KITCHENER AND DISTRICT SOCCER LEAGUE REGULATIONS
Following league member motions and RATIFIED amended Regulations at a SGM meeting held on March 8th, 2023, and as amended at the 2023 AGM
REGULATION 1 - LEAGUE RULES
1.1 All games shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as established by the Federation International
de Football Association (FIFA).
1.2 Each team shall be permitted seven substitute players for a game. Teams are permitted an unlimited number of
substitutions during a game at the following times: goal kicks; injuries; kick-offs; half-time; possession throw-ins (opponent may sub at same time) .
1.3 If a team is not prepared to begin a game after a grace period of fifteen (15) minutes after the scheduled start time,
the team shall be considered to have abandoned the game. The team causing a game to be abandoned whether it is
a League, Cup or Play-off game or games where a team declines to play (forfeit) will be subject to a fine and, if
deemed by the Board of Directors, the cost of the field and referees.
1.3.1 Should a team have less than nine players at the start of the game they will be subject to a fine.
In the event of (verifiable) unforeseen circumstances the members will decide if a fine is to be imposed.
1.4 Games will be considered complete if the referee abandons the game after 70 minutes total time has been played,
if less than 70 minutes total time has been played the game shall be re-scheduled.
1.5 Should either team request to check the players’ registration books this must be done ten minutes prior to kick-off to
avoid delaying the start of the game; the players for both teams shall line up and the officials from each team shall
assist the officials from the other team to view the players’ books. Checking players’ registration books is not part of
the referee’s duties; however, the referee shall not start the game until the officials for each team have had an
opportunity to view the player book for each player listed on the team sheet.
1.6 Each team shall be allowed a Coach, Assistant Coach, Manager, and Trainer as team officials. Only players and
team officials listed on the team sheet are permitted in the designated team bench area during a game.
1.7 Each team shall:
1.7.1 protect the referees;
1.7.2 protect the officials and players;
1.7.3 ensure their respective spectators are kept away from the player benches;
1.7.4 ensure their spectators are kept away from behind the goal areas;
1.7.5 follow instructions from the referee.
1.8 Ten minutes prior to kick-off each team shall deliver to the referee two game balls, the game fee and the team sheet
for the game before the kick-off for the first half of the game. Failure to deliver the game balls will result in a fine.
1.9 The team sheet must have the name of each player, the player's number, and each team official that participates in
the game. Players may be added to the team sheet at half-time provided that the opposing team is given an
opportunity to view the player's registration book. A player's name or number may not be changed or removed from
the team sheet without notifying the referee.
1.9.1 A player whose name is already on the game sheet but who is unavoidably delayed will be permitted to
enter the game even though the second half has already started.
1.10 Only game sheets issued by the KDSL shall be used as team sheets.
1.11 The game sheet shall be the official record of the game result. In the event that there are different versions of a game
sheet, the Board of Directors shall determine the team sheet that will be recorded as the game result.
1.12 If referee(s) fail to report for a game, the teams may appoint substitute referee(s) provided that both teams agree. The
substitute referee(s) shall be considered the official referee(s) for the game and shall earn the appropriate fee.
1.12.1 Should the game not start the referee(s) will be paid half the normal fee.
1.12.2 Should a referee or assistant fail to report for a game they will be liable to a fine equivalent to the amount
that they would have earned. The fine is payable to the KDSL.
1.13 The director of officials will be notified should the assigned official(s) not report for a game.
1.14 Within one hour of the conclusion of the game both teams shall email the result of the game to the Director in charge
of the web site. Teams will inform the web site Director the names of their goal scorers.
Failure to do so will result in a fine.
1.15 Teams will be responsible for clearing up their own bench area following the game.
Failure to do so will result in a fine.
1.16 Smoking on Municipal fields is not permitted. For non-Municipal fields smoking within 18 metres of the field is not
permitted. Each team is responsible for its own players, officials and supporters. The referee may abandon the game
should the responsible team fail to enforce this rule. (see rule 2.3)
REGULATION 2 – LEAGUE STANDINGS
2.1 A team shall earn three points for winning a game, one point for tying a game and zero points for losing a game.
The number of points earned shall determine a team’s standing in the league.
2.2 If more than one team has an equal number of points, the following criteria, in order, shall be used to determine a
team's standing:
2.2.1 The goal difference defined as the total goals scored less the total goals allowed.
2.2.2 The total number of goals scored.
2.2.3 The goal difference from the matches played between the teams that are equal in points.
2.2.4 A toss of a coin by a person appointed by the Board.
2.3 If a team causes a game to be abandoned, that team shall be recorded as losing the game by a score of 3-0.
2.4 If a team plays an ineligible player, that team shall be recorded as losing the game by a score of 3-0
2.5 The Board shall determine the score for a game where the game result is changed by an organization associated
with the KDSL.
2.6 If a team, part of the way through the season, ceases to be a team in the KDSL all league games in which the team
participated shall be considered null and void and they will forfeit their bond.
2.7 Teams are not permitted to participate in other leagues without written permission from the Board of Directors.
2.8 The home team must provide dressing facilities and showers reasonably adjacent to the playing field. The Board
may approve playing fields without dressing facilities or showers.
