AIR QUALITY POLICY

During extreme air quality conditions, such as forest fire smoke, communities and officials should do their best to ensure the safety of their members and visitors. It is not just children and seniors - even healthy athletes are at risk from air pollution, especially during exercise.

Government of Alberta Air Quality Index:
https://www.alberta.ca/about-the-air-quality-health-index.aspx

Government of Alberta Air Quality Map:
http://airquality.alberta.ca/map

CASTS AND BRACES POLICY

Absolutely no casts will be allowed (hard or soft) regardless of padding or materials.  Leg braces (knee, ankle, etc) will be permitted as long as they are properly wrapped or hidden and are made aware to the referee.

We aim to protect players while they are healing. These are young bodies.

HIV POLICY

If an open wound or bleeding is present, the participant must leave the field of play.  Only when the bleeding has stopped, is properly covered, and cleaned will the participant be allowed to continue.  All clothing soiled with blood should be replaced prior to the athletes return.

Insulin Pump Policy

As per Canada Soccer
https://www.canadasoccer.com/files/Insulin_pump_policy.pdf

VISIBLE UNDERGARMENTS

Cycling/Compression clothing DOES NOT need to be of the same color as the players shorts or jersey.

NOTE: this is only specific to Northwest Central Soccer Association rules, and that teams should be prepared for Tournaments and Provincials, that visible undergarments need to be of the same color as the players shorts/jersey.

STEEL STUDS

Steel cleats are prohibited in NWC play, as of April, 2018.

EQUIPMENT and UNIFORMS

Jewellery and Non-compulsory Equipment:  Extracts from FIFA Rule Four: 
All items of clothing or equipment other than the basic equipment must be inspected by the referee and determined not to be dangerous.  Modern protective equipment such as headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material are not considered dangerous and are therefore permitted.

If an item of clothing or equipment that has been inspected at the start of the match and determined not to be dangerous becomes dangerous or is used in a dangerous manner during the match, its use must no longer be allowed.

Sports-type Hijabs will be permitted as long as they adhere to the above guidelines.

Team Uniforms:  When the color of competing teams are similar, the home team (as determined by the schedule) shall use alternate colors.  Pinnies are accepted, but must be numbered.  All jerseys must be clearly numbered and correspond to the number listed with the player on the game sheet.

Goalkeepers shall wear colors which distinguish them from all other players.

HEADING THE BALL

Policy Statement:

There is to be no instruction and use of headers prior to age 12.  Instruction on how to head a ball can be started at age 12 with low force Directional headers, but concurrent with education explaining why heading is not encouraged for technical/developmental reasons as well as possible physiological effects.

Definitions:

• Header – is the intentional striking of a soccer ball with a player’s head.

• The forehead (at or just below the hairline and above the eyebrows) is used to pass, receive, shoot or “redirect” the ball. Generally, there are two types of headers:

1. a) Directional header where the player wants to control the ball (i.e., a pass, shoot or receive) & which is struck with the forehead (at or just below the hairline, where the player can see the ball) or with the side of the head; and

2. b) Clearing header (where the objective is just to send it as far as possible) which is struck with the forehead at the hairline or with the top of the head & where the defender often leaps to get more power.

Guiding principles:

• No Instruction of Headers Prior to age 12 — Do not instruct on headers until your player is at least 12 years old to allow for greater muscle development and reduce risk of physical injury.

• Do not instruct on headers unless completely confident you have sufficient training as to how a proper header should be done.

• Instruction on headers should be concurrent with education explaining why heading is not encouraged for technical / loss of control reasons as well as due to risk of concussion and suspected sub-concussive effects upon the brain.

• Given the suggestion from medical studies of the potential for sub-concussive injury that can result, particularly during brain development throughout the childhood years, heading should be discouraged for all our 12 year old and under players.

Purpose: There is insufficient research as to just how much force is required before a concussion occurs.  Further, while the research only raises the potential of sub-concussive damage resulting from heading, we should, nonetheless, be cautious with our soccer association’s emphasis on heading among our players at all age levels, and particularly those younger players who are in more vulnerable physiological stages of development.

While the research regarding the effect on players’ brains from heading is limited the research has confirmed that certain factors result in a player having a greater potential to get a concussion include:

–age: younger players are more prone to a concussion and pre-adult brains take longer to recover from a concussion;

–muscle strength: players with weak neck muscles are more prone to injury;

–awareness: advance warning of an impending head strike resulting in tensing the neck muscles minimizes the risk; and

–gender: female players are more prone.

While the research specifically addressing heading has been rather limited to date there have been articles and special reports that speak to the potential repercussions heading may have on soccer players and particularly young players that would justify a cautious approach.

Alberta Soccer Concussion Policy Link:
https://www.beaumontsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/236/2017/07/Alberta-Soccer-Concussion-Protocol-Policy-January-22-2016-2.pdf

CODE OF CONDUCT TO PROTECT CHILDREN

Individuals working or volunteering in sport are expected to uphold high standards and model behaviour that upholds public confidence and enhances healthy relationships with children and families.
Team personnel must ensure a safe environment by selecting activities and establishing controls that are suitable for the age, experience, ability, and fitness level of the involved athletes. They must also act in the best interest of the athlete’s development as a whole person.
Any behaviour that would be prohibited by a Code of Conduct that is experienced or observed must be reported confidentially and in writing to the President of NWC.
Please see Canada Soccer’s Code of Conduct and Ethics for further and more robust definitions.

CONDUCT BETWEEN ADULTS AND CHILDREN

Sport offers incredible experiences and opportunities for children. These experiences are integral to communities and enhancing child development. Positive experiences are tied to healthy relationships between athletes and coaches, as well as to safe environments where there are clearly established guidelines for professional boundaries between adults and children. As such, the purpose of guidelines is to establish a common understanding of expectations for adults interacting with children in sport, and a sense of safety for those who need to bring forward any concerns of misconduct towards children.

GUIDE TO ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION

“A safe, welcoming and inclusive sport system is one where those in every role in sport (athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, board members and administrators), feel that: they belong and are valued; their voices are heard; they have a right to choice and consent; they face no inequitable barriers to leadership roles, and they are encouraged and supported to take these on if they so choose, and there are people like them among every role in the sporting system” (Canadian Paralympic Committee, 2019).

Canada Soccer Guide to Accessibility and Inclusion
https://canadasoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20210412_GuidetoAccessibilityandInclusion_EN.pdf

SOCCER SAFETY GUIDES

Additional resources found here:

https://albertasoccer.com/safe-sport/