PLAYER RECRUITMENT/POACHING: BC Soccer has rules regarding teams/coaches/Clubs recruiting/poaching. Click here to read a document that has the specific rules.
SAME GENDER REQUIREMENT: BC Soccer rules dictate that Team officials of any youth team shall consist of a minimum of one member of the same gender as the players on the team. This team official must be present on the bench.
SPECTATORS: At games both teams must be on one side of the field with all spectators on the other. For games on the COYSA Soccer Facility field, all spectators are to remain OUTSIDE the fencing.
CORNER FLAGS / NETS: All U11-U18 teams must provide and set up a net and corner flags for half a field at all scheduled games.
SCORE REPORTING: Both coaches (win or lose) need to email all game results within 24 hours to scores@shaw.ca Please put the game number in the subject line. The referee submits the original game sheet and the website standings are then updated.
GAME SHEETS: To be provided by first team listed on the schedule for all U11-18 games (Clubs will have these). Please complete in full and clearly include the game number (on the schedule), date, time, etc, first and last names of players as well as the coach’s name. Give it to the opposition with enough time for them to complete their roster and present to referee before kick-off. Stickers for rosters are not allowed. Remember to SIGN the game sheet at the end of the game to verify the recorded score and any misconducts. The Columns marked Y/R, ID Card, final score and the Misconduct Summary sections are all for Referee Use Only.
ID CARDS: Required for U14-18 players and all coaches as of May 01. The rule is no card, no play, no exceptions. Cards must be properly completed, including photo, and be presented to the referee before the game along with the game sheet. It is the team’s responsibility to ensure they get their ID cards back. Clubs will provide these.
ABSENT OR MISSING REF: For any game where a referee hasn’t shown, teams need to work out who will officiate the game. Games need to start on time will not be rescheduled.
REFEREES: There’s a zero tolerance of abuse of officials, including yelling at them. If you’re unhappy, please do not approach an official at any time. Note the ref’s name, game number, date, time etc and submit an email with your concerns to our Head Referee, Al: kelownaref@gmail.com. The Ref Mentoring Program will use constructive criticism to work with an official.
FORFEITS: If you haven’t enough players for a game (minimum 7) please show up with the available players, decide if you need to forfeit or not, then mix players from both teams and play - that way the kids (and refs) are still getting a game!! If you absolutely need to out and out cancel, please notify the opposition, COYSA coysa@shaw.ca and the Ref Scheduler kelownaref@gmail.com know as soon as possible (please include age group, game number etc). We still have to pay the field cost and if we give refs less than 24 hours notice, they are still paid. In the event of a forfeit, the score will be recorded as a 5-0 win for the other team.
RESCHEDULING: Games will not be rescheduled. Coaches may not arrange a reschedule amongst themselves.
DISCIPLINE: Any red card in a game is an automatic one game (the next game) suspension. Please note on the game sheet that a player has sat off and ensure the ref verifies it. If the Discipline Committee determines further suspension is required, you will be contacted by them via email. If a player receives 3 yellows in the season, this is also an automatic one game suspension and you will be contacted by email by the Discipline Committee. Again, make note on a game sheet for verification.
PETS: Animals are not allowed on any sports fields for games or practices.
JEWELLERY: No jewellery of any kind is allowed to be worn. This is a FIFA rule (Law 4). There is no allowance for taping. Medical alert items are not considered jewellery.
ONE SIDED GAMES - If a game score is recorded by the referee with a 7 goal differential, the coaches will be contacted for an explanation as per the One Sided Game Policy: Click HERE
PARKING AT FIELDS - Please ensure you are parking legally at all fields for games and practices and respect the neighborhood including No Parking signage, bike lanes, emergency access and actual access points in/out of the fields.
EYEGLASSES: With the improvement in the quality of eye glass frames, most of which are now very fleixble and robust, they do not pose a danger to the player wearing them or the other players on the pitch. However, the danger factor is if they are not attached somehow to the head. Thus, we recommend that every player wearing glasses have string or tape attaching the arms to each other at the back of the head, thus preventing them from falling off and other players then stepping on them and breaking the lenses which then poses a danger to the rest of the players on the pitch.
CASTS: The wearing of plaster casts is unacceptable (these are the large white casts that are quite uncommon). Fiberglass casts which usually come in a variety of different colors (and are the most common) may be worn but they need to be wrapped in one inch thick of bubble wrap or foam and needs to be inspected/approved by the referee before each game. Other types of soft casts are also allowed and may be worn as long as it has been inspected/approved by the referee before the game.
PLAYER PICK UPS - New policy in place as of March 2025. Click HERE.
ANTI-BULLYING POLICY - Click here
TOURNAMENTS - Teams are not to miss scheduled games, nor reschedule a game, to attend tournaments.
FIELD LINING AND SIZES - Not all field sizes are the same. School fields are not lined. Cones may have to set up to mark the field of play.
CONCUSSIONS - Click HERE to read information from BC Soccer. Some other general concussion information is HERE.
INCOME TAX RECEIPTS - For Indoor Soccer receipts please log into your RAMP account that was used to register your child. Click on the Tax Benefit tab and scroll down to see the button that says email receipt. For outdoor soccer, please contact the Club that your child was registered with!
LIGHTNING - we follow the BC Soccer / Canada Soccer guidelines for lightning. Click HERE for the policy.
The standard is if a game is called by a Ref after 2/3 of the game has been played, the score at that point will stand.
EXTREME HEAT/WEATHER - we follow the BC Soccer / Canada Soccer guidelines for heat/extreme weather. Click HERE for the policy.