Soccer

1. 1. Champions will receive the Bay Malayali ever-rolling Trophy and medals
   2. The runner-up will receive the Bay Malayali ever-rolling Trophy and medals
   3. Teams can have a maximum of 17 players in total. Please make use of the maximum roster slots available to set up your team initially to account for player unavailability or injury during the tournament. Once the roster is locked (July 1) the only way to add a player to your existing roster would be for an injury which would have to be supported by a doctor’s note
   4. Similar to previous years, Teams can have unlimited South Indian origin players. South Indian origin players include any players or at least one of their parents who hail from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Each team can have one Non-South Indian Player; who hails from any other state of India
   5. Since this is a charity tournament, registration fees will not be refunded
   6. Games will be played under floodlights

Tournament Rules

1. 1. The games are 9×9
   2. Games are 20-minute halves with a 5-minute half-time break
   3. Team captains are to report to the Referee 15 minutes before kickoff time. Forfeit would be declared if at kick off any team has lesser than 9 players who have reported
   4. A roster can carry a maximum of 17 players in total (9 infield and 8 subs)
   5. There can be a maximum of 1 non-South Indian player* in a team
   6. Once the tournament starts the only way to add a player to your existing roster would be for an injury which would have to be supported by a doctor’s note
   7. The replacement request should be sent to baymalayali@gmail.com on or before 5 PM PST on the corresponding Thursday in order for the replacement player to play a Saturday game
   8. An injured Non-South Indian player* can only be replaced by a South Indian player
   9. Play is governed by FIFA rules unless otherwise noted
   10. Field players: No slide-tackling or sliding within a couple of yards of an opponent
   11. Goalkeepers can slide-tackle ONLY if clearly going for the ball within their penalty area. If he is playing the ball outside his penalty area, he is essentially a field player and the same sliding rules for field players apply to the goalkeeper
   12. Shin guards are required. No exceptions
   13. Win=+3 points; Tie=+1 point; Loss=0 points; Forfeit= -3 points (negative 3 points)
   14. A score of 3-0 goes to the winning team’s forfeits.
   15. If you must forfeit, inform the organizers and the other team by 5 PM PST Friday before the Saturday game
   16. Playoff seeding
       1. The two top teams from the groups qualify for the semi-finals
       2. In all cases, the best team is decided based on the following order
          1. points
          2. goal differential
          3. goals for
          4. goals against
          5. Fair play (the red card earns -3, the yellow card earns -1 point)
          6. Coin Toss
       3. Once the four teams are decided, the matching of the semifinal draw will be a lucky draw conducted in front of all semi-final team captains
   17. Unlimited substitutions of players are permitted when the ball is out of play (throw-ins and goal kicks)
   18. Any excessive contact or collision will result in a foul and ejection of the player. We all need to go to work the next day after all
   19. Any player abusing the referee will automatically be ejected from the game
   20. Our goal is for you to have fun and stay fit. We hope that you keep this in mind when participating. Although games may become intense, you still can be competitive while maintaining good sportsmanship. With this said, any behavior deemed unacceptable may result in suspension and/or ejection from a game or the league
   21. The captains would be informed about any updates/changes via Captian’s WhatsApp group.

Verbals and Abuse: 
Any abuse directed at the referee will result in a direct Red Card. Friendly banter between teams is fine, but any abusive language aimed at the opposite team heard by the referee or brought to his attention by the Game Manager would also result in a direct red card for the involved player/s.

Fouls & Cards: 
Please note the rule regarding sliding tackle (from the original rules list). This would be enforced strictly except in cases where the referee in his best judgment feels it was losing balance or footing, but a foul would still be awarded. A clean sliding tackle getting the ball is also not acceptable. Goal Keepers who are not captains of their teams should not come out of their box to protest a decision or to participate in other conversations with the referee or opposite team. Such situations would result in a yellow card for the goalkeeper. No substitute players/team supporters or others are allowed behind the goal line or next to it up to the corner flag.

Goalkeeper Jersey & Substitution: 
Goalkeepers of the respective teams should be wearing a different color jersey to their team colors. At the minimum, a bib is required. Unless for a serious injury, a goalkeeper substitution can only be made if it is a goal kick or a free-kick awarded in the favor of the team who would be making the substitution. All Goalkeepers should also be wearing gloves (no exceptions), shin guards, and proper playing boots.

Stoppage time after each half: 
We only have 5 minutes at our disposal to be used as stoppage time to be used at the end of both halves. Referees would not to using much stoppage time at the end of the first half. Since it is an unlimited substitution Referee with the game Manager would ensure an injured player is substituted within a reasonable time. This applies even to Goal Keepers and cannot be used as
a tactic to waste time by the winning team.

Team Coordinators, please note the below and action:
* Please provide the final team Roster before EOD on August  27th, 2022.
* Please ensure to bring water other hydrants and a medical kit for your respective teams.

Team Jersey Colors:   Please let us know your team’s Jersey colors so that we can identify which team has to switch colors when we have a conflict. Please try to provide this at the earliest.

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Bay Malayali Soccer Champions (History):

Malayali Soccer enthusiasts in Silicon Valley started the Malayali league in 2009 after playing for a few years in an unorganized fashion. This league got expanded in 2016 to accommodate the entire South Indian (Dakshin) soccer players. Every year, the top 8 teams play each other over a 2-month period to determine the champions of every year.

We had more than 1000 players from different teams played in this tournament over the years. Thanks to all the Business sponsors and soccer fans of Silicon Valley/SF Bay Area and all of you to make it a grand success and community-recognized sporting event.

Thank you, City of Fremont for formally supporting us and we are grateful to the Mayor and Vice Mayor of the city for their unwavering support for the event.

High Lights of Last year’s Finals.

More than 500 people attended the finals. Fremont Mayor Lily Mae, Vice Mayor Raj Salwan, Planning commission chair:  Ben Yee, and AIA president Vijaya Asuri attended the event. Some highlights from ground and half time shows are :

	CHAMPIONS	RUNNERS UP
2023	tbd (Aug 19, 2023)	tbd (Aug 19, 2023)
2022	Mountain House FC	Real Machans
2021	Kabali FC	FC Away Boys
2019	San Jose Soccer Stars	Bay Malayali
2018	San Jose Soccer Stars	Kabali FC
2017	Kabali FC	San Jose Soccer Stars
2016	San Jose Soccer Stars	Aashans XI
2015	Bay Malayali	Aashans XI
2014	San Jose Soccer Stars	Bay Malayali
2013	Bay Malayali	San Jose Soccer Stars
2012	San Jose Soccer Stars	Bay Malayali
2011	Bay Malayali	Kerala Club
2010	San Jose Soccer Stars	Bay Malayali
2009	Bay Malayali	Mountain House FC