Tournament Rules

Prizes

    • Competitive Divisions
      • First Place: Up to $2,000.00* & Champion T-Shirt
    • “For The Glory” Division(s) 
      • First Place: Complimentary Entry to 2024 Midwest Adult Soccer Classic Tournament & Champion T-Shirt

    ***Cash prizes listed are estimates and dependent on the number of teams registered in a particular division. Each team registered in a division equates to $125.00 in cash prizes.

ID & Player Pass Requirements

ID’s

  • Please keep a photo ID (preferably a driver’s license or State ID) with you, as you may be required to provide proof of ID as part of roster checks.

 

Player Pass

  • All players must be registered with the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and have a current USASA Player Card prior to participating in anything related to the MEFA 2023 MASC, including warmups on any of the fields provided by MEFA for the purposes of the MEFA 2023 MASC.
    • Should a player not have a current USASA Player Card when they arrive at the tournament, they need to visit one of the tournament tents, provide a photo ID, and purchase a Tournament Pass.
  • Any players with a current Metro East FA Player Card will NOT need to purchase a separate USASA Player Card, as Metro East FA is affiliated with USASA. 

Flow of Play

  • Matches will consist of two 25-minute halves. At the referee’s discretion, extra time may be added for excessive time wasting or injury. There is no guarantee that extra time will be added.  
  • Each team will have 8 players on the field, consisting of 7 field players and 1 goalkeeper.
  • To ensure accurate scorekeeping and reduce possible discrepancies, team captains will confirm the score with the referee at halftime and at the completion of the match. 

Substitutions

  • Substitutions can be done on any dead ball with the referee’s attention. For most substitutions the referee will not stop play; however, at their discretion, play can be stopped for the substitution to be completed in order to not create an unfair advantage.
  • The player coming off the field must be 100% off the field before the new player comes on.

Substitutions that occur without the referee’s attention or during the flow of play may result in a yellow card for the player that comes onto the field.

Modifications to FIFA Rules

Sliding & Slide Tackling

  • Sliding & Slide tackling is not allowed. Sliding means that your hip and/or butt is on the ground in a deliberate sliding manner.  This does not mean you are prohibited from stretching out or going down to a knee to win a ball.
  • Any sliding, even sliding to save a ball from going out of bounds, will result in an indirect free kick for the opposing team where the slide occurs. 
  • Unless a slide results in another foul being committed (i.e. tripping, foul play, violent conduct, etc.), sliding will not be considered denial of a goal scoring opportunity. 
  • Fouls committed due to sliding and making contact with an opposing player, will be penalized in accordance with the standard FIFA laws of the game.  In most cases, this is a yellow card offense.
  • Goalkeepers are exempt from this rule inside their own penalty area where they can play within standard FIFA laws.
  • The referee will use their discretion on intent on any play resembling a slide.

Offside

  • There will be no offside calls made.

Yellow & Red Cards

  • Referees will issue sanctions in accordance with FIFA laws.
  • Two yellow cards will result in a red card.
  • All red cards, regardless if it is a straight red or two yellow cards, will receive a minimum one game suspension. Additional games may be added on to the suspension after review by the tournament committee. Suspensions are specific to the division being played in. Players that receive a red card should exit the field on the opposite sideline of the team sideline.  After the booking, further interaction with either the referee or the opposing team may result in additional game suspensions.
  • Violent Conduct will result in suspension from the remainder of the tournament.

Rosters

  • Teams must have a minimum of 5 rostered players for your team to be considered “present”.
  • No “guest players” may be used.  All players playing must be rostered on the team for which they are playing.
  • Rosters are capped at 18 players; 16 players may dress and be used in a single game.
  • All players must be over the age of 18; no expectations.

