• Section 1 – Playing Season

• a) The OSFL playing season will run from May to Mid August

• b) Game days are Saturday or Sunday, Friday nights are mandatory provided travel time is an hour or less
• c) The playing season shall include all games played, including preliminary/development games

 

Section 2 – Playing Rules

• a) All OSFL conference and playoff games shall by played in accordance with the Canadian Amateur Football Rule Book (the White Book)
• b) OSFL will play three (3) down Canadian Football with four 12 minute quarters at U18 and U16
• c) OSFL will play four (4) down Canadian Football with four 12 minute quarters at U14, U12 and U10
• d) Each team will have two (2) time outs per half

 

Section 3 – Game Balls

• a) The OSFL will have 2 official game balls for U18 and U16 – the Wilson 2001 or the Big Game ball
• b) TDY and TDJ – youth size footballs for U14, U12 and U10
• c) Home team will provide a leather football, either new or in new condition for
      each game – if mutually agreed upon visiting teams can provide their own football

 

Section 4 – Roster

• a) There is no maximum roster size for game day
• b) Minimum roster for U18 and U16 is 25 players dressed for game day
• c) Minimum roster size for U14 is 22 dressed for game day
• d) Minimum roster size for U12 is 16 dressed for game day
• e) Minimum roster size for U10 is 12 dressed for game day
• f) Roster are set as of the third game of the season. After that call up rules apply
• g) Player numbers will assigned in accordance with the rules set out in the White Book
• h) Once a player is rostered to an age division they may only play for that division
• i) No player will be able to play down a division
• j) A player may be registered to play up a division provided:
         – They are in their last year of eligibility for their own division
         – All parties agree – parents, coach and centres board
         – A doctor’s note will be provided if requested to ensure it is safe for that player to play at the older age group

Section 5 – Registration

• a) For definition. Registration with a centre means: a player is registered to play in the OSFL spring/summer season.
• b) OSFL registration does not include any “PERFORMANCE” camps centres are hosting. Those registration are solely for the purpose of the centre hosting the camps and do not apply to the OSFL playing season
• c) At the conclusion of the OSFL playing season all players will be deemed released from their centre
• d) No centre shall open registration prior to January 1 of the playing year
• e) Non Canadian residents shall not be eligible to participate in the OSFL

 

Section 6 – Age Divisions

• a) U18 – birth years 05/06 – for the 2004 age group please refer to the 2004 Guidelines
• b) U16 – birth year 07/08
• c) U14 – birth years 09/10
• d) U12 – birth years 11/12
• e) U10 – birth years 13/14
• f) Players ages are determined as of midnight if December 31 of the playing year

 

Section 7 – Call Ups

• a) A player may be called up from the lower age team
• b) A centre is allowed three call ups per week
• c) Players can only play one game per week
• d) On third call up players will be considered rosterd for the older age team
• e) Notice must be provided to the OSFL Registrar
• f) Player must be identified on the game sheet as a called up player

Section 8 – Player Releases

• a) Provided a player does not have any outstanding fees/debt owed to a centre or has unreturned equipment, evidence/documentation of such shall be provided by the centre, said player shall be granted an immediate release up to the first game (1st) of the playing season.
• b) No player shall be granted a release after the first game (1st) of the season either prelim or regular unless a centre folds its program prior to the third week (3rd).
• c) After the completion of the game (3rd) of the playing season rosters will be considered set.
• d) A release is not required for any player wishing to play for another centre if that player has been cut/removed from their original teams roster
• e) A release is not required should a centre fold a division
• f) No player may practice or play with another team until a release has been granted

 

