One tournament at a time?

I just got notified that I can only join one tournament at a time if I'm a basic member (presumably meaning that I can only join a tournament when I have finished all my games from previous tournaments, or that everyone has finished all their games from previous tournaments, I'm not sure which).  I have two questions (other than which of the previous definitions is correct):

1. I was able to sign up for the 7th Chess.com Tournament (beginning June 1).  Are official site tournaments an exception to this rule?

2. Was this just implemented, or has it been around for awhile without me noticing it?

I'm not complaining about the restriction, which I consider perfectly reasonable; I'm just curious.

As a free member, you can join another tournament after you have finished all your games in a previous tournament.

Official site tournaments are the exception to this rule.

I've been here for a year and half, and that rule's been in effect the entire time.  It's the main reason I upgraded my membership.

So if joined an official tournament one additional tournament can be entered? I mean if you were playing one inofficial you cannot be denied joining an official one, but if playing an official one can one be denied to enter a second?

Go to any tournament page look to the right for the Help link.

Yes, official site tournaments are exceptions. It's as if those didn't vount towards the number of tournaments you are in.

Yeah you can join any Official Tournaments + any player made tournament.

Unfortunately i cannot join the Official tournament because i have to go to a trip on august and im afraid that it wont finish before then because of all the people signing up.

As otehrs have said, you can join 1 player created tournament, but a unlimited amount of Official chess.com tournaments.

Thanks for the answers.  I've joined the tournament that starts in June even though I am going to be a camp counselor for two weeks in July (thanks to the vacation feature).  I'm considering withdrawing before the deadline of June 1 because I am probably going to be very busy with college this fall and I will not have much vacation time left over after summer.  On the other hand, I am not likely to go very far in this tournament (I don't expect to make it out of Round 1), so that might not be a major problem.

I am on a free membership.  Is it right that I need  to finish 5 on line games before I can join tournament? I must finish first the ist tournament before I acn enter a new tournament or can join more than one tournament? What do you mean by this nos. 6(2)1? Thanks