Frequently Asked Questions
Your most burning questions, answered here.
Registration
Fees
Skills Assessments
Draft Questions
Waiting List
Captains
2009 Season
Communications
Rain Days/Fields
Banquet and Awards
Survey
Registration
Q: Who can join DST?
A: DST is a co-ed, queer recreational summer soccer league. Anyone who is queer
or queer-positive and is 19 years or older is eligible to become a member.
Q: When can I register for soccer?
A: The 2010 registration dates are listed on the calendar and in the new section. Once registration closes, feel free to join our Waiting List (upper right hand corner of the site).
Q: Why do you let returning members register first?
A: Having continuity in our membership allows for us to maintain a strong sense
of community. Approximately 75% of our members return every year, so we are
able to strike a balance of retruning and new members.
Q: Why do you hold separate women’s only and open
registration days for new members?
A: Being a co-ed league gives us a lot of advantages, especially when it comes
to securing external sponsorship and applying for field permits. Several years
ago, we received an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant to help us increase our
level of women’s participation. DST remains committed to maintaining and
increasing the level of women’s participation in the league. To do this,
we reserve up to 25% of our membership spots for women at the beginning of the
season. In the past, we have experimented with several different models of doing
this and we have learned from our mistakes. By providing a women’s only
registration day ahead of an open (i.e. open to all genders) registration day
makes the logistics simpler and strikes a balance.
Q: Where can I register for soccer?
A: We have completed and tested our online registration module. Look for a combination
of in-person and online options in the future.
Q: Can I request to have someone on the same team?
A: Yes, you can. There is a spot on the registration form for "Player Bonds".
You BOTH need to note each other during registration for this to work. In addition,
both players need to secure their spot as members. If one player ends up on the
waiting list, then the player bond can not be honoured. Therefore, be sure to
register early.
Q: Can a returning member player bond with a new member? Can they register
at the same time?
A: They cannot register at the same time, but a returning member can player bond
with a new member provided both players secure a spot in the league. If one player
ends up on the waiting list, then the player bond can not be honoured.
Q: How are teams decided?
A: Teams are decided on draft night. The draft is designed to equally distribute
league members by gender and skill level across teams so that the teams are
as balanced as best as possible.
Q: What are the fees and what do they pay for?
A: Every year the DST executive has to pass a budget which takes into account
the cost of field permits, referrees, jerseys, events, and so forth. We are
committed to keeping fees as low as possible to ensure that the league is accessible
to all. In 2010 the league are $135.00.
Q: If I join mid-way in the season is there a pro-rated
fee structure?
A:
Yes. If an individual is called up from the waiting list after July 27, 2010
then the membership fee is reduced to $90.
Q: What is a non-playing member? If I join as a non-playing members, what
is the fee?
A:
A non-playing member is assigned to a team just like regular players. Instead
of playing, non-playing members contribute to their teams by filling roles
like coach, manager, team statistician or just being a member-at-large. Registration
for all members is exactly the same: $125. That entitles you to the same rights
and benefits as playing members, without the pesky after-game laundry.
Q: Do I have to be assessed?
A: Prior to the beginning of the season all new players and returning members
that joined mid-way through the previous season must be assessed. This is
an essential part of creating balanced teams at the draft. Other returning
members who want to be reassessed are encouraged to do so - they should RSVP
their intentions to operations@downtownsoccertoronto.org.
Q: What do I need to bring to the asessment?
A: You will need to bring your cleats (no metal spikes) and shinguards, along
with shorts and two comfortable t-shirts – one light-coloured and one
dark-coloured. Bring water and sunscreen.
Q: The skills assessment sounds intimidating. What is involved?
A: Don’t worry, the skills assessment can be a lot of fun. For new members,
it’s your first chance to meet other new members, as well as some of our
committed volunteers and the Executive. The skills assessment involves an evaluation
of basic soccer skills (shooting, passing, dribbling, etc.), as well as participating
in a scrimmage. It is critical part of ensuring that we create balanced
teams during the draft.
Q:How are teams decided?
