

EFFECT OF A TEAM’S FORFEIT. If a Team is selected to compete in the Tournament and does not appear to compete, thereby forfeiting its game, the Pinnacle Director shall, in its discretion, suspend all members of that Team and prohibit those members from future competitions indefinitely until a penalty of $10,000 is paid by or on behalf of the forfeiting Team. 

 

Following the end of the Tournament, the winning Team must be available to render press and publicity services as requested by  the Pinnacle Director for two (2) weeks. 

Each Participant acknowledges and agrees that, as an applicant to participate in the Tournament he/she will be required as part of entry in the Tournament to execute additional paperwork which may include, without limitation, the Participant Agreement and medical release(s) (including, for a Charity Team, Participation Agreements and medical releases executed by the Charity’s individual Participants), and such other documents as  the Pinnacle Director may require from time to time. 

Each Participant further acknowledges that he/she has been provided with a reasonable period of time to review the foregoing Rules, and to ask  the Pinnacle Director any and all questions that Participant may have with respect to the Rules, the Tournament, the prizes and any other questions it may have, and by registering on the Website each Participant agrees to all of the foregoing Rules. 

 

EFFECT OF A TEAM’S FORFEIT. If a Team is selected to compete in the Tournament and does not appear to compete, thereby forfeiting its game, the Pinnacle Director shall, in its discretion, suspend all members of that Team and prohibit those members from future competitions indefinitely until a penalty of $10,000 is paid by or on behalf of the forfeiting Team.