Competition Rules
Note: These rules are taken from the official league policies and procedures. In case of a discrepancy, the league Policy document shall take precedence.
Cup/Playoff Competition
(a) For matches in which a winner must be declared,teams will compete in penalty kicks per FIFA rules when the score is tied after regulation time.
League Tie-breakers
(a) In the event teams are tied in points at the end of a season and placement is required (i.e. to declare a league champion or to determine promotion and/or relegation), the order shall be determined using the following tie-breakers (in order of application):
i. Points in head-to-head competition
a. In the event more than 2 teams are tied, head-to-head can only be used if each team has played each of the other tied teams.
b. If teams have played more head-to-head games than others, only the most recent game(s) will count (i.e. if Team A has played B once and Team C twice, only the last game vs Team C will count in the tiebreaker)
ii. Greater Number of Wins
iii. Better Goal Differential
iv. Coin Toss
Competition Guidelines
Substitutions
(a) Substitutes shall report to the fourth official or assistant referee at midfield, and may not enter the field without the permission of the referee. Substitutions can be requested at the following stoppages:
i. After the awarding of goal or goal kick
ii. At the half-time break
iii. At your own throw-ins, or opponent throw-ins if they are also making a substitution
iv. To replace an injured player
(b) All substitutions are at the discretion of the referee.
League Schedule
(a) The league schedule is official when posted to the public on this website. The official schedule and updated changes are posted on the official web site of the Academy Competition (www.academysoccer.ca).
Scheduling Changes
(a) All schedule changes need to be approved by the league office. All game change requests must comply with the rules below.
(b) Request made to league at least 28 days prior to match:
i. $25 rescheduling fee
ii. Team is responsible for obtaining agreement from the opposing team and either finding a suitable free slot on the CDS calendar or a suitable alternate venue and qualified officials. (Both the league and the opposing team must agree to any venue change)
(c) Request made to the league between 8-28 days prior to match:
i. $50 rescheduling fee
ii. Other conditions as above
(d) Request made to the league less than 8 days prior to match:
i. $100 rescheduling fee
ii. Other conditions as above
(e) The league does not guarantee that all requests will be accepted.
Eligibility
(a) All teams must provide their completed team roster to the league convener prior to each match. Team players and staff must have their ORA Identification Card available for inspection, if required.
(b) Players must be properly registered with OS prior to appearing in a match. Rosters must meet the following age requirements:
i. Players must be born on or after January 1st, of the division year.
ii. Two (2) additional overage players (within 1 calendar year) can be added to a game sheet on a game-by-game basis
Incomplete Games
(a) In the event that a game cannot continue through full regulation play the game will count if one-half of the game was completed.
(b) If there is no result and the match is suspended prior to the expiration of one-half due to inclement weather or extenuating circumstances, it will be rescheduled in consultation with the league office.
(c) The Referee / league convener have the final decision on postponing a game due to weather or field conditions.
Postponing a Game Prior to Start
A game may be called off / postponed no earlier than two hours prior to kick-off because of inclement weather or situations considered acts of God, unless agreed to by both teams and the league office.
Grace Period Before Abandoning a Game
Unless both teams, the referee, and the league convener agree to an alternate plan, teams must wait one hour before abandoning a game that has been delayed.
Fines
Fines will be assessed for violation of league rules, game changes, and any minimum standard requirements.
Payment
Deposits for the season will be required at a date specified by the league Office. Prior to the scheduling meetings all competition fees must be paid in full.
Game Cancellation Criteria
Competition game cancellations should occur only in the most serious circumstances, however the personal safety of participants, personnel, and spectators shall always be highest priority.
Rescheduling Considerations
League conveners will have the authority to review all the facts, (including fault on the part of either team, unavoidable conditions, expense for both teams, and requests by a team to take a particular action in the best interests of the league and its teams) in determining whether and when a game shall be rescheduled, who should bear the financial burden as a result of cancellation or rescheduling, whether the game should be forfeited or cancelled permanently, and whether other fines should be levied.
No-show / Forfeit
(a) A no-show occurs when an academy team willfully does not show up at a game and there has been no league approved written agreement for a change of the scheduled game. Penalties for no-shows are as follows:
i. A forfeit to the opposing team and additional loss of three (3) points in the standings
ii. If a team fails to meet game schedule obligations and fails to attend a match, the Academy will be fined in the amount of $500.00
iii. One no-show may result in a team being terminated at the discretion of the league
iv. The accumulation of two no-shows in a season shall result in forfeiture of a team
v. A forfeit will result in a 2-0 win to the team not at fault
(b) A team unable to attend a scheduled game because of an accident, weather or Act of God should immediately notify the opponent and the league office. Each situation will be reviewed by the league office, which shall render a decision that may be appealed through the league.
(c) For the Academy Divisions, teams required to borrow players will default the result to the opposing team.
Withdrawal of an Academy
(a) In the event an Academy withdraws a team from the league without finishing its scheduled games, it shall forfeit its membership and the following regulations will take effect:
i. If at least half of the full schedule of games has been played, all resulting scores stand as validated by the league Office. Any unscheduled remaining games shall be recorded as a forfeit victory for the opponents. (mainly for the showcase division)
ii. If less than one-half of the full schedule of games has been played, these completed games will be deleted from the standings (Academy division)
iii. The league may, at its discretion, reschedule any or all remaining games
Conduct & Discipline
Suspensions
(a) Following a game, a coach serving a suspension may enter the locker room, but must not be in or around the field of play. Coaches must sit in the press box or in some location other than in the grandstand. If this is not possible, then the coach is prohibited from attending the game.
