Midwest Alliance Soccer Conference

Section I - Membership
Membership in the Midwest Alliance Soccer Conference (MASC) is restricted to accredited colleges and universities in the Midwestern area of the United States as designated by NIRSA's Region III, and may be revised on a yearly basis.

Section II - Affiliation
The MASC is affiliated with the National Intramural and Recreation Sports Association (NIRSA).  In accordance with the by-laws of NIRSA, membership in the MASC is restricted to four-year accreditied colleges and universities.

Section III - Annual Dues
The league fee for membership in the MASC is $300.00 . This fee will cover the costs of the annual Conference Tournament, administrative overhead, as well as entrance fees and partial administrative expenses for teams who win the NIRSA regular season power ranking and the MASC Regional Tournament.

Section IV - Officers
The MASC is directed by a Commissioner, who is to be elected every year and presides over all matters affecting the Midwest Alliance Soccer Conference.   The Commissioner of the MASC may delegate specific authority or tasks to other league representatives and/or the assistant commissioner, who shall preside over a Rules Committee of league delegates. The Commissioner shall make a financial report to League members at the annual spring scheduling meeting.

Section V - Schedules
By accepting membership in the MASC, each member school agrees to participate in all league matches, as scheduled and certified by the Commissioner.   Changes to the MASC schedule may be made, with the consent of all affected schools, and the conference Commissioner.   Failure to satisfy league game commitments may result in the levying of fines and suspension of membership for the team at fault. Each MASC member will play 10 games, all within respective divisions, with the exception of the GLD.  The GLD will play each division member once, plus one additional divisional game, to be determined on a random drawing.

Section V - a. Invitationals
The host team of an invitational is responsible for scheduling all game officials, scheduling fields, setting game times, and providing accomodation information.   The officials' fees for all invitational games will be split 50/50.   The host team is responsible for collecting official's fees and field costs (if any) in a timely manner.   If a match between two non-host teams is not played because of failure of the host team to meet its responsibilities for scheduling a match or provision of game officials, the the host team will be placed on probation and will not be allowed to host any conference games for the following season.    In the case of a match being canceled because of the failure of a host team to meet its responsibilities or because of inclement weather, the match will be recorded as a 0-0 tie.

Game officials are the responsibility of the home team.   Three (3) licensed officials should be present at every match. Failure to have at least two (2) qualified officials present during a home game will result in a forfeit by the home team. The host team of single game home matches is responsible for the scheduling of game officials and the costs of officials. All games shall be played under FIFA college rules with exception for unlimited player substitutions (High School Rule).

All games will start within 30 minutes of the scheduled starting time.   If a game does not begin within this period, the team at fault will be charged with a forfeit.  Clubs are encouraged to accomodate teams during unforseen circumstances.
In the case of a determination of a forfeit, the Commissioner should be contacted immediately.Whenever possible, host teams should allow for a minimum break of two (2) hours between games for all invitational participants. League games shall consist of two, forty-five minute halves, whenever possible, with no overtime.

Section V- b. Home Match Obligations
Teams hosting invitationals and/or home matches are expected to provide game information (ie. date, time and game location) to all participants a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled contest. Game information needs to be emailed and/or telephoned to all participating teams and the league Commissioner.

Section VI- Player Eligibility
Player eligibility shall be in full accordance with NIRSA policy.   Each team should consist of no more than 24 dressed players during each match.  Play is also limited to no more than three (3) former varsity or former semi-pro athletes on their roster. All members of a team must be enrolled three-fourths of full-time enrollment as an undergraduate or 6 credits as a graduate student at the institution they represent, during the term/semester of the regular season.  Current professional players (any time during the calendar year) or current NCAA or NAIA varsity players are not eligible to participate.  A varsity athlete is defined as:  "A student who by definition of the college/university's athletic department has been listed on the school's active roster for the college/university team in at least one scheduled athletic contest.  The exception to this rule will be the student whose only year of activity was as a red-shirt.   Players are eligible for a maximum of six (6) seasons of play, including varsity and club play.  (Consult NIRSA webpage for up-to-date player eligibility restrictions.)

