All Things AC
The Youth All Star Weekend Games, powered by Sportz Farm, the #1 youth Spring showcase in the country offers athletes from 6U to 8th grade a premier All-Star experience. Competing against some of the top All-Stars in the northeast. We are excited to announce our new NFL ambassadors that will set the great examples of what student athletes should be most sharing their journey. These games for more than just bragging rights for which programs run the Tri State it has created a lifetime of memories
Unlike other games our mission is to garner exposure & connect various age groups with youth sports writers & prep school recruiters. Since its inception, the Youth All Star Weekend has grown from 6 teams in 2019 to over 75 teams in 2024 bolstering over 2000 athletes with over 7500 in attendance. With the continued growth of attendees, we now have 3 hotels. The 2025 Youth All Star Weekend Games: Scheduled for April 17th in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the games will be hosted at Harrah's, Showboat & The 100 million dollar newly renovated Bally Hotel. With the growing list of partners partnerships between the Atlantic City recreation dept and our NFL processional ambassadors we anticipate another outstanding experience. We hope to see you there!
Tournament Rules
The 2024 Youth All Star Weekend Tournament is characterized by a set of comprehensive rules aimed at maintaining the event's integrity, ensuring participant safety, and fostering a positive environment. Let's delve into each rule with detailed explanations.
1. **Player Identification: ** - All participating athletes must possess valid identification approved by Zorts. - This is a Zorts age-verified tournament state ID is highly recommended for efficient verification processes.
All protest of age must be done 1 here prior to game with proof and athlete can only be contested 1 time and also the opposing coach can only contest (with proof) up to 3 athletes per team
2. **Electronic Registration: ** - All registrations are exclusively conducted electronically. - Athletes are required to present their online Zorts ID for quick verification. - A secured tournament band is issued upon verification, worn throughout the entire tournament. - Lost or broken wristbands will lead to disqualification unless the ID is presented for verification and issuance of a new wristband.
3. **On-site Registration: ** - Registration begins at 2PM at the Harrah's Hotel, and participants can refer to the website for location maps.
Recommended In case of contested Athletes without a state ID should provide a school picture ID, copy of their birth certificate Team members must be present during registration,
8th graders (if contested) must present report cards onsite and/or school ID.
We recommend teams to schedule time slots for team registration Latecomers must wait for the next available opening. - Team members are suggested to wear their jerseys for pictures.
4. **High School Athlete Exclusion: ** - Participation is restricted to non-high school athletes; high school athletes are unequivocally barred from joining the tournament.
5. **Wristband Check: ** - Wristbands must be checked during halftime or the beginning of the 3rd quarter of the previous game. - Non-compliance may lead to disqualification.
6. **Pre-game Arrival: ** - Teams must arrive at least one hour before the game for warm-ups and wristband checks.
7. **Zero Tolerance Policy: ** - A stringent zero-tolerance policy applies both on and off the field. - Instances of fighting, abusive language, threats, or derogatory behavior will result in immediate disqualification. - This policy extends to players, coaches, and parents. ALL ATHLETES MUST BE SUPERVISED DURING THEIR STAY AT THE HOTEL, from check-in to check-out. We kindly request that parents and or coaches to keep a close eye on their children. The hotel premises are not intended for recreational activities such as running, wrestling, playing, or throwing footballs. Individuals engaging in such behavior will be promptly asked to leave and will face disqualification from the event. We've received multiple complaints in recent years about children engaging in disruptive activities, prompting us to include this in the zero-tolerance policy for this year's event.
8. **Referees and Coaches on Field: ** - Referee counts vary for different age groups, with coaches allowed on the field accordingly.
9. **Game Clock Rules: ** - Running clock rules with variations for different age groups. - Clock stoppages at specific intervals simulate real-game scenarios. - Specific timing rules for different age groups and championship games.
10. **Overtime Procedures: ** - Overtime begins from the (4 plays from the 10-yard line. Each team will be allowed a possession
2nd overtime - The sudden-death rule in OT is primarily due to fields without lights game schedules. These rules above apply to Thursday and Friday.
Only championship games are allowed a 3rd OT
- Championship Game OT rules
1st OT 4 plays from the 25
2nd OT 4 plays from the 10
If a third overtime is required, play starts at the 25 the team gaining the most yards from the line of scrimmage wins.
11. **Team Size Limitations: ** - Maximum 30 players and 5 coaches (or 28 players and 7 coaches). - No additional bands or rings provided.
12. **Security Deposit Requirement: ** - Each team must submit a refundable $250 security deposit. - Ensures compliance with rules, including cleaning sidelines, attending scheduled games, and maintaining appropriate conduct.
13. **Hotel Accommodations: ** - Teams must book a minimum of 5 rooms at host hotels for the duration of the tournament, or a $250 penalty will be imposed (proof of purchase required).
14. **Sideline Monitoring: ** - All sidelines must be monitored. - Coaches' passes must be worn at all times during the game for officials to distinguish authorized personnel. These rules collectively contribute to the successful execution of the Sportz Farm Youth All Star Weekend Tournament, promoting fairness, safety, and positive sportsmanship among all participants.
**Clarification/Amendments** Referee and Game Clock Rules:
1. **Referees on the Field: ** - For the 6U & 7U age groups, three referees will be present on the field. Additionally, one coach is allowed to be on the field with the team.
- In the 8U & up age group, coaches are not allowed on the field.
**Game Clock Regulations: ** - a 10-minute running clock will be implemented. The clock will pause at the four-minute warning before each half and with four minutes remaining. In the fourth quarter running clock will be applied until the 2-minute warning.
The same rules will be observed until championship day. Specifically, 6U-7U-8U shall adhere to an eight-minute game clock, while 9u-8th grade will follow a 10-minute game clock. It's important to note that running clock rules do not apply to championship games.