Appendix “B”

QUINTE WEST SOCCER CLUB

House League Policies and Procedures

1.0       REGISTRATION OF PLAYERS

1.1

A parent or guardian of the player must complete and sign the registration form.  No player unless duly registered shall be permitted to take part in league play.  Fees must be received at time of registration.

1.2

A player shall register in only one (1) division.

1.3

Registrations shall expire at the end of each playing season.

1.4

Each player shall pay a registration fee as determined by the Board of Directors

1.5

In the event of a suspension or expulsion of a player, no refund of the registration fee or any part thereof shall be made.

1.6

All NSF cheques will be subject to a $30.00 administrative fee.  Both registration and administration fee must be paid in cash.  If after one (1) week from notice payment is not received the registration will be considered null and void.

1.7

Registrations after the last Thursday in March will be subject to a $10.00 late fee.

1.7.1

The Club Administrator shall place late registrants after the last Thursday in March on a waiting list.  They will be added on a “space available” basis to existing teams.

1.8 – REFUNDS

1.8.1

All refund requests must be submitted in writing.

1.8.2

A player will not be given a refund of registration fee if, for any reason he/she withdraws after his/her first scheduled game.

1.8.3

All refunds will be subject to a $25.00 administration.

1.8.4

Refunds for medical reasons or re-location will be considered up to June 15 and will be subject to pro-rated fees based on games played.

2.0       TEAM SELECTION

2.1

The formation of house league teams at season start and throughout the entire season will be up to the full discretion of the House League Convenor.

2.2

Trades will only be made at the discretion of the House League Convenor.

2.3

Players will be distributed onto teams based on their previous year’s grading. 

2.4

If a coach/ parent or player refuses a trade in QWSC the player will forfeit all playing rights for the balance of the season or until the trade is completed.  If the player quits he/she must return all equipment to his original coach and no refund will be given. 

3.0       AGE DIVISIONS

3.1

The division of the registered player shall be determined by their age as of January 1st of the playing season.  Divisions shall be comprised of the following

3.2

The age groupings for each division may be amended yearly by the Board of Directors to enable an optimal number of teams in each division.

4.0 PLAYERS

4.1.1 Uniform Policy

Players are expected to comply with OSA policies for game play attire.

4.1.2

SHIRTS – You must wear the issued team uniform to each game.  The uniform may not be altered in any way until the completion of the season.  

SHORTS – must be a BLACK sport short.

SHIN PADS – Shin pads are mandatory.

SOCKS - Players are to wear the socks provided with the uniform.  Socks are to be worn over the shin pads.

SHOES – Soccer cleats or running shoes is acceptable.  No metal spikes allowed.

4.1.3

Ball caps are allowed to be worn by the goalie only.  A cap being worn must be  a soft brimmed peak and the peak must be facing forward.

4.2.1 Lateral Movement

Players are permitted to play with their assigned team only.  Any player playing on any team he/she is not assigned to will be suspended for one game and the coach will be suspended for three.

4.2.2

The Board of Directors may authorize a player to play in a higher division if his/her calibre is assessed as being capable of doing so.

5.0 DISCIPLINE

5.1

Players, Parents, Coaches and Convenors are expected to conduct themselves as per the QWSC Code of Conduct, signed at registration.

5.2

Coaches shall be responsible to the Board of Directors and/or Disciplinary Committee for the actions of the players on their team.  They are expected to take all necessary precautions to prevent threats, assaults or the use of inappropriate language towards officials and players during or at the conclusion of the game.

5.3

The Disciplinary Committee may suspend any coach, assistant coach or manager who is found guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct from coaching in QWSC.

5.4

Any coach or player ejected during a game must leave the park for the balance of the game.  If the ejected coach or player ignores this rule, the referee will stop the game and ask the person to leave the play area.  If the rule is still defied, the referee shall end the game and a win shall be awarded to the opposing team.

5.4.1

If the player that is being ejected from the game is also the coach of the team, a substitute coach must be named from the sidelines and the ejected player must leave the park before the game resumes.

5.5

Any player receiving a RED CARD in a game must leave the playing area for the balance of the game.  The referee is to make note on his card that a red card was issued and file the report as directed by OSA.

5.6

All red cards will be reviewed following the Ontario Soccer Association’s Discipline by Review or Discipline by Hearing format.  The player and coach will be notified of any suspension and will serve the suspension immediately following notification of decision.

5.7

Referees must report to the Head Referee of the QWSC within twenty-four (24) hours any player/coach who has been sent off during a game.  He must also provide a written report within forty-eight (48) hours to the Head Referee of the incident.

5.8

Any player, coach or referee, whose behaviour causes the Disciplinary Committee to meet, shall be advised of the meeting and given the opportunity to present their case.  A copy of these minutes will be submitted at the next Board of Directors meeting.

5.8.1

The Disciplinary Committee shall consist of panel members as selected by the Discipline Chair.

