Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Format

  • Expect your game slot to be about 45-50 minutes. For larger format leagues (e.g. 9v9 or 11v11) game slots are typically 50-60 minutes.

    Exceptions to the length of games can occur on an individual league basis. Teams and players will be notified in advance via email or as noted on the league registration page

  • Our roster size limit is typically 2x the number of field players. For example, a 7v7 league has a roster limit of 14 players and each team will receive 14 jerseys.

    The exceptions are with our 9v9 leagues, where the roster limit is typically 16, our 11v11 leagues, where the roster limit is 18 or our corporate leagues, where we provide extra roster places for company employees.

    Typically, we will fill a full roster for free agent teams. Note, that doesn't mean 14 players will show up to play each week. In fact, that very rarely happens and a full roster helps protect against forfeits.

  • Players should expect to play 8 regular season games + playoffs.

    Exceptions to the number of games in a season can occur on an individual league basis. Teams and players will be notified in advance via email or as noted on the league registration page.

    If a game is canceled due to weather, field closure or other unexpected circumstances, it may or may not be rescheduled.

    If more than one game in a season is canceled and not rescheduled, players will receive compensation in the form of pro-rated league credits (minus the cost of jerseys) or extended game play for the remaining fixtures in the season.

  • It depends.

    Usually, if there is an odd number of teams or more than 8 teams in a division, there will be at least one (1) bye week.

    However, all players and teams should be prepared to play every week throughout a season, as schedules an be adjusted to accommodate facility changes, weather, rescheduling, etc.

  • Though the number of teams that make playoffs can vary depending on field space and weeks available for an individual permit, the default is as follows:

    -5-6 team divisions = Top 3

    -7-10 team divisions = Top 4

Pre-Registration

  • The best (and usually cheaper) option is to register as a "team captain". This means you decide who is on your entire team and can make roster changes as you'd like.

    An alternative way to register a team is to register as a "small group". However, in this scenario, Footy sets the roster size and if the roster isn't complete, we will complete it by adding additional individual players. You can find more details about small group registration in these FAQs.

  • You may register as an individual and MIA Footy will place you on a "free agent (FA)" team (usually a collection of individuals). If we are not able to accommodate you, you will receive a full refund or be offered an opportunity to transfer to a different league with availability.

  • Yes. The easiest way to ensure you play with your friends is to click “small group” after clicking the “register” button for your desired league. You will be registered as an individual within a “small group” and you can now ask your friends to register and select the name of your small group.

    A less reliable option is to include the names of friends in the “notes” section when you register as a free agent.

    Please note, if you do not take these steps and email us requests after teams are assigned, we may not be able to make adjustments.

    Also, free agent teams are grouped together based on the time and date they register. If a roster fills in this manner before a member of your small group registers, that player is not guaranteed to be on your roster.

  • Unfortunately, not. Teams are confirmed in advance of a season starting and it's important for the league, teams and players to minimize disruptions caused by players leaving rosters or joining other rosters late.

    You will have an opportunity to adjust your location or skill division when you register for the next season.

  • MIA Footy charges a one-time fee to participate in a full season of soccer. There are no additional fees to participate (e.g. per game fees).

    If you would like to customize your jerseys, there would be an additional fee for that service.

Post-Registration

  • Yes. For free agent teams, we roster them with the expectation that there will be players unable to make every game.

  • Unfortunately, not. Only players that have signed the waiver (thus, Footy registered players) may be used as a substitute.

  • We typically group individuals into teams once registration has been filled or 2-5 days prior to week 1 of a season. Whichever comes first.

    If you request to play with one or more players, we begin by making sure you are all together.

    From there, we split up teams to be as equal as possible based on self-selected skill levels.

  • Unfortunately, no. You must be assigned to a team before you are eligible to play.

    We will do our best to get you assigned as quickly as possible, but registering last minute runs the risk that you will have to wait til the following week to take the field.

  • So long as you request a refund with enough advanced notice prior to a season starting, you will receive a full refund. However, once teams are organized and the schedule is up, we no longer provide refunds. This is for a variety of reasons, but namely the administrative work required to adjust rosters and coordinate logistics when a player drops.

    You can find our full refund and credit policy by visiting https://www.miafooty.com/refund-credit-policy.

  • In leagues with a 2+ female requirement, a team without the requisite number of female players is given the choice to replace a female spot with a non-female player in exchange for 3 goals to the opponent.

    We encourage captains to use our FootyHQ forum to recruit female players for the season or for individual games (please keep spare jerseys just in case).