Section 9 – Tampering

• a) As of January 1 of a playing year any coach, coaching staff, manager or member of an organization must ask any potential player they are interested in signing if they are already registered with another centre
• b) Officially OSFL registered players shall not be approached by any other centre, they shall be considered signed until a release is granted.
  c) Any centre that approaches players shall be deemed to be found tampering and shall be subjected to a four (4) step progressive discipline as laid          out by the OSFL Chair
  d) Step 1: Written warning to the individual approaching a player, a copy of which will be provided to the President of the centre involved
  e) Step 2: Suspension of the individual approaching a player for a minimum of 1 game, if the severity of the infraction warrants further investigation from the OSFL Chair, a suspension of up to a full year may be applied to that individual. This will be determined on a case by case basis

  f) Step 3: 1 game suspension of the entire centre approaching a player at all age levels
  g) Step4: 3 game suspension of the entire centre approaching a player at all age levels
  h) Players that are officially registered for the OSFL spring/summer playing season may reach out to other centres for information. This            communication must be initiated solely by said player of their own accord.

 

 Section 10 – Officials

• a) Appointment of game officials is the duty of the Referee in Chief
• b) Officials will be selected by local reffing organizations except for playoffs
• c) OSFL will assign and cover the expense of the officials for playoffs
• d) Unless otherwise stated by the Referee in Chief, games require: U18 six officials, U16 five officials, U14/U12 four officials, U10 3 a time/score keeper

 

Section 11 – Equipment

• a) All teams are required to dress in a professional manner
• b) No player shall wear equipment that may cause injury to an opponent
• c) All players shall wear: knee pads, thigh pads, hip pads, tailbone pad (or girdle), shoulder pads, cleats, and a helmet that meets CSA standards
• d) Adhesive or grease that affects the football is illegal – offending player will be removed from the game until such time a the illegal item is replaced and such player will be penalized according the the White Book
• e) Immediate substitution is allowed to avoid delaying the game
• f) Jersey numbers will match the numbers on the game sheet and players will retain the same jersey number throughout the game – unless torn and the officials approve a new numbered jersey

 

Section 12 – Game Day Responsibilities

Trainers

• a) Each centre must provide their own certified trainer/athletic therapist
• b) It is recommended the minimum requirements for a trainer are: post secondary educated for treatment of athletic injuries, concussion protocols, taping and bracing, current CPR certified
• c) Trainers are to arrive on time to prepare for pre game treatments

Home Team

• a) Provide suitable lined regulation field
• b) Have a working clock
• c) Provide stick crew
• d) Provide equal spotting location
• e) Provide 2 regulation footballs
• f) Provide water and ice
• g) May charge gate fees up to a maximum of $10
• h) Provide suitable change rooms with showers of use local facility if possible – provided there is compliance for covid protocols
• i) Managers shall ensure that they have: full copies of both teams rosters to provide to the timing official, have a copy (either binder or electronic device) of proof of player registration and a copy of government issued ID – passport of birth certificate
• j) Post game managers will be required to complete the following: ensure score sheets are completed and signed by an official and head coaches, ensure within 24 hours of the completed game a copy of the score sheet and both team rosters is submitted to the OSFL Chair for upload on the website.
• k) Score sheets are to be downloaded from the OSFL website and when submitted must include: scoring players name and jersey number, any penalties or ejections with players name and number

Visiting Team

• a) On game day advise host centre of any last minute roster change
• b) Provide alternate jerseys should there be limited colour distinction between the opposing team
• c) Teams need to arrange this prior to game day

 

Section 13 – Game Film/Technology/Stats

• a) HUDL will be used to upload game film
• b) Game film must be uploaded to HUDL within 48 hours of completion of the game
• c) Game film is mandatory for all U18 and U16 games and is optional for U14, U12 and U10
• d) Filming for U18 and U16 must be done from an elevated position
• e) Equal access must be provided for spotters
• f) Technology may be used by spotters to communicate to bench personnel
• g) Radios in helmets are not allowed
• h) Statistics must be provided for all U18 and U16 games for both AAA and AA Divisions and must be uploaded within 48 hours. 

