KDOTSL: Structure, Rules, Discipline, Expectations
MISSION STATEMENT
The primary objective of the Kingston District Old Timers Soccer League (KDOTSL) organization is to create a recreational, non-competitive and (relatively) non-contact soccer league. This league is designed to appeal to experienced players who meet a minimum age restriction and will be solely governed by the KDOTSL Executive Members.
KDOTSL Organizational Management
A.KDOTSL Executive Members:
Members of the KDOTSL Executive are responsible for creating a set of league rules and
disciplinary regulations intended to clearly inform participants in the league (referees, Team
Reps, and registered players) about league expectations surrounding acceptable vs.
unacceptable behaviour of players (both on and off the pitch) and reserve the right to address
and amend rules and disciplinary regulations for the league (as the need arises) in order to:
(a) preserve the recreational and non-threatening nature of league play, and
(b) ultimately reduce overall number of infractions by regularly reminding players of the types
of behaviour that are deemed unacceptable in our league.
The benefits of measures taken by the league executive are advantageous to both players in
the league and the KDOTSL executive and disciplinary members in the following ways :
(i) they are designed to enhance the safety and well-being of league players, and
(ii) they have the potential to reduce the overall amount of time KDOTSL executive and
disciplinary members must devote to critical disciplinary processes (i.e. first reading incident
reports from referees concerning inappropriate player behaviour during games, then rendering
related disciplinary rulings).
Given that league executive members collectively act as arbiters of ALL league decisions geared
towards improving the overall functional effectiveness of the league, any measures taken to
scale back the amount of time they need to spend on discipline-related matters frees up more
time they have available to devote to the many other decisions they must make in their efforts
to maximize operational league efficiency. It should be mentioned here that KDOTSL executive
members willingly volunteer their time and are NOT financially compensated in any way for the
time they dedicate to league management. Given this fact, they should in no way face criticism
for any reasonable measures they might adopt in order to keep the total amount of time
required to sustain healthy functioning of the league at a level that they find manageable.
The majority of players in the league tend to be older experienced players who no longer wish
to play at a competitive level. With this in mind, KDOTSL rules and/or rule changes have been
formulated to offer a more relaxed, less confrontational and (relatively) non-contact playing
environment.
B. Referees:
While the KDOTSL executive members are responsible for creating the rules required to ensure
that the league functions in a manner consistent with the recreational and non-competitive
nature of the league, the referees are in turn responsible for enforcing those rules and
reporting any incidents that occur during games that contravene said rules.
Executive members have an ongoing obligation to address situations where unacceptable
verbal or physical behaviour from a player is directed towards EITHER players or referees.
a) In past cases where unacceptable behaviour has been directed towards a player
(or players), the executive has generally been quite successful at resolving the issue by
taking appropriate disciplinary action.
b) By comparison, in past cases where inappropriate behaviour has been directed towards
a referee rather than another player, while the majority have been resolved quite
effectively, there have been instances (especially when the player’s behaviour was
particularly aggressive) where the outcome has been the referee’s resignation. And
unfortunately for the KDOTSL, the loss of even one of its referees (for whatever reason)
presents a major challenge.
Since there is typically a shortage of available referees-for-hire in Kingston, referees are
extremely difficult to replace. Thus, if one of its referees resigns, the KDOTSL may have
no choice but to cancel some of the scheduled league games until a suitable
replacement referee can be found.
C. Team Reps
a) Team Reps are expected to behave in a manner that is consistent with the
KDOTSL commitment to minimizing player behaviors or attitudes that are
incongruous with the objectives of the KDOTSL league (i.e. they should provide
a fun, non-competitive and relatively contact-free playing environment, with a
major emphasis on offering the oldest players in the league as welcoming and
safe a playing experience as possible).
b) Team Reps have a responsibility to ensure that their players fully understand
the entire set of KDOTSL rules as well as the possible consequences resulting
from non-compliance with stated rules.
c) Team Reps have a responsibility to ensure that their players are wearing the
appropriate equipment to play i.e. shin guards, close-toed footwear fitting the
nature of the surface for safe activity, clearly identifiable player “jersey” to
distinguish separation from opposition at minimum.
d) Team Reps have a responsibility to ensure that they register ONLY age-
appropriate players, including no more than the allowable 6 “underage” per
team.
e) Team Reps have a responsibility to ensure the players registered with their
team are congruent with the rules and expectations of the non-contact nature
of the league, including managing the process of payment for any fines
associated to a player’s infraction.
f) Team Reps have a responsibility to ensure that their team arrives and is
prepared to play at the designated time, has in possession at least 1 well-
conditioned soccer ball, and has communicated any discrepancies to the above-
mentioned items to the opposing team, referee, or league representative.