Attire

  • Jersey Color:  
    • The team listed on the schedule first is the home team.  The home team will change jersey colors in the event of a color conflict.  Each team should have 2 jersey/shirt options.  Teams must have matching jerseys (with numbers – if possible).  
    • The referee may require pennies to be worn by players not wearing a proper color jersey/shirt.  
    • The goalkeeper must wear a different color than the rest of their team, as well as the opposing team
  • Cleats: 
    • Per O’Fallon Sports Park rules; no metal cleats, baseball cleats, or football studs are allowed.  Molded cleats, turf shoes, flats are all acceptable.  Cleats or turf shoes are recommended.
  • Shin Guards: 
    • Shin guards are not required; however, they are highly recommended.
  • Hoods, Hats, and Glasses: 
    • If playing with a hood, tuck it into your jersey. Beanies are allowed; however, hard billed baseball caps are not.  Sunglasses are not allowed unless they are prescription glasses.

Semi-Final/Final Seeding & Overtime Rules

    • Seeding and seeding tie-breakers will be as follows:
    • 1) Total Points (W=3, T=1, L=0)
    • 2) Head to Head Results
    • 3) Goal Differential
    • 4) Total Goals Scored
    • 5) Total Goals Against
    • 6) Total Shutouts
    • 7) PK Shootout

    Semi-final and championship matches that are tied after regulation time will play 10-minutes of extra time, split between two 5-minute halves to completion. There is no “Golden Goal”. If the match is still tied, the game will be decided by kicks from he penalty mark in accordance with FIFA laws.

Forfeitures & Game Changes

  • Game is considered a forfeit if a team (a minimum of 5 rostered players) is not present at the scheduled start time. 
  • Forfeited games will be recorded as a 5-0 win for the non-forfeiting team. 
  • For matches abandoned for inclement weather games shall be considered complete if the first half of the match has been completed.
  • The tournament committee shall have the sole authority to cancel games or change game durations in the event of conditions beyond their control. 
    • In the event of conditions beyond their control, the Tournament Committee reserves the right to change the Tournament Format as follows: 
      • Delay, relocate, reschedule, or consider any games to be completed. 
      • Shorten game times. 
      • Cancel any games during bracket play which have no bearing on pool winners. 
      • Modify rules for tiebreakers in case all games cannot be played in full. 
      • Cancel a championship game and apply tiebreaker rules to determine the winner. 
      • Forfeiture rules will apply to teams that leave the site without permission of the tournament director after a weather delay and do not field a team at the restart. 
    • In the event unusual conditions necessitate rescheduling, curtailment, or cancellation of games, the Tournament Director shall have absolute authority to make these changes to best serve the interest of the tournament.

Inclement Weather

  • O’Fallon Family Sports Park is equipped with Lightning Detection Systems with sirens within the Park to help with Lightning Safety. 
  • The following process is new procedure for Weather Safety within the O’Fallon Parks: Lightning Detection Siren:
    • Siren will sound for 15 seconds for the initial warning 
    • Strobe light will continue to flash until the All-Clear Siren
      • Strobe light is located on top of Pavilion #3 near the main soccer field entrance
    • Play will immediately stop
    • All individuals need to leave the playing area and proceed to a safe, covered area, or their vehicles.
    • Countdown clock to all clear will automatically reset when lighting is present (through admin phone app)
    • All Clear Siren is three 5-second blasts 

Spectators/Players & Scheduling

Spectators/Players:

  • The player’s bench for both teams is on one side of the field and all spectators will be located on the opposite side of the field during the match.  No exceptions.

 

Scheduling:

Requests for game conflicts may be considered but are not guaranteed.  No conflicts will be recognized for semis or finals scheduling.

Refunds

  • In the event that games need to be cancelled (inclement weather, COVID-19 etc.) the following refund policy will be in effect:
  • 1 game played 
    • 1/2 of tournament fee (less the non-refundable $100 registration deposit) 
  • 2 games played
    • 1/3 of tournament fee (less the non-refundable $100 registration deposit) 
  • 3 games played
    • No refunds