Below is the Tournament Format that the Palmetto Cup has used the past two years when the field was expanded to 16 teams:
***Each team will play three opponents in GROUP play as well as one other team from another GROUP;
***All teams are guaranteed four matches (provided weather cooperative);
***There will be ties and no overtime during GROUP play - except for the semifinals and championship match, which will be decided by two five-minute overtime periods and then a penalty kick shootout, if not already determined;
***The GROUP winner/seedings for the fourth match will be determined according to a points system: 6 points for win, 3 points for a tie, 1 point for every goal up to three, 1 point for a shutout, 0 points for a loss, -1 point for an accumulated red card (two yellow cards), -2 points for a straight red card, 10 points maximum for each match;
***Any forfeit will be recorded as 3-0, with 10 points going to the winner;
***If, at the completion of GROUP play, a tie in the standings exists in determining the group champion, the following criteria shall be used to determine the champion: (1) Head-to-head competition, (2) Goal differential, (3) Goals against, (4) Goals for, (5) Coin-toss;
***Awards will be presented to the Champion and Runner-Up Teams.
