Founded in the late-1970s, the Greater Memphis Soccer Association is the largest adult soccer league in the Mid-South. It is home to men's and co-ed play, representing approximately 1,000 players of all ages and skill levels. During the Spring 2008 season, the league consisted of 70 teams in five men's divisions (45) and three co-ed divisions (25).
LEAGUE STRUCTURE:
MEN'S DIVISIONS: Unlike some leagues, our divisions are structured around skill level rather than age requirements. Through Fall 2006, there were four men's divisions in GMSA. Beginning with the Spring 2007 season, we restructured the men's league into five divisions, with the creation of the Premier Division. This new Premier Division is ideal for players of the highest skill level...many ex-club and ex-college players play here, and occasionally a few ex-pros. (For example, former pros Steve Bradshaw and Goran Meskovic, formerly of the NASL, and Tony Kuhn, Grant Paule, Andy Metcalf and Dayton O'Brien, formerly of MLS, have each played with teams in our top division.) First Division also is a highly-skilled division, with ex-club players abound. Second Division is now our "middle ground", with a good mix of players with different levels of skill and fitness. The Third Division was formed in 1994 as a more recreational division, but only a few years after its creation, the competitiveness of this division increased exponentially with the overall size of the league...so much so that in Spring 2000, GMSA introduced its Fourth Division, which is currently the most recreational in nature...but there are many excellent players in this division also, including some folks who have been out of the game for several years, but are attempting to play themselves back into shape.
CO-ED DIVISIONS: There are currently three divisions in our coed league: Premier, First, and Second Divisions. The talent level cascades downward, with the Premier Division featuring the most highly skilled players, with many ex-collegiate and ex-club players throughout. The Second Division is the most recreational in nature of the three, with the First Division being the middle-ground with a good mix of all skill levels and fitness levels. None of our divisions are ideal for an "absolute beginner", but if you have at least a bit of background in the game somewhere in your past, we generally have a division that will be a fit for you. As our league continues to grow and evolve, things may continue to change, but at the moment, we have grown about as much as our resources can handle!
APPROXIMATE GMSA COSTS:
The cost of forming a team varies from year to year, but the following are general guidelines for the fee structure per season:
The sum of these fees (approximately $90-$120, depending on the season) is collected prior to each season at player registration, or is payable through on-line registration. All other costs (referee fees, uniforms, etc.) are collected by each team's coach/manager, and may vary slightly according to how many players are on that team's roster.
Referee Match Fees: $65 per team per game beginning in Spring 2008 - Each team plays 10 regular season games, and at least one tournament game. (Referee fees are payable in cash to the referee crew before each game.)
OTHER INFORMATION:
ROSTERS: Maximum number of players on a team's active roster is 25. Rosters must be submitted at a date to be determined at each season's coaches meeting. Players may be added during the course of the season; rosters are subject to a freeze deadline, following completion of approximately 50-60% of the team's games that season.
SEASON DURATION: There is a Fall Season and a Spring Season each year. The Fall Season begins in late August, and is usually completed in late November or early December; each team is guaranteed at least 10 games, with as many as four tournament games also possible in our various Cup competitions. The Spring Season typically runs from late February through early June; each team is guaranteed 10 regular season games, with as many as three tournament games in our intra-divisional Maybry Cup tournaments.
UNIFORMS: Every player must have the exact same jersey with a unique number. No exceptions, period! We encourage all teams to invest in shorts and socks as well, but those are not required. Alternately, we encourage coaches to at least get their players to wear the same COLOR shorts and socks to each game, but again, this is not a requirement to play. Uniforms need not be elaborate in nature. GMSA has a pricing agreement with Soccer Stix on most uniform orders...see our Uniform Orders Information Page for details on placing orders. Remember, if there is a color conflict with jerseys, the HOME TEAM is required to change to an alternate color. Every team who has a potential conflict within their division is expected to have an alternate shirt. Alternates must also meet the color and numbering requirements.
PLAYERS: Players must be at least 16 years of age, though there is no maximum age...some current players are in their 50s!! In the co-ed divisions, it is required that there be no more than 7 men and no fewer than 4 women on the field at all times. (If there are fewer than 4 women, the team will play short by that many players, even if there are more men on the bench.) A full team can, however, be fielded with more than 4 women. (For example, a team of 5 women and 6 men is perfectly legal.)
For a full printout of the GMSA Rules Of Competition, click here.