Tournament FAQs

Sections

General Information
Rebates and Reduced Entry Fees
Identification and Age
Team Rosters
Coed Division
Team Registration & Check-in
Refund Policy

General Information

If we need players for our team prior to coming to the tournament, can you help us find some players? I want to play but do not have a team, can I get on a team?: What we've done in the past is when a team is looking for players or when an individual calls us and is looking to get on a team, we create a list with player names and contact information. Teams looking for players will be given the list and they can contact any player on the list to sign them as guest players. This has worked very effectively and teams have gotten some good results.

What if I am from out of state, or want to play on an out of state team?

So long as you are registered with USASA, wither directly, or through a state association like NMSSA or Arizona State Soccer Association (ASSA), you are eligible to play on any team in the tournament. If you are already playing in an affiliated league, you are good to go. If you would like to register for the tournament, please contact your state and obtain a passcard.

Where are the games being played? How do we get directions to the fields? Is there any maps or addresses for the fields?

The Fall Classic and the Over-30 Tournament will be held at the Farmers Insiurance Complex in Bernalillo, NM. The Over-40 Dog Days will be held in Ruidoso, NM.

Does the tournament have any good deals on accommodations? Is there a Host Hotel?

No. We have found that hotels are not willing to work with groups the way they have been in the past. There are a number of options near our tournaments with reaosnable rates and nice accommodations are good. If you are from out of state and would like assistance selecting a hotel, please let us know.

How long are the games?

Games are played in two (2) thirty-five (35) minute halves, with a five (5) minute rest period in between.

How many games are guaranteed?

You will play at least 3 games in the tournament.

What time is the Finals being played?

Game time for finals vary from Division to Division. However, we expect to have all finals completed no later than 4:30 p.m. or sooner on the last day of the tournament.

Does our uniforms have to have numbers on them?

Yes, your uniforms must have numbers on them. They can be drawn on with a magic marker but they must have numbers.

What happens to a player receiving a red card? How long must they sit out?

Players receiving a red card must sit out the remaining time of that game, plus their team's next scheduled game... before returning to compete in the tournament. Teams cannot substitute for any player receiving a red card. You may appeal a red card to the tournament director for a $100 fee. However, please be aware that "the ref didnt know what he was doing" is not grounds for appeal.

Are points subtracted from the score board when a team's player or coach receives a red card?

No. We do not subtract any points for any red cards issued against a team's player or coach.

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Rebates and Reduced Entry Fees

Is there a reduced entry fee for early registration?: Yes, as long as you drop off your sign-up sheet AND the tournament fee on or before 10/10/2009 (Fall Classic) you will receive a 10% savings. When you mail in your registration it needs to be post marked on or before 10/10/2009. *NEW* For only $10, you can register online and avoid the headache of coming to the office, filling out paper forms and finding stamps!
Should a team forfeit one of its games, drop out of the tournament or is determined to be a "No Show" team, and is one of the teams within our group, are allowed to receive a financial rebate or reduced entry for subsequent years tournament?: Unfortunately such situations do happen. A team may forfeit a game, or drop out of the tournament and in some rare instances do not show up at all to the Tournament. Since we have no control on such situations, we will not issue any financial rebate or offer any reduced entry fees for subsequent years.

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Identification and Age

What age groups can participate?: First, this is an Adult tournament and NOT a Youth tournament. The Fall Classics allows all players registered in a USASA affiliated adult league to play regardless of age. The Over-30 and Over-40 tournaments will only allow USASA players over the age of 30 or 40 to participate. Any team that is currently registered with a USASA and those teams from foreign countries. Foreign teams need to contact the tournament Director before submitting their registration.
What types of player identification is acceptable?: We will ONLY accept USASA Sanctioned Player passes with photo and date of birth
Will you accept driver's licenses?: No, we will not accept driver's licenses
What is the "cutoff" date for the age requirement?: We use the Tournament date as the "Cutoff" date for age. Example: A player who is playing in the Over 30 tournament on 05/30/2009, has to be 30 years of age by May 30th 2008 to be eligible to play. There is no age requirement for the Fall Classic.

