Beginning in 1901, with the exception of 14 years during the war, the Ontario Cup has been Ontario's most prestigious award. The largest competition of its kind in Canada, the Ontario Cup is every Club's shared passion. No other sport boasts greater geographical representation in Ontario at more age levels and in both genders.
The Ontario Cup, the provincial soccer championships, has recently involved over 600 teams. The competition begins in May, and finishes with the Cup Finals in September to determine a championship team in each of the twenty two divisions:
Under 12 Boys, Under 13 Boys, Under 14 Boys, Under 15 Boys Tier 1, Under 15 Boys Tier 2
Under 16 Boys Tier 1, Under 16 Boys Tier 2, Under 17 Boys Tier 1, Under 17 Boys Tier 2,
Under 18 Boys, Under 21 Men, Men, Special Olympics
Under 12 Girls, Under 13 Girls, Under 14 Girls, Under 15 Girls, Under 16 Girls, Under 17 Girls,
Under 18 Girls, Under 21 Women, Women, Special Olympics
The Ontario Cup is open to any competitively registered team in Ontario. Entry Forms are available online in early March and the deadline for entering is the end of March.
In the Ontario Cup:
- Youth age divisions(Under 12 to Under 18), play in Tournament Rounds which lead to Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and the Cup Finals.
- Under 21 Men's and Under 21 Women's play a Single-Game Knock-out Format leading to the Semi-Finals and Cup Finals on one weekend in late July.
- Men's, Women's and Special Olympics' divisions play a Single-Game Knock-out Format leading to the Cup Finals in September.
National Championships take place in four age levels, Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 and Senior Open. The Ontario Cup winners in those age divisions advance to the National Championships which are usually played on Thanksgiving weekend in various provinces across Canada.
Organization
The organization of the Ontario Cup is illustrated in the organization chart below. This chart identifies the many individuals and organizations involved in managing the competition. As you can see, it is not a simple task.
Many people are involved and the system requires that everybody performs their responsibilities on time.
For example, if the representative of the Home Team does not report the score to the D.O.C.C. by Sunday evening, the D.O.C.C. is unable to report the results to the O.S.A. Competitions and Events Department which complicates the media releases and the scheduling of the next round. It only takes one person to clog up the system.
Ontario Cup Team Packages
We will no longer be mailing packages to each team as all of the necessary information can be found on the website.
For teamsheets, please visit your district office, or gather them from the Tournament Host at your Tournament Round. If you are in a single knock-out round, you must get your teamsheet from the District Association.
Communications
The communications system, as far as teams go, is simple. The representative of your team talks to your D.O.C.C. Team representatives do NOT talk to the O.S.A.
They do NOT talk to the representative of the opposing team. They do NOT talk to the D.O.C.C. of the opposing team. TEAM REPRESENTATIVES ONLY TALK TO THEIR OWN D.O.C.C.
D.O.C.C.'s obtain most of their information from the O.S.A. Competitions & Events Department. Sometimes, they will acquire some information from another D.O.C.C. Usually, D.O.C.C.'s consult each other for directions to the fields at which the games are being played. Other than that, all other information flows through the O.S.A. Provincial Office.
In many District Associations, the D.O.C.C. uses the District Office for communication purposes. This system is strongly encouraged. The D.O.C.C. can leave the results and/or schedules at the District Office and the teams may call it for the relevant information.
This communications system applies to the following functions:
1) Reporting or obtaining game results from previous round
2) Scheduling information (time and location of upcoming games)
3) Directions to the field
4) Funding information
5) Tournament information
6) Questions about the rules
7) Team withdrawals
There are two exceptions to the rule. For the following two functions ONLY, the teams must directly contact the O.S.A. Provincial Office:
8) Protests (must be called in to the OSA Provincial Office by 12:00 p.m., on the Tuesday following the game)
9) Requesting a Discipline Hearing (these must be called in to the O.S.A. Provincial Office by 3:00 p.m., on the Monday following the game)
The Ontario Cup results and schedules will also be available on the Ontario SoccerNet.
