West Carleton Soccer
Club (WCSC)
House League Bylaws
1
General and Administrative
1.1 Code of Conduct
All members (parents, guardians, players, coaches and volunteers) of the WCSC
House League shall:
- Respect the rules of the WCSC
and of the game;
- Respect officials and accept
their decisions;
- Respect the opponent;
- Maintain dignity under all
circumstances; and
- Be made aware of and given
access, including electronic access, to the WCSC Constitution and the WCSC
Code of Conduct.
1.2
Responsibilities
In addition to following the code of conduct above:
Coaches shall:
- Ensure that all players be
given the opportunity to play equal playing time (see definition under
Fair Play Section);
- Be prepared for each game and
practice; and
- Make a strong attempt to
equalize competition.
Directors of
Programs shall:
- Work with coaches to ensure,
as far as possible, that all house league teams from their community in a
given age group and category are of equal strength.
1.3
Privacy Policy
a) The WCSC shall publish and follow a written privacy policy.
b) A complete and up-to-date copy of this policy shall be posted on the WCSC
website.
1.4 Volunteer Screening
a) All coaches of House League teams shall be required to complete the Ottawa
Police Records Check form. Coaches
are responsible for submitting the form to the Police and providing the WCSC
with a copy of the form after completion by the Police.
b) The WCSC will supply a letter of volunteer status to approved coaches
c) In the event that an individual’s records check results in any cause for
concern as to their suitability to volunteer as a soccer coach, the Board of
Directors will contact the coach and take appropriate action.
1.5 The West Carleton Soccer Club is
a smoke free organization.
In an effort to follow the overall philosophy of the Public Health Department,
City of Ottawa,
and because of the WCSC extensive involvement with youth soccer, and because of
health issues surrounding smoking, the West Carleton Soccer Club has adopted a
smoke-free policy. This policy includes the following:
a) All volunteers/personnel/players attached to the West Carleton Soccer Club
will abide by a No Smoking Rule immediately before, during and immediately
after, youth practices or games on or near the playing fields.
b) All volunteers/personnel will emphasize and encourage, by example, the
importance of not smoking to the parents, the players and all onlookers in the
soccer pitch area immediately before, during, and immediately after any youth
game or practice.
c) Disciplinary actions will be enforced if and when coaches, or other
volunteers of a team, do not abide by this ruling.
d) Disciplinary actions will be enforced if any member of the soccer Board of
Directors does not abide by this ruling immediately before, during, and
immediately after a youth game on or near a soccer pitch.
e) For purposes of this club policy, the definition of youth games and
practices will include all teams U18 and younger
2 House League Fair Play Rule
2.1 Preamble
The Fair Play rule has implications for various bylaws in several of the
following sections. The intent of the rule is stated here and its
implementation is covered in the various sections below.
2.2 House League Fair Play in Soccer,
Team Composition and Equal Playing Time Rule
The spirit of the Fair Play Rule is that all players must be substituted so
that each receives equal time on and off the field. This is to be done each
game and throughout each game during the regular season and the tournament.
The exception is the goalie who can play the full game in nets. However, once
the goalie has been substituted, the former goalie cannot remain on the field
to make up time. In other words, players in goal in one half must be
substituted equally in the other half.
The rule is extended to situations where coaches have attempted to circumvent
the Fair Play Rule by substituting a player in and out of goal during a half
without removing the goalie off the field. Again, the executive will interpret
these situations as a clear violation of the Fair Play Rule.
The onus is on the coach to ensure the spirit of the Fair Play Rule and equal
playing time for all players is carried out.
When teams are being assembled at the beginning of each season the Program
Director shall have in place procedures that ensure an even distribution of
talent amongst the various teams within an age group is achieved. The objective
is to provide a balanced game situation and to avoid dramatically different
strengths amongst teams in the same age group. The club reserves the right to
re-balance teams that are deemed to have been assembled disregarding this
objective.
The onus is on the Program Directors and the coaches to ensure the both the
letter and the spirit of this objective is respected.
The intention of the WCSC is to develop a love of the game for all involved.
Fair Play is in place to support this intention.
3 Teams
3.1 Team Registration Deadlines
a) Directors of Programs shall provide WCSC with the numbers of teams in each
age group and category in accordance with registration deadlines established by
the Board of Directors.
b) The acceptance of late team registrations shall be made at the discretion of
the WCSC. The WCSC shall be guided by the convenience of teams already
accepted.
3.2 Makeup of Divisions
a) Divisions shall be established for age groups and categories (girls/mixed)
recognized by the WCSC.
b) Depending on registration size, and taking into account demographic
considerations, divisions may cover a one-year or multiple-year period.
c) Girls divisions shall be established where number of teams permit in all age
groups above Micro.
3.3 Team Withdrawal
a) Any team may withdraw voluntarily from the league.
b) A team failing to fulfill two consecutive or a total of four games, or a
team under disciplinary action that results in their failing to fulfill two
consecutive or a total of four games may be asked to withdraw from the league.
c) No refund of registration fees will be made if a team withdraws from the
league.
d) In the event that a team withdraws from the league, the entire record for
the season for that team shall be removed from the division standings.
