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EMSA TIER III LEAGUE
RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Management
1. The affairs of the League will be conducted by the Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association Board of Directors and communicated through the Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association Office.
2. Code of Conduct
1. Administrators and Team Officials must conduct themselves in such a manner as to set an example when followed, would enable every player to be a credit to the game.
2. Teams, players or officials contravening rules and regulations will be subject to discipline.
3. The proposed playing schedule will be as follows if teams make fields available.
Day
Monday:
Tuesday: U8, U14
Wednesday: U10, U16
Thursday: U12, U18
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
3. League Fees
1. The EMSA Board will determine the annual Team fee prior to the AGM.
2. For fee structure, see Appendix “A”.
4. Team Registration
1. All team registrations must be received by April 1st. All registrations are due with entry fees as per Appendix “A”.
2. Each entity may register a maximum of players per team;
U8 10 players (5 V 5)
U10 12 players (7 V 7)
U12 16 players (9 V 9)
U14-U18 25 players (11 V 11)
These playing formats include the goalkeeper.
3. Each entity must add the respective team officials to the web site and the Tier III Club will remove a team official upon request. (In the case a person is assigned to an incorrect team)
4. Each team must play in its own age level unless otherwise approved by the EMSA Tier III Club and it must comply with ONTARIO SOCCER Policies and Procedures.
5. Team Regulations
1. Only players registered in the EMSA Tier III Club are eligible to take part in the EMSA Tier III League.
2. All players registered on a team will be so in accordance with the Club Rules and Regulations.
3. All players on a team must be listed on the official EMSA team roster. Team are able to obtain Ontario Soccer ID Cards but this is not mandatory for league play.
4. The EMSA Tier III team roster must be entered onto the league web site prior to each team’s first league game. No changes to the Tier III roster will be permitted after July 31st unless the player has not been registered to Ontario Soccer within that current season.
5. If no current validated EMSA team roster is available, the game will not be played and the team will lose the game by default.
6. Teams from the same entity playing in the same division may not interchange players.
6. Team Officials
1. All Team Head Coaches and Assistant Coaches must have taken the Soccer for Life Course, Respect in Sport (RIS), Making Head Way in Soccer (MHW) and Making Ethical Decisions (MED) or working towards these credentials in the 2019 outdoor season.
2. A maximum of four (4) recorded officials shall be permitted to sit on the bench.
3. All team officials must be registered with EMSA Tier III. A team official is deemed to have attended a game where their name is printed and signed on the game sheet.
4. Team officials will not be allowed to smoke while coaching their teams.
5. “Team official” shall mean Coach or Assistant Coach who will be registered with EMSA Tier III.
7. Team Responsibility
1. Anyone on the bench entering the field of play without consent of the Match Official during an altercation will be subject to disciplinary action depending an EMSA Tier III Discipline Committee findings.
2. Teams failing to comply with League Rules and Regulations are subject to disciplinary action. Team and entity officials will be notified in writing of any disciplinary action.
3. Team officials will coach within one meter of their bench and are not permitted to walk up and down the sideline or obstruct and/or obscure the view of the assistant referee.
4. A team must field at least three (3) registered players for a game (U8), five (5) registered players for a game (U10), six registered players for a game (U12) and seven (7) registered players for a game (U14-U18) for a game to start.
5. If any team fails to appear at a scheduled league game, the team will forfeit the game.
6. Any coach and/or team official withdrawing a team from a game will be subject to disciplinary action.
7. Both team officials must report the game result by 11:59 PM of the day following the game.
8. Player substitution shall be permitted with the consent of the referee during a stoppage of play for the following:
U8
On the fly
U10-U18
Goal Kick
Scoring of a goal
Teams’ own throw-in and opposing team’s throw-in if opposing team makes a substitution
Injury of a player
Halftime
Start of an Over-Time Period or at half time of an Over-Time Period
9. Additional requirements when substituting a player:
No Substitution Is Allowed for Any Player(s) Ejected
All Substitutions must enter & exit the field at the halfway line.