Section 14 – Tie Games/Rescheduling Postponed Games

Tie Games

• a) Tie games will be settled by “Texas ShootOut”
• b) At the completion of regulation time the referee will toss a coin to determine which team will possess the ball first in overtime
• c) Visiting team captain will call the toss
• d) The winner chooses either offense or defense or which side of the field – this cannot be deferred
• e) The team that loses the coin toss must exercise the remaining option
• f) In each overtime period, teams are granted one possession beginning at the opponents 35 yard line, unless a penalty occurs and they are moved back
• g) The offense can place the ball anywhere on or between the hash marks
• h) Each team retains the ball until it fails to score, fails to make a first down or turns the ball over
• i) Beginning with the third overtime period, teams must attempt a two- point conversion after scoring a touchdown
• j) The first team that fails to match their opponents score is deemed to have lost
• k) The winner in overtime will be granted 2 points and the losing team will be granted 1 point

Rescheduled/postponed games/Forfeits

• a) During a regular season game the 3rd quarter must be finished for a game to be completed
• b) Prior to the 3rd quarter a game will be considered a tie
• c) Should a partially completed game need to be rescheduled the game will resume form the time play was suspended, noting the time, score, downs, field position
• d) All efforts need to be made to reschedule a game – if a game cannot be rescheduled it will be considered a tie
• e) In the event of an electrical storm and a game is interrupted, teams will wait 1 hour before officially calling a game. All reasonable attempts will be made to complete the game as scheduled – if the game cannot be completed or rescheduled it will be deemed a tie
• f) In the event of a forfeit the team forfeited against will receive a win in the standings with points awarded as 21-0

Section 15 – Coaching and Bench Personnel

• a) All coaches and bench personnel will have all required qualifications, training, certificates and police clearances as laid out by Football Ontario

 

Section 16 – Coaches and Players Code of Conduct

• a) All coaches, players and administrators will conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times
• b) The use of profanity, hate speech, derogatory comments, bullying, and acts of violence are strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action by the OSFL Executive
• c) Only head coaches, team captains and team managers are to communicate with the Officials
• d) Officials will be provided a copy of the code of conduct
• e) Repeated violations to the code of conduct will result in involvement by the leagues disciplinary committee and fines or penalties may be imposed

Section 17 – Misconduct

Player

• a) Players receiving a combined total of 3 UR and OC penalties in a single game will be ejected and will be suspended for the next game
• b) The player serving the suspension will attend the next game and sit out wearing their game day jersey- this player will be noted on the game day roster
• c) Players removed from a game by an Official for offenses committed under the Rule of Rough Play is automatically suspended for the remainder of that game and the next
• d) If the offense is sufficiently serious enough the OSFL may increase the penalty after hearing from the player, reading a written report from the Officials on the back of the game sheet and input from coaches
• e) Any player ejected from a second game in a season shall be suspended until such time as the OSFL Executive reviews their case
• f) Any player ejected for their first time Targeting, will be considered warned and not suspended from their next game. A second Targeting call will result in a suspension from the next game

Coaches

• a) Any coach or club official will be suspended for violations to the Code of Conduct
• b) Any actions detrimental to the OSFL or any centre by a coach or club official will result in a suspension
• c) A first offense will result in a one game suspension, and will escalate if further offenses occur
• d) A suspended coach or club official will not be permitted to attend the next game
• e) Depending on the severity of the offense, a hearing with the OSFL Executive will be granted within 10 days of the suspension at which time a decision will be made on any further penalties

 

Section 18- Protests

• a) No game shall be protested on an Official or referee’s interpretation of the rules
• b) Protests in conference of playoff games shall be ruled on by the OSFL Executive
• c) Protest must be made in writing or by email from the President of the centre
• d) A fee of $500 is due at the time the protest is sent forward – to be held until an outcome is come to
• e) The OSFL Executive will make a ruling on the protest as soon as possible
• f) The OSFL Executive decision is binding
• g) The protested game may be awarded to the team making the protest. That team would be awarded 2 points in the standings
• h) A replay of the game may be ordered
• i) The protest may be disallowed
• j) If the protest is disallowed the $500 fee shall be forfeited to the OSFL

(Updated May 10, 2023)