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Team Rosters

Will you accept a team roster we've developed or must we use the team roster that is sent to us prior to the tournament?: Only the Team Roster we send out to the teams is the OFFICIAL TEAM ROSTER that we accept. No other team roster; forms, modified versions of our official team roster form will be considered or accepted.
Can a player play on more than one team in the tournament if they meet the age requirement and regardless of the Division?: A player may play in both the Men’s /Women’s Division and the Coed division. However, we will not arrange the schedule to accommodate this.
How many players can I have on my roster?: A maximum of twenty (21) players are allowed on a roster.
If I have a player who will be arriving after our 1st game, and hasn't signed the roster yet, can they still check-in individually and sign the roster?: Players arriving after your teams first game are allowed to be registered provided that their name is on the roster PRIOR to the start of your first game. Once they arrive, team reps are responsible to ensure that the player checks in with the tournament staff.
Can we add players to our roster before our 1st game? How about while our 1st game is being played and not over yet if we're short of players on our team?: No, once your 1st game has started, your roster will be considered as "Frozen" and no more players are allowed on your roster. If you believe someone will show later in the tournament, you better add them up front.

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Coed Division

How many men and women must be on the field?: You must have five (5) men and five (5) women on the field. The goalie can be either sex.

You must have at least five (5) female players on the field and no more than five (5) men players. If you choose to have more than five (5) female players on the field you can do so.
Some Coed Tournaments allow two (2) points for a goal when it is scored by a female player. Does your tournament have such a rule?: No. We have no such rule. Every goal that is scored is recorded as one (1) point for that one goal.
Some Coed Tournaments do not allow slide tackling in Coed games. Does your tournament have such a rule?: No, the Tournament is played in accordance to the Rules of Soccer. Slide tackles are allowed, of course, please play safe.
Is there any other rules that are special that we need to know about concerning the Coed Tournament?: Basically the Coed Tournament is played in accordance to the Rules of Soccer with the exception that we play in two (2) thirty-five minute halves versus 45 minute halves; how many players on the field by sex; and also during the Semi-Finals or Final Championship games only, should these end up in a tie and a "shootout" is required, the players must alternate between sex when doing these penalty kicks.

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Team Registration & Check-in

Do I have to register my team during the evening registration? Or can I register my team at the fields before our 1st game?: For the Fall Classic 2009, every team will be required to check in at Soccer Connection, 5920 Holly Ave. NE, Albuquerque NM on November 19 or 20, 2009 (Thur or Fri) from 5-7pm. It simply is too overwhelming to check in 50 some odd teams at the field. Exceptions may be made for out of state teams traveling to the tournament who have made arrangements with us ahead of timel.
How does the team check in work?: Team Coaches or Team representatives must check in and register their team by coming to Soccer Connection on either November 19 or 20, 2009 (Thur or Fri) from 5-7pm. Please bring your roster and all player passcards. We will be checking to make sure that your roster contains eligible players with eligible passcards. The referees will ensure that the passcards you present at check in match the poayers that show up for the game.

WE DO NOT CHECK-IN INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS unless their team has already checked in or they arrive late and the games have already begun.
Can individual players check-in by themselves?: We prefer that teams are registered and check-in as a group. Therefore, it is required that one (1) person, whether it be a Coach or a designated Team Representative register and check-in the entire team as a whole. We wish to avoid long lines of individual players in front of the registration table prior to a teams first game. That is why we require only one (1) person and one (1) person only to register and check-in the entire team. It is imperative that Coaches inform all players of this requirement for registration.

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Refund Policy

What is your Refund Policy for teams that drop out or are unable to come to the tournament after their entry fee has been submitted?: 100% will be refunded One-Hundred and twenty (120) prior to the start date of the Tournament. 75% will be refunded between One-Hundred and nineteen (119) and Ninety-one (91) days prior to the Tournament start date. 65% will be refunded between Ninety (90) and seventy-one (71) days prior to the Tournament start date 50% will be refunded between Seventy (70) and Forty-six (46) days prior to the Tournament. No entry fee refunds are given forty-five (45) days prior to the start date of the tournament for any team that has entered. However, as a courtesy, if you cannot attend but have already entered, please let us know so we can attempt to fill the schedule with a waitlisted team. Believe it or not, teams would rather play than receive a forfeit!

What sort of notification would you need if our team is unable to attend the tournament after we've been accepted?

Written notification is acceptable either by fax, US Mail or through email.