In addition to the regular communications, you are encouraged to submit your "written comments" to the O.S.A. Provincial Office. This includes any recommendations, constructive criticism, system evaluation, and reports of any deficiencies in the performance or misconduct of game officials, O.S.A. officials, team/club officials, or anyone involved in the Ontario Cup.
Scheduling
Procedures for Knock-out Rounds
1. The O.S.A. Provincial Office (i.e., Competitions and Events Department) sends a report by fax or e-mail to the District Association Office (i.e., D.O.C.C.). The report lists all of the home games for that District Association.
2. The D.O.C.C. schedules all of the games included in the report.
3. The D.O.C.C. faxes or e-mails (to the O.S.A. Provincial Office) the times and locations of all games being hosted in his/her District Association.
4. The O.S.A. Competitions Department enters all of the data in the Ontario Cup data base.
5. The O.S.A. Competitions Department sends a report by fax/e-mail to each District Association Office (i.e., D.O.C.C.). This report includes all of the games (i.e., home and away) for the teams in that District Association. For each team, the report provides the name of the opposing team, the time of the game, the date of the game, and the field at which the game will be played.
6. The D.O.C.C. calls each club/team and advises it about its upcoming game and provides all of the game details (time, date, location).
7. If the club/team requests information about directions to the field, the D.O.C.C. contacts the D.O.C.C. of the home team and acquires such information; and then advises his/her team.
8. The D.O.C.C. provides the schedule of the District Association's home games to the District Referee Coordinator for the appointment of game officials.
9. The D.O.C.C. provides his/her District Association Office with a copy of the District's home and away games (with complete details) for information purposes.
10. The D.O.C.C. provides the schedule of games to the District Association's Public Relations Coordinator for the purpose of advising the local news media.
11. The O.S.A. Competitions Department provides the schedule of all games in the province (with complete details) to the O.S.A. Special Projects Coordinator who faxes/e-mails the schedule to all news media throughout the province.
12. The O.S.A. Competitions Department will post the schedule of all games in O.S.A.’s web site on the Internet, the Ontario SoccerNet (www.soccer.on.ca).
13. The O.S.A. Competitions Department provides the schedule of all games in the province (with complete details) to the O.S.A. Manager of Referee Development in order for him to monitor the appointment of game officials.
Rules
1. The Home Team's D.O.C.C. must schedule the game by no later than ten days prior to the scheduled date of the game.
2. If the Home Team's D.O.C.C. is unable to provide a suitable venue by the required deadline, the Away Team will become the Home Team and its D.O.C.C. shall be responsible for providing a suitable venue within 72 hours.
3. In the event that a scheduled game cannot be completed on the designated date because of unplayable field conditions, it shall be rescheduled to be played within seven days. The Home Team's D.O.C.C. shall be responsible for providing a suitable venue within 72 hours, failing which the Away Team will become the Home Team and its D.O.C.C. shall be responsible for providing a suitable venue within 72 hours.
4. If a team has at least three players competing on a Provincial Team or a National Team on the same date as its scheduled Ontario Cup game, the game can be rescheduled if the team informs its D.O.C.C. about the schedule conflict at least ten days prior to the game. The D.O.C.C. must notify the O.S.A. Provincial Office within 24 hours after being notified by the team.
Game Results
Procedures
1. The Home Team must report the game results to its D.O.C.C. within four hours after the conclusion of the game.
Please note the following in reference to the
Competition Rules.
NOTE 1: Rule 15.7 stipulates that:
In the event a team, including team officials, contravenes the rules of the Competition as contained herein, the Ontario Cup Committee has the authority to levy fines against the offending team, to a maximum of $1,100.00 per game.
NOTE 2: The D.O.C.C.'s are being asked to report any team which violates Rule 11.1 d) (i.e., the Home Team must report the game results within four hours after game).
2. The D.O.C.C. must report the game results for all home games played in his/her District Association. The D.O.C.C. must e-mail, fax, telephone, or drop off the game results at the O.S.A. Provincial Office by no later than 10:00 a.m. on the Monday following the Ontario Cup game or tournament.
