Attention Coaches and Managers:

This year as we get ready to get back out onto the field, we like many other leagues have found that finding referees this year to be a challenge. It is estimated that we are down 30% for returning referees. The MWSL has tried for several years to keep the referee fees low. We are competing with other adult leagues for the same referees, and we have had to make the difficult decision to raise our fees to be in line with other leagues to attract the same caliber of referees we have had in the past.

We are aware that this is very late notice to our teams and apologize for this but with the referee shortage we are unable to retain referees when other leagues are offering $80 or $90 dollars a game compared to our $70.

Referee fees in Divisions 1-4, Masters and Over 40’s will be $40 per team per game this season.

Referee fees for Premier Selects A&B will stay at $40 for the center ref and $40 for the linesman per team per game so total $80 per team per game.  Please be aware that due to the shortage you may not have linesman for every game. We will do our best, but they may not be available.

The MWSL is always looking for referees, please share our contact information with your friends and family if you know of anyone who may not play soccer anymore but still wants to be involved in the game. The MWSL can provide assistance on how to go about becoming a referee.

Thank you for your understanding and again apologies for the late timing with this increase.

Jo-Dee Stanley

MWSL League Manager

 

Attention Coaches and Managers:

Please read all the following information and important reminders for this years Fall/winter season!!!!

 

The Schedule is Posted, Except for the Cup Schedule, these dates will have been left blank on your schedule until the cup schedule is out. Please advise your players that these are not bye weekends.

Integrated Cup Schedule - This is an outline of the season and gives you the dates for the cup games and make-up weekends. This schedule is the same format (except for Premier) as past years integrated cup schedule and has been posted on the website under league docs.  Please have a look at the integrated cup schedule! Even if you think you got knocked out of cup play after the round robin portion that does not mean that you have completed all your games. Divisions 1-4 have consolation cups.

Group Play Game 1 – November 26th weekend

Group Play Game 2 – January 14th weekend

Group Play Game 3 – January 21st weekend

Check out the Quarter final and Semi Final dates on the integrated cup schedule.

FYI – Cup Finals this year are Schedules for Sunday March 27th.

Family Day: 

We have in the past offered teams (except for Premier) the option of playing or not on the Family Day weekend.  If you are unable to play that weekend and cannot field a team for the game, you must let us know by Dec 15th and we will reschedule the game.  Should the weather give us problems and we need to get cup games played we may have to use it as our only other option to get these games played before the cup final.

Referee Fees

            Divisions 1-5 and Classics $40.00 Per team per game

Premier and Selects Divisions $40 per team per game for the centre referee and $40 Per team to the Lines person (each team pays one lines person).

Premier, Selects A & B - This year we are quite short on referee’s so you may not have AR’s for every game. We will do our best, but they may not be available.

 

Field Etiquette – We ask all teams to be patient and wait for the teams on the field before your field booking to leave the field before entering. Participants should not arrive sooner than 20 minutes before the scheduled start time and there should be sufficient space for physical distancing while lining up or waiting to begin.  At the end of your field booking participants must immediately leave the facility.

NO Spitting or Nose-clearing on the field. No coughing directed at another individual.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING - The activity must always comply with the distancing measures and recommendations, along with any gathering restrictions issued by the BC health authorities, including the arrival and departure of players (except for family members or persons residing in the same household).

Recommended that teams refrain from inviting spectators to the games and focus on supporting the “event” participants (those who are essential to the activity).

NO HAND SHAKING AT THE END OF THE GAME

EQUIPMENT - Exercise caution with any and all equipment that is being used. - Ask players to avoid touching equipment with their hands. Clean equipment after use. Do not share equipment or goalie gloves.

Sidelines - Team officials are responsible to manage their sideline, not the referee. As it relates, referees are to be lenient with team officials and players who may be standing outside the standard or identified technical area. Per normal requirements, team officials are to ensure they and their players are conducting themselves in a responsible manner.

Cards:

Your ID Card will only be available for download if the card has been paid for, players must be paid for before they are eligible to play.  ID Card Downloads must be done for each game and the first card to come up in the download will match your team list with the date and opponent for the game.

Discipline will appear on the download of cards and rosters. Please be aware that any discipline from the 2019-20 season still outstanding will be carried over to this season.

 

Coach ID

Coaches and team contacts must have picture ID, if you haven’t already you need to download coach and team contact photos, complete the CRC process, and acknowledge the Coaches Code of Conduct.  These IDs would then be included in your ID card download for games.  Coaches/Team contacts are not to be on the field without being listed on the MWSL site as a team contact and have proper MWSL ID.

Instructions below on adding team contacts and photos:

To add team contacts, you will need to log in with your coach login on the website under admin

·         click on this year’s team, this will take you to your team page

·         click on the pencil in the box marked Team (top left of your team page) this will take you to the team maintenance page

·         scroll down to the team contacts and you will see a drop-down arrow in the spot for a team contact name, search through till you find the team contact. click on them and then hit post at the top of the page

·         If you don’t find them, you will have to click on the add button beside the team contact space you want them in.

·         fill in their contact info and hit post at the top of the page

·         go back to your team maintenance page and you will now find them in the drop-down menu, select them and hit post at the top of the page.

To add a photo for coaches and team contacts you will need to log in with your coach login on the website under admin

·         click on this year’s team, this will take you to your team page

·         click on the pencil in the box marked Team (top left of your team page) this will take you to the team maintenance page

·         scroll down to the team contacts and you will see an EDIT hyperlink beside the team contact name, click on it

·         Upload photo and hit post at the bottom of the page

 

Team Lists:

Team lists provided to the referee before the game time along with ID cards must be the proper team list/roster printed from the website found on your team page.  This should not come as a surprise to any teams as this has been in effect for numerous seasons and has been discussed at the AGM's.  The reason we require the team list from the website as opposed to a hand-written team list is that the registered player’s names will automatically show up. Discipline will also show up on the Team list and ID cards. This gives us another way to confirm proper registered players and detect any ineligible players.  Not using the proper team list/rosters will incur fines.

Inter-club permits:

The inter club permit is an online form and the ID cards will be moved over to the team you are being called up to once the form is completed.  Please see the updated rules for the ICP’s.

Team Affiliation:

This is a new rule that is similar to Inter club permits but was added to help out stand alone teams, club teams can still use it as well.  Please see the rules that apply to the team affiliation on the website under Rules.  The team affiliation form can be found on the website under league docs. Any questions about this please send me an email.

Rules and Regulations:

It is every team’s responsibility to read the Rules and Regulations and know your home game day responsibilities.  Not knowing is not an excuse to be exempt from them.  The referee’s report does ask if the teams have complied with the rules and team requirements so even if they say it is fine for the game to continue with i.e. cones instead of proper flags they still report the lack of them and the team may be fined.

The home team is responsible for field preparation (lining, etc.) and providing four (4) regulation corner flags & one goal net. The visiting team is responsible for bringing their own net.

Teams that regularly play their home matches on artificial turf must provide the proper turf corner flags. IF YOU ARE TRAVELING TO A VANCOUVER TURF FIELD BRING YOUR NET THEY DO NOT HAVE NETS SET UP.

Home teams will choose a side to set up their benches and run lines. The Visiting team will then set up on the opposite side of the field and run lines on that side. In the event the field has both benches on the same side, both teams may use these benches but will be responsible to run the flag on the opposite side of the field for one half.

In the event of any match site, the home team as determined by the scheduler is responsible for all the regular home team duties1.2.4.1. Lack of any of the above is to be noted in the match report and the team will be fined for each offence per the Schedule of Fines

Request to Reschedule and Game Defaults:

We realize that we are still in a pandemic and do not want teams and players going out to games when feeling sick. Should your team need to default a game due to illness (Covid) amongst the players the league will work with each scenario separately with the teams involved regarding the default fines. There are still field fees and referee fees to cover should your team default, but we do not want anybody going to games if they are feeling any symptoms.

Please make yourself aware of the Request to Reschedule and Game default rules / fines, this can be found under the About Us Tab then click on Rules and Regulations.  Not having enough players for a game is not considered a valid reason to request a game reschedule.  Coaches not being able to make the game is not considered a valid reason to request a game reschedule.

