Discipline Policies
The following are the Policies for discipline management under the jurisdiction of the District Soccer Association (DSA). The DSA follows Ontario Soccer’s Published Policies and Procedures and will adhere to the Discipline Policies in Section 12.0 – Discipline.
To the extent permitted by the Ontario Soccer Policies and Procedures, jurisdiction for all game-related discipline involving players and team officials at the District League and Club League levels shall be delegated by DSA to the appropriate District League or Club League. This responsibility may be revoked at any time.
The DSA will have scheduled discipline dates posted. They will be held once every 2 weeks and will hear all respective cases that were received prior to the regularly scheduled discipline dates as outlined below. The accused and the Club of the accused are required to attend a disciplinary hearing and must appear at the next scheduled Discipline Hearing date. The Club will be responsible for communicating all necessary information before and after the hearing to the accused. Discipline for yellow or red cards or dismissal at a game will be handed by DBR (Discipline by Review) as outlined in OS Discipline Policy at PUBLISHED dates as outline. If the accused is required to attend a Hearing, the club will be given a 5 day email notice that the club and the accused are required to attend on the date outlined below, as per OSA Policy. All Other discipline matters will be handed by DBH (Discipline by Hearing) with a 15-day notice sent out.
Failing to Appear at Hearing when required:
Failure to appear at a Discipline Hearing, when required to do so, will result in an individual accused being suspended from all soccer activities and fined, and an organization accused being fined, as per the attached DSA Schedule of Fees, Fines, Bonds and Penalties. An accused individual who failed to attend a hearing will remain suspended from all soccer activities until they submit a written request together with the recorded payment for the fine for failing to appear and the fee for requesting a hearing as specified in the DSA Schedule “D” of Fees, Fines, Bonds and Penalties as published annually by the DSA.
Request for Postponement
Any party required to attend a hearing may request one (1) postponement of a hearing as per the Ontario Soccer Discipline Policies. The requesting party must submit a request in writing, with the postponement fee in the form of a recorded payment (of $50.00 to the governing organization), no later than four (4) days prior to the date of that hearing, stating the reason for requesting the postponement. Should the request be denied, the fee shall be refunded. The Governing Organization shall have full discretion to refund the “Request For Postponement Fee” if sufficient reason warrants such action. No fee is payable by the person(s) who filed the misconduct report(s) on which the charge(s) is/are based.
Pleading Guilty
An accused party may plead guilty and forego a hearing as per the Ontario Soccer Discipline Policies.
Such a request must be made in writing no later than four (4) days prior to the date of the hearing.
Witnesses/Observers/Advisors/Club Representatives
An accused has the right to bring witnesses, an advisor, and observers to any Discipline Hearing as per the Ontario Soccer Discipline Policies (please refer to the Policies for definitions)
Notification of Decision
As per Ontario Soccer Discipline Policies, the Discipline Hearing decision shall be forwarded in writing by email/mail to the parties involved within fifteen (15) days of the conclusion of the hearing. The decision shall include the “Rights of Appeal Information”
Game Official Assault
An individual accused of an alleged Game Official Assault will be suspended immediately from all soccer activity and will remain suspended pending a hearing by the DSA Discipline Panel acting as an Ontario Soccer Discipline Hearing Panel. The following individuals must attend the hearing in person: the accused; the person(s) submitting the report(s); and the Club Representative. Any suspension that is assessed following a Discipline Panel decision will include any period of suspension already served. If the accused is found guilty of Game Official Assault, the Club of the accused shall be assessed a “Discipline Hearing Administrative Fee” as per the DSA Scheduled of Fees, Fines, Bonds and Penalties in addition to the set fine charged to the accused. It is the responsibility of all Clubs to disseminate this discipline policy to their coaches and players.
Misconduct reports issued during the time period above, under Infractions Occurred, will be reviewed or hearing scheduled on the Scheduled Hearing Dates below.
Any suspensions because of the infractions will be posted under Discipline Information as per League on the Friday of that week. Suspensions will then take effect on the following Monday. Books and fees must be submitted to the District Office within 96 hours of published suspension.
SCHEDULED HEARING DATES 2021
| Date of Infraction | Hearing Dates |
| July 18 to July 31 | August 11 |
| August 1 to August 14 | August 25 |
| August 15 to August 28 | September 8 |
| August 29 to September 11 | September 22 |
| September 12 to September 25 | October 6 |
| September 26 to October 9 | October 20 |