ESCARPMENT SOCCER LEAGUE

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. PLAYER REGISTRATION
a) All players will be properly registered, by their Clubs, with their District Association and Ontario Soccer.

b) Every team entered in the ESL will supply a team list to the Secretary of the League 2 weeks after season start. Every team will create a final Team Roster U10 maximum 12 players,U12 maximum 16 players and U14-18 not more than 25 players including signatures each player with the player’s date of birth. The Team Roster to be signed by one official of the team’s home Club. A copy of the roster is to be carried by a team official to all games in case of dispute. The Team Roster must be deposited with the League Secretary by June 15 of the current year. If players are added up until and including July 31, it is the responsibility of the Clubs to update the rosters and submit.

c) No registered competitive player will be allowed to play in the ESL. Additions to the roster can be made up to and including July 31st. Transfers from another Escarpment League team will not be allowed.

2. CODE OF CONDUCT
The Escarpment Soccer League is designated as a Multi-jurisdictional Club League, that is a RECREATIONAL league. As such the following code of conduct is expressly expected:
a) Administrators and Team Officials must conduct themselves in such a manner as to set an example to the players to be a credit to the game.
b) Every effort should be made by each Club to ensure that each player shall play 50% of every game.
c) When a Club has more than one team playing in the same division the Club must endeavor to balance these teams. This balancing should take place before the final roster is submitted.
d) Teams from the same club playing in the same division may not interchange players.

3. TEAM OFFICIALS
a) A maximum of four (4) officials shall be permitted to sit on the team bench.
b) Team officials will coach within one (1) metre of the team bench and are not permitted to obstruct, or obscure the view of the assistant referee.
c) Team Officials will not be allowed to smoke within 10 metres of the team bench while coaching their teams.

4. TEAM RESPONSIBILITIES
a) A team may dress a maximum number of players as indicated under 1 but may play no more than two (2) players more than the opposing team on the field at any time.
b) The home team shall provide the game ball (plus standby), field marking, corner flags, goal nets. NB if goal nets are not available the game will proceed and the referee’s decision as to whether a goal is scored or not WILL BE FINAL.
c) The home team/Club will pay the game officials.
d) Each team will provide a game sheet with player and team official names/numbers to the match officials. Each team is required to go on website and report the game results. Match Officials will submit the appropriate forms to the secretary with 24 hours of game completion and enter the information into refcentre.com.
e) Home team officials must report game results to the Escarpment League convener within twenty-four (24) hours.
f) A U10 team needs to be able to field minimum 5 players, a U12 team needs to be able to field minimum 7 players and U14 and up team needs to be able to field minimum 7 players no later than fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled kick-off time will forfeit the game to the opposing team and a score of 3-0 will be awarded to the opposing team. In a case where neither team can field the allowable minimum of players within the fifteen (15) minutes, the convener will decide if the game should be rescheduled.

** A call-up is defined as a recreational player from a younger division of the same sex team from the same club, or a female player may be called to play on a male team of the same age division . Call-ups are permitted U13 and up.

5. PLAYER SUBSTITUTIONS
Player substitutions shall be permitted, with the referee’s consent, at the following times:
a) when a goal is scored
b) at a goal kick
c) at the beginning of the second half. NB referee must be advised if the goalie is being substituted.
d) to replace an injured player
e) on a team’s own throw-in
f) on an opponents throw-in if the opponent has already advised the referee that they intend to change a player(s)

NO SUBSTITUTION WILL BE ALLOWED FOR ANY PLAYER WHO HAS BEEN ORDERED OFF THE FIELD BY THE REFEREE

6. UNIFORMS

a) All players shall wear regulation soccer equipment as specified by FIFA and OS rules.
b) Teams must play all games in their primary registered team colours.
c) All players, including goalies, must be identified by a number (minimum 8 ins.) corresponding with the player’s name on the game sheet.
d) In the event of a colour clash the HOME team will change to alternative colour.
e) Goalkeepers must wear a proper goalkeepers’ uniform which does not conflict with the other players on both teams and the referee.