  • If a free agent team assembled by MIA Footy does not have the requisite number of female players on their roster, they will be labeled FAx ("x' signifies exception). For the first two (2) weeks of the season, to protect the free agent experience and give them 3 weeks to recruit more female players, referees will reduce the female minimum. Starting Week 3, the ‘x’ is removed and the team is subject to the official format.

    FAx Teams with a female minimum reduced to one (1) for their game(s) are not eligible for the exchange of 3-goals for a female replacement.

    We encourage free agent team captains to use our FootyHQ forum to recruit female players for the season or for individual games (please keep spare jerseys just in case).

    MIA Footy will often provide a generous discount code to the free agent team to help find additional female players

  • If you are assigned captain, then you become the primary point of contact on behalf of your team. You will also be the primary party responsible for speaking too referees of concerns you may have, and of communicating with other captains in our captains chat.

    Most captains will organize their roster via WhatsApp chat.

    Though you will also receive privileges online (e.g. inviting players to your roster), free agent captains are prohibited from doing so without first contacting MIA Footy staff, as al roster players on free agent teams are assigned by MIA Footy staff.

Scheduling

  • The official kickoff of a particular league is informed by a number of factors. At times we need to wait for permit details to be finalized, but more often a start date is informed by reaching the requisite number of teams to kick the league off.

    If we need more time to reach a league minimum, the start date will be pushed out from the "tentative" date listed on the registration page.

  • No. Often, we will push out the start of a league if teams are still being finalized or facility or field disruptions require that we push the league out. If this happens, the league will still be played in full, with all regular season games scheduled.

  • Yes, we prioritize keeping games on as long as the field conditions are safe. We will not start or continue games if there is active dangerous weather (lightning, thunder, etc.) at kickoff or during the game. If weather turns during a game, we begin with a "delay then play" policy. The referees will wait and if 20 minutes passes without dangerous weather, games will continue, otherwise it will be called complete (if past halftime) or abandoned.

    Abandoned games may not get rescheduled (depends on available permit time).

    For more information, visit our weather protocol at www.miafooty.com/weather-protocol.

  • Yes, we run outdoor leagues all year round and plan on playing unless the weather is dangerous (unseasonal temperature extremes, lightning, hail, unhealthy air quality, etc.). When you register, expect to play during inclement weather typical to the season (e.g. heat in summer).

    Please note, that due to limits on the number of available weeks on a permit, we cannot guarantee all canceled games will be rescheduled. We will, however, do our very best to make sure we can reschedule games.

    Players should be prepared for the possibility of playing rescheduled games at different fields or times in order to successfully make up the canceled games.

    For more information, visit our weather protocol at www.miafooty.com/weather-protocol.

  • Through the year, there are only 4 holiday periods where we do not hold games.

    -New Year’s

    -Memorial Day

    -Labor Day

    -Christmas

    *Due to permit restrictions, we are often not able to take off other holidays. If the schedule permits, however, we will take off on Juneteenth and July 4th and/or the Juneteenth & July 4th weekend. But this is not guaranteed and is on a league-by-league basis.

    Please plan on playing during all other holidays (e.g. Easter, Veteran's Day, Mother's Day, etc.).

    MIA Footy may take an ad-hoc day off, should the schedule allow, for certain key holidays or events (e.g. SuperBowl, World Cup Finals, etc.)

Equipment

  • Yes, your registration comes with a jersey, but footwear, socks, and athletic shorts/pants are not included with your registration. Shin guards are not provided but are required for all MIA Footy leagues, no exceptions.

  • Yes. Although we do not allow external kits to be used in our leagues, we can accommodate customizations. That means choosing your desired color, picking your jersey size and number, placing names on the back and, of course, placing a custom logo on the chest.

    If you are interested in this, please email hi[at]miafooty.com.

  • No, cleats are not required. In fact, MIA Footy recommends turf shoes over cleats for all synthetic fields (artificial ground, multi ground, or turf cleats).

    Cleats with metal studs are not allowed in any MIA Footy Leagues.

    To learn about suggested footwear at your specific league, please refer to the league welcome email.

  • No, there are a handful of facilities that do not permit cleats.

    Please be sure to refer to your league “Welcome Email” with details about equipment policies at the facility you’ll be playing at.

  • Yes, just like your youth teams growing up or your college team and pro teams, we operate an organized, professional experience despite being a local, recreational league.

    One (1) goal is given to the opponent for any player that takes the field without their assigned MIA Footy jersey.

  • Yes, always. No exceptions.