Competition Rules
1.1 The name of the competition shall be the QUEBEC-ONTARIO CUP, hereinafter referred to as the competition.
1.2 The Quebec-Ontario Cup shall be open to one provincial league representative of each participating Provincial Association each playing season, subject to qualifying policies determined by each Provincial Association.
1.3 The competition shall be divided into the following divisions:
| Under 14 Boys |
Under 14 Girls |
| Under 15 Boys |
Under 15 Girls |
| Under 16 Boys |
Under 16 Girls |
| Under 18 Boys |
Under 18 Girls |
| Men |
Women |
1.4 The competition will be played in each of the above divisions providing that there is a representative from each Provincial Association.
2.0.... MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPETITION
2.1 The Ontario Soccer Association and Federation de Soccer du Quebec shall be responsible for developing the rules, policies, and procedures governing the competition.
2.2 The Provincial Association staff shall be responsible for managing and implementing the operational functions of the competition.
2.3 A Competition Committee will be formed by the Representative of each Province and one coach of each province designated by the Representatives, and which is not involved with a protest or disciplinary case.
2.4 Protests shall be managed by the Competition Committee.
2.5 Discipline shall be managed by the Competition Committee.
2.6 The Competition Committee shall be the final decision maker on all issues related to the Competition. Decisions made by the Committee shall be deemed final and are not subject to an appeal process.
3.0.... QUALIFIYING FOR THE COMPETITION
3.1 The team in each of the divisions in 1.3 with the highest Provincial League standing in that division that is not participating in National Club Championships.
3.2 Each Provincial Association will declare the teams participating in the Competition as soon as League standings and National Club Championship teams have been determined.
3.3 Teams participating in the Competition must have two uniforms of different colour at all games to avoid colour conflicts. These uniform colours will be registered with the Competition Committee prior to the first games of the Competition.
4.0.... FORMAT FOR THE COMPETITION
4.1 The competition shall be organized with Provincial League teams from the Federation de Quebec du Soccer and The Ontario Soccer Association.
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4.2 For each division, the competition shall consist of a "two game series" format only.
4.3 Each team will play two games – one on Saturday and one on Sunday. The team with the highest number of points after both games will be declared the Cup Winner. Points will be awarded based on the following:
3 points for a win
1 point for a draw
0 points for a loss
4.4 If the teams are tied in points at the conclusion of the game on Sunday, the Competition Winner will be determined by Kicks from the Penalty Mark taken immediately following the match on Sunday.
4.5 In the event that Kicks from the Penalty Mark are required to determine the Competition Winner, they shall be taken in accordance with the FIFA Laws of the Game and only the players on the field at the conclusion of the game on Sunday shall be eligible to take the Kicks.
5.0.... TEAM ELIGIBILITY
5.1 The competition shall be open to all "Senior Recreational" and "Senior Competitive" registered amateur teams whose clubs are affiliated with The Ontario Soccer Association, hereinafter referred to as the O.S.A.
5.2 A team may only play in the division for which it competed in the Provincial League.
5.3 Notwithstanding Rule 5.2, if there is no division provided for a specific age/gender classification, (i.e. Under 17), the Provincial Association will be permitted to enter a team using players from different teams from that division and the next highest division and will compete in the division for the next highest age division of the same gender (i.e. a combined Under 17 and Under 18 team may play in the Under 18 division).
6.0.... PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
6.1 Only players on the team roster from the last league game of the season would be eligible to participate in the Competition.
6.2 For the competition, eligibility shall be defined as the following:
a) A player may only play for the club to which he/she is registered, subject to Player Registration Policy set by his/her Provincial Association
b) A player shall be deemed registered for the competition if his/her registration form has been properly registered by his/her Provincial Association in accordance with its Published Rules.
c) A player shall NOT play for more than one team in the competition.
d) Save for provision of proof to the contrary, a player whose name and signature appears on the teamsheet shall be deemed to have played in the game.
6.3 Notwithstanding 6.1 and 6.2 above, a team may use up to three players that are not registered to the team, provided these players are from within the Club and are “playing up” from a lower level classification.