A: DST creates the teams for the season at an open draft night. The draft
has two main goals: 1) to distribute players evenly by gender; and 2) to
distribute players evenly by skill; additionally, the draft is used to place
one co-captain and an executive member (where possible) on each team. Prior
to the draft, all new players and returning members who joined mid-way through
the previous season are assessed for skill at one of the skills assessment
clinics run by the Operations Coordinator. The Operations Coordinator also
reviews the skills rating of all other returning members. The skills spread
is worked out prior to the draft, meaning that every team will receive a
group of players whose skill "points" add up to an approximately
equal amount. This is within one or two skill points, depending on occasional
players, etc. As well as evenly distributing skills across teams, DST is
committed to an even gender spread. For more information on DST’s draft
procedure, see the Draft Policy, available here.
The DST draft night is one of the most exciting and popular events of the year. The draft happens live in front of our membership, and is an opportunity to meet your team and find out who your sponsors are. As well, in what has become a trademark nail-biter "reveal", the team jerseys are shown.
Q: Balancing the teams by skill makes sense, but why do you try to balance
the teams by gender?
A: DST is a truly co-ed league and we try to ensure that each team reflects this.
Q: How is the draft order decided? Why is that the order that is used?
A: The short answer: Math and probability.
The long answer: The draft has two main goals: 1) to distribute players evenly by skill; and 2) to distribute players evenly by gender; additionally, the draft is used to place one co-captain and an executive member (where possible) on each team. The draft order is essentially determined by these priorities and the membership is divided into groups according to leadership roles, gender, and whether or not they have a player bond (it is more difficult to place a pair of players than a player without a player bond since there must be two appropriate skill slots available). Starting with the smaller groups, a random draw is conducted to place players on teams. Captains and executive members (and their player bonds) are drafted near the beginning before the skill configuration starts to fill up. Similarly, since the groups including women (all-women bonds, mixed gender bonds, single women) collectively account for a smaller proportion of the membership, they are drafted next and ensure that we meet our objective of having gender balance on the teams without compromising the skill balance objective. If the groups including men were smaller or roughly the same size as those including women then the order would not matter as much. We have essentially used the same draft strategy (with small annual updates/revisions) successfully since 2006. See the Draft Policy for more details.
Q: I know someone who works for one of the sponsors.
If the draft is random, how did they end up on that sponsor’s team?
A: The draft is a random draw that is conducted live and in-person so
that everyone can see what is happening. However, there are some special circumstances
that require intervention. For example, as condition of our sponsorship, some
of our sponsors have requested that their employees be drafted to the sponsor’s
team. These exceptions are publicized in the Draft Policy (posted on the website)
to ensure transparency and are usually related to sponsorship.
Q: Do you include goalies as a separate category in the draft?
A: No. DST is a recreational league and we do not pre-assign individuals to particular
positions. In any given year, there are fewer than ten individuals who indicate
on their registration form that the keeper/goalie is their preferred position.
Furthermore, many of our league members who are seen as “keepers” do
not wish to be drafted as the goalie because they like to play in other positions
as well. Due to this policy, several of our league members have tried playing
in net for the first time and have found that they really enjoy it. Sometimes
it’s fun to change positions!
Q: I can't attend the draft. How will I know when I play? Who is on my team?
A: Member survey answers indicate that most members prefer to have the draft
close to the season opener so the draft night is often scheduled for a day
or two before the first day of game play. During the draft, team email lists
are compiled, and the members can expect to receive an email with all their
information either the night of or the day after the draft. The rosters are
also uploaded to the members-only area of the website and members can check
the calendar online for the schedule. Attendance at the draft is not mandatory
- but it sure is a good time!
Q: How do I know who my captains are?
A: Each team will have two co-captains. As part of the draft, each team is assigned
one co-captain chosen by the League Executive. You and your team will elect
a second co-captain after the end of the third regular season game.
Q: How does the League pick co-captains?
A: Co-captains are a really important part of ensuring that the season goes smoothly.
