FAQ: GENERAL
WHAT IS THE MANITOBA MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE?
The Manitoba Major Soccer League (MMSL) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development of amateur soccer in Manitoba. Founded in 1971 (formerly the Manitoba Central Soccer League and the Molson Super Soccer Alliance), the MMSL features the best adult amateur soccer in the province with over 148 outdoor and indoor teams and over 2000 players competing in nine men’s divisions and one co-ed division from Premier to Recreational.
WHERE IS THE MMSL OFFICE LOCATED?
The MMSL office is located at:
Unit 104 A, 750 Marion Street,
Winnipeg, Manitoba R2J 0K4
(Turn in 'underneath' the large blue Self Storage sign)
WHAT ARE THE MMSL OFFICE HOURS?
The MMSL office hours are:
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
WHO IS THE MANITOBA MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE AFFILIATED WITH?
The Manitoba Major Soccer League is an affiliated member of the Manitoba Soccer Association.
WHO ARE THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF?
The current Board of Directors can be found on the main website.
HOW DO I JOIN THE MANITOBA MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE?
The Manitoba Major Soccer League only accepts registration on a Team basis.
If you are a Team that is interested in joining the MMSL for an outdoor season, please contact the League office in January of each year. The outdoor season begins in late April or early May. Information & application packages for the outdoor season should be made available by late-January.
If you are a Team that is interested in joining the MMSL for an indoor season, please contact the League office in July of each year. The indoor season begins in mid-October. Information & application packages for the indoor season should be made available by August.
If you have any questions, please contact the League at 204-654-9574.
HOW DO I JOIN THE MANITOBA MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE IF I DON’T HAVE A TEAM?
Since the MMSL only accepts registration on a Team basis, individuals who are interested in joining a team are encouraged to visit our Players Looking For Teams page where you can select the appropriate season you would like to participate in.
A form will be available where you can provide your contact information and some playing information. Once submitted, an MMSL staff person will transfer your submitted information and compile it into a (PDF) list of players that are looking to join a team. This list is made available to interested teams upon request.
Current MMSL teams are made aware to request the list if they are looking for players to add to their team and may choose to contact you directly. This method is not guaranteed that you will be successful in joining a team, however it is the only opportunity the MMSL provides for individuals looking to join a team. Good luck!
If you have any questions, contact the League at 204-654-9574.
FAQ: PLAYER / TEAM REGISTRATION
HOW DO I REGISTER PLAYERS TO MY TEAM ROSTER?
The Manitoba Major Soccer League is not responsible for player registration and/or printing player identification cards. Player registration is completed through the Manitoba Soccer Association website (www.manitobasoccer.ca) or by calling 204-594-5809.
DO TEAMS HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO THE MANITOBA SOCCER ASSOCIATION IN ADDITION TO A TEAM FEE TO THE MANITOBA MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE?
Yes. The MMSL is an affiliated Member of the Manitoba Soccer Association (MSA). All teams that are affiliated as members of the MMSL must comply with the following MSA requirements:
Player and Club Official registration is administered by the MSA and not the MMSL. Any inquiries regarding the four requirements are to be directed to the MSA office by phone at 204-594-5809 or by e-mail at mbsoccer@manitobasoccer.ca. The MSA office is located at 211 Chancellor Matheson Road at the Soccer South Soccer Complex.
CAN I REGISTER FOR MORE THAN ONE TEAM IN THE MMSL?
No. No player may be registered for more than one team at any time in a playing season with the exception of called-up youth players, and players registered with one other team that is in the Co-Ed League.
FAQ: LEAGUE OPERATIONS / RULES
HOW MANY GAMES DOES A TEAM PLAY IN A SEASON?
The Manitoba Major Soccer League aims to provide an 18 regular outdoor season schedule for each team in each division, and playoff games for the top six (6) teams in each division.
HOW MANY DIVISIONS ARE THERE IN THE MANITOBA MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE?
The number of divisions each season depends on the number of teams that re-affiliate (returning teams from previous season) and New Member Admissions (new teams). The MMSL aims to have divisions of 10 teams for each division.
HOW DOES A TEAM MOVE UP OR DOWN IN EACH DIVISION?
The term for a team moving up a division is promotion; relegation for moving down. The top two teams of each division after the regular season are promoted into the next division above while the bottom two teams are relegated into the next division below.