Teams need to be prepared to play all scheduled matches.  Unfortunately, the Halloween falls on a Sunday this year. The league is open to moving games to another game time that same weekend if the teams can provide a field. Vancouver teams that get their fields from the MWSL are not included in this because we unable to return the fields that you have already been booked on that weekend.

There are no reschedules on November 11^th weekend, this has been discussed at the AGM and is a game weekend and teams are expected to play this weekend.

Team Responsibilities:

Teams must be at the field and prepared to play before the kick of time. This means you must have Rosters and Cards checked by the referee before the kickoff time

Absolutely no Jewelry is permitted on the field

Home teams must have completed their home field responsibilities

Any player or Coach ejected from the game must leave the park

You should have copies of your field permits on hand for every game. (if the MWSL gets the fields for you they are located on your team page along with bathroom and light codes

 

Coach Etiquette:

Please remember that Coaches must show the appropriate behavior and language on the field.  They should not be getting involved in discussions with opposing players from the bench and should not at any time yell derogatory remarks at the opposing team, the referee, or their own players. 

Every team, club, district, league, or affiliated association is responsible to the Association for the actions of its players, officials and spectators and is required to take all precautions necessary to prevent spectators threatening or assaulting game officials and/or players before, during or at the conclusion of any sanctioned game.

Verbal abuse and insulting behavior of game officials by any person or organization is a breach of the BC Soccer Discipline Rules and subject to disciplinary action by a district or league-in membership or inter-district Discipline Committee.

Persistent disputing of games official’s decisions, persistent criticism including personally insulting remarks, threatening behavior, violent conduct or attempted violent conduct shall be investigated by the governing body in jurisdiction.

 

All participants in soccer have a responsibility to:

1) Comply, at all times, with Canada Soccer’s and BC Soccer’s By-laws, policies, procedures, directives, and Rules and Regulations, as adopted and amended from time to time.

2) Work in a spirit of partnership to collaborate with all the stakeholders in soccer to align efforts to achieve our shared objectives as may be communicated from time to time in the Strategic plans of our parent bodies and of BC Soccer.

3) Resolve conflicts in a professional and civil manner on issues that may be in dispute.

4) Maintain and enhance the dignity and self-esteem of BC Soccer Members and other individuals by:

a) Demonstrating respect to individuals regardless of body type, physical characteristics, athletic ability, age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, sex, and sexual orientation.

b) Complying with the By-laws, Rules and Regulations, and policies and decisions of soccer and sport governing bodies.

c) Directing comments or criticism appropriately and avoiding public criticism of participants in soccer and sport.

d) Consistently demonstrating the spirit of fair play, sport leadership, and ethical conduct.

e) Consistently treating individuals fairly and reasonably; and

f) Ensure adherence to the Laws of the Game.

g) Demonstrate respect for the principle of fair play, which include: • Respect for both the letter and spirit of the rules; • Respect for referees and their decisions; • Respect for opponents, including modesty in victory and composure in defeat; • Facilitation of access to sport; and • Maintenance of self-control at all times.

h) Refrain from the use of power or authority in an attempt to coerce another person to engage in inappropriate activities.

i) Promote the sport in the most constructive and positive manner possible.

j) Respect the property of others and not willfully cause damage; and

k) Adhere to all federal, provincial, municipal and host country laws

Thank you,

Jo-Dee Stanley

MWSL League Manager

 

Attention 2020 Registered Players

 

In advance of the opening of the Winter 2021-22 season, the League wishes to address some housekeeping regarding the cancelled mini season from last winter. At the time of registration in 2020-21, we advised all members in an email correspondence on September 18, 2020:

"No Refunds, once you have confirmed your team registration for the fall or winter season and players have registered there are costs involved for the League to move forward with the season that are not refundable to us which then as a non-profit becomes non-refundable to the members."

On June 28th, 2021, BC Soccer made an announcement that they would be issuing a partial refund of $21/per player registered in 2020 out of the total BC Soccer $34 fee originally paid from individual's $50 league player registration fee. The League is happy to announce that we have now received the refund from BC Soccer and will be working on the backend to arrange for credits to each player who registered in winter 2020 which can be applied to future registrations (Spring or Winter).

Due to the timing of the refund and the current player registration, the League does not have the capacity to apply the credits immediately. We will be sending an update with information on where the players will be able to see the credit and how it can be used.