D. Unacceptable Player Behaviour and Required Disciplinary Measures
(i) Common Types of Unacceptable Player Behaviour in KDOTSL:
- physical altercations, including but not limited to pushing, hitting, choking,
punching and kicking after stoppage of play, either on or off the pitch.
- physical contact with the intent to injure others or uncontrolled aggressive
challenges, including Sliding or Slide Tackling toward another player on the
pitch.
- verbal abuse, goading, disrespectful language directed towards anyone, either
on or off the pitch.
- purposeful on-pitch offside positional play by a player trying to take advantage
of the fact that the absence of a linesman in a KDOTSL game is likely to reduce
the likelihood of the referee noticing that the player is offside and making a
concomitant offside call.
- challenges to a referee’s call by a player, either on or off the pitch.
- arguments or aggressive challenges towards a referee from a player, either on
or off the pitch, when the player feels the referee has made a wrong call against
him.
(ii) Levels of Disciplinary Action: Cards and Fines
The Referee’s Yellow and Red Card System is used to Draw Attention to
Unacceptable Player Behaviour during KDOTSL Games:
The referee will display the degree of disciplinary action required to deal with
any type of inappropriate or unacceptable player behaviour (verbal or physical)
by using the yellow and red card system.
The disciplinary process established by the KDOTSL Executive involves a review
of a referee’s incident report to the Executive. Any outcome from the report may
involve further investigation where necessary and followed a discipline decision
from the Executive Chair to appropriate Team Reps.
Team reps are responsible for sharing details of the disciplinary report with the
offending player.
a) Any player issued a single yellow card by the referee during a game will have his
actions reviewed, along with justification for the issuance of the card.
b) Any player issued two yellow cards by the referee during a single game will be
shown an immediate red card and must then sit out the rest of the current match
as well the subsequent match. Any further required disciplinary action will be
decided upon and shared with the appropriate Team Rep by the league
executive.
c) Any player shown a red card by the referee must immediately sit out the rest of
the current match and at least the subsequent match. Any further required
disciplinary action will be decided upon by the league executive and shared with
the appropriate team reps and/or players.
d) Suspended player Attendance: The League Executive strongly recommends that a
registered player serving a Suspension does not attend scheduled KDOTSL
games until the suspension has been served. This is specifically for the fields and
adjacent areas the KDOTSL has officially rented from the facility services.
(iii) Disciplinary Fines: All disciplinary reviews will determine which, if any, monetary
fine associated is required.
- The determined fine for a deserved Yellow Card is $50; recorded to the
offending player and the Team/Team Rep is required to manage
payment.
- The determined fine for a Red Card is $100; recorded to the offending
player and the Team/Team Rep is required to manage payment.
Payment of fines must be settled before the next scheduled game at the latest, in
order for the offending player to be eligible to play. Any outstanding fines will
be removed from the team bond. This means teams will not be allowed to play
until the team bond is topped back up to $200.
E. Situations Requiring Disciplinary Action
1. Ineligible Players:
a) The minimum required age for participation by players in the KDOTSL is typically*
anyone who turns 45 years old sometime during the calendar year in which they
wish to register with the league.
*Note: An exception to this age restriction of 45 is presented in section E (b)
below.
b) Each team currently participating in the KDOTSL league has the option of
registering and fielding a maximum of 6 “underage” players (i.e. anyone who
reaches between 40 and 45 years of age sometime during the calendar year in
which they wish to register with the league).
c) Teams currently playing in the KDOTSL league that register or field more than the
maximum allowable number of “underage” players (i.e. 6 players) will be
reviewed and disciplined by the league executive at its discretion. Possible
punitive measures include monetary levies and/or additional courses of action
that the league executive deems appropriate.
2. Unacceptable Player Conduct:
a) Physical altercations including, but not limited to, aggressive pushing, hitting,
choking, punching, non-ball-related kicking away from or following a stoppage of
play (either on or off the pitch) will result in a red card and immediate
suspension from play. Additionally, if the league executive ultimately determines
that further disciplinary measures are required, such action may result in
immediate and permanent banishment from the KDOTSL league.
b) Intended physical contact with the potential to injure others or uncontrolled
aggressive challenges will require that, as soon as possible, the league executive
makes a decision about appropriate disciplinary action which, depending upon
the intensity of the physical contact made, could lead to an immediate and
permanent ban from the KDOTSL league.
c) Verbal abuse, goading or disrespectful language of a discriminatory nature
toward any other person or persons (either on or off the pitch) will result in a
review of the case being carried out by the league executive as soon as possible,
along with appropriate disciplinary actions that could lead to immediate
dismissal and banishment from the league.
3. Offside Play:
a) To deal with players taking advantage of an absence of linesmen in KDOTSL,
referees will be instructed by the league executive to automatically call the
player offside even if they feel unsure about making the call.
b) The referee cannot, under any circumstances, ask other team members (either
on or off the pitch) for additional perspectives or opinions regarding an offside
call. The decision to call or not call an offside can only be made by the referee
and whatever call he makes cannot be challenged in any way.
4. Player Challenges to Calls from a Referee:
The League Executive has a clear set of Regulations outlining what it views as
appropriate action to be taken by players to challenge a call made by a referee.
The overriding message below is that, regardless of circumstances, a player (or a group
of players) should avoid directly challenging a call from a referee.
A Captain or Team Rep should be the primary contact for referees during the games.
a) Any aggressive and inappropriate questioning of a referee’s call (especially in the
case of an offside call) by a player will result in the referee immediately showing the
player a yellow card.
b) If the same player questions a referee’s call and receives a second yellow card at any
future point in the same season, the player must serve a one game suspension.
c) If the same player questions a referee’s call and receives any further cards at any
future point in the same season, the player must serve a minimum three-game
suspension up to a full-season ban or more, depending on circumstances.
d) In situations involving multiple players from either one or both teams are badgering
a referee about calls, and the associated Team Rep(s) are unwilling or unable to
bring the situation under control, monetary fines will be levied against both teams.
(i) The league directs the following demeanor when interacting with a referee:
- Calmly accept all decisions made by the referee, Unless necessary for
health or safety reasons.
- difficulty accepting a particular call from a referee, ask your Team Rep to
approach either the referee or the opposing Team Rep in a respectful and
calm manner for clarification and/or understanding.
F. League Expectations and Etiquette
a) Member and Player Demeanor & Conduct: Executive members of KDOTSL reserve the
right to approach any Team Rep at any time to discuss players whose playing style they
feel is failing to adequately reflect core league principles and philosophies. This includes
players engaging in play while influenced by alcohol and/or illicit and illegal substances
that impair their playing and judgement abilities.
b) Minimum players and Team Support: Each KDOTSL team MUST field a minimum of 7
players in order to participate in a league-sanctioned game. However, in accordance
with the “gentlemanly” spirit of the league, if the opposing team has surplus players
who are willing to play with the shorthanded group, it is free to “loan” players to the
shorthanded squad in an effort to provide a more “balanced” match.
c) Acceptable Playing and Field Conditions: In situations where either field conditions (e.g.
an unsafe playing surface) or inclement weather (especially lightning) dictate that a
game should not be played or not continue to be played, one of either the referee, the
League Executive, and Facility Management are the three main entities that can and will
decide to cancel or postpone the Game(s).
This will be communicated to Team Reps and subsequently to the players. Other league
members involved with the game (players or team reps) have should therefore refrain
from doing so.
N.B. Players and Team Reps do have the right to question playing and field conditions if
player and member safety is concerned.
d) Emergency Situations: In the case of any emergency situations involving serious player
injury, potential for non-league related harm and safety, exceptional danger to the local
community or facility by persons or groups, illegal activities, etc. are the domain of the
local authorities and Emergency Services should be notified immediately by anyone
(e.g. call 911, police, fire and rescue, ambulance, etc.)
e) Community Comportment and Impact: All members of KDOTSL must consider actions
within the local Kingston community, anywhere in the vicinity of the rented playing
field, spectator/player benches or the parking lots adjoining the fields.
All members must adhere to rules concerning limitations, or in some cases restrictions
on the consumption of alcohol and/or food as it relates to facility rental agreements and
privately managed spaces.
This includes activities post-game to be held off, and clearly well away from, privately
managed properties.
KDOTSL recommends that use of public spaces that are not within the domain of the
rental agreement, are dealt with in a respectful manner, where:
(i) alcohol/food consumption may not impact negatively on the long-term
survival of the league and acceptance from the local community:
(ii) may not impact negatively the relationship with local organizations who
rent out playing fields to KDOTSL (currently both Queen’s University and
the City of Kingston)
(iii) may not impact negatively on local community members, both adults and
children who are involved with activities on areas adjacent to rented
KDOTSL game fields, especially if it happens to lead to excessive noise or
disorderly outbursts.
Document updated: March 4, 2026