3. The O.S.A. Competitions Department enters all of the data in the Ontario Cup data base.
4. The O.S.A. Competitions Department produces a computer report which lists all of the game results.
5. The O.S.A. Competitions Department prepares a NEWS RELEASE containing the results of the past weekend's games.
6. On Monday afternoon, the O.S.A. Competitions Department faxes the NEWS RELEASE (with all game results) to approximately 100 news media agencies and a number of other O.S.A. contacts. The NEWS RELEASE is also posted on the Ontario SoccerNet, O.S.A.’s web site on the Internet, (www.soccer.on.ca).
7. By Tuesday, all draw charts will be updated and posted on the Ontario SoccerNet.
8. Beginning Tuesday, the teams and clubs can obtain the game results from their District Association Office or from their D.O.C.C. or from the Internet on the Ontario SoccerNet.
Publicity
Everyone has a role to play regarding publicity for the ONTARIO CUP.
The O.S.A. produces a news release prior to each round and also, reports the results after each round. This news release is posted on the internet (Ontario SoccerNet) and faxed to over 100 print media throughout the province.
If the scheduled games and the results aren't being printed in your local newspapers (both dailies and weeklies), ask the paper: "Why?". If it says that they aren't receiving such information from the O.S.A., acquire its fax number and send it to us; and we will ensure that it receives this information. If your newspaper is already receiving this information, ask them why they aren't printing it. The news releases is posted on the Internet for anyone to access.
In addition to our provincial efforts, District Associations promote the game locally. The D.O.C.C. or his/her District's P.R. person should be promoting the Ontario Cup games along with the other items being promoted. The O.S.A. is not well-positioned to reach the grassroots media; this is the responsibility of the District Associations.
Finally, each club should be doing its part. Promote your Club, its teams, soccer in general, and the Ontario Cup. If we all do our part, we can achieve greater publicity for the game (in general) and the Ontario Cup (in particular).
No Smoking Policy
Smoking is prohibited within the technical area during an Ontario Cup game. The technical area is the area around the team bench that extends 1 metre beyond each end of the team bench, and 1 metre behind the bench. The technical area also extends forward from the bench up to a distance of 1 metre from the touch line.
Teamsheets
The Ontario Cup has teamsheets specially designed for the competition. These teamsheets must be fully completed by each team and then handed to the referee at least 20 minutes before the scheduled kick-off time.
The Teamsheet consists of three copies, one white copy, one pink copy and one yellow copy. The pink copy is the Opposing Team Copy and the yellow copy is Your Team Copy. The white copy is the Referee Copy and it has a special section on the back of the page for the Referee's Report. The referee must complete this section before sending the teamsheet to the O.S.A. Provincial Office.
Only players and team officials who are registered with the O.S.A. and have provided their O.S.A. Registrant Number on the teamsheet may sit on the team's bench. All players and team officials must sign the teamsheet. If a player's name is on the teamsheet and that player has signed the teamsheet, that player is deemed to have played in the game.
The teamsheets and any misconduct forms from a game must be sent to the O.S.A. Provincial Office within twenty-four hours of the conclusion of the game, except for the Tournament Rounds, Semi-finals, and Finals, in which case they are submitted to the O.S.A. Representative within one hour after the game's conclusion.
Discipline
Discipline in the Ontario Cup is managed by the Ontario Cup Discipline Committee and will be administered by Robyn Gmeindl, O.S.A. Competitions and Events Coordinator. All questions pertaining to discipline should be referred to
Robyn Gmeindl at telephone: (905) 264-9390 x 230 or fax: (905) 264-9445 or e-mail: rgmeindl@soccer.on.ca
Regarding players, all cautions and dismissals are handled under the Discipline By Review (D.B.R.) System. All other misconduct, including misconduct by team officials is handled by the Discipline By Hearing (D.B.H.) System.
In the D.B.R. System, a player is still entitled to have a hearing if he/she so requests. Procedures for requesting such hearings are outlined in the Competition Rules.
