FIELD CLOSURES
If you have not been advised that your field has closed, please proceed the field as it will be a game time decision by your Match Official.
We ask that you please limit your calls to the DRSA Office. As soon as we know of field closures the teams will be notified through E2E.
Do You Know if the Club You Are Registering With is a Member of DRSA or Ontario Soccer? Here's why it matters.
The DRSA/Ontario Soccer offers several benefits with respect to membership which includes coaching development, match official development, player development, Canada Soccer standards through club licensing, volunteer screening and organizational development. More specifically, membership provides access to the following:
- Ontario Soccer sanctioned competitions and events
- Ontario Soccer’s Player Pathway
- Provincial Xcel Program
- Ontario Player Development League (OPDL)
- Club Development and Support
- Government Relations, Advocacy and Marketing Support
- Coaching Development and Support
- Grassroots and Long-Term Player Development Programming and Resources
- Match Officials Development and Support
- Governance Support
- Ethics and Discipline Support
- Concussion Resources
Insurance
The DRSA, through its membership with Ontario Soccer, has secured liability and accident insurance through HUB International and coverage only applies to DRSA registered members/participants and is included in the registration fee paid by each registered member.
The General Liability policy is designed to protect against lawsuits from individuals alleging that the Club, League, District, Ontario Soccer and/or its registered members/participants have negligently caused “bodily injury” to a player or spectator. The policy also covers other types of lawsuits such as property damage, personal injury and non-owned automobile liability. The Accident Policy is designed to reimburse a registered member/participant who suffers a covered injury or death while participation in an Ontario Soccer sanctioned activity.
The General Liability and Accident Policy are only provided to registered members/participants, match officials, coaches, managers, officials, administrators and volunteers.
Please note, that non-registered members are not entitled to have access to Ontario Soccer registered match officials which may create a liability issue with respect to officiating soccer games.
FC Seaton
Please be advised that FC Seaton’s membership with DRSA has been terminated. As a result, the Club is no longer a sanctioned member of DRSA or Ontario Soccer and, as such, are no longer entitled to the benefits afforded by membership in DRSA and Ontario Soccer.
FC Ajax Soccer Academy
Please be advised that FC Ajax Soccer Academy is not a sanctioned member of DRSA or Ontario Soccer and, as such, are not entitled to the benefits afforded by membership in DRSA and Ontario Soccer.
DRSA Inclement Weather Policy
The safety of of players, team officials, and spectators is of paramount importance. All games are expected to be played rain or shine. However, below is a summary of the protocol that will be adhered to for games being played in DRSA run leagues/divisions.
Lightning - If the lightning is visible then Match Official will stop play and/or cancel the game. In the event that the Match Official does stop play, please proceed to your vehicles or a building and await further instruction. Under no circumstances should players, team officials or spectators remain on the field once a game has been halted/cancelled due to lightning.
Extreme Heat - All games proceed when the temperature is under 38C.
Air Quality - In the event of poor air quality, the DRSA will notify teams of any cancellations as soon as possible. If you have not heard from the DRSA, please proceed to the field as it will be a game time decision by your Match Official.
Heat Alert
Please be advised that the weather forecast for this week (June 17, 2024 - June 21, 2024) is calling for high temperatures along with a high humidex.
As such, DRSA wants to ensure the safety of all players, team officials and match officials by implementing the following:
1. Water breaks during the games will be mandatory this week. If you feel you need 2 or more water breaks, please do so, especially on turf fields.
2. Be very liberal on the substitution process. This means if a player needs to come off because of the heat or is not feeling well, please allow the substitution even though it may not be at the proper time according to the league substitution rule. You can use the injury rule to make a substitution.
3. If a player appears fatigued, injured, or heat exhausted, stop the game immediately. Have the player tended to by the team trainer. Please note that Match Officials are not medically trained. Do not try to guess what is wrong with a player. Please err on the side of caution and have medical/trainer personal check the player.
4. Match Officials please explain to the teams that you will do the above before the start of your game, so everyone understands what you are going to be doing during the game.