All substituted players must leave the field without delay
8. Home Team Responsibility
1. Home teams will be responsible for the provision of:
Field Markings
Goal Nets
Corner Flags
Two properly inflated game balls
Field Lights (When Required)
9. Uniforms
1. All players shall wear regulation soccer equipment as outlined by FIFA and Ontario Soccer Rules.
2. All Teams must play all their EMSA Tier III games in their primary registered team colors.
3. All Players, including goalies, must be identified by a different number, minimum size 6” on the back of their shirt and such number will be recorded against the players’ name on the game sheet. All numbers must be legible
4. The away team shall change to an alternate strip or pinnies if team colors conflict.
5. Goalkeepers’ uniforms must not conflict with that of the game officials or opposing team.
10. Match Officials
1. The home team is responsible for the payment of game officials in cash, fifteen (15) minutes prior to kick off. Unless the home team has a program in place where match officials are paid through a secondary entity.
2. All games will be assigned a center match official; home teams can assign two assistant officials to assist in their match official development program.
3. Game Officials Fee Schedule & Half Game Fee details; see Appendix “B”.
4. The League or its designate will assign registered officials to games.
5. All Match Officials must have obtained their appropriate grade level and assigned as per Ontario Soccer Game assigning protocol.
6. Officiating complaints will only be acknowledged if received in writing by the EMSA Tier III Club. Progress report will be sent within 21 days. For cases of alleged violence, assaults and brawls EMSA Tier III shall conduct a hearing as per Ontario Soccer Operating Procedures.
7. The game official is responsible for providing the teams with the completed game sheets within 15 minutes of the end of the game and for mailing / emailing game sheets to the EMSA Tier III Club within forty-eight (48) hours of a game being completed.
8. All discipline reports must be submitted along with the game sheet within forty-eight (48) hours of game completion to the EMSA Tier III Club by the Match Official.
9. All game officials must sign all game sheets.
11. Game Start Time
1. The match official will endeavor to start each game at the scheduled time designated by the Club. An allowance of not more than fifteen (15) minutes from the scheduled time shall be made if either team has less than the required players in attendance.
12. Game Duration
1. The length of games will be:
U-8: Two (2) twenty (20) minute halves - do not change direction at half time
U-10: Two (2) twenty-five (25) minute halves
U-12: Two (2) thirty-five (35) minute halves
U-14: Two (2) forty-five (45) minute halves
U-16: Two (2) forty-five (45) minute halves
U-18: Two (2) forty-five (45) minute halves
13. Game Sheets
1. Official game sheets must be completed by the teams in full and given to the Match Official fifteen (15) minutes prior to kick-off.
2. All players and team officials must be identified on the game sheet. All names and Ontario Soccer registrant numbers must be legible at all times. Suspended Player(s) will be automatically listed in the respective area on the game sheet.
3. Only players listed on the game sheet are eligible to play and all are deemed to have played. A team official(s) must sign all team sheets; the signature shall verify the eligibility of players on the team.
4. Players are not required to sign the game sheet.
5. Completed game sheets accompanied by any Disciplinary Reports must be mailed / emailed to the EMSA Tier III by the game official within forty-eight (48) hours of the final whistle.
14. Cancellation of Games
1. The game shall begin and/or continue to be played unless, in the opinion of the match official, the safety of the players and/or the quality of the field is in jeopardy.
2. The game will be replayed in full if less than 75% of the game has been played, after which time the results of the match at the time of the stoppage shall stand. The match official shall be the sole judge of time elapsed and this must be recorded on both sets of game sheets.
3. When fields are closed due to weather conditions, the club will post on the web site and attempt to notify affected teams of any cancellations as soon as notification has been received.
15. Scheduling & Rescheduling of Games
1. EMSA Tier III must approve all changes made after the final schedule is completed. No game will be postponed or rescheduled unless EMSA Tier III has received a Game Change request as submitted through the E2E website.
2. The two coaches must agree upon a new time, date and location before submitting a Game Change Request on the web site. The coach who submits the original request must indicate which team is requesting the change.
The second coach will confirm the new time, date and location on the web site. Once confirmed, these entries will complete a database for EMSA Tier III to review and authorization. Once confirmed, an email will be processed to both teams advising of the approved change. This entry will also update the league schedule.
3. The Game Change Function is meant for changes to fixtures greater than five days. Any change required within this time frame must be emailed into EMSA Tier III for authorization and entry of the game change.
4. Game cancellations as noted in Rule 14. The two coaches must submit entry into the EMSA Tier III score system as a cancellation. The two coaches will then reschedule this cancelled game using section 15.2 as noted above. The rescheduling of these games must be submitted within five days of the postponed game.
5. All games scheduled by the club to be completed by the end of August, where possible. Rescheduled games must be completed by the 14th day of September, unless stipulated and approved by the club.
6. Unless twenty-four (24) hours prior notice is given to the visiting team, only the referee can determine if unplayable conditions exist. Should a private club or City Parks and Recreation determine that unplayable conditions exist within less than twenty-four (24) hours’ notice the postponed game will be rescheduled in accordance with 15.2.
7. Only EMSA Tier III is authorized to schedule or reschedule games.
8. Any game(s) scheduled or rescheduled by team officials or persons not authorized per Rule 15.10 will be declared null and void. Teams participating in a game not authorized by the league will default all points from the game.
16. League Standings
1. There will be no posting of league scores and standings in the U8, U10 or U12 divisions. In the U14, U16 and U18 divisions the league standings will be formulated based on three (3) points for a win and one (1) point for a tie.
2. If teams are tied for the same position in any part of final standings (U14, U16, U18) the results between the teams will be determined by
(1) Head to Head Results
(2) Most Wins
(3) Goal Difference – League Standings
(4) Least goals against – League Standings
(5) Coin Toss
17. Discipline
Disciplinary action shall be taken in accordance with Ontario Soccer Operating Procedures, Section 12. The following guidelines will apply:
1. In cases where Ontario Soccer Published policies provide for Discipline by Review (DBR), the accused player or team official does not have to appear for a hearing. If the accused person does not request a hearing within seventy-two (72) hours of the game where the offence occurred, not including weekends or statutory holidays, he/she will be found guilty and the applicable penalties and/or fines, established by Ontario Soccer for the offence for which he/she has been charged shall apply.
2. Any request for a hearing shall be submitted on the appropriate form and accompanied by a Hearing Fee as per Appendix “A”. The hearing fee shall be reimbursed only if the Discipline Panel finds the accused not guilty. An accused that has requested a hearing and fails to appear for the hearing shall forfeit the Hearing Fee.
(This form is available on the web site.)
3. Where Ontario Soccer procedures provide for Discipline by Hearing (DBH), EMSA Tier III hearings will be held by the EMSA Discipline Panel.
4. Failure of an accused player or team official to appear at a Disciplinary Hearing will result in the immediate suspension of the accused. The suspension will continue to be in effect until the accused appears before the Disciplinary Committee.
5. All youth players attending a Disciplinary Hearing must be accompanied by an adult who shall act as an advisor, failing which the hearing will not precede and the player shall be suspended until the hearing is held.
6. Entities shall ensure that accused players and team officials appear for their Disciplinary Hearing.
18. Playing an Ineligible Player
1. Any team charged with playing an ineligible player in a sanctioned game will be subject to a disciplinary hearing. Upon being found guilty, the team will forfeit all points in games in the league.
An Ineligible Player is a Player who:
a) Playing while under suspension,
b) Playing while not being properly registered,
c) Playing in an age specific competition without the eligible age classification,
d) Playing up or playing as a guest player when ineligible to do so,
2. Any team official(s) charged with playing ineligible players shall attend a discipline hearing and if found guilty shall be disciplined.