3.4 Standings, U12 and older
a) In House League divisions, three points shall be awarded for a win, and one
point for a tie. The team with the most points after the regular season shall
be the division champion.
b) If two or more teams tie for first place after the league schedule, then the
teams shall equally share first place and the names of the teams will be
recorded on the trophy. Tied rankings for other than first place shall not be
broken but ranked equally.
c) A team forfeiting a game shall lose the game by the score of two to zero
besides suffering any other penalties prescribed by the WCSC.
4 Players
4.1 Registration
a) All players on House League teams shall be registered with the WCSC and
shall have paid the required fee prior to participating in any WCSC program.
b) Competitive players are ineligible to register on a house league team.
c) Any team playing an unregistered player; a player not registered with the
team; a player who is ineligible to compete at the level of that team; or a
player who is currently under suspension shall forfeit all games in which such
player competes.
d) Any team playing an ineligible player under the name of one of its
registered players shall forfeit all games in which such player competes.
e) Registration deadline for the summer season will be April 22. (Exceptions
may be allowed, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, if there are
insufficient players on a given team.)
4.2 Playing-up and playing-down
a) A player shall be allowed to register in an older age group with the
following restrictions:
- No player may register with
more than one team; the player meets OSA screening criteria to play up; and
the coach of the older team approves of the addition of that player to the
team.
- During a given season, a
player can play for only ONE house league team within their age division
inclusive of a Girls or Mixed Division, with the exception of being called
up to an older age level. Players from another team within their
community, or from another community, may not play across.
b) A player
shall be allowed to register in a younger age group only with the prior
approval of the Board of Directors, and if all the following conditions are
met:
- There are compelling
social/peer group reasons why the player should not play in their own age
group.
- A member of the Board of
Directors verifies by observation of the player in a game or practice that
the players physical development does not pose an undue safety risk to
younger age group players.
- A member of the Board of
Directors verifies by observation of the player in a game or practice that
the players skill level does not provide an undue advantage to the younger
age group team.
4.3
Transfers between Communities
a) A player may register for any community, however, the Board of Directors
reserves the right to change team and/or community assignments to field
balanced teams.
b) A player shall be allowed to transfer to a different community after initial
registration is complete only with the prior approval of the Board of
Directors.
4.4 Equipment
See WCSC House League Rules
5 Games
5.1 Laws of the Game
House League games shall be played under a set of rules approved by the Board
of Directors. A complete up-to-date set of these rules, including all
variations by age group and field size (mini/full size) shall be posted on the
WCSC website.
5.2 Number of Players (*see
exceptions below)
If a team can only field the minimum or fewer regular team members; the team
may add a maximum of three called up players per game under the following
conditions:
- The coach of the player
invited to play up is notified and it does not interfere with the players
regular team commitments.
- The alternate player(s) must
be clearly identified on the Game Sheet.
- The player is from a younger
age category, from the same community and is not registered to play on a
competitive team.
- No player may play as an
alternate more than six times during the regular season.
(Exceptions:
From time to time, there may be compelling reasons for an exception to 5.2. In
those circumstances, the Board of Directors must approve any exceptions to this
rule.)
5.5 Postponement of Games
When a team cannot appear for a game, but has notified the opposing team of its
inability to appear with seven or more players (five or more for mini field
soccer), that team shall be charged with a forfeiture. Notice must be given to
the WCSC by email to headref@wcsc.ca at least 72 hours in
advance or the game shall be forfeited at the field. It is the home coach's
responsibility to notify the referee of any changes. The coaches may reschedule
the game by mutual agreement providing they clear the date and location with
the WCSC Referee Scheduler. It is the responsibility of the home coach to
contact the field scheduler. If the game is subsequently played and
adequately reported to the league, then the forfeiture shall be nullified.
5.6 Unplayable and Abandoned Games
Any team failing to field the minimum number of players within ten minutes of
the scheduled game time shall be reported by the referee. Any team failing to
field the minimum number of players within ten minutes of the scheduled game
time shall be considered to have failed to appear and shall forfeit the game by
default. The score shall be recorded as two to zero for the opposition. If both
teams fail to appear, there shall be no points and no score, but each team shall
have one loss added to its record. The WCSC may order a defaulted game
rescheduled if the defaulting team benefits from the default, or a team other
than the defaulting team are adversely affected by the default. Any team that
refuses or is unable to replay the game may have its record deleted from the
WCSC record.
If a game is abandoned by the referee for reasons of weather or field
conditions before the completion of three quarters of the normal playing time,
then the game shall be rescheduled, unless both coaches mutually agree that the
game and score shall stand, before three-quarters of the game is completed.
After completion of three-quarters of the normal playing time, then the game
shall be considered complete if it must be abandoned. In the absence of the
referee, the home coach may, after consultation with the visiting coach, at the
field only, declare a field unplayable. Inclement weather by itself is not
sufficient grounds for cancellation, but a game shall be abandoned, at least
until danger passes, if an electrical storm occurs nearby.
