1.0 Objectives

The objective of the Ontario Hydro Soccer League (OHSL) is:

a) To organize and foster soccer activities within Ontario Power Generation and other Ontario Hydro successor Companies, while

b) Recognizing the competitive nature of the game, emphasizing the recreational aspect.

2.0 Admission/Registration

Any individual (Team Manager) responsible for organizing and supervising a team can apply to enter a team in the league. Team manager shall prove to the satisfaction of the Executive Committee that he/she will be able to field a team for the duration of the season. However, the Executive Committee reserves the right to accept or decline an application.

Players of the team must be Ontario Power Generation, Ontario Power Generation vendor partners, Hydro One, Hydro One vendor partners or Ontario Hydro successor company employee, or alumni, with an employee number and work email address. These players will be classified as an “INTERNAL” player.

EXCEPTION: A player who does not qualify as an INTERNAL player will be designated as an EXTERNAL player. Each team is permitted to carry following number of EXTERNAL players on their official published roster:

• OUTDOOR – four (4)

• INDOOR – three (3)

After 3 calendar years in the league (regardless of team), an EXTERNAL player can apply to no longer be considered external, subject to Executive Committee approval. If a player has met the above requirement and is approved by the Executive Committee to no longer be deemed EXTERNAL, this categorization will not be voided if they take any amount of time off from the league. A team can have a maximum of 3 conversions for Outdoor and 1 conversion for Indoor such players in total on its roster at any given time.

2.1 Team Registration

Team application is required to be submitted a minimum of 1 month prior to the start of the season, to allow sufficient time to determine field availability and for scheduling purposes.

The League reserves the right to refund any unused balance of funds and eject the team from the league if the Executive is presented with documented evidence of unnecessary rough or dangerous play.

Registration Method

Existing Team:
A team who has already played in OHSL can send an email to president confirming their availability to play the season. Confirmation is required by April 1st of each season. If a returning team confirms they are not returning, that decision is final to ease scheduling implications.

New Team:
Any new team entering into the OHSL will be placed on probation for a minimum of one (1) season. New team application is not guaranteed to be accepted and is subject to Executive committee approval.
A $200 deposit is required by April 1st of the subject season to be submitted with the new team application. The down payment will be applied towards team fees if the team ultimately joins, but will be non- refundable if the team withdraws their application. This is to prevent teams from applying and pulling out at the last minute, causing scheduling difficulties.
At the completion of the season, the probationary team will have its performance reviewed and a vote on whether or not to grant the team full status member status in the league will be held by the Executive Council.

2.2 Player Registration

Individual player identified as per Section 2.0.

Player registration deadline is July 1st of each OHSL Outdoor season and November 30th of OHSL Indoor Season. Any registrations submitted past this date can be accepted at the discretion of the Administrator. Prior to participating in the OHSL each player must have completed a waiver form. TSA registration forms are no longer required. It is the team’s primary representative’s responsibility to ensure all their players have completed the required documentation before stepping on the field of play.

A list of all players, including their application form (if required), employee number or verifiable work email address must be submitted to the Administrator.

There is no limit to the number of players that a team can register.

If registration is required with any soccer association, below bullets will be applicable for team fees:

• OUTDOOR - registrations beyond 20, the cost of the additional registrations will be paid by the team, not by the OHSL.

• INDOOR – No additional cost

Player eligibility is determined by the official published team roster, provided and maintained by the Administrator. A player is considered ineligible until confirmed by the Administrator.

Any team playing an ineligible player shall default the game with three (3) goal loss. A team cannot use the services of any player who has participated in three (3) matches for another team. No transfers will be permitted beyond the midpoint of the season.

Any player transfers must be submitted to the Administrator in writing, and the player may not participate in any game until they are included in the official published roster. Any exceptions will be at the discretion of the Executive Committee upon review of the situation.

A player can play for only one team in the Playoffs. A player is only eligible to play in the Playoffs if they have participated in a minimum of three (3) regular season matches for that team. The intent of this rule is to discourage teams from ‘stacking’ their team for the playoffs.

3.0 Voting

Only OHSL members in good standing shall be entitled to vote at league meetings. If a vote is held at a league meeting, only those members of the Executive Council present shall be entitled to vote. Minimum quorum is detailed in Section 5.0. In the event an issue cannot be resolved at a league meeting, an electronic vote can be used to facilitate a decision. For an electronic vote, each member of the Executive Council shall be given one (1) vote, except for the President (as per Section 5.0).

Probationary teams are not allowed to vote in the Executive Council but are expected to attend all meetings.