(b) Communication via cellular, 2-way radios, electronic, written or verbal is strictly prohibited. Additional fines and/or suspensions will result.
(c) Extending a Suspension -- In any case, the league reserves the right to impose suspensions beyond any of these parameters for offences deemed to be particularly violent and against the spirit of the game.
Commencement of Suspensions
(a) Suspensions and fines will be publicized the 1st weekend following the occurrence and will come into effect on the 2nd weekend following the occurrence.
(b) If requested, discipline hearings will take place the 2nd weekend after the offence occurred. In these cases, the suspension would not come into effect until after the hearing.
League Disciplinary Committee
(a) A panel of individuals from the league Office shall conduct the review of disciplinary issues. Such a panel will consist of at least three people on the board, one of which includes the Competition Director.
(b) The penalties described herein act as a guideline. The league reserves the right to impose further sanctions, if warranted.
(c) A $25 fine will accompany all Cautions and a $50 fine will accompany all Ejections handed out in league competition.
League Fine for Serious Incidents
The league has the power to impose fines up to $5,000 for any incident bringing the game into disrepute.
Scandalous Conduct
The league Office may suspend for a definite period and/or impose a fine on any officer, director, player or employee of a member Academy guilty of gross misbehaviour in public, including intoxication, drug use, fighting, indecency or other scandalous conduct, whether on or off the playing field, when such conduct is, in the league Office's opinion, prejudicial to the best interests of the sport of soccer or the league.
Moral Truth
Any employee, player or official of any member Academy or the league who shall be convicted of a felony, or who shall have been found by the league Office to have conducted themselves in a manner detrimental to the best interests of soccer or the league, may be declared by the league Office to be suspended for such period of time as the league Office shall deem to be appropriate.
Tampering
No manager, officer or representative of a Academy shall approach a registered player, coach or staff member of another Academy regarding employment unless that contracted party's employing Academy gives written idn poker permission to the requesting Academy to make such contact. Violations of this rule shall subject the offending party to disciplinary action from the league Office.
Conduct of Spectators
(a) Academies are responsible for their own fans and are thus required to do what is in their power to keep their fans in accordance with the rules.
(b) If fans are acting inappropriately, the head referee will have the right to warn and/or dismiss a fan away from the field. If fan interference becomes out of the control of the referee, the referee will have the authority to cancel the game.
(c) If the fan does not co-operate with the referee, the league officials will have the right to dismiss the fan and/or notify the authorities of the situation.
(d) Cancellation of a game due to fan interference will not result in a re-scheduled game.
Vandalism / Destruction of Property
(a) No player, manager, officer, or representative of an Academy shall intentionally damage or destroy the physical property of another Academy. This prohibition shall extend to the damage and destruction of locker rooms or other area of a leased or owned stadium facility.
Other Misconduct
(a) Nothing contained in this rule shall be construed as exclusively defining or otherwise limiting conduct, acts, transactions, or practices that are not in the best interests of the sport of soccer or of the league. Any and all other conducts, acts, transactions or practices which are not in the best interests of soccer or the league are prohibited and shall be subject to such penalties imposed by the league Office, such as permanent ineligibility, ineligibility for a period of time, suspension of voting rights, suspension from playing, or suspension of an individual from sitting on committee or advisory board, as the facts in the particular case may, in his/her opinion, warrant.
Appeals & Complaints
Complaints
(a) All Complaints must:
i. Specifically refer to the Rule in the manual that is being violated. (Refer to Page No. and Item very specifically)
ii. Should a Rule not exist to resolve your problem or wrong, then provide a simple statement on the problem form
(b) No complaint can result in the overturning of a game's result, although point forfeiture and other penalties may result from a complaint that has been upheld.
Types of Complaints
(a) By participating in these competitions, your Team Management and players agree to utilize this process exclusively for the resolution of all disputes. Each type has its own progressive steps of review and final resolution. Each type and each step have very exacting requirements, both in format and timing. The party that misses or errs in format and/or does not adhere to time schedules loses a complaint, all rights to proceed and the decision, or in some cases the non-decision at the last step properly undertaken is final and binding.
(b) The four (4) types of Complaints are as follows:
i. A complaint about events that occur on the field of play during a game, pre-game or post game, affecting some component or outcome of the game
ii. A complaint between your team management and another team management and/or players that is not about events upon the field or surrounding a game. These complaints are purely business and have no direct impact on a game's outcome
iii. A complaint about the league, league office, officer, staff member, or Executive Committee member in their official capacity (not as Academy Owners, but as a league official.)
iv. A complaint about a referee, linesman or related person
Filing a Complaint
A complaint must be filed within 48 hours after the incident took place.
Discipline Appeals
(a) Notice of appeal shall be received by the league no later than the Tuesday following publication of the penalty.
(b) If requested, discipline hearings will take place the 2nd weekend after the offence occurred. In these cases, the suspension would not come into effect until after the hearing.
(c) The Fee to request a hearing is $100. Fees are refundable if a decision is overturned by appeal.