19. Game Abandoned
1. Teams will be held responsible if a game is abandoned because of the actions of its players, officials or spectators and will be subject to disciplinary hearing.
20. Protests
1. Protests based on decisions of the referee’s interpretation of FIFA Law will not be acknowledged.
21. Appeals
1. Any Discipline Hearing decisions of the EMSA Tier III Club may be appealed to the Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association at the following address along with a cheque for $250.00 appeal fee.
Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association
c/o Discipline and Appeals
295 Rectory Street
London, Ontario N5Z 0A3
2. Persons appealing a decision of the League Discipline Committee are subject to the decision rendered until the appeal has been deposed of.
23. Annual Meetings
Annual General Meeting
1. The EMSA Tier III Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held each year in conjunction with the EMSA AGM.
2. All proposed amendments must be received by the EMSA Tier III Club in writing not less than forty-five days prior to the Annual General Meeting and/or a Special General Meeting.
Annual Coaches Meeting
1. The Annual Coaches Meeting will be held prior to the season. Team Contacts will be sent the details 30 days prior to meeting and details will be posted on the EMSA Tier III website. Each Team is required to have a representative attend the meeting.
Other Provisions
1. The EMSA Tier III Club may modify, add or delete any Rules or Regulations for the betterment of the Club League. The teams will be notified within 14 days of any changes.
2. Any matter not covered by the League/Club Rules and Regulations, shall be governed by the provisions of Ontario Soccer Operating Procedures.
3. EMSA Tier III reserves the right to hold a hearing, for any Team Official(s) or Player(s) who does not abide by the Rules & Regulations and Ontario Soccer Operating Procedures.
APPENDIX “A” - 2018 FEE STRUCTURE
League Fees:
Per Team $150.00
Payable to League on or before April 1st
Late Registration Fee:
Applicable per team for Regional after April 1st will incur a late fee. $50.00
Discipline Fees:
First League Game No Show by Team (Rule 7.5) $50.00
Second League Game No Show by Team (Rule 7.5) $100.00
Any team missing a second game will be removed from the League and all games played by this team will be null and void.
Game Protest and Appeal Fee: $250.00
In the event a team withdraws from the League:
1. Entities registering a team and pulling the team from the league prior to April 1st will forfeit the League fee.
2. Pulling a team after April 1st such entities will forfeit its League fee and will be subject to a fine of $ 50.00
All Payments must be cash, team, entity cheque or money order, payable to EMSA.
All Fees and Fines are due within 21 days.
Game Officials Fees:
Age Division Referee
U-8 $25
U-10 $30
U-12 $35
U-14 $40
U-16 $45
U-18 $50
The home team must pay the game fees to the official prior to the start of the game.
APPENDIX “B” - GAME OFFICIALS FEES
Referee fees for scheduled games where kick-off does not take place.
The referee and assistant referees shall be paid a half-game fee for games that are not started due to the following situations:
The field, in referee’s discretion, is unplayable.
The town’s parks department closes the field prior to kick-off.
The District Referee Coordinator or the DRC designate did NOT personally contact the referee at least one hour prior to scheduled kick-off of the game.
One or both teams do not show up after the grace period has lapsed.
One or both teams have less than the minimum number of players required to start the game.
The home team will pay the half fee.
The half-game fee noted above shall be paid only if:
1. The referee collects and completes the game sheet(s) and provides a short-written report explaining why the game did not start.
2. The appointed referee and assistant referees, who were present at the field, shall include their names, Ontario Soccer Registrant Number and signature(s) in the space provided on the game sheet(s).
3. Hand a fully completed and signed copy of the game sheet(s) to the coach/manager of the team(s) that is/are present.
4. Forward the fully completed and signed original to the EMSA office within 48 hours.
December 2018