WHAT ARE THE COMPETITION OPERATING RULES (i.e. SUBSTITUTIONS, NUMBER OF PLAYERS REGISTERED ON A TEAM ROSTER, NUMBER OF PLAYER WHO CAN DRESS FOR PER GAME?
| League / Division | Substitution Rules | Maximum Number of Registered Players On A Team Roster | Maximum Number of Players Who Can Dress For A Game (Sign Game Sheet) |
| Premier Division | 5; unlimited at half-time | 20 | 20 |
| Division 1 | 5; unlimited at half-time | 20 | 20 |
| Division 2 | unlimited | 25 | 20 |
| Division 3 | unlimited | 25 | 20 |
| Division 4 | unlimited | 25 | 20 |
| Division 5 | unlimited | 25 | 20 |
| Division 6 | unlimited | 25 | 20 |
| Division 7 | unlimited | 25 | 20 |
| Division 8 | unlimited | 25 | 20 |
| CO- ED Division | unlimited | 25 | 25 |
IN THE EVENT OF A JERSEY CONFLICT, WHICH TEAM SHOULD CHANGE THEIR JERSEYS?
The Home Team is responsible for changing their jersey. This is why it is mandatory for all MMSL teams to own two sets of jersey. It is not acceptable to turn a jersey inside out. Both teams are required to have both sets of jerseys at all games.
If a conflict does occur and the Home Team does not change jerseys, the Visiting Team can refuse to participate in the game without any penalty. The Home Team will be penalized with a defaulted game, resulting in a 3 - 0 win for the Visiting Team.
ARE YOU ALLOWED TO USE SENIOR AND/OR YOUTH GUEST PLAYERS AND HOW MANY?
Yes. Teams may use a maximum of 3 guest players (senior or youth) per game. A Senior guest player can only play a maximum of 5 games total for another team in a season.
WHAT IS THE RATIO OF MALES TO FEMALES IN A CO-ED LEAGUE GAME?
In Co-Ed League games and competitions, the player in the goalkeeper position may be of either gender. At all times during a game, the players in the other ten positions must be an equal gender combination of five females and five males. Exclusive of the player in the goalkeeper position, a team with less than eleven players at any time during a game will not be permitted to have more than five players of either gender on the field; notwithstanding the requirements of Rule 17.12.
17.12 reads: No game shall be considered an official game unless at least 8 players from each team take part at the commencement of the game. Team(s) will be allowed a period of 15 minutes “grace time” to acquire sufficient players to start the game. At no time may the number of active players on the field of play be fewer than seven (7). The team with fewer than 7 players after the commencement of play, for whatever reason, will be deemed to have defaulted the game and the game points will be awarded to the remaining team. A team fine of $300.00 will be applied to the defaulting team.
FAQ: DISCIPLINE
WHILE UNDER SUSPENSION, AM I ALLOWED TO SERVE AS A SENIOR GUEST PLAYER FOR A HIGHER DIVISION TEAM?
While under suspension, you are not allowed to serve as a Senior Guest Player for a higher division team until you have served the prescribed number of games in which you were suspended for with the Team to which you are registered.
I RECEIVED A CAUTION OR A DISMISSAL FROM A GAME WHILE I WAS PLAYING AS A SENIOR GUEST PLAYER. DO THE INFRACTIONS GET RECORDED WITH THE TEAM I WAS PLAYING WITH AS A SENIOR GUEST PLAYER, OR WITH THE TEAM TO WHICH I AM REGISTERED?
If you receive a caution or dismissal from an MMSL game while playing as a Senior Guest Player, the infraction will be recorded and must be served with the Team to which you are registered.
DO CANCELLED OR RAIN-OUT GAMES CONSTITUTE A GAME SERVED TOWARDS A PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF GAMES FOR A SUSPENSION?
For any suspension involving a prescribed number of games, cancelled games by the League do not constitute time served towards such a suspension. If a games suspension is not completed before the end of competition within the current playing season, the suspension shall be completed in the next applicable playing season when the accused party registers. Competition within a playing season consists of both regular season games and play-off games.
FAQ: MISCELLANEOUS
ONE OF MY SOCCER BALLS GOT KICKED OVER THE FENCE AT THE RALPH CANTAFIO SOCCER COMPLEX ON WAVERLEY. HOW DO I GET IT BACK?
If you lose a soccer ball over the fence while playing at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex on Waverley Street, we do not encourage you to climb the fence to retrieve it. The property outside of the fence belongs to the City of Winnipeg.
If you lose a soccer ball over the fence, inform the Winnipeg Soccer Federation (WSF) staff before you leave. Check back with the WSF staff within one month of losing the ball to see if they have your ball. After a month of recovering soccer balls, any unclaimed soccer balls are donated to inner-city programs.
If you forget to inform the WSFC staff, contact the WSF at 204-953-4747 to see if they have retrieved it.
I WAS INJURED WHILE PLAYING IN A MANITOBA MAJOR SOCCER LEAGUE GAME. DO I RECEIVE INJURY INSURANCE AND WHO DO I CONTACT?
Yes. Insurance is provided through the Manitoba Soccer Association and is included in your Player Fee that you pay to the MSA. After an injury, obtain an Accident Claim Form from the MSA Office or download it from their website: http://www.manitobasoccer.ca/membership-service/insurance. Once it has been completed with a Team Official’s signature and a doctor’s statement, submit it back to the MSA Office to be processed.
Some information to keep in mind:
