With more and more people investing in drones for recreational purposes, there has become a need for the Alberta Soccer Association (ASA) to set out initial guidelines and regulations with respect to their use above and around soccer fields during match play. Formal regulations from Canada Soccer are forthcoming.

These ASA guidelines and regulations are for the sole purpose of player and spectator safety.

Note that the Government of Canada policy requires any violation to be reported to Transport Canada or local police, not Alberta Soccer.

Our recommendations for referees if a drone is being used are:

1. Stop the game and try and find out who is operating the drone. It may or may not be someone involved in your game.
2. If it