The season resumes September 11.
For the rest of the year all games are scheduled on the Potvin fields.
Expect an e-mail about an informal pickup game over the labour day long weekend.

Dragons are holding ANOTHER tournament (second week in a row) at Shefford Potvin and Hornets Nest on SATURDAY AUGUST 28.
Blackburn Arms games are again relocated to Tauvette, Barrington and Carriere.

YELLOW v ORANGE at TAUVETTE
GREEN v BLUE at BARRINGTON
SILVER v RED at CARRIERE

To confirm where the pitch is located, click on the FIELDS tab in the column to the left and then call up the associated map.

Let your manager know (always) if you will be absent so that he has the option to request call ups if the team needs numbers boosted.

Rob Beanlands, who purchased the defibrilator we all hope will never need to be used, will be giving instruction on its use at the Potvin fields at 9 am May 29th. Managers are requested to attend, and all others interested and or concerned are welcome too.

Congratulations to Andrew Proctor and his light-green shirted Montserrat team for ending at the top of the regular season standings of the 2009-2010 indoor season. Notwithstanding the lower accumulation of points from the start in November 2009 your perseverence won through with your string of wins in 2010 pushing you through to the top.
Congratulations to Greg Leger and his yellow shirted Brazil on their victory in the playoffs cup final. Darryl, congratulations on winning the golden boot, and speedy recovery from your injury !

To be admitted to this league, you’re expected to be recognized as someone who does everything he can to respect the safety and enjoyment of other players. That means if, in the opinion of the league executive and its prior season managers, you have or gain a reputation as a player who regularly a) makes careless or reckless tackles because you’re overly competitive, b) makes careless or reckless tackles because you can’t recognize that your lack of experience should prevent you from trying any such sort of contact in the first place, c) berates and badgers teammates, opponents and referees and c) plays selfishly or with no consideration for lesser skilled teammates, your application to play will be turned down, or your playing privileges withdrawn, as circumstances warrant.

The BA Soccer League does not suffer brutes, butchers and boors. To be accepted into and kept in this league, you have to be seen as someone that everyone likes to play with and referee for, because you compete fairly, respect everyone, do everything in your power to avoid hurting or insulting others, and show remorse if ever you slip up on that front. If your profile doesn’t fit these criteria, the league executive, in consultation with its prior season managers, will turn down your application or eject you from the league, as applicable. Bad behaviour turns us off as much as good beer turns us on: keep this in mind as you complete your registration.

The league is now full. However we can still accept a few more spares players. If a team is very short of players they can request players from the spares list to help out for that particular game. Also in the event one of the full-time players is hurt or moves to a new job outside Ottawa, and decides to withdraw, that would open up an opportunity for a player on the spares list to move full time onto a team. In prior years there have always been plenty of opportunities for spares players to become full time players part way through the season. By the end of the season almost all players who initially signed on as spares wanting to join a team full time had done so.

Note: The Blackburn Arms Soccer League is for men 25+ years of age (18+ in the case of goalkeepers)
The average age of our existing players is 41.
Outdoor games are played Saturdays 10 a.m. until noon late May till late fall. We never play on long weekends. Most games are played at the Potvin fields. All players are ranked on their skill level and distributed as equally as possible between all six teams.

U25 men and women, interested in playing in the summer please visit http://www.promotionscanada.biz/pythonSoccer.htm
(message posted at the request of the Gloucester Pythons)

This year’s AGM will be held, as usual, at the Blackburn Arms Pub, once indoor season players have arrived from the dome after their Thursday evening games.

Please plan to attend, ready to guide your executive on the direction you want your league to take going forward. Please also consider offering your services in some volunteer capacity. We need to spread the load of reponsibility for the running of the league more widely. PHIL RUSSELL WAS ELECTED AS AN ADDITIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, PLUS OTHER VOLUNTEERS WILL TAKE ON RESPONSIBILITIES
SEE POSTED LIST BELOW: PLEASE VOLUNTEER – SEE STEVE / E-MAIL STEVE