Over the years, the League has experimented with different models for selecting
/ electing captains. At present, teams have one League-selected co-captain
and one Team-elected co-captain per team. In choosing co-captains, the Executive
considers only people who indicate ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ to
being a captain on their registration form, as well as people who indicated ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’ to
being a captain on our annual survey (and gave us permission to the use this
information). The criteria used for selecting co-captains for the 2009 season
included: leadership, community building, sportspersonship, support for the
League goals / directives (which include building our membership and raising
the level of women’s participation), and – of course – knowledge
of soccer.
Waiting List
Q: When should I sign-up on the waiting list?
A: If you have missed all of the registration dates for the current season and
are interested in joining DST, please sign-up on the waiting list. If the season
is over, feel free to register to be contacted in the spring for the upcoming
year registration dates.
Q: Can you tell me where on the waiting list I am? How long will I have
to wait?
A: We do not disclose waiting list information. You will be contacted, if and
when a spot becomes available. We can't guarantee league placement, but having
a healthy waiting list is part of what keep the league running smoothly. Historically
we have contacted most - if not all – of the individuals on the waiting
list during the season, so we encourage you to put your name in.
Q: If I am on the waiting list, will I be informed of league events?
A: While we do not communicate directly with people on the waiting list (logistics
problems: the list is constantly changing), we encourage you to keep up with
DST news and events by visiting the web site. All of this information is
posted to the home page.
Q: How many captains are on each team?
A: Each team will have two co-captains.
Q: How are co-captains selected?
One co-captain per team is chosen by
the executive prior to the commencement of the season in order to ensure that
there is leadership in place from the very first game. These co-captains may
or may not be experienced soccer players, but they are individuals who the
executive believes will lead their teams well and with enthusiasm. Co-captains
who are not necessarily highly-skilled or experienced players are strongly
encouraged to draw on the knowledge of their more experienced teammates.
The second co-captain is elected by the team. This election usually takes place a few weeks into the season. The election of this co-captain can be an opportunity for the team to elect someone who complements the strengths of the existing co-captain. For instance, if the executive-selected co-captain is a great administrator and organizer, but doesn’t have a lot of experience playing soccer, the team may decide to choose a co-captain with more soccer experience and knowledge of the game.
Q: Can I be a co-captain in my first year with the league?
A: Yes. While the executive-placed co-captain is selected from a pool of interested
returning players (that is, those who have played with us for at least one
season), anyone may put their name forward to run for co-captain. If you
are interested in putting your name forward, be sure to let your co-captain
and team know.
Q: Can an executive member be a co-captain?
A: No.
Q: Can anyone be a captain?
A: All co-captains selected – including those elected by their team – are
subject to approval by the executive.
2010 Season
Q: Is this a competitive league, or can someone like myself who has never played
before still join?
A: All skill levels are welcome at DST.
Q: What do I need to play soccer?
A: We supply the jerseys and socks. You will need shorts, shinguards and cleats.
We require OUTDOOR cleats but metal pegs are not allowed. They can be pin- or
blade-style, but must be plastic/rubber. You may not wear a hat (unless you are
the keeper) or sunglasses while playing.
Q: Where are the games played?
A: This varies from season to season according to the field permits we secure.
However, during the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons, most of our games were played
at Withrow Park, 1 block south of Danforth Ave., between Logan and Carlaw.
Q: What times are the games?
A: Games start promptly at 10AM, 11:45AM, 1:30PM, 3:15PM, and 5PM. Games
consist of two 45-minute halves with a half-time break. You are advised
to arrive thirty minutes in advance of your game to get dressed and warm-up.
For game day schedules, check the calendar. Click on the game day and you
will get the day's schedule.
Q: Do we play on long weekends?
A: Over the years, DST has tried various scheduling formats to account for long
weekends and other events. Our annual survey reveals that our membership is
almost evenly divided as to how to resolve this issue. For the past several
years, we have held games on Mondays of the Canada Day, Simcoe Day, and Labour
Day long weekends. Additionally, we do not hold regular season games on the
weekend of the Toronto International Pride Cup (TIPC, our annual competitive
tournament) or on Toronto’s Pride Weekend.