7. GAME SHEETS
a) Official game sheets, recognized by the Escarpment League, are the only valid game sheets.
b) All players and team officials must be identified on the game sheet.
c) Only players listed on the game sheet are eligible to play and are deemed to have played. The team officials’ signature on the game sheet shall verify the eligibility of the players on the team.
d) Players are not required to sign the game sheet.
e) Referee must complete the game sheets with scorers and discipline cards issued and submit to the league electronically and/or by mail within 24 hours of the game.

8. MATCH OFFICIALS
a) Match Officials will be appointed by the home team’s club. It is recommended that referee be 2+ years age difference with the players should apply. No age restriction will apply for the Assistants.
b) No game official should be appointed to officiate in any game where he/she has a sibling on the team playing. (c) Match Officials will receive pay per the protocols of the booking club.

9. PROTESTS

a) Any protest must be accompanied by the appropriate fee and filed with the League Secretary within 48 hours of the game.
b) PROTESTS BASED ON DECISIONS OF THE REFEREES’ INTERPRETATION OF F.I.F.A. LAWS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

10. DISCIPLINE
a) All discipline will be carried out in accordance with OS. Discipline and Appeals Procedures details of which can be found on the OS website at www.ontariosoccer.net
b) Most discipline is now carried out by “REVIEW”. The Discipline Committee will convene per posted schedule and a decision will be e-mailed to the Club within 24 hours of the hearing. No attendance is necessary at a Review Hearing. A player may request “Discipline By Hearing” in which case a request must be submitted, together with the appeal hearing fee, to the Escarpment League Secretary within 48 hours of the game in which the offence occurred.
c) The player and Club will be given 10 days notice of the scheduled hearing. The decision of the hearing panel will be advised to the Club within 24 hours of the hearing.
d) There is no appeal of a Discipline by Review decision.
e) Appeals of Discipline By Hearing may be made to the Peel Halton Soccer Association or South West Region Soccer Association.
f) All cases of discipline alleging Game Official Assault will be handled by the District Association with which the accused is registered. The accused is automatically suspended from all soccer related activity until the matter has been disposed of.

11. SUSPENDED GAMES
a) In the case of inclement weather all teams must come to the field prepared to play.
b) The game may be called off either by the Municipality closing the field or by the Referee deciding that the conditions are unsafe for play. The conditions may include the presence of lightning.
c) If the game is abandoned before half time the game will be re-scheduled.
d) If half the game has been played when the game is abandoned the score will stand.

12. RE-SCHEDULING OF GAMES
A re-schedule may be permitted, at the discretion of the Secretary and Scheduler and when notified in advance, in circumstances where a team is unable to field at least seven (7) players. Games may also be postponed due to weather (see above), field conditions, etc. The Home Coach is responsible for re-scheduling games, and booking fields and referees through their club. Re-scheduling is to be done with the agreement of the other coach, and the Secretary and League Field Scheduler is to be informed of the re scheduled date and time. Teams refusing to reschedule a game postponed for weather or a game postponed by team request will forfeit the game 1-0. U10 and U12 games will not be rescheduled in general practice but may be at the request of both teams and the discretion of the Secretary and Scheduler.

13. SCORES AND LEAGUE STANDINGS
There will be no League standings for U10/12. All scores for U10/12 will be posted as 0-0.

U13-15 scores will have a 4 goal differential rule. The maximum a team can win by is 4, and scores exceeding that will adjusted.

League standings for U13 and up will be based on: Three (3) points for a win One (1) point for a draw.

Should teams be tied at the end of the season, the tie will be broken as follows:
a) Points from head-to head games between the tied teams
b) Goal differential in head-to-head games between the tied teams
c) Goals for in head-to-head games between the tied teams
d) Goals against in head-to-head games between the tied teams
e) Total wins during the season
f) Goal differential for all league games
g) Goals for in all league games
h) If (a) to (g) fail to determine a first place a single game play-off may be held
i) In cases of other than first place a coin toss shall decide

ESL

RULES AND REGULATIONS

APPENDIX “A”

2024 FEE STRUCTURE

HEARING FEES

Discipline by Review $ 20.00

Discipline by Hearing $ 50.00

Request for Hearing for No Show (Non Refundable) $ 75.00

Request to Schedule a Hearing $ 75.00

FINES

In accordance with OS Discipline and Appeals schedule.