REGULATION 3 - LEAGUE SCHEDULES
3.1 League games will be scheduled based on a random draw.
3.2 League games will be played on Fridays and Sundays.
3.2.1 There will be no League games scheduled on Fridays or Sundays should the following Monday be a
statutory holiday. Those games will be scheduled for the previous Wednesday.
3.3 Teams must inform the scheduler, in writing, whether they wish to play on Friday or Sunday; the time they wish to
play; and the field they wish to play on.
3.3.1 Every effort will be made to accommodate those wishes. The Board of Directors cannot guarantee, for those
teams playing on Municipal fields, that there will always be fields available at the desired time.
3.4 The President will provide a preliminary schedule to all teams no later than the February meeting.
3.5 Teams shall have an opportunity to change scheduled game dates, times and fields, provided that both teams
involved agree. The Scheduler must be informed, in writing, of all schedule changes at or before the March meeting.
Teams may not change the scheduled game date after the final schedule has been published without paying the
appropriate fine.
3.6 The KDSL will book playing fields for those teams wishing to use municipal fields. Teams who rely on the KDSL to
book their fields will pay the field fees by the third Monday of each month
REGULATION 4 - MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS WITHIN IN A CLUB
4.0 Clubs who are operating two (2) Teams in the KDSL have a right to movement of players from a Lower Division to
Higher Division. Six (6) players are permitted to be moved to a Higher Division for unlimited games during the
season. No players are permitted to be moved down from a Higher Division to a Lower Division. Clubs can have three (3) senior competitive player registrations between TMSL and KDSL rosters
4.1 Clubs with a team in an OSA registered recreational league are permitted to call up a maximum of six (6) players per game for unlimited games.
REGULATION 5 - POSTPONED AND RE-SCHEDULED GAMES
5.1 All postponed or re-scheduled games must be rescheduled and played within fourteen (14) days. Permission may be granted in extenuating circumstances to exceed the fourteen (14) day limit.
5.2 If a team has an Ontario Cup game within 48 hours of a KDSL League game the League game will be rescheduled
without the team incurring a reschedule fine.
5.3 Teams may request the scheduler to re-schedule a game if both teams agree to the date, time and location of the
re-scheduled game and the scheduler has been informed in writing or by email of the date, time and location of the
re-scheduled game at least fourteen (14) days before the date of the game to be re-scheduled, and the scheduler has determined that referees are available for the re-scheduled date.
5.4 The team requesting a re-schedule is responsible for the re-schedule fine.
5.5 Re-scheduled games due to inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances outside the control of the two
teams will not incur a re-schedule fine.
REGULATION 6 - PROTESTS AND APPEALS
6.1 Game protests and complaints must be made in writing or by email to all the Board of Directors. Game protests must be received within three business days of the game date and must be accompanied by the appropriate fee.
6.2 Copies of game protests delivered to all the Board of Directors must also be delivered by mail or email to all teams
and persons named in the protest within three business days of the game date.
6.3 The Board of Directors shall respond to all protests and complaints on behalf of the KDSL. The Board must respond to all protests, in writing or by email, within fifteen days of receiving the protest. The decision of the Board shall be considered final and may not be overruled by the Members.
REGULATON 7 - CUP and PLAY-OFF GAMES
7.1 KDSL rules shall apply to all play-off and cup tournaments, except as noted in the By-Laws and Regulations.
7.2 Players must have been registered as a player with a club for at least three league games during the current season to play in a play-off game.
7.3 Players must have been registered as a player with a club one week prior to a Cup game of the current season to be eligible to play in a cup game.
7.4 After the first round of cup play any players transferring from one KDSL team to another may not participate in any
KDSL Cup games regardless of whether or not they have participated in a cup game for their previous club.
7.5 Tournament games may be re-scheduled only at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
7.6 If a Cup or Play-off game is tied at the end of regulation time there will be no overtime. Penalty kicks will be taken to determine the winner.
7.7 Cup games will be scheduled based on a random draw
7.7.1 If byes are required to balance the Cup schedule, the byes will be awarded to the team(s) finishing highest
in the previous year’s standings.
7.8 The Board shall determine the date and location for all Cup or Play-off games.
7.9 Each team will pay half the referees fee and half the field fee for all cup games and play- off games.
REGULATION 8 – PLAYING FACILITIES
8.1 Clubs must provide quality playing fields
8.2 Fields and goals must meet FIFA sizes
8.3 Corner flags must be used
8.4 Field markings must be clearly visible
8.5 Coaches Technical areas must be clearly identified
8.6 Player’s benches must be segregated from spectators
REGULATION 9 - TEAM BENEFITS
9.1 The following items will depend on budgetary restrictions and will be voted on at the first members meeting each
year and effective for that year only.
9.2 The team finishing first in League standings will have their entry fee waived.
9.3 The team winning the League cup will have their Ontario Cup entry paid.
9.4 The team winning the play-off Championship will have half their entry fee waived.
9.5 Should a team drop out of the League the benefit is forfeited.
9.6 Should a team not wish to enter the Ontario Cup the benefit is forfeited.
9.7 A team winning both the League Championship and the Play-off Championship will only have their entry fee for the
following season waived.
REGULATON 10 – FEES AND FINES – SEE ADDENDUM “A” FINANCIAL INFORMATION