Q:
Can I invite my friends or family members to my game?
A: Yes!
All games are open to
the public and free to watch.
Q: What are the start and end dates of the summer season?
A: This varies from year to year, depending on permits, holidays, and other scheduling
issues, but in general the season opens at the end of May and runs until the
end of September.
Q: Will there be practices and do I have to go?
A: The practice structure varies but starting in 2008 the league designated
Thursday nights for league-wide practices. As well, some teams may wish to have
their own practices. Members are not required to attend but they are definitely
encouraged to do so. Skills development in the form of skills clinics and practices
is one of the many benefits to membership.
Q: I miss soccer in the winter! Does DST have a winter league?
A: DST is a summer league but many members play during the winter with Indoors
Out, a co-ed queer friendly indoor soccer league.
Q: Why are all the sponsors in the gay Village? There is queer life outside
Church and Wellesley!
A: DST began in the downtown core and very much centred on the gay Village
for its first several years. As the league has grown, we have actively pursued
sponsors outside this district and are happy to say we've not only expanded
our reach but have also secured sponsors at the league-wide level. We are
always looking for new sponsorship opportunities and invite members to contact
our Events and Fundraising Coordinator at events@downtownsoccertoronto.org.
Q: Can we have sponsors that aren't bars?
A: Yes we can! The league has been very successful in securing sponsorship
from other industries, including BMO, Blakes, KPMG, Carlsberg, and Priape.
Q: We have too many events/we have too few events. I would rather
pay higher fees than do fundraising/I wish the league was more social.
A: As you can see from the way this question was worded, our membership
is totally split on this issue. Some people feel that we should raise our fees
and do away with fundraising. The problem with this approach is that it makes
the league less accessible to lower income participants, it doesn't solidify
sponsor relationships, and it cuts down on team and league socializing. Other
members want more fundraisers and social events - they feel that the league
is not as welcoming as it could be and that there aren't that many opportunities
to be involved. The problem with this approach is that members can get "fundraiser
fatigue" and event attendance can suffer. Additionally, some members might
feel that the league us requiring too high a level of commitment.
Obviously, each year we try and strike a balance. Our Events and Fundraising Coordinator and volunteers work very hard at putting together the right number of events, scheduled at the right times, to make the most people satisfied with their DST experience. Some years we are more successful at this than others, but one thing we've learned is that the essential piece is YOU! When our membership gets involved, our events are better. It's that simple. Want to be a part of this great season of soccer and events? Contact our Events and Fundraising Coordinator at events@downtownsoccertoronto.org.
Q: Where does all the money from the fundraisers go?
A: Our survey results indicate that the membership is fairly divided as
to whether we should dedicate our fundraising money to DST, a charitable group
/ cause or some combination of the two. At this time, our fundraising efforts
are part of our general revenue stream and have helped to keep our membership
fees at the same level since 2006, despite increases in fees for referees, fields
and other expenses.
Q: How do I know what's happening in the league?
A: The league uses several methods to communicate with its members:
- The web site has a public area with general info, news, and events, and a password-protected private area for members only. This area has a picture gallery, a members' forum, rosters, schedules, and standings. The forum, in particular, is a great way to access the DST community on both soccer-related issues and non-soccer stuff.
- Members can expect to receive regular news and events updates directly in their email in the form of the league newsletter, DSTribution.
- Team communications are handled by the team listservs, which are set up after the teams are drafted.
- Members can always communicate directly with the league executive through our Contact Us page.
As well, there are unofficial channels to share and get DST-related information. By "unofficial", we mean that these are not arenas in which DST exerts any control over content, so use them with that in mind. Check out the DST Facebook page, and you can also follow several executive members on Twitter.
Rain Days/Fields
DST games rarely get called for rain, but when they do, it causes a lot of confusion. The Q&A below should answer all your questions about rain days.
Q: Why were the games cancelled?
A: The primary reason for cancelling a game is safety. When we arrive at
the field, the first person consulted is the referee who is not only there
to apply the rules of play but to ensure the safety of all players. Withrow
Park is pot-hole ridden. When you cover pot-holes with puddles you have
a recipe for twisted ankles and, potentially broken legs or feet. The two
cancellations during the 2008 season were after torrential rainfalls during
the previous days leaving puddles anywhere from 4-7 feet wide.