"Suspensions For Specific Games" shall be applied for all dismissal and caution cases except in very serious cases. The game suspensions shall initially apply to the Ontario Cup competition but once a player/team official's team has been eliminated from the Ontario Cup, the suspensions shall be transferred to the team's league and the remaining number of games suspended shall be applied to that league.
Regarding the notification of suspensions under the D.B.R. System, it is the RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PLAYER/TEAM OFFICIAL'S CLUB to:
- check with its District Association and/or the team's League to find out what the suspension is
- have the player or coach's Registration Book updated by either the team’s District Association or League (only if the League is responsible for handling its own discipline).
THIS MUST BE DONE BY NO LATER THAN THE SECOND TUESDAY AFTER THE ONTARIO CUP GAME IN WHICH THE OFFENCE OCCURRED. Carefully read the Discipline Rules outlining the Club's responsibility as it is a serious offence to play a suspended player in a game from which he/she is suspended.
Ontario Cup Discipline Summary Form
This Form is to be completed by the game official immediately after the game. The copies should be distributed by the game official as noted below - immediately after completion, except for the Semi-Finals and Finals, where all three copies should be given to the OSA Representative.
This form is not a substitute for the usual game and discipline reports. These reports must still be completed within the time lines set out in the Ontario Cup rules. However, this Summary Form must be completed first and immediately distributed.
The Tournament Organizers, the OSA Representative or the Game Official (for single-game knock-out rounds) shall distribute the copies as follows:
- Pink copy is to be given to a team official of the home team.
- Yellow copy is to be given to a team official of the away team.
- White copy is to be submitted along with the usual game reports.
If team officials leave before collecting the team’s copy - or circumstances exist where it is not appropriate for team copies to be handed out - then the pink and/or yellow copies are to be sent in with the other game reports.
Information About Tournaments
You will want to know the following information about the tournament:
1) What medical facilities are provided?
2) Where is the nearest hospital?
3) Which special events are planned?
4) What sightseeing features are available?
If you want answers to the above questions or general information about the tournament, you can call: THE TOURNAMENT HOST ORGANIZATION
If you have any questions during the tournament, they should be directed to the: TOURNAMENT HOST CHAIR.
The TOURNAMENT HOST CHAIR is the O.S.A. Representative, and for most tournaments is the contact person for the Tournament Host Organization.
If you have questions about the competition rules, travel funding, or Ontario Cup procedures, you call: YOUR D.O.C.C.
DO NOT CALL THE O.S.A. PROVINCIAL OFFICE.
Tournament Schedules
A generic schedule is used at all Ontario Cup tournaments. The schedule applies to 3-team, 4-team, and 5-team tournaments. The schedule is prepared by the O.S.A. well in advance of the Ontario Cup Draw. The schedule is based on team numbers rather than the actual team names (i.e., Game #1: Team 1 at Team 2; Game #2: Team 3 at Team 4, etc.).
With regard to the location of each group, District Associations (on behalf of themselves and/or their Clubs) applied in January to host tournaments for specific age divisions. The location of each tournament group for each age division was selected by the O.S.A. Ontario Cup Committee in January. The locations of the tournaments were published in the ONTARIO CUP ENTRY FORM and sent to all Clubs in March.
At the Ontario Cup Draw, each team is drawn into a group and is drawn a team number. Consequently, your schedule, your group, your group number, and your tournament location is based entirely on "the luck of the draw".
The following are generic schedules for each type of tournament. The specific schedules for the Round Robin Tournaments are included in the Tournament Schedules section and maps to the fields can be found in the Directory of Field Maps.
