GENERAL

The Beer City Cup is an affiliated tournament sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) and US Soccer. All matches will be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as issued by FIFA except as modified in these Beer City Cup Tournament Rules.

Goals are 7’ x 21’. Fields are 55 yards x 74-80 yards. There is no “Offsides” or “3-Line Rule”.

Each team is guaranteed three 50-minute matches (5 minutes for halftime).

In group play, matches can result in a tie (see Point System on page 4).

Players are allowed to play in more than one Division, but can only play on one team within a Division.

There is no limit on the number of guest players. Teams can be created for Beer City Cup. Each team is allowed a maximum of 20 players.

• Women’s / Co-Ed / Men’s (Elite, Premier, 2nd) teams’ players must be 18 by kick-off
• Men’s Over 30 teams’ male players must already be 30+ or will turn 30 in 2025
• Men’s Over 40 teams’ male players must already be 40+ or will turn 40 in 2025
• Men’s Over 50 teams’ male players must already be 50+ or will turn 50 in 2025
• Men’s Over 55 teams’ male players must already be 55+ or will turn 55 in 2025
• Men’s Over 60 teams’ male players must already be 60+ or will turn 60 in 2025
• Men’s Over 65 teams’ male players must already be 65+ or will turn 65 in 2025

Female players are allowed in any of the Men’s Divisions with these limitations:

• Female players ages 18 – 30 are allowed in the Men’s Premier + Over 30 Divisions
• Female players ages 30+ are allowed in the Men’s Over 40 Division
• Female players ages 40+ are allowed in the Men’s Over 50 Division
• Female players ages 45+ are allowed in the Men’s Over 55 Division
• Female players ages 50+ are allowed in the Men’s Over 60 Division
• Female players ages 55+ are allowed in the Men’s Over 65 Division
• A team of all Female players who are all 30+ can enter the Men’s Over 40s
• A team of all Female players who are all 40+ can enter the Men’s Over 50s
• A team of all Female players who are all 45+ can enter the Men’s Over 55s
• A team of all Female players who are all 50+ can enter the Men’s Over 60s
• A team of all Female players who are all 55+ can enter the Men’s Over 65s

PLAYER and TEAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Beer City Cup uses the TEAM PASS player registration / roster system

( 1 ) Players who currently play in a sanctioned adult league that uses TEAM PASS will login with their TEAM PASS username + password. Their information will auto populate

( 2 ) Players who currently play in a sanctioned adult league that does not use TEAM PASS will upload a picture of their UNEXPIRED player pass and a proper headshot to add themselves to their team’s roster

( 3 ) Players who do not currently play in a sanctioned adult league or have an expired player pass need to obtain the $20 USASA Single-Event Tournament Only Pass by midnight August 27, 2025. This provides each player with a $5,000 supplemental insurance policy in case of injury (passes are non-refundable)

UPSL NISA APSL NPSL and US CLUB player passes are eligible to be uploaded to TEAM PASS

WPSL USL 1 USL 2 and professional players who are ‘out of contract’ need to obtain the $20 Single-Event Tournament Only Pass

To start the rostering process, go to www.BeerCityCup.com > “Roster” > 2025 PLAYER REGISTRATION.

All players will be able to electronically sign the waivers during the rostering process

ALL players must have valid ID available throughout the tournament. The Beer City

Cup Tournament Directors, Staff and / or the Referee can ask for a valid ID to verify proof of identity or age at any time during the tournament

Each Captain / Manager / Team Representative must provide their teams’ $250 Refundable Performance Bond CHECK

We will issue each Captain 5 copies of their final Beer City Cup roster.

REFEREES one USSF Certified Referee will officiate each match. They will use your team’s Picture Roster to check your team in before each match. Refereesreceive $100 if they find a team cheating, using ineligible or underage players.

CO-ED PREMIER and CO-ED 2nd DIVISION teams play with 3 females on the field, in any position. Teams that can’t field 3 female players will play down the number of females that they are unable to field. Slide-tackling and / or sliding is not permitted within playing distance of any opponent (male or female). Slide tackling is penalized with an indirect free kick, unless a direct free kick foul has been committed.

SUBSTITUTIONS can be made on either team’s goal kick, when a yellow card is issued, during an injury, after a goal is scored, at halftime and on any team’s throw-in (if the referee determines it will not negatively impact the flow of play). Substitutes must stay off the field until the player leaving the field has come off.

SLIDE-TACKLING is allowed in all divisions except CO-ED or when it’s a male player going to ground against a female player.

WALLS 8 yards from the ball. Attacking players must be at least 1 yard away from the wall.

PENALTY KICKS 10 yards from the goal line.

GAME BALLS each team must bring quality game balls to be used during BCC.

POINT SYSTEM

WIN 6 points | TIE 3 points | LOSS 0 points | SHUTOUT 1 pointGOALS SCORED 1 point each up to 3 maximum per game

ADVANCEMENT TO THE KNOCK-OUT ROUNDS

At the end of group play, teams will be ranked in their group based on the Point System. Any situation in which two or more teams have the same number of points, the Tie Break Rules will be applied in the following sequence:

1. Head to Head Competition: the result of the game played between the teams
2. Goal Differential: team with the higher goal difference will be ranked prior to others
3. Most Goals Scored: team with the most goals scored will be ranked prior to the others
4. Least Goals Allowed: team with fewest goals allowed will be ranked prior to the others
5. Most Shutouts: team with the most shutouts will be ranked prior to the others
6. Penalty Kicks or Coin Toss: If two teams are still tied for the same ranking, the FIFA penalty kick procedure will be used to determine the winner. If three or more teams are still tied, the Tournament Committee will decide how to proceed. Or, teams can agree to a coin toss.

