Player Equipment Policy

Ontario Soccer Club & Districts Risk Management

Law 4 - The Players' Equipment ... Ontario Soccer is guided by the FIFA Laws of the Game and the OSA Small-sided rules of the game.

LAW 4 - THE PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT

Players must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to themselves or other players. Basic compulsory equipment shall consist of:

  • A jersey or shirt with sleeves – pinnies are also accepted
  • Shorts
  • Socks
  • Appropriate footwear
  • Shin guards Shin guards must:
  • Be covered by the socks
  • Be made of a suitable material
  • Provide a reasonable degree of protection

Colours:

  • The two teams must wear colours that distinguish them from each other and the referee
  • Each goalkeeper must wear colours which are distinguishable from the other playersand the referee. Pinnies/bibs are recommended to save jersey switching.

Non-uniform clothing is allowed based on weather conditions, but uniforms must still distinguish teams.

A player who is asked to leave the field of play because of defective or dangerous equipment may not re-enter the field of play until the referee is satisfied that the equipment is permissible. The equipment may only be inspected during a stoppage in play.

Jewelry is not permitted and cannot be taped. Medic Alert bracelets and Medic Alert necklaces are the exceptions, provided that they are fastened securely, so as not to bring danger to any other player. The referee should be aware of any player that is wearing one of these.

Any hair apparel must be of soft fabric, no plastic or metal items are to be worn. Sports hijabs / headscarves are permitted.

Referees have the final say on the safety of equipment.

Introduction:

Equipment Policy

According to Canada Soccer’s guidelines: “A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player.”

The Canadian Soccer Association issued a memorandum (2005) pertaining to Law 4, Players Equipment, which clarifies the use of non-essential equipment that may or may not be worn by players. This document elaborates on the CSA document for games under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Soccer Association.

Jewelry

  • No item of jewelry of any sort will be allowed on the field of play, even if it is ‘taped’.
  • This includes but not limited to necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather or rubber bands or visible body piercings. Loose beaded hair is also not permitted unless tied back or covered by a net.
  • Exceptions to this interpretation are:
  • Smooth wedding bands, which, when the referee is convinced cannot be removed may be taped
  • Medic Alert Bracelets are allowed but must be taped. The taping should be such that the description of the medical problem is clearly visible.

Headwear

  • Head Covers
  • Where head covers (excluding goalkeeper’s caps) are worn, they must:
  • Be of same colour as the jersey or black (all players should match)
  • Be in keeping with the professional appearance of the players equipment o Not be attached to the jersey
  • Not pose any danger to the player wearing it or any other player (e.g. opening/closing mechanism around neck)
  • Not have any part(s) extending out from the surface (protruding elements) o Wearing of turbans/patkas/keski are permitted
  • The head covering must be safe and must not pose danger to the wearer or other participants.

Exceptions to this interpretation are:

  • The goalkeeper may wear a hat, or
  • A player may be permitted for medical reasons on the presentation of a letter signed by a medical professional and validated by the District Association and a copy to the OSA.
  • As guidance:
  • the hat may not be a baseball cap, and
  • if cap has a peak it must face forwards and have a soft peak. And o contains no metal or plastic parts
  • Head protectors: only those permitted by FIFA are allowed.
  • Eyeglasses: are allowed if they are sports spectacles and are safe for the players themselves and for other players. Materials such as metal or glass are not acceptable. In recreational and house league games referees are expected to show common sense and allow spectacles as long as the basic principals of Law 4 are met.

Orthopaedic Supports (e.g. knee braces)

FIFA Circular 863 states that the vast majority of commercially manufactured supports are safe to use. -The major concern is not the ‘hardness’ of the equipment alone, rather that any part of it can cut or wound another player. – Any support must be safe for all players, and adequately padded and covered if necessary.

Casts

Players wearing a soft cast will be permitted to play if the cast does not present a danger to him/herself or any other player. – All casts must be adequately padded by suitable material such as foam or “bubble wrap”.

Prosthetics

A player wearing a prosthetic device should be allowed to play providing the basic principals of Law 4 are met.

Footwear

Referees are encouraged to incorporate a footwear inspection in the pre-match safety check of players’ equipment. – Poorly maintained studs or blades on the sole of the boot can constitute a danger. – When inspecting footwear, referees are to be alert to the possibility of the edge of the blades or studs developing rough areas on either the plastic or metal used in their construction. -These burrs can become very sharp and have been the cause of lacerations to opponents. A referee who is concerned over the condition of blades or studs should refuse their use until such time as the unsafe condition has been removed.

Jerseys

All jerseys must have sleeves. The players may not roll the sleeves up or tie them at the shoulder level.

Blood

An athlete who is bleeding, has an open wound, has any amount of blood on his/her uniform, or has blood on his/her person, shall be directed to leave the game until the bleeding is stopped, the wound is covered, the uniform and/or body is appropriately cleaned, and/or the uniform is changed before returning to competition.

Ontario Soccer offers several resources to assist members with risk management including information on Insurance and the Respect in Sport program.