6.4 An ineligible player shall be defined as one or more of the following:
a) a player who does not conform with one or more of the requirements in Rule 6.1;
b) a player who plays during a time period in which he/she is suspended;
c) a player who plays when he/she requires an International Transfer;
d) a player who plays under an assumed name;
e) a player who plays for a team of a Club with which he/she is not registered; and
f) a player who is not registered or is improperly registered.
6.5 Each player and team official shall be identified on the teamsheet provided by the Competition Committee.
a) The teamsheet shall list all eligible players (including potential substitutes) and up to four team officials.
b) The teamsheet must be signed by all players and team officials.
6.6 a) In each game of the competition, a team shall be permitted to dress and play up to 18 players.
b) Only the 18 "dressed" players and the four team officials included on the teamsheet may sit on the team bench or in the area designated for that team.
c) Unlimited substitution shall be permitted but can only be made during the following stoppages in play:
* when a goal is scored
* at a goal kick
* at the beginning of the second half
* at the referee's discretion, for an injured player
6.7 Each player must produce his/her Provincial approved player photo identification card before being eligible to play in a game of this competition if requested by the Competition Committee.
7.0.... SCHEDULING OF GAMES
7.1 The Provincial Association shall be responsible for scheduling the games at a suitable venue and times.
7.2 In the event that a scheduled game cannot be played at the scheduled venue because of unplayable field conditions (as determined by the referee or the facility manager), it may be moved to an alternate venue provided that the field conditions of the alternate venue are acceptable to the referee and provided that the game commences within a reasonable timeframe as determined by the Competition Committee
7.3 In the event that a scheduled game cannot be completed on the designated date because of unplayable field conditions, it shall be rescheduled by the Competition Committee.
7.4 Games may be played on an artificial surface.
7.5 Home and Away teams will be designated as follows:
a) Saturday:
Host Provincial Association teams will be designated as the Home Team
Out of Province teams will be designated as the Away Team
b) Sunday:
Out of Province teams will be designated as the Home Team
Host Provincial Association teams will be designated as the Away Team
8.0....GAME OFFICIALS
8.1 A referee and two assistant referees as well as a fourth official shall be appointed to each game.
8.2 Each Provincial Association shall be responsible for appointing the game officials to all games played in its province.
8.3 All game officials officiating games shall be registered Game Officials with their Provincial Association.
8.4 The "Game Officials Fees" shall be paid in accordance with the rate set by each Provincial Association
8.5 The teamsheets and misconduct reports must be submitted by the referee to the Competition Committee within 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game.
9.0....DURATION OF PLAY
9.1 The duration of play shall be:
| Division |
Regulation Time |
Extra Time |
| Under 14 |
two periods of 40 minutes |
No Overtime |
| Under 15, 16, 18 and Senior |
two periods of 45 minutes |
No Overtime |
9.2 The referee shall be the sole judge of the amount of time played and his/her decision on this matter shall NOT be subject to appeal or protest. Allowance shall be made in either period for all time lost through substitution, the transport from the field of injured players, time-wasting or other cause, the amount of which shall be a matter for the discretion of the referee.
9.3 In accordance with Rule 4.4 and 4.5, if the teams are tied in points at the end of Regulation Time in the game on Sunday, the winner of the Competition shall be determined by "the taking of penalty kicks from the penalty mark", in accordance with the current edition of the F.I.F.A. Laws Of The Game.
9.4 In the event that a game cannot be played for the full duration of time, the game shall be considered complete if at least 75% of the game has been completed. This rule will not apply if the game does not run its full duration because the referee has abandoned the game as a result of the actions of one or both teams; and in such a case, the Competition Committee shall determine the status of the game. As the sole judge of the amount of time played, the referee shall report how much time had lapsed before the game was terminated.
10.0....HOST PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION RESPONSIBILITIES
10.1 Each Provincial Association shall be responsible for:
a) the provision of a suitable venue;
b) the provision of suitable accommodations for travelling teams (teams will pay own expenses);
c) the provision of a suitable Size 5 game balls;
d) the reporting of the game result;
e) the payment of all expenses in staging the games including, but not limited to,:
- "Game Officials Fees", travel allowance, and meal allowance to game officials
- if for any reason the game is not played, 50% of the "Game Officials Fees" plus the full travel and meal allowances (if applicable) to each game official present;
- facility rental
- damages to the facility
- security expenses (if necessary)
11.0....PROTESTS
11.1 Each protest arising from a game in the competition shall be made in writing to the Competition Committee within one hour of the completion of the game, accompanied by a protest fee of $100.00 in cash or money order/certified cheque payable to the Host Provincial Association.
11.2 If the terms of Rule 11.1 are not met, the protest shall be declared to be out of order.
11.3 Protests shall be dealt with by the Competitions Committee.
11.4 The Competition Committee shall render a decision based on the evidence presented and there shall be no further appeal of any kind against its decision(s).
11.5 In the event a team is found to be in contravention of the competition rules as a result of a protest, the Competition Committee has the authority to:
a) decide, on the basis of the evidence provided, which team (if any) will be declared the winner of the game; and
b) levy a fine against an offending team to a maximum of $1000.00.
11.6 Protests will not be entertained if the issue is, according to the laws of the game, at the discretion of the referee (i.e. field conditions)
12.0....RULE CONTRAVENTION WITHOUT PROTEST
12.1 Notwithstanding Rule 11.0, the Competition Committee may:
a) reverse a game result of a team
for that team's contravention of a competition rule(s), even if a protest has not been lodged correctly, or lodged at all, providing the Competition Committee makes such decision before the next game of that team. The Competition Committee may also:
b) fine a team
c) take any other disciplinary action deemed appropriate by the Committee
13.0....DISCIPLINE
13.1 The Chair of the Competition Committee shall establish and chair a Discipline Committee which shall include at least one (1) Representative from each Province. Any decision taken by this Committee will be final and binding as far as the competition is concerned.
13.2 Misconduct by players or team officials reported by the referee shall be dealt with by the Discipline Committee prior to the next game, except as noted below.
If time does not permit the holding of a discipline hearing, any misconduct by a player or team official in a team's final game in any competition will be delegated to the appropriate Provincial Association for appropriate discipline.
13.3 Any player or team official dismissed from a game during the Competition, except in his/her team's final game of that competition, will receive an automatic one-game suspension
13.5 If the Chair of the Competition Committee in his/her sole discretion decides to conduct a hearing the Discipline Committee shall conduct the hearing in accordance with the CSA Rules and Regulations regarding Discipline.
13.6 Any player or team official reported for misconduct who is summoned to a hearing by the Chair of the Competition Committee shall attend the hearing. The player/team official may be accompanied by a club representative and must be accompanied by his/her Provincial Representative.
13.7 Failure to attend, after notification by the Chair of the Competition Committee, shall result in immediate suspension until the player or team official involved requests a further hearing in writing and appears at that subsequent hearing.
13.8 The Discipline Committee shall hold a hearing into the alleged misconduct off the field of play of any player or team official alleged by the Chair of the Competition Committee to have brought the game into disrepute. The Committee may take any disciplinary action it sees fit, including suspension for the remainder of the Competition.
The Chair of the Competition Committee shall investigate any general complaint prior to laying any charges of misconduct.
13.9 The Competition Committee shall rule on any alleged breach of these rules by an individual or an organization. If the Competition Committee, in its sole discretion finds the individual or organization to have breached one or more Rules, the specified penalty shall be applied and the Provincial Association informed of its obligation to collect and/or remit the fine(s) in question to the Host Provincial Association.
If no penalty is specified, any breach of these Rules shall carry a maximum penalty as follows:
Breach of Rules
*By an individual – From $100 to $500 per breach plus any expenses incurred.
*By an organization – From $500 to $1,000 per breach plus any expenses incurred.
The Competition Committee shall specify a date by which the fine must be paid.
13.10 Any team that is found guilty of fielding an ineligible player for whatever reason (non-compliance with the age limit, omission from the game sheet, etc.) shall forfeit the game. Victory will be awarded to the opposing team as well as the score of 3 – 0 or greater, to a maximum of five (5), depending on the score of the game. The Competition Committee may take further action as deemed appropriate.
13.11 Any suspension arising from the National/Regional Competitions that is carried over from the competition must be served in the outdoor season.