A secondary concern is not to worsen the state of the fields. When you run
on wet grass, the grass tears up and ground becomes muddy. A muddy wet field
becomes a dry, sandy field. This would make future games all the more unbearable.
Note that Toronto had broken all previous records for rainfall weeks prior
to our first cancellation. The fact that DST has only cancelled 2 game days
in 5 years is actually a very good record.
Q: I went to the field on one of the rained-out days and the fields seemed
OK to me. It wasn't even raining at the time so why were ALL the games cancelled?
A: The first instinct on the most recent day was to absolutely cancel the
first 3 games but to re-assess in the afternoon. The weather report indicated
high chances of rain (and thunderstorms), but the sky told a different story.
Upon reflection, having some games play while assessing draws for cancelled
games would in some cases make drastic changes to the standings and could
be considered unfair to some teams.
Also, at a field maintenance/preservation level, just because grass is dry
and there are no puddles does not mean the field can support play. Some fields
in other areas of the country and the world wait up to 24 hours after significant
rainfalls in order to ensure the saturation levels are not likely to damage
the field. Our decision was also confirmed as we learned that Eglinton Flats
(an “A” level field with a high level of maintenance and upkeep)
was closed from dawn to dusk on the same day in order to preserve field conditions
and ensure safety.
Q: I didn't receive notice of the closure until after I went to the field.
Why isn't the communications system set up for quicker notifications?
A: The Executive and the referees know that our members want nothing more
than to play! On both rain days, Executive members were at the field and
in consultation with the attending referees (and other experienced/wise players)
to determine whether the fields could be used. As a result, games are only
called as a last resort, at which time we sent out emails and text messages
as quickly as possible. We’re very happy that several of our captains
pre-emptively advised their teams to check their emails prior to leaving
for the field.
We also want to take the opportunity to thank everyone (captains, players
and executive members) for forwarding messages by phone, text, email and
word of mouth. This is why the DST community is so amazing!
Q: Why can't we play on an alternate field on rain days?
A: The short answer is that from both a logistical and financial standpoint,
an alternate field is not feasible with our present structure. The application
process for public fields is long and complicated and starts in November
of the preceding year. Allotment of field-time by the city is based on past
needs/usage and on number of members. As it is, DST already has an allotment
that surpasses our needs (in their opinion). This would require DST to go
to private fields, which are also booked well in advance by other leagues
and organizations. Also, a private field can run anywhere upwards from $60-100+/hour
to rent, where our public field costs in the range of $10-15/hour. In addition,
the city does not refund us for field-time that is unused.
Q: They are calling for rain next weekend. Should I assume those games will
be cancelled?
A: No! Cancelling games is the last thing the DST executive wants to do,
and each case is assessed individually. We don’t cancel games unless
the actual field conditions (as witnessed the morning of the games) merit
it. It takes a LOT of rain for us to even consider cancelling.
The best bet is to establish an alert system with your captain. For those
playing the 10am games, the field is assessed at 9-9:30 so you should already
be at the field and we will advise you as quickly as possible. It may also
be a good idea to have a friend at the field to call you in case of cancellation
if you anticipate being en-route. Lastly, in 5 seasons 2 game days have been
cancelled; while we can’t predict the future and this is a very low
percentage, we can’t guarantee any outcome.
Q: Will we be able to make up the missed game days?
A: Originally we were not going to make up either of the cancelled game days.
Given that we play every weekend, including holidays, this would require
doubling up on a Saturday. From past feedback, members opined that this was
not to their liking. Also, permits for these days would already have been
acquired at Withrow by another organization. With the City, you can’t
simply reserve a field, you have to either permit it or not. Incurring extra
costs to permit rain-days would not have made sense given the past track
record of never having to replay games.