The schedules will be posted online a few weeks after the tournament host workshop on May 2, 2009. Tournament hosts have 1 week following the workshop to complete their schedules and submit them to the OSA.
| Game # |
Game Day |
Time |
Field |
Home Team |
Score |
Score |
Away Team |
| 1 |
Saturday |
|
|
Team 1 |
|
|
Team 2 |
| 2 |
Saturday |
|
|
Team 3 |
|
|
Team 4 |
| 3 |
Saturday |
|
|
Team 5 |
|
|
Team 1 |
| 4 |
Saturday |
|
|
Team 2 |
|
|
Team 3 |
| 5 |
Saturday |
|
|
Team 4 |
|
|
Team 5 |
| 6 |
Sunday |
|
|
Team 1 |
|
|
Team 4 |
| 7 |
Sunday |
|
|
Team 5 |
|
|
Team 3 |
| 8 |
Sunday |
|
|
Team 4 |
|
|
Team 2 |
| 9 |
Sunday |
|
|
Team 3 |
|
|
Team 1 |
| 10 |
Sunday |
|
|
Team 2 |
|
|
Team 5 |
Tie-Breaking Procedures
As per Rule 18.0 of the "ONTARIO CUP COMPETITION RULES", in the event that two or more teams are tied for first place in a Group, the higher standing shall be awarded to:
1) the team winning the match(es) between the tied teams; failing which:
2) the team with the highest goal difference (determined by subtracting the "goals against" from the "goals for"); failing which:
3) the team with the most "goals for"; failing which:
4) the team which, in the "drawing of lots", draws the higher placing.
In the event that the teams are still tied after applying criteria 1), 2), and 3), the "drawing of lots" shall be handled as follows:
1) the name of each team will be placed on a smll piece of paper;
2) each team name will be placed in a bowl or similar object;
3) the first team to be drawn from the bowl shall be awarded the "higher group standing";
4) the next team to be drawn from the bowl shall be awarded the next highest placing;
5) if applicable, the remaining team shall be awarded the next highest placing.
The above procedures will be implemented immediately following the final game of the Tournament Round. The "drawing of lots" will be conducted by the game official of the final game.
PLEASE NOTE THAT EACH TEAM HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE A TEAM REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT AT THE "DRAWING OF LOTS", HOWEVER, IT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT. THE DRAW WILL STILL BE CONDUCTED EVEN IF A TEAM REPRESENTATIVE IS NOT PRESENT.
Payment of Referee Fees Procedure
1. Each team shall pay the required fees IN CASH (small bills) to the Tournament Host prior to the first game.
2. The referee and assistant referees shall be appointed by the District Referee Coordinator (D.R.C.) of the District Association in which the tournament is being played.
3. The Tournament Host shall pay the referee and assistant referees ONLY AFTER the teamsheets (for both teams) and ALL misconduct reports (for cautions and dismissals) have been submitted to the Tournament Host by the referee.
4. In the event that a player requests a "Discipline Hearing" (accompanied by the $50.00 Request For Hearing Fee), the referee is required to attend such hearing. Failure to attend the hearing shall result in withholding the referee fee.
IMPORTANT: THE TEAMS MUST REMIT THE REQUIRED REFEREE FEES TO THE TOURNAMENT HOST IN CASH.
Tournament Discipline
Read Rule 15.0 of the "ONTARIO CUP COMPETITION RULES" very carefully. All of the discipline rules and procedures are outlined in Rule 15.0.
Below are the highlights of Rule 15.0.
1) A player or a team official who is alleged to have assaulted a referee shall be immediately suspended until a Discipline Hearing can be convened by the O.S.A..
2) Any other misconduct by a team official shall be reported to the O.S.A. which will take the necessary action. Other than the case of 6) above, The Tournament Host Organizations will not take any disciplinary action against a team official.
3) The District Association (in which the tournament is being held) shall appoint the members of the "Tournament Discipline Committee" to administer discipline in accordance with the Discipline By Review System. If a hearing is requested by a player, the "Tournament Discipline Committee" shall serve as the Discipline Hearing Panel to hear the case.
4) A player has the right to request a Discipline Hearing. Such request must be in writing and be submitted within 30 minutes after the game's conclusion. A $50.00 "Request For Hearing Fee" must be included with the request. If requested, the hearing shall be held within 30 minutes after the receipt of the "Request For Hearing"; both the player and the referee must attend the hearing; and the player concerned may not participate in future competition until the decision of the Discipline Hearing Panel has been published.