4.0 Organization

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Officers of the League, who are not required to be member, either internal or external. If an Executive Committee member is also a Team Manager, he is restricted to only one vote in the Executive Council. Presently, the Executive Committee consists of: President, Treasurer, Secretary, Convener, Administrator, and Director at Large.

Executive Council

The Executive Council shall consist of the Executive Committee and all Primary Team Managers in good standing. The Executive Council shall have the authority to interpret and/or change the rules governing the League. Their interpretation or decision is considered final. In the event that time does not permit the Executive Council to meet or vote, the President shall interpret, not change, the rules. His interpretation is considered final.

Disciplinary Committee

The Disciplinary Committee will consist of the following Executive Committee Officers: President along with two (2) other Executive Committee Officers as long as they are not involved in the game during which the incident occurred.

5.0 Duties of Officers

The President shall:

• Preside over all meetings of the OHSL.

• Arrange for all playing field permits.

• Have the right to vote at Executive Committee meetings but not at Executive Council meetings unless a tie breaking vote is required, in which case, his vote shall be the tie breaking vote.

• Take over the Treasurer responsibilities for the OHSL Indoor season.

The Vice-President shall:

• Act as Chairman in the absence of the President.

• Maintain OHSL Constitution and contact list.

• Be permitted to vote at all meetings.

• Supports Outdoor Season Only.

The Secretary shall:

• Handle all general correspondence of the OHSL and perform all the duties of clerical nature.

• Be permitted to vote at all meetings.

• Supports Outdoor Season Only.

The Treasurer shall:

• Receive all monies of the League and keep account of same.

• Obtain a warrant from the President prior to paying out any monies of the League.

• Be permitted to vote at all meetings.

• Supports Outdoor Season Only.

The Convener shall:

• Compile Regular Season and Playoff Schedules.

• Arrange for referees’ for all scheduled matches.

• Be permitted to vote at all meetings.
• Supports Outdoor Season Only

The Statistician shall:

• Keep all records associated with team play including; League statistics, team records, player discipline (cards), League web site management, and official team rosters.
• Be permitted to vote at all meetings.
• Supports Outdoor Season Only

The Administrator shall:

• Build or Maintain OHSL official website.
• Manage the OHSL website and perform continual maintenance; this can includes links, web space optimization, continual improvements, database, yearly e-blast setup, and other functions.
• Be permitted to vote at all meetings.
• Take over the Conveners responsibilities for the OHSL Indoor season.

Director at Large(s)

• Provide guidance to the Executive Committee, as required.
• Be permitted to vote at all meetings.
• Supports Outdoor Season Only

Team Manager

• The Team Manager shall lead and guide their team in accordance with the RULES and the spirit of the League.
• The Team Manager, or his nominee, shall attend meetings of the Executive Council.
• The Team Manager shall ensure league fees are made in accordance with the Fee Schedule. The OHSL is not responsible for ensuring participants in the league submit the required payments to Team Managers.
• Ensure that he/she or his/her team consults the constitution and latest schedule at all times.
• Abide by the directions provided by the Executive committee
• Ensure that he/she or his/her nominee is available at every scheduled game and carry out duties as a captain and as a home team when appropriate.

Quorum

For the Executive Council to interpret or revise the Constitution or rule on any major issue, the minimum quorum is

• OUTDOOR - three (3) Team Managers and/or three (3) Executive Committee Commented [HT1]: Recommended change members.
• INDOOR - two (2) Team Managers and one (1) Executive Committee members

6.0 Rules

Interpretation of the RULES will be based on the spirit of the RULES.

6.1 League Fees

The Fee Schedule is as such (or as deemed at the pre-season meeting):

1st payment (50%) due date

• OUTDOOR - May 1st of each OHSL season
• INDOOR - October 15th of each OHSL season

2nd payment (remaining balance, including any arrears) due date

• OUTDOOR - June 8th of each OHSL season
• INDOOR - November 15th of each OHSL season

Any team who has not paid all fees due according to the Fee Schedule shall have 3 points subtracted for each week of payment delinquency until they comply. The results of game(s) involving one or two delinquent teams shall be including in the League Standings by the Statistician. The definition of payment made is that the deposit has been made by cheque or email transfer and email confirmation has been provided to the Treasurer and the President.

6.2 Game Scheduling

The referee and/or the Scheduling Manager (ie. City of Toronto) will have absolute power to cancel a game should the field be unplayable. Information may be available, online or from the Convener, regarding field closures at Eglinton Flats prior to gametime. Team Managers can recommend to the referee to cancel a game at Eglinton Flats based on the field playability guidelines.

Games played in Pickering on the turf field can ONLY be cancelled by the referee AT GAME TIME due to extreme weather (ie. lightning).

No team can cancel or postpone a game in advance of gametime, without approval from the Convener. Violation of this rule will result in a default for one or both teams, as decided by the Executive Committee.

The official start time shall be as dictated by the schedule. A referee cannot delay or change the start time, without the consent of both Team Managers, or their delegates, and the Executive Committee. Notwithstanding the above, a “Grace Period” of a maximum of ten (10) minutes for outdoor and five (5) minutes for indoor from the official start time may be instituted to facilitate the start of the match.

In the case a referee fails to be present, both Team Managers must agree on a substitute.

If the playing field requires lighting to be turned on or off, the home team manager is responsible to ensure that the lights are illuminated as appropriate. The referee may provide assistance in ensuring that the lights are illuminated in a timely manner.

6.3 Game Results

OHSL approved gamesheets must be filled out and signed by the referee. The referee is not responsible for gamesheets. Winning team managers (home team in the event of a tie) are responsible for submitting completed legible gamesheets to the President within 24 hours of game completion.

If the gamesheet is not submitted as per above, the responsible team will lose all points earned, ie: (i) if it was a tie, the home team will lose 1 point, (ii) if the team won, they will lose all 3 points. Note that the points will be deducted from the official standings at the end of the season.

To report any incidents or referee performance, game sheets shall be submitted.

In the case of a default match, the defaulting team will be charged with a three (3) goal loss and a 3 point deduction in the overall standings (regular season or playoffs). An outdoor game is defaulted if a team in unable to field seven (7) players at the start of the match. An indoor game is defaulted if a team is unable to field four (4) players at the start of the match.

Any match which results in a goal difference of greater that five (5), will be recorded as a five (5) goal spread. I.e. if team A wins over team B by a score of 12-2, the official result will be recorded 7-2. If the score was 8-0, the official result will be recorded as a 5-0 win.

A match shall be deemed official, if the second half has commenced prior to termination. The official score shall be the score at the time of termination.

6.4 Discipline

Any player sent off in any game must leave the vicinity of the field of play. He/she automatically receives a one (1) game suspension from the next game (Regular Season or Playoffs) involving their team. If deemed necessary by the Executive Committee, a Disciplinary Committee will meet within ten (10) days to determine if the duration of the suspension should be extended beyond the single match. Their decision is final and cannot be appealed and it will be conveyed to the player, his Team Manager and the opposing Team Manager.

Any player who received four (4) cautions during the Regular Season shall automatically receive a one (1) match suspension from the next Regular Season or Playoff match involving their team. Any player who received two (2) cautions during the Playoffs shall automatically receive a one (1) match suspension from the next Regular Season or Playoff match involving their team.

It is the responsibility of both Team Managers to report all red and yellow cards, and ensure all suspensions are respected.

A yellow card during the indoor season will be accompanied by a 2min penalty required to be served by the individual who received the yellow card. A red card during the indoor season will be accompanied by a 5min penalty required to be served by the team of the individual who received the red card.

Malicious play, offensive language and/or abuse of the referees will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely. The Indoor facilities, including change rooms, must be respected at all times (ie. no spitting).

Any team who defaults three (3) matches during the season will be suspended from the League, upon review of the Executive Committee, and all matches played by them will be nullified.

6.5 General Rules

During game play, FIFA rules apply with the exception that a substituted player may re-enter the field. In the event of two (2) or more teams having equal points at the end of the Regular Season or Playoff schedule, FIFA tie-breaking formula shall apply, as follows:

a) goal difference (+/-)
b) greatest number of goals scored

If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above, their rankings will be determined as follows:

c) head-to-head results
d) goal difference(+/-) of head-to-head matches
e) goals for in head-to-head matches

If two or more teams remain equal on the basis above, the Executive Committee shall determine the final rankings. In the case of a tie at the end of a Playoff elimination match for outdoor league, FIFA rules (ie. Silver Goal) shall apply. In the case of a tie at the end of a Playoff elimination match for indoor league, game to be decided in shootout.

Regular season results have no bearing on Playoff tie-breaking scenarios.

The OHSL Executive Committee can decide to adjust the tie-breaking formula above, in the spirit of the league, if an unfair situation is created based on applying the tie- breaking formula as prescribed.

6.6 Miscellaneous

If there is a jersey colour conflict, it is the responsibility of the AWAY team to secure alternate jerseys.

Every player must wear a uniform with unique identifier, preferably a number. This is to ensure all participants are accounted for accurately on the associated gamesheets.

In the event of a team folding after the start of the season, the remaining players on the folding team who wish to continue playing will be distributed to other teams at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Any team using the services of a player not assigned to them, and published in the official roster, shall default all matches in which the ineligible player played.