WWSL Constitution, By-Laws, Rules and Regulations

Constitution | By-Laws | Rules and Regulations

By-Laws

A. Game Cancellations/Rescheduling

A.1 Games may only be cancelled by the Assigned Referee, Groundskeeper, League Convenor, President and/or governing municipality. Regardless of the weather conditions, Teams must come to the field prepared to play if they have not been notified of a cancellation on the WWSL phone line, web site, or otherwise.

B. Default Procedure

B.1 The default fee per game will be one hundred-fifty dollars ($150), to be applied against the Team Performance Bond. A depleted Team Performance Bond must be replenished in cash, money order, or certified cheque within 30 days. Default fines may be paid at monthly WWSL meetings or mailed to the League Treasurer. A Team receiving a victory by default will be given a credit towards their Performance Bond to be determined by the Treasurer prior to each season.

B.2 Any Team incurring a default for a game in rural Manitoba will be assessed a default fine of one hundred-fifty dollars ($150) to be applied against the Performance Bond.

B.3 A Team incurring two (2) defaults in a season may be moved down one division for the next season. A team with three (3) or more defaults may be removed from the League at the completion of the season. The Team may re-apply the following season providing any outstanding fees are paid and the Bond replenished. Re-admittance shall be determined by the Executive prior to the start of each season.

B.4 A Team incurring a default will be given three (3) goals against in the standings, and the team receiving the default victory will be awarded three (3) goals for and three points in the standings.

C. Payment of Fees

C.1 New Teams must pay a Performance Bond to be determined by the Treasurer at the Annual or Semi-Annual General Meetings. Any Team not paying their League and MSA affiliation fees according to WWSL payment structure shall default all games unless arrangements have been made with the Treasurer to cover the outstanding fees. All League fees must be paid to the League prior to the completion of the season or a late fee of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150.00) may be assessed. In addition, the entire Team Performance Bond must be replenished by the completion of the season. A Team with a depleted Performance Bond will not be permitted to register for the following season.

D. Outstanding Fees

D.1 Teams and/or individuals with outstanding fees shall not be permitted to register until all fees are paid to the WWSL.

E. Player Registration

E.1 Player Eligibility shall be determined by the MSA and the WWSL.

F. Coach Registration

F.1 All teams must register at least one Coach in accordance with MSA Regulations, and all Teams are strongly encouraged to register a Manager. The Coach must have a minimum level of a Senior Level Community Club coaching certificate from the Manitoba Soccer Association or equivalent. The Coach must also complete the Sport Manitoba Respect In Sport certification. Teams will be afforded a one year grace period from the time of entry into the League to register one certified coach.

G. Team Registration

G.1 All Teams must fill out a WWSL Registration Form, WWSL Roster Form, and MSA Team Roster Form, and submit it to the League when League Fees are due.

H. Name Changes

H.1 All Teams wishing to change their team name must give the League notice to register the name change. Notice must be given to the League by April 15th for the outdoor season, and by September 15th for the indoor season.

H.2 All Teams wishing to change their Team Name must pay an administration charge of fifty dollars ($50.00) to officially change the name.

I. Promotion and Relegation

I.1 The WWSL will comprise of a Divisional Structure with the Divisions named Premier (P), First (D1), Second (D2), Third (D3), continuing as required. There will be separate Masters Divisions named Masters Division 1 (M1), Masters Division 2 (M2), continuing as required.

I.2 The Divisions may be comprised of a minimum of eight (8) teams, to a maximum of twelve (12) teams.

I.3 Entry of new teams will be determined by the Executive. New Teams admitted to the WWSL must enter through the lowest division. The Executive reserves the right to refuse any team entry into the League. Teams not admitted to the WWSL will be placed on a waiting list.

I.4 The Executive has the power to institute the "Elevated Entrance" clause for entry directly into the Second Division (D2) for two (2) new Teams per season. In order to qualify for the exception, new Teams must meet one of the following set of criteria:

(1) New team must be comprised of 50% plus one (1) of its players who have played with a Premier Youth Club in the last ten (10) years.

(2) New team must be comprised of 50% plus one (1) of its players who have a history of Provincial, Western Canada Games or Canada Games soccer participation.

(3) Exceptional circumstances to be assessed by the Executive: Teams not meeting the above criteria may apply to the League for special consideration citing their past soccer history and accomplishments.

I.5 Promotion and Relegation will be determined by the Executive by the March League meeting for the Outdoor Season, and by the September Executive meeting for the Indoor Season. A member of the Executive acting as an Officer/Director of a Team facing possible promotion or relegation will be removed from the voting process to determine that club’s position.

I.6 The first place team in each division will face a mandatory promotion to the next highest division. Further promotion or relegation may be determined at the discretion of the Executive. Promotion from the Masters Division will be on request or on determination of the Executive.

J. WWSL Manitoba Soccer Association Provincial Championship Qualifying

J.1 The single elimination MSA Provincial Championship Qualifying Tournament will be mandatory for the Premier Division. All other divisions and MSA affiliated senior teams in the Province of Manitoba are not required to enter, but may opt-in to the tournament. A maximum of sixteen spots comprising of Premier teams and other teams opting-in will be available for the qualifying tournament.

If teams are needed to complete the 16 team tournament draw, the top seeded Teams in the First Division will be added to fill out the tournament. The deadline for opting in will be May 31st. The tournament teams will be seeded.

J.2 For Teams in Division One and lower not participating in the MSA qualifying tournament, a separate league tournament will be held if sufficient interest exists (minimum of four Teams). Teams will be asked at the April WWSL Monthly Meeting if a separate league tournament is of interest, and if a tournament is scheduled, the teams must enter by the May WWSL Monthly Meeting. The league tournament format will be determined by the number of teams participating and it will require an additional entry fee. The MSA Sanctioned tournament will be open to Division 1 or lower WWSL teams or other MSA affiliated teams in Division One or lower or the equivalent.

J.3 If more than 16 teams wish to play in the Qualifying Tournament, the remaining spots will be filled by a single elimination playoff series of the teams wishing to enter the tournament.

J.4 Teams with home fields who draw any home games in the qualifying tournament will play their games at their home field if available and schedule permitting.

J.5 The finalists of the WWSL MSA Qualifying Tournament will be presented to the MSA to compete within the Manitoba Soccer Association Provincial Championships. The winner will represent Manitoba at the National Club Championships. Each Sport Manitoba Region is eligible to put forward one representative to compete in the Provincial Championships. If none of the regions outside of Winnipeg put forward a representative, then the WWSL shall provide all the teams for the Provincial Championship tournament.

J.6 Youth players or club call ups are not permitted for Provincial Championship Qualifying games.

K. Tampering

In the Winnipeg Women’s Soccer League, tampering refers to the practice of a team negotiating/soliciting for the services of a player registered to another team without the team’s knowledge and permission.

No coach and/or official from within a team or club may communicate with anyone in regard to obtaining a specific registered player from another team or club.

Contact with any player(s) should not occur during the progress of a season when the player’s team is still actively engaged in their schedule of play. Communication between players and any team official can occur between playing seasons i.e. at the end of one playing season and before the start of the next playing season.

PLAYER’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
• During a playing season, you are not permitted to contact another team in the WWSL about playing for them without a release from your current team.
• If you are contacted in any way (verbally, in writing or other form of communication) by any other team in the WWSL about playing for them you must report the incidence immediately to your team official or team representative. Should it not be reported and determined that tampering took place and was not reported then the WWSL Discipline Committee will rule and decide on the penalty.

CURRENT TEAM’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Should report any contraventions of the Tampering Policy to the WWSL Disciplinarian.

NEW TEAM’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
• If contacted by a registered player requesting a transfer to your team, you must advise the player that she is in violation of player transfer rules. As the new team that she would like to play for, you must inform her that you are not permitted to talk to her until she has obtained her release from her current team.
• The new team is required to inform the player’s current team that they have been contacted.
• Communication between team and player can be initiated between the end of one playing season and the start of the next playing season or with the written permission of the player’s current team.

L. Transfer of Ownership

L.1 Any Team wishing to Transfer Ownership of an existing Team within the WWSL must apply to the League Executive for approval. Notification by the releasing Team must be in writing to the WWSL fifteen days prior to completion of the transaction. A non-refundable fee of $1000 must accompany the Transfer of Ownership Application Form. Approval of the Transfer will be at the discretion of the Executive.

M. Amendments to By-Laws

M.1 Any proposed Amendments to the By-Laws must be presented at a WWSL monthly meeting. It will be voted on 30 days after/or at the next meeting. There must be a 2/3 majority of Members present to pass an Amendment to the By-laws.