Section VII- Uniforms
For all league matches, each team shall wear uniforms of matching color, design, and pattern.   All jerseys (except those of goalkeepers) must be clearly and uniquely numbered on the back with numbers at least six inches in height.  The color and length of each player's shorts and socks must be consistant with his teammates, and all players must wear shinguards.   When the uniforms of both teams are similar, the home team shall be required to change.  Failure to comply with the league uniform policy may result in disciplinary action against the teams in violation.   Each team attending a game should have one set of light and dark jersys ( numbered, t-shirt jerseys are acceptable).

Section VIII - Ejections
If an individual player is ejected from a league game then that player will be suspended from the next league game.   If an individual player received three (3) ejections during one season, he will be suspended from league play for the remainder of the season.  Two (2) yellow cards issued during one contest shall be equated as a red card disqualification and also result in a subsequent league game suspension.   Club coaches/player-coaches shall follow under this same rule.  This is a self-policing policy.

Section IX - Forfeitures
In the event a MASC member has to forfeit a game, the club would meet the following penalties:

1. The club would be ineligible for the regional tournament.

2. For each forfeited game, violating teams will be assessed a $100.00 fine, and possible restitution to affected team(s).

3. Teams not complying with said policy may be subject to league suspension. 

4. Matches will be recorded as a 3-0 Forfeit (F) in the standings. In Power Rankings, a forfeit victory will count as 10 points.

Section X - Game Results and Standings
Each team will be responsible for reporting their game scores within 48 hours of each game.   Games played on the weekends need to be reported no later than Monday evening at 10:00 pm.  The game results should be emailed to the MASC Commissioner, Rich Becknell.  His email is: richard_becknell@yahoo.com. Please send your scores to Michelle Williams, NIRSA Region III coordinator, as well so that Power Rankings can be tabulated.  Her email is: mwilliam@purdue.edu.

Standings will be determined on a point basis.  A win will count as three points, a tie as one, and a loss as none.   All league games will be included in the determination of conference standings.

Each MASC member will play ten (10) regular season conference games. 

Section XI - Expansion
Expansion of the league will be subject to a majority vote by league members that are not on probation, and by referrals of the MASC Commissioner.  Expansion teams will be subject to the following guidelines:

1) A one year probationary period where the following will be considered to be inducted into the league:
    a. Team Conduct
    b. Participation
    c. Maintaining League Responsibilities
2) No voting rights for the probationary period;
3) The forfeit of one or more league games during a probationary period will be grounds for removal from the league, at the discretion of the Commissioner.

Section XII- Postseason Play
The MASC Conference Tournament will consist of twelve (12) teams.  The top three (3) teams from each division will qualify for the Conference Tournament. Seedings for each group will be determined by placement in standings and be determined by a random drawing.   

The conference tournament champion will receive the league's automatic bid to the NIRSA National Championship Tournament.   All additional bids will be determined by Power Ranking Points accumulated by totaling the 10 regular season games and all tournament games played.

All teams will be ranked by total points at the conclusion of the regional tournament.  In the event of a tie, the tie-breaker scenario will be used.   Additionally, if a team wins the regional tournament, they will be removed from the rankings, and subsequent bids will be awarded with the highest power points accumulated.   The Power Ranking Points are awarded as follows:

Win        =  6 Points
Tie          =  3 Pts
Loss       =   0 Pts
Shutout=  1  Pt
Goals     =  1  Pt/Goal, up to 3 goal max

In the event of a tie, the MASC will refer to Section XIII of League Policy.  The top three teams awarded bids to the NIRSA National Tournament will be awarded a fee of $1,000.00 towards entry fees or be used at the team's discretion.

The league will follow NIRSA tiebreaker rules as follows:
A tie in the regular season final standings will be resolved according to the following sequence:
1) "Head to Head" result
2)  High Point Goal Differential (max +/- 5 points per game)
3) Most Goals For
4) Fewest Goals Against
5) Most Total Wins
6) Most Shutouts
7) Date league dues paid
(for regular season tie-breaker, all 10 league games will be tabulated)

The tournament will be held on Oct 20 & 21, 2012 in Indianapolis, IN.  The team that receives the NIRSA Formula Ranking Automatic Bid is required to attend the MASC Conference Tournament.  Each team's fee for the Conference tournament will be paid by the MASC.

Section XIII - Commissioner's Statement
In the event a circumstance of significance to the conference arises that is not covered in the League Policies, the Commissioner's office is empowered to use their discretion to resolve the matter in the best interest of the MASC.