As the first set of cancelled games was a day where teams were meeting for
the only time this season, we decided that this game should be replayed in
order for every team to play each other at least once. We decided that moving
the playoffs to a 2-day format would allow us to reschedule. Given that the
second cancellation was a re-visit between teams, we didn’t feel the
same urgency to replay.
Q: How will these closures affect our standings?
A: Short answer: They won't. At first, all teams were awarded a draw for
the first cancelled game day. When we decided to reschedule, we removed the
draw from the standings. Given that a draw across the board does not alter
the standings we have decided that for the second rain-day, we will simply
remove the game from the schedule.
Q: Why is the field quality so poor? Can't we get better fields/force the
city to improve our fields?
A: The field conditions across the board in the Toronto core are less than
desirable. The fields are categorized as “A”, “B” or “C” from
best to worst (and from most expensive to least expensive). Since its creation,
DST has moved from playing on a “C” level field to a “B” level
field without drastically increasing fees. It’s important to know that
the cost of moving from one level to the next doubles the rate per hour.
When planning for fields for DST, we take into consideration the location
(making it easily accessible to our community), cost, field condition and,
most importantly, availability. During the permit process, approximately
12 fields are listed in our request. We are then allotted time based on what’s
available.
As to why the city doesn’t improve fields, this is something to address
to your local city councillor. DST is only one organization that uses the
fields, and we have no particular right or privilege on making demands for
maintenance. The most we can do is alert the grounds keeping staff when we
want the grass mowed or extra garbage needs to be removed.
Q: TIPC got great fields. Why can't we use those fields?
A: The simple answer is cost. The fields for TIPC were all in excess of $60/hour
to rent (some in the $100+/hour range). The budget for fields for TIPC is
determined by their committee/task force, and paid for by the players/sponsors
(with no money coming directly from DST). TIPC players paid around $125 to
play 2 days of games in TIPC, where by comparison, DST members pay $125 for
14 games, a banquet, several social events and a uniform. The cost for private
fields alone at the lowest rate of $60/hour for 17 days (14 games + 3 playoff
days) would be $9180 which would increase membership costs by around $50/person
(around $100/person in the upper range). At this cost, accessibility, something
DST prides itself on, might become an issue.
Q: I would rather have better fields than (a banquet/socks and shorts/other
events). Can't we trade one for the other?
A: Absolutely. Your chance to make structural and organizational changes
comes each year with the Executive elections. While the past and current
Executive members try to make decisions with everyone’s best interest
in mind, they may not be aligned with what you want.
Q: If the banquet fee is included in my membership fee, why do I have to
give a deposit?
A: We ask for a deposit so we can work closely with the banquet facility to confirm
the exact number of attendees which they need to provide the appropriate amount
of food, seating, etc. The deposit is refundable which means you have a little
extra cash in your pocket to buy that cute guy/girl a drink or take a taxi home
at the end of the evening.
Q: I am not attending the banquet; can I give my banquet ticket away / get
a refund?
A: No. While the banquet is included in your membership fee, it is not transferable
or refundable.
Q: Can I bring a friend/partner to the banquet?
A: Currently, our membership fee includes a ticket to the banquet for
all league members. However, you are welcome to purchase an additional ticket
to bring a friend/partner to the banquet. Watch DSTribution for announcements
closer to the end of the season (usually during playoffs) for details about
the banquet and ticket sales.
Q: Every year the same people are highlighted in the end-of-year slideshow
- this seems unfair.
A: Every year towards the end of the season several calls for photo submissions
go out to the membership. From these photos, we put together a retrospective.
We can only work with what we have, so get out there this season and snap some
photos!
Q: Why do you need to do a survey every year?
A: DST is committed to providing a high-quality recreational soccer experience
and the most important part of that is YOU. We want to hear what you think
about how we have done and how we could change or improve the DST experience.
In fact, these FAQs are a result of people responding to our survey.
Q: At the end of the survey there are questions about income, family
size, etc. These have nothing to do with soccer - why do you ask them?
A: These questions are not mandatory so if you feel uncomfortable, do not
answer them. We ask them to help shape our sponsorship packages. Sponsors typically
want an idea of who they are financing and these questions help us give them
that information.