1) TROPHIES COORDINATOR: THIS INCLUDES TAKING EXISTING TROPHIES TO THE ENGRAVER TO GET TEAM NAMES AND PLAYER NAMES ADDED, AND PICK-UP AFTER THE JOB IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERY BACK TO THE PUB. THIS SUMMER IT WILL ALSO INCLUDE PURCHASING A NEW KEEPER OF THE SUMMER TROPHY
2) TEAM SHIRTS ORDERS FOR SUMMER, PLUS ARRANGING FOR SHIRTS TO BE NUMBERED. TEAM SHIRTS ORDERS FOR WINTER PLUS NUMBERING, PLUS ORDERING AND PICKING UP PRIZE TEE-SHIRTS / SWEATSHIRTS FOR THE WINNING TEAMS.
3) FIELD BOOKING COORDINATOR. THIS INVOLVES POTENTIALLY FREQUENT COMMUNICATION WITH THE GSA FIELDS COORDINATOR WHO WILL IN TURN COORDINATE WITH THE CITY ASSIGNOR. WE NEED TO BE CERTAIN WE HAVE OUR FIELDS BOOKED AND THAT WE HAVE CITY OF OTTAWA PROOF TO THAT EFFECT, AND THAT FIELDS ARE NOT BOOKED AND ASSIGNED TO US IF WE DO NOT NEED THEM BECAUSE WE WILL BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THEM IF THEY ARE BOOKED IN OUR NAME WHETHER OR NOT WE ASKED FOR THEM. THIS JOB REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE PATIENCE AS WELL AS DOGGED DETERMINATION WITH A NEVER GIVE UP BEING A NUISANCE TILL THE JOB IS DONE RIGHT DISPOSITION WITH AN OFFSETTING DOSE OF THE HUMILITY NEEDED TO GET COOPERATION FROM OTHERS. PERHAPS THIS JOB SHOULD REALLY BE TITLED FIELDS BOOKING DIPLOMAT. ESTIMATED TIME ON PHONE AND ON E-MAILS IN SUMMER 2009, EIGHT HOURS CUMULATIVE.
4) WINTER DOME BOOKING COORDINATON (ESTIMATED CUMULATIVE TIME IN 2008-09 MAYBE TWO HOURS OR LESS, ESTIMATED CUMULATIVE TIME IN 2009-10 SEVEN OR MORE HOURS DUE TO THE TIME NEEDED TO ENGAGE IN REPEATED LOBBYING)

Items that have been brought to our attention for discussion at the 2010 AGM
- should the league create two separate divisions, one for younger players and one for older players INSUFFICIENT SUPPORT FOR THIS AT THIS TIME
- should the league keep all players in just one division but change the minimum age from the current 25 up to 35 (at least for new players joining)CURRENT AGE STRUCTURE WILL BE MAINTAINED
- should the league season avoid scheduling games the last Saturday of September (since every year many players have to be absent due to conflicts with the Kanata tournament that date) and play the Sunday following instead KEEP TO SATURDAYS
- should the outdoor season be shortened NO
- should the league only accept players with demonstrated skill, and if so how would that be determined; likewise should the league exclude players whose skill level is too great
- some players newer to the game attempt irresponsible tackles that risk injury to other players, not through malicious intent but through inability and inexperience. A procedure for “identifying” such players needs to be adopted, along with a requirement on such a player to amend his ways or be suspended permanently from playing in the league, regardless of whether the “problem” has been identified by referees or not.
.. and what about players with other anti-social behaviours ? A COMMITTEE WILL BE FORMED RE GUIDELINES AND DECISIONS ON THESE ABOVE ISSUES
- update format for end of season tournament to account for seasons having eight teams rather than six POOL B EVEN, POOL A ODD
- the league needs a keeper of the summer award AGREED .. based on what parameters ?
- for the indoor season, we should permit a team to use a player from another team as its goalkeeper if the other player has no scheduled game at the required time, and no keeper on the spares/call-up list is available. AGREED, SUBJECT TO CONTROL BY SPARES COORDINATOR
- the indoor season team size should be reduced from eleven players per team to ten players per team with the cost per player proportionately increased. REMAINS AT ELEVEN
- change indoor rules to include a modified off-side HONOUR BASIS THAT FORBIDS HOCKEY STYLE SCREENING OF THE KEEPER AS PRIMARY OBJECTIVE PLUS REFS TO ENFORCE EXISTING RULES MORE STRINGENTLY IN THIS RESPECT
- consider loosened spares rules to permit the spares manager more discretionary leeway AGREED, WHEN TEAM LOSES A PLAYER PERMANENTLY
- buy a defibrillator to have on hand at the Potvin fields.AGREED, WITH VOLUNTEERS TO TAKE TRAINING
- all summer teams should be supplied with the same colour (white) socks rather than each team its own colour socks AGREED TO BUY ONLY BLACK FOR EVERYBODY

The teams as now posted are the teams who play this coming Thursday evening.
May the selections and distributions prove fair and equitable, with no team persistently dominant over all others. Over the next few weeks we will be observing the relative strengths of teams, especially with respect to the newer players who have joined us. If we feel it is necessary, we will consider modifications to teams in an ongoing attempt to keep strengths relatively balanced.

Your game kicks off either at 7pm or at 8 pm on Thursday (click on games tab to the left to access the schedules). The only way you will know what time to show up is to keep a close watch on the schedule consulting it in advance each week. Do not assume that once posted the times cannot change. It may occasionally be necessary to alter your planned kick-off time (especially in the case of games requiring a spare keeper to play for the team), so on an ongoing basis please keep a look-out for possible scheduling modifications.

Expect also to get an e-mail from your manager seeking to confirm whether you will or will not be able to make it to play and make sure to respond if you will be absent. We maintain a three strikes you’re out policy. If you pesistently fail to show up without advising your manager in advance that you will be absent then we reserve the right to move you off the team and replace you with someone more reliable.

He can’t play the ball on the ground…
There is nothing in the Laws of the game that prohibits playing the ball on the ground but, Law 12 prohibits “ playing in a dangerous manner “. Therefore, if in the opinion of the referee a player plays in manner that is dangerous to him or, to an opponent , play is topped and an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.
Hand Ball
The Laws of the Game allow for the awarding of a direct free kick to the opposing team if a player “ handles the ball deliberately ( except for the keeper within his own penalty area)” . If, in the opinion of the referee , there was no deliberate movement of the hand to the ball , then there is no infraction of the Laws of the Game.
The FIFA interpretation of the Laws allow for a player to be in a normal stance. So, if a player’s arms are above his head and the ball strikes his hands it is a hand ball because he deliberately moved his arms and hands to that position. If a player covers his privates when standing in a wall and the ball is kicked into his arms and hands, this would not be a hand ball.
When we come to the pitch to play we can’t leave our arms and hands at home!
I got the ball ref!!
The interpretation of Law #12 has been refined .. tackling an opponent can now be a foul or misconduct if, in the opinion of the referee, the tackle was careless, reckless or, excessive force was used .
Even if the tackler got the ball , a careless tackle could result in the award of a direct free kick; a reckless tackle , the issuing of a caution ( yellow card) and, a tackle using excessive force, the issuing of a dismissal ( red card).

Because no league can thrive without its gentlemen

It’s odd, but the trophy we hand out for sports-mindedness and exemplary conduct has two footballer figurines entangled in a not-so-loving tackle, with one seeming to be getting the better of the other. If there were a third figurine, a ref, he’d likely have his hand up, brandishing a yellow card. But the lads who know the BA, know that the trophy is dedicated to the player being fouled (or at least that’s how they proudly explain it).

Truth be told, they’re right. Virtually all of the fouls “committed” in Ottawa’s arguably most gentlemanly league are accidental—and when they aren’t, they’re mostly done in jest…or during what the league’s officials have come to call “an unfortunate stress-induced brain cramp.”

Yet, someone is always on the receiving end of that jest or brain cramp, and the Spirit of the League Award salutes all those fearless, fair-spirited footballers who not only know how to let the odd foolish foul roll off their tibia like a bad first touch, but also show up to play week after week after week in a contagious good mood and in a spritely spirit that has teammates and opponents alike eager to share the pitch with them.

The Blackburn Arms Men’s Soccer League is honoured to have these gentlemen in its midst. They keep things sane and safe. They help mates crack smiles instead of each others’ skulls. They make BA Saturdays therapeutic. Ever supportive of their teammates and respectful of their opponents and referees, they represent everything the BA Soccer League aspires to be.

Please join us in saluting both the nominees and the winner of the 2009 Blackburn Arms Soccer SOTLA, as proposed by and voted on by each team’s manager:

Deserving Nominees, who would probably nominate others in their place:
Wayde Gilmour
Kerry Skipper
Dale Mackenzie
Ron Palaczka
Kerry Skipper
Howard Weingarden
Mark White

The 2009 Winner, who’d likely want the other nominees’ names along his own on the plaque:
Dave “Brownie” Brown

Boys, may your influence become an indelible mark on our own approach to “the beautiful game.”

The 2009 outdoor season ended with Green Shift at the top of the regular season standings’ table. Green Shift also won a spot in the playoff final by coming in at the top of their pool A, but the blue shirted Rangers, winners of pool B, maintained enough pressure in the final to gain a one-nil victory, and take the Cup Champions’ title.

Our 2009-2010 indoor season will run on Thursday evenings from November 5th to the last Thursday in April. Games will be played in the Gloucester Superdome, two at 7 pm followed by two at 8 pm.

THE LEAGUE IS AT FULL CAPACITY.
THOSE WHO SIGN UP FROM THIS POINT ON WILL BE ON THE SPARES/CALL UP LIST.
Usually spots open up during the course of the year as players move out of town or sometimes decide to withdraw due to conflicts with other activities or injury. Players on the spares list will then be given an opportunity to take the place of a departing player and go full-time.
Cost is $300 for regular players and $150 for keepers, $20 for players on the spares list (plus $10 per game). Make your cheque out to BA SOCCER INDOOR.

Winter_2009-10_Registration_form.pdf

Note: The Blackburn Arms Soccer League is for men 25+ years of age (18+ in the case of goalkeepers)
All players are ranked on their skill level and distributed as equally as possible between all eight teams. Average age is 41.

Outdoor season games are played Saturdays at 10 a.m. until noon. Most games are played at the Potvin fields.

AGM 2009 notes
BA Soccer warmly welcomes Ray Martel onto the league executive as our new vice-president. Profound thanks to you, Mike Murphy, for your unfailing dedication and commitment towards the smoothe functioning of the league over the past decade, and happy retirement from the countless admin and other functions you so faithfully and capably performed. Steve Cock remains on as president, Paul Stanisci as treasurer, and Dave Knibbs as director of discipline procedures.
AGM_19Feb2009_minutes.pdf
Winter_2007_08_and_Summer_2008_Season.pdf
AGM_21Feb2008_minutes.pdf

This is the new website for the Blackburn Arms Soccer League. The older version is located at http://devel.rossenglass.com