5.9

QWSC team, player or coaching staff not following the Playing Rules, Constitution or By-Laws of the QWSC will come before the Disciplinary Committee of the QWSC.  Discipline ranging from forfeiture of the game and/or ejection from the QWSC may result.

6.0 League Standings

6.1

Three (3) points shall be awarded for a win and one point for a tie.  The team having the most points at the end of the regular schedule shall be deemed the League Champion. Stats are only kept for divisions in U13 and older.

6.1.2

In the event of a tie for first place, the house league tournament tie breaker format shall be applied.

6.2

Standings as of the first week of August will be used to determine tournament seeding for the year end tournament.

7.0 Game Cancellation

7.1

All games shall start at the scheduled time.  A 5-minute grace period will be given to a team in order to field the minimum player requirement to start a game.

7.1.2

A team may start a game with seven (7) or more players in Under 12 and up through to Under 18 and five (5) or more players in Under 7 and up through to Under 11.  If a team is not on the field in time for the scheduled kick-off, then that team shall forfeit the game through default.

7.1.3

A defaulted game shall be called if a team fails to field the minimum number of players.

7.1.4

The defaulted game score shall be recorded as 1-0 and three (3) points awarded to the winning team.

7.2

Games cancelled due to inclement weather prior to August 1 will be rescheduled only if part of the same division was able to complete their game(s).

7.2.1

If after August 1, a game is cancelled due to inclement weather and the game will determine league champions, the House League Convenor may choose to reschedule the game.

7.2.2

It will be up to the House League Convenor (HLC) to arrange a time and a place for the postponed game to be played and to notify all parties involved.  The House League Convenor is to then notify the Club Administrator and the Head Referee of the new date.  If the game is still not played at the new date and time, the game will not be rescheduled and regular game forfeit rules will apply.

8.0 Game Playing Policies

8.1

The playing rules shall be those set out in the latest available edition of the F.I.F.A. Laws of the Game.

8.2

For all divisions, substitutions may be made at the following stoppages of play;  kick ins, throw-ins, goal kicks, goal scored, half time and injuries as decreed by the Referee. 

8.2.1

Goalies can be substituted at any stoppage of play, but the referee must be notified.  If the goalie changed at half time the referee is still to be notified or a yellow card can/will be issued to the goalie that was originally in net.

8.3

Size #3 Balls shall be used for all teams in Under 3 - Under 8 divisions

Size #4 Balls shall be used for all teams in Under 9 – 12 divisions

Size #5 Balls shall be used for all teams in Under 13 – 18 divisions

8.4

The duration of games shall be:                     

8.4.1

The half time interval shall not exceed five (5) minutes.

8.5

The size of the field of play may vary although the Board of Directors shall endeavour to schedule games on acceptable fields (as Parks and Recreation Board allows).

8.6       LOPSIDED POLICY

MINI SOCCER

A team BEHIND by four (4) goals may add one player to the field until the score is at a three (3) goal spread to a maximum of three (3) extra players.  Once a goal is scored the team behind must remove the extra player from the field.

YOUTH SOCCER

A team AHEAD by four (4) goals must remove a player.  An additional player must be removed if the spread increases to five (5).  This pattern continues until the team leading in goals reaches the minimum seven (7) players required to play in a game.  The leading team may return a player every time the opponents score.

8.7

All teams must be on the same side of the field and spectators on the opposite side of the field in order for the game to commence.  Refusal to co-operate could result in a forfeit.  The referee is to bring it to the attention of the coaches if this occurs and it must be corrected before the beginning of the game.

8.8   SLIDE TACKLING in MINI SOCCER

Slide tackling is not allowed in mini soccer and is a cautionable offence (Yellow card).  If a referee, in his opinion feels that a slide tackle has occurred, the player will be issued a yellow card and will be substituted out of the game.  The coach may substitute back into the game once his/her offence has been clarified.  Consistent slide tackling may result in ejection from the game.

9.0 Inclement Weather Policy

9.1

Unless previously notified, the referee is expected to go to his/her scheduled field and await the arrival of the teams before making a decision to cancel the game.  Teams must attend and be ready to play or will risk forfeiture of the game.

9.1.2

In the event of a game being cancelled by the referee because of hazardous playing conditions the referee is to notify the Head Referee and record the cancellation on the back of his game card with both team coaches’ signatures. 

9.2

If a game in progress is cancelled by the referee for inclement weather reasons and the game has completed the first half, the score at that time shall stand and the game deemed complete.  If the game was called in the first half of play, the score will be nil and the game will be re-scheduled as time permits.

9.3

Games will not be cancelled because of extreme heat.

9.3.1

In situations of extreme heat, the referee may choose to allow more frequent substitutions and water breaks.

10.0 Referee Policy

10.1

The referee will verify equipment for players at the beginning of each game.

10.2

Referee must drop off the fully completed game card to the designated drop-off spot, within 24 hours of the game.  Failure to do this will result in the referee not being paid.

10.3

Referees must submit a written report to the office and the head referee for all cautions and/or dismissals issued during a game.