5) All game suspensions levied by the Tournament Discipline Committee shall only apply to games in the tournament. Suspensions from subsequent Ontario Cup games (or League games) may only be levied by the Ontario Cup Discipline Committee.
6) The Tournament Host Organization shall report all dismissals, cautions and suspensions to the O.S.A. The O.S.A. may impose additional suspensions to the player.
7) All cautions received from the Tournament Host Organization shall be recorded into the O.S.A.’s Soccer Discipline System (SDS) database. The accumulation of cautions shall only apply to the Ontario Cup Competition.
The TOURNAMENT DISCIPLINE SUMMARY REPORT should be filled in by each team competing in the tournament. When completing this form, it is important to note that when indicating the number of games a person has been suspended for at the tournament, the game in which the player was dismissed should NOT be included.
Protests
A protest arising from any game in the tournament round shall be subject to the normal protest procedures, as per Rule 13.0 in the "ONTARIO CUP COMPETITION RULES".
Protests can NOT be lodged at the tournament. Protests will NOT be heard at the tournament.
The Protesting Club must inform The Ontario Soccer Association of the protest by telephone: (905) 264-9390 or by fax: (905) 264-9445 or by e-mail: ontariocup@soccer.on.ca by 12:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday following the tournament. Please note that the O.S.A. is not responsible for protests sent by fax or e-mail that are not received before 12:00 p.m. on the Tuesday.
The Protesting Club must:
1) send its letter of protest to The Ontario Soccer Association Provincial Office
a) by registered mail or registered courier service, bearing the postmark within two days of the conclusion of the game to which it relates (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays excepted),
b) by hand delivery,
c) by fax to (905) 264-9445 or
d) by e-mail to ontariocup@soccer.on.ca
(If hand delivery, fax or e-mail is used to submit protest, the protest must be received by the O.S.A. within two days of the conclusion of the game to which it relates (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays excepted))
2) include with its letter of protest, a protest fee of two hundred dollars (if letter of protest is faxed or e-mailed, the fee must be received within five response days after the receipt of the e-mail or fax)
3) in cases of disputed delivery date regarding protests submitted by hand delivery, fax or e-mail, it is the responsibility of the protesting Club to prove which date the protest was received at the O.S.A. Provincial Office.
It is the responsibility of the O.S.A. to advise the Opposing Team’s Club and any other relevant parties about the Protest and to provide them with a copy of the Protest.
Tournament Evaluation
We also require information from you.
In the Ontario Cup Team Package is an evaluation form and a postage-paid envelope addressed to the O.S.A. We need your comments about what you thought of the tournament and what things need to be improved.
The Ontario Cup is YOUR COMPETITION. Help us make it better for you by completing the evaluation form and mailing it back to the O.S.A. Provincial Office.
Tournament Host Report
Not only would an evaluation from the tournament participants be helpful in trying to improve the Ontario Cup, but an evaluation from the organization that hosted the tournament would also be very beneficial.
A Report form has been included in the Tournament Host Package which is sent to all Tournament Host Organizations. Tournament Hosts are asked to complete this form and return it to the O.S.A. Provincial Office following the tournament.
Late for Game Policy
A grace period of fifteen minutes will be given to a team that is late for the scheduled kickoff time of a game.
If a team is more than fifteen minutes late for any game in the tournament, it will be removed from the tournament.
In the event that a team is removed from the tournament, all games involving that team will be declared null and void.
Game Delays due to Inclement Weather
If there is inclement weather, the Tournament Host Organization has the authority to delay the kickoff time of one or more games.
The Tournament Host Organizations have been instructed to take whatever steps are necessary to complete the tournament during the scheduled weekend. This may mean that some Saturday games may be moved to Sunday if the games cannot be played on Saturday due to inclement weather. Also, it may be necessary to kickoff after 5:00 p.m. as a result of inclement weather. Rule 16.5 and Rule 16.6.4 c) of the Ontario Cup Competition Rules outline the procedures when games cannot be played on Saturday due to inclement weather.
If all the tournament games cannot be played on the Sunday, Rule 16.6.8 will go into effect.