RA Soccer League Bylaws & Regulations

1. General

1.1 The RA Soccer League shall operate under the FIFA rules and guidelines.

1.2 The RA Soccer League shall be affiliated with the Eastern Ontario District Soccer Association (EODSA). The O.S.A forms must be submitted prior to the start of the season. Failure to comply will result in team suspensions until the forms are received by the Association

1.3 The objective of the League shall be to organize and manage recreational soccer in league, cup and tournament play for all its members. For the 2006 season there will be 3 Men’s Divisions and 1 Women’s Division totalling approx. 41 teams.

1.4 The Annual General Meeting of the League shall be held in Feb/ March prior to the start of the season.

1.5 The League Executive shall consist of the League Convenor and League Representatives (players or managers).

2. Eligibility

2.1 To be eligible to compete in the League all players must be RA members.

2.2 RA members may be classified as Regular, Associate or Limited.  A family member of a Regular, Associate and/or Limited member shall be open to the spouse or dependent children who are in full time attendance at an educational institution. 

2.3 All players must be eighteen (18) years of age as of December 31 of the current year.

2.4 All players must be registered RA members before the start of the current playing year.

2.5 Any team using an ineligible player will automatically forfeit without the right of appeal.  All games in which this player participated in and the scoring records of this team may be stricken from League records.  Ineligible players are defined as: not registered on the roster form, players who cannot produce a photo I.D. card or any player under suspension.

2.6 The Executive has the right to decide the eligibility of any new player in the League based on calibre and/or experience.

2.7 The Ontario Soccer Association forms must be submitted prior to the start of the season

3. Player/Team Registration

3.1 a) Teams must complete in full an official RA team registration form.  The registration form must be submitted into the League Office no later than the 4th game of the current playing year.

b) Photo identification cards are mandatory for all active players.  Managers are required to ensure photos and cards are attached to rosters when submitted.  Photo cards must be available at each game not later than the end of the first half.

c) Individuals may only participate and register on one league team after the June 15th deadline

3.2 Teams may sign a total of 25 players.

3.3 Teams may sign new players up to and including each teams fourth game.  New players signed after this deadline must be approved by the League Office prior to joining the team.  These players must meet eligibility requirements prior to participating in their first game.

3.4 Players who cannot play for the balance of the season may be replaced on a one to one basis subject to the approval of the League Office.  The player who is being replaced may not play for the remainder of the season.  No team will be allowed to sign a new player without the consent of the League Office.

3.5 The divisions will be established at the Managers Meeting

3.6 Ties in the standings at the end of the regular season will be broken as follows:

Most number of wins
Least number of losses
Record between the tied teams

4. Game Procedures

4.1 Teams are required to dress a minimum of 7 players for all league games.

4.2 a) Any team failing to field the minimum number of players 10 minutes after the scheduled time of the game will lose the game by default.

4.2 b) A team who does not have the required number of players after the 10 minute default rule may receive an additional 10 minute grace and only if agreed so by the opposing team.

4.3 Defaults
All teams are required to post a fifty dollar default deposit prior to the start of the year. Teams defaulting games will lose the fifty dollar deposit.  To continue to participate in the League teams must post an additional fifty dollar default deposit.  Second defaults will result in suspension from the League. The fifty dollar default penalty will be awarded to the opposing team.

4.4 Defaulted games shall not be rescheduled.

4.5 Referees will be allowed a 10 minute grace period, from scheduled start
of the game.

4.6 Substitutions shall be allowed on the signal of the referee at half-time, goal kicks, after a goal is scored or to replace an injured player.

4.7 There shall be no limit to the number of substitutions made by a team.

4.8 The duration of the game shall be two equal periods of a maximum of
45 minutes.  Official timekeeper will be the referee.

4.9 Postponed games due to unavoidable circumstances will be rescheduled.

a) Games will be considered complete after 45 minutes of play.

a) Games that are cancelled because of weather will be replayed on a date as selected by the League convenor.

b) To establish the status of a potentially postponed game you are required to phone 736-6209. A message will indicate whether the games are on or off. This message will be available no earlier than 3 PM and no later than 4 PM. If there is no message, you should assume the game is on. The referee will assess the conditions at game time and make a decision on the status.

4.10 a) Teams wishing to reschedule any league game must notify the League Office at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled game time.  At this time an attempt will be made to reschedule the game by the League Office. Game changes are not a given upon request.

b) Any team who does not provide 48 hours in relation to rule 4.10 will lose the game by default.

5. Team Responsibilities

All By-laws with a "5" series will be in accordance with FIFA guidelines.

5.1 All players on the same team, with the exception of the goalkeeper, shall wear shirts of the same colour.  The goal keeper shall wear a shirt of a different colour from that worn by his team or the opposition.

5.2 Where there is a similarity in colours the away team or visiting team shall change or wear the league back-up sweaters.

5.3 All shirts shall be numbered and no one team shall have two shirts with the same number.

5.4 Spandex pants may be worn if they match colour of shorts.

5.5 Each team must submit prior to the start of game a game report containing a list of players and their corresponding numbers including substitutes of both teams to the Official.

5.6 Players who arrive late may participate but, must be added to the game report at half-time or at the end of the game.

5.7 Each team must have available one linesman who will assist the game official.

5.8 Each team is responsible for the actions of its players both on and off the playing field.

5.9 The League Convenor will produce a list of team colours prior to the start of the season.