If a player will not be returning to play with the League, they can submit a request with address information to have a cheque issued to refund the amount. The League cannot offer this option to all players due to the high administrative costs of issuing such a large volume of cheques and the associated postage.

We thank all of you who registered last winter and all who have registered this winter as we navigate playing the beautiful game through some very challenging times. We are all looking forward to getting out on the field in a healthy, safe, and fun way and thank you for contributing to that process.

Thank you

MWSL

 

Player Registration for Fall 2021/22

 

Opens August 9, 2021

 

 

Players may click on the Registration link and register using the key code provided at the end of this email. Also included in this email is your login and password for your ADMIN LOGIN access.

 

•The cost for registering a player is $50.00. Online credit card payment and e-transfer payment is available. 

 

 

 ID Cards –The ID cards are to be downloaded from your team page onto your phone or tablet for viewing by the referee at the field. The download will include all paid player ID’s along with the coach ID’s. You will be able to download the ID cards once the schedule is complete and the player has paid the registration fee. If you don’t see the player on your roster and they say they have registered they probably haven’t paid yet or did not hit finished on their registration and will need to log back in and complete it by hitting finished and paying for the registration before they will be eligible to play.

 

To download the ID cards, you will need to log in with your coach/manager login,

·            click on team pages,

·            go to the schedule on your team page and on the far right beside the Match Reports (MR) and Rosters you will see Cards.

·            Click on cards to download.

·            Click on Roster to download and print.  Roster will only be viewable 6 days before a game. Both ID Cards and Rosters have discipline info on them so will need to be current each week with the game day info on them.

 

The first card that will come up in the download will include the scheduled game details.  The cards will need to be downloaded for each game.  Should any of your players receive a Red Card the ID card will appear still but will have Red Card stamped across it until the game suspensions are completed.

 

·            Two printed copies of the MWSL Roster/Team lists are still required for the referee when requested prior to the match commencing along with the ID card download. TEAMS MUST KEEP THE COPY OF THE ROSTER THEY GET FROM THE OTHER TEAM JUST IN CASE WE ARE ASKED FOR THEM

 

Divisions – New teams to the league have been placed in the Divisions we had room in, and I am still working on some adjustments in some of the divisions so there may still be some changes.

 

Managers,

I suggest you copy and paste the following instructions to send to your players:

 

Player Registration Player registration for Fall/Winter soccer is open. Use your Fall login and Password and click Player registration at www.mwsl.com. If you can't remember your password use the forgot password function on the player registration page. Once you have logged in, fill out the online form. You must first enter in the key code. (Please provide your players the key code included) If you are new to the league or do not have a photo uploaded on your profile then add an ID photo when the form prompts you.

 

The photo is for your ID card so head shots ONLY are required with no sunglasses or hats or group photos. If you played last year the uploaded photo will carry over to this year’s card. Change the photo if you are wearing a hat or sunglasses, or the photo is too small and not appropriate for an ID card. No group photos. Click finished when you have completed the form.

 

Looking forward to the beginning of a new season! Please be sure to check our website regularly for updates.

 

 

Thank you,

Jo-Dee Stanley

MWSL League Manager

 

 

Fall 2021/22 Team Registration

 

In anticipation of the Return to Sport Restart and the scheduled BC re-opening to phase 4 by September the MWSL will be opening Team Registration on Wednesday, July 1, 2021, and closing on July 31, 2021. Player Registration will then open in August (date TBD).

We are asking all teams to register in the division they were in the past season, should you have any issues with the placement of your team please make comments in the notes section of your registration (do not send a separate email). We will deal with each of those requests individually but cannot guarantee any change or move to another division.  Please keep in mind that everyone has been away from soccer so we will all be in the same boat as we get back out on the field and get a touch on the ball again.

The League is open to putting together an over 40’s division should your team be interested in that division please indicate your interest in the notes section of your team registration. If we have enough teams, we will put on an over 40’s division.

Fall Team Fees

·         $375 Returning team from fall 2019/20 and 2020/2021 season.

·         $375 New Team + Performance Bond.

·         $100 Performance Bond (All new teams joining the League must pay a refundable bond).

·         $50 player registration if player (ID cards will be downloaded from the website).

To register go to www.mwsl.com and click on register and fill out the 2021/22 winter team registration online form.  Please make sure all your contact info is correct and that you have included 3 team contacts in your entry form.

Payment Options:

·         E-transfer your payment to payments@mwsl.com (Question: What is the best sport in the world? Answer: Soccer).

o   If you choose the e-transfer option, please reply to this email identifying the date the transfer was completed. Include team name and division.

·         Credit Card (Visa & Mastercard) online

Your Team Registration will be complete when payment is made and all outstanding fees and fines from the previous year have been paid.

Promotion and Relegation:

·         Promotion and relegation goes by 2019/20’s standings so if your team was first or last in their group be prepared to be move. Teams that have been promoted or relegated have been emailed.

·         When registering your team please select the division that you were in last season and the system will move you into the correct division.

Rules and Regulations:

Please read the operating rules entirely including rescheduling and game default rules. The operating rules can be found under rules section on the website.

Drop Day Deadline:

Any team that withdraws its registration after August 1st will forfeit both its team registration fee and its performance bond to the league. Cut-off for submission to withdraw will be 11:59 pm, last day to withdraw.  No exceptions will be made for submissions after this cut-off.  Teams submitting to withdraw prior to the last day to cut-off will receive a full refund of both team fee and performance bond.

Late Team Registration:

Teams must be registered by Wednesday, July 31st and payment must be received in the League office by August 2nd.  If teams are not registered by July 31st a $100 late fee will be charged to any new or returning team who wish to register after that date.

Scheduling:

·        Games are mainly scheduled Friday to Sunday. New and existing teams must obtain a field on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. (All games must end by 6pm on Saturdays)

·         There are no games on Thanksgiving weekend.

·        Dec 15th is the last day for teams to notify Leslie at scheduler_league@mwsl.com that you cannot field a team for the February Family Day weekend.

·         Games will be scheduled on the November 11th weekend. Notify your players of this so you are not short players that weekend.

·         If your team has a special request for a field or home game day you must put that on your team registration in order to have your request considered. The League will do our best to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee anything. Please do not email requests in after you register, it must be on your registration.  

Risk Management

Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers, and any Team Staff Requirements:

Criminal Record Checks (CRC) are required for all Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers, and any team staff participating in the MWSL. The results of the CRC are to be reported to the MWSL by the BC Ministry of Justice Criminal Record Check Review Program, an organization approved by both the MWSL and BC Soccer.  Further info can be found on the website under rules.

Requirements:

Ø  Criminal Record Check

Ø  Current (within the last year) staff photo on file

Ø  Acknowledgement of the Coaches Code of Conduct

 

All team staff will be required to login into their profile and submit all three of these requirements. Staff ID will not appear in the summary of ID cards until this is completed and staff will not be permitted on the field.

Please make sure all your contact information is correct and that you have included up to three team contacts in your entry form. Be sure to advise team contacts of the new CRC requirements prior to submitting the entry form to the League.

It is the responsibility of every volunteer who wishes to perform the duties of coach, assistant coach, or team manager to ensure that the risk management policy be completed prior to starting these duties. Criminal Record Checks are considered valid for 3 years and volunteers must ensure they have a valid CRC on file with our Risk Management Coordinator at the start of each season.

 

The following providers and checks are acceptable as a minimum:

• RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) – Criminal Record Check

• Local municipal police department – Criminal Record Check

• Criminal Records Review Program – Criminal Record Check (“working with adults” must be selected)

• Sterling Back check’s Enhanced Police Information Check (EPIC)

 

Dates to remember:

 

·         Fall season scheduled to start on Friday Sept. 10th, 2021. *All teams will be expected to field a team by this date*

 

·         Individual player registrations will begin in August; I will send an email when it is open that will include your team key code and instructions.

 

·         Dec 15th is the last day for teams to notify Leslie the scheduler that you can’t field a team for the February Family Day weekend.

 

·         November 11th weekend there will be games scheduled. Notify your players of this so you are not short players that weekend.

             

Once all teams have registered the League will review the teams that have registered, and the groups will be made.  The groups and schedule will be posted online when it is completed, and we have confirmed that we can get back to playing.

Thank you,

Jo-Dee Stanley

MWSL League Manager