Safety

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous.

All items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands, etc.) are forbidden and must be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery (or piercings) is not permitted.

The players must be inspected before the start of the match and substitutes before they enter the field of play. If a player is wearing or using unauthorized/dangerous equipment or jewellery, the referee must order the player to:

• remove the item
• leave the field of play at the next stoppage if the player is unable or unwilling to comply

A player who refuses to comply or wears the item again must be cautioned.

 

Compulsory Equipment

The compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:

• a shirt with sleeves
• socks – tape or any material applied or worn externally must be the same colour as that part of the sock it is applied to or covers
• shinguards* – these must be made of a suitable material and be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection and be covered by the socks. 

*  Mini shinguards are acceptable, but use is at the player’s own risk exclusively.

On July 1, 2019, new rules came into effect through Rowan’s Law, to improve concussion safety in amateur competitive sport.

Everyone can help recognize a possible concussion if they know what to look for.

A person with a concussion might have any of the signs or symptoms listed below. They might show up right away or hours, or even days later. Just one sign or symptom is enough to suspect a concussion. Most people with a concussion do not lose consciousness.

Get to know the "Red Flags" of a concussion

“Red flags” may mean the person has a more serious injury. Treat red flags as an emergency and call 911.

Red flags include:

• Neck pain or tenderness
• Double vision
• Weakness or tingling in arms or legs
• Severe or increasing headache
• Seizure or convulsion
• Loss of consciousness (knocked out)
• Vomiting more than once
• Increasingly restless, agitated or aggressive
• Getting more and more confused

To find out more about concussion awareness and Rowans Law please visit this website

Estimates of temperature and humidex will be taken as provided/predicted by Environment Canada (EC)
as provided up to 7 hours prior to game kick-off times.

Breaks will be at approximately the quarters of game time, preferably at natural stoppages in play and
will allow unlimited substitutions at that time. Break should be a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum
of 3 minutes.

A Coach or Referee can set a water break when the temperature at Kick-off time is over 28 degrees
Celsius or humidex estimated over 30 degrees Celsius before kick-off time.

The EODSL mandates water breaks at approximately the quarters of game time when the temperature
exceeds 34 degrees Celsius or humidex of 36 degrees Celsius.

The EODSL mandates cancelling matches where the temperature at the start of play is predicted to be in
excess of 37 degrees Celsius or humidex of 39 degrees Celsius at kick-off time.

Decisions should be taken around noon of days where Environment Canada (EC) predictions of high
temperatures and humidex values are available. Where exact kick-off times are not stated then the
average of the two closest predictions for that time should be used. For example if 6pm EC prediction is
humidex 40C and 7pm is humidex 38C then estimated 6:30 KO time would be humidex 39C. Reminders
of the mandated actions above should be as timely as possible but not less than 4 hours prior to common
kick-off times.

Decisions will be provided for EODSA based matches based upon the Ottawa predictions from
EC. Decisions will be provided for SOSA based matches based upon the Kingston prediction from EC.