5.7 Rescheduling of Games
It is the responsibility of the home coach to contact the field scheduler to
reschedule a game with the exception of cancellation of games on a particular
date by the WCSC. If games for all teams on a particular date have been
cancelled by the WCSC (due to humidex policy or field closures) the field
scheduler will advise teams if/when the games are to be rescheduled.
Teams shall be given forty-eight hours notice of the time and location of a
rescheduled game. Notice shall be by e-mail to team contacts.
5.8 Game Reporting Procedures
a) The WCSC shall publish written game reporting procedures.
b) A complete and up-to-date copy of this policy shall be posted on the WCSC
website.
6 Referees
Referees shall be appointed by the WCSC for all games in all divisions.
Referees shall receive fees for their services directly from the WCSC. Where
the officially appointed referee fails to appear, the teams concerned shall
attempt to agree on a person, or where possible 2 persons, one representing
each team for half the game, not necessarily on the official list, to act in
the referee's stead. Once so appointed, that individual(s) shall have all
powers of an official Referee. The Referee who failed to appear shall not be
paid for that game. The Referee shall be responsible for the conduct of the
game in accordance with FIFA laws, and the rules and regulations of the WCSC.
Subject to rules as laid down by the authority responsible for permitting a facility,
the Referee shall have the power to decide on the fitness of the grounds in all
matches and his/her decision shall be final. At the conclusion of the game, the
Referee shall ensure that all sections of the game report are completed and
he/she shall forward it with supplementary sheets or player permits to the WCSC
statistician to an address set out by the Board of Directors.
When the WCSC appoints only one referee for a game, each coach is to appoint a
responsible person to assist the referee, whose duties, subject to the decision
of the referee, are to:
- Indicate when the whole of the
ball has passed out of the field of play.
- Offer other advice only at the
request of the referee.
- Remain impartial to both teams
while performing these duties.
7 Discipline
7.1 Conduct and
Responsibilities of Players, Parents, Guardians and Team Officials
For every game, an individual shall be designated as the team coach. The coach
is responsible for the conduct of the team and shall ensure all players receive
equal playing time. The coach's name, printed and signed, shall be entered on
the game report, and the referee shall be made aware of the coach's identity.
No coach may enter the field of play, except where the coach is also a player
or unless requested to do so by the referee. The coach shall restrict
activities to giving advice and encouragement to the players and shall in no
way directly interfere with the game. Objectionable conduct by a coach, player,
parent, or participant, may result in the person being cautioned, ejected, or
reported by the referee to the WCSC board, and may be subject to further
disciplinary action, including ejection from future participation in the
league. Team and community representatives are responsible for the conduct of
their players, officials, and spectators at and near games in which their teams
participate. All members of the WCSC House League shall respect the rules of
the WCSC and the game; respect officials and accept their decisions; respect
the opponent; and maintain dignity under all circumstances.
7.2 House League Season
Protests
The WCSC Board of Directors shall hear all protests arising out of any game
within the WCSC. The protest shall be sent in writing to the Director of
Discipline within forty-eight hours of the game to which it refers. Any
protests relating to the grounds, goal posts, crossbars, ball, colours, to
other appurtenances of the game shall not be entertained unless notice of
complaint was lodged with the referee before the game or at the time it was discovered
during the game. The Referee shall require the team responsible to rectify the
cause of the objection if this can be done without undue delay of the game. The
Referee may abandon the game if rectification is not possible and to continue
would in their opinion be dangerous or otherwise unfeasible. The decision of
the WCSC Board of Directors is final.
7.3 Disciplinary
Committee
As required the WCSC Board of Directors will appoint a disciplinary committee
of at least three persons (including the
head referee or his designate).
8 Annual Festival/Tournament
An annual festival/tournament will be established by a tournament organizing
committee. The rules of fair play and equal playing time remain in effect for
all festival/tournament games. Specific festival/tournament rules will be
posted on the WCSC website and distributed to each coach before the start of
the festival/tournament.
8.1 Awards
Individual awards will be presented to all participants at the year-end festival/tournament and become the property
of the individual.
9 Training
WCSC shall promote training of players, coaches and referees to encourage
development of skills in the community.
9.1 Player Development
The training offered from time to time will vary and may be offered by third
parties. Those activities supported by the WCSC will be done so after the Board
of Directors has determined that the program being offered is effective, has
qualified instructors and is safe for all participants.
9.2 Coach Development
Coaches will be encouraged to obtain formal coaching certification and may be
reimbursed full or partial fees for appropriate training courses taken with the
approval of the Board of Directors.
9.3 Referee Development
WCSC policy is for all referees to be certified and registered per OS standards. Referee training will be provided for a number of referees each
year. The number of training spots provided shall be determined by the Board of
Directors. WCSC referees will be reimbursed full or partial fees for required
OS training courses or registration fees at the end of the summer season if
they have refereed games for the WCSC during the summer season and returned
equipment loaned to them by the WCSC.
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Revised: Feb 2018