Knockout round matches: Straight to PKs.

Finals: two 5-minute periods will be played with the “Golden Goal” rule. If the game is still tied after the 10 minutes of OT, the FIFA penalty kick procedure will be used to determine the winner.

WAYS FOR YOUR TEAM TO LOSE ITS PERFORMANCE BOND

VIOLATING THE BEER CITY CUP RULES: The Beer City Cup Tournament Directors have the right to forfeit the matches of teams who do not follow the Rules or Eligibility Requirements.

VIOLENT CONDUCT: The Beer City Cup will retain the team’s Performance Bond if one of its player(s) is ejected due to violent conduct.

DISCRIMINATION: Any kind of discrimination against a team, private person or group of people on account of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion or politics.

OUTSIDE ALCOHOL: Bringing outside alcohol to Buncombe County Sports Park.

FORFEITS: The Beer City Cup will retain the team’s Performance Bond if they forfeit a match. A team that forfeits a match will not be eligible for advancement. Their participation in future Beer City Cups will be reviewed by the Tournament Directors.

If a team forfeits a match at any time during the tournament, then all of their other matches will be considered forfeits as well. Forfeit scores are 3-0.

No Shut-Out point will be given, 9 points total will be awarded for the forfeit.

A minimum of 5 players at the time of kickoff will constitute a team.

A forfeit shall be awarded if a team starts the game + quits at any time during the game.

A forfeit shall be awarded if a team is not present and prepared to play within 10 minutes of the scheduled time of kick-off.

A match should not start nor continue if either team drops below 5 players.

A forfeit shall be awarded if a team has less than 5 players on the field.

*** LOSS OF PRIZE MONEY ***

If there is fighting / violent conduct during the finals,the prize money for the offending team will be forfeited;or, violating Beer City Cup Rules.

EJECTIONS

If a player receives a red card, they must sit out one game, unless it is for Violent Conduct, which carries a minimum 2-game ban. Violent Conduct penalties canbe lengthened at the discretion of the Tournament Directors based on the severity of the act.

Any player, coach or spectator ejected from the match will not be replaced and must leave Buncombe County Sports Park. The ejected player / coach / spectator will be suspended for the following match. The Tournament Directors reserve the right during the tournament to administer additional penalties as warranted.

Any player / coach / spectator who is guilty of physical or verbal abuse deemed as threatening to the referee will be suspended from all games for the rest of the tournament, whether he or she is registered for one team or more than one team and shall be referred immediately to USASA.

USASA and the team’s home league shall, except in the case of referee assault, have the responsibility for imposing, should circumstances warrant, additional sanctions within their respective jurisdiction with regard to any matters arising from the tournament. The issuance of all yellow and red cards and other matters involving the conduct of a team, its players, coaches or supporters will be recordedby the host organization, and, also reported to USASA and the team’s home league.

FANS AND SPECTATORS

Each Manager / Captain and player is responsible for the conduct of their fans and spectators of their team. The match official or the Beer City Cup Tournament Directors have the authority to suspend a game as a result of the actions of spectators.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Unless there is lightning, teams must appear on the field ready to play as scheduled.

Failure to appear within 10 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time will result in forfeiture of the match.

The Beer City Cup Tournament Directors reserve the right to make changes such as relocation or rescheduling of matches, reduce match length time or cancel matches in the event of inclement weather.

In case of severe weather directly before or during play, game officials may postpone match play. Should a match be terminated due to weather conditions after the first half of play, the match will be considered official and the score at that time will stand as the official match score.

The decision about cancellation will be made by the Beer City Cup Tournament Directors as soon as they are able to make a call on the conditions of the fields.

Only a Beer City Cup Tournament Director may cancel a match in its entirety.

DISCLAIMER

The Beer City Cup Tournament Committee, Directors or any sponsors of the Beer City Cup activities shall not be held responsible for expenses incurred by any person, team, club, league or any other association if the tournament is canceled in whole or in part.

If the tournament is canceled in whole in advance, the teams will be reimbursed their tournament entry fee minus $50 fee to cover website, credit card and processing expenses.

If the tournament is canceled in part after games have begun, there will not be a reimbursement of any entry fees.

The Beer City Cup Tournament Directors reserve the right to use their discretion for resolving matters not specifically provided for under these Tournament Rules; and, in any situation where the rules do not properly address the matter at hand.

The Beer City Cup Tournament Directors reserve the right to split divisions into Competitive and Recreation / 2nd Divisions.

If needed, the tournament reserves the right to finish on a different day than the one originally stated.

Captains are responsible for verifying and ensuring their players are eligible to play in the division they are entering.

Playing as an ineligible player carries a minimum 2-year ban from ALL Beer City Cup events.

Any violation of these rules will result in the forfeiture of that team’s Performance Bond.

No refunds once a team has registered and paid their entry fee.

No protests allowed.

EMAIL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS BeerCityCup@Gmail.com