5. This directive comes from the DRSA and will be applied to games played in Durham Region at all levels. Please check Ontario Soccer Policies and Procedures and with your own District on the direction for any games played outside of Durham Region.
6. If any District games are cancelled, all team officials and match officials will be notified as soon as possible.
DRSA Statement Regarding Non-Members Operating Within Durham Region
In order to clear up any potential misunderstanding, please note that the following organizations are neither a member of DRSA nor, sanctioned by Ontario Soccer:
- Durham Region Soccer Centre
- Canada Dynamo (East Toronto Soccer)
- Triple Balance Soccer Academy
- Durham Region Sports League
- JPL Canada
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Michelle Loveless.
DRSA Will Participate in Ontario Soccer's Match Official Body Cam Pilot Project
DRSA Executive Director, Michelle Loveless spoke with Lauren Bird of CBC’s About That, regarding the recent rise in Match Official abuse and resulting drop in Match Officials across our District and the province. In an effort to continue to support and protect our Match Officials the DRSA is proud to have been chosen as one of the Districts to pilot the Match Official body cams.
ONTARIO SOCCER RAISING AWARENESS OF MATCH OFFICIAL ABUSE THROUGH MEDIA
This week, Ontario Soccer worked with various news stations to produce media stories to raise the awareness of the growing issue of Match Official abuse, led by the body camera pilot project we are launching this summer
The campaign, which is still ongoing, has successfully put the issue in the mainstream media spotlight, thanks to coverage at the local, provincial and national levels with print, radio and television segments. News outlets who covered the story include: the Toronto Star, CBC Ottawa, national CBC programs, CTV Toronto, national CTV programs, CP24 and much more.
A listing of the current coverage is available below:
- Toronto Star - Physical abuse, extreme verbal assaults: Ontario turns to body cameras to help save youth soccer referees - Kerry Gillespie
- CBC Ottawa Morning - Can body cameras deter referee abuse at youth soccer games? - Hallie Cotnam, Denise Fung
- CTV Toronto - News at Noon Ont. soccer officials to wear body cams for safety – Michelle Dube, Joe Olafson
- CTV Toronto - Ontario soccer referees to wear body cameras to combat increase in abuse - Allison Hurst
- CP24 - Ontario Soccer Officials to Wear Body Cams - Stacey Munro
- CBC Toronto - Here and Now - Farrah Merali, Melissa Galevski
- CTV National News - Bodycam Equipped Referees – Heather Wright
- 580 CFRA The Morning Rush - Clip at 51:40 - Bill Carrol, Katherine Colbert
- CBC Ontario Today - How bad is referee abuse in youth sport? – Amanda Pfeffer, Margot
- 580 CFRA - Ottawa Now (clip at 15:40) - Kristy Cameron, Dani-Elle Dube
- Ottawa Now (continued)
- CTV Montreal - Montreal soccer coach altercation sparks debate about equipping referees with body cameras - Stephane Giroux
To register please click on the link
Interested in earning some extra money this summer? DRSA is looking for Match Officials for this summer. If you are 12 years of age or older and are interested, please contact Michael Smith.
New Match Official Clinic Registration
Entry-level Match Official clinics are now open for registration. Match Officials are the backbone of the game of soccer because without them, games cannot take place.
DRSA Selected as a Community Development Grant Recipient
We are excited to share that the DRSA has been selected to receive a Community Development Grant from Canadian Tire Jumpstart and Sport Canada. This grant will go a long way towards helping us support our members and our community as we all continue to recover from the pandemic.
If you are a young person who needs support, you can reach out to Kids Help Phone’s professional counsellors by calling 1-800-668-6868 or visiting kidshelpphone.ca. Their service is free, anonymous, confidential, and available 24/7/365.
Si tu es un jeune et que tu as besoin d’aide, tu peux communiquer avec les intervenants professionnels de Jeunesse, J’écoute au 1-800-668-6868 ou en visitant Jeunessejecoute.ca. Le service est gratuit, anonyme et confidentiel et ce, 24/7/365.
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