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 recommend 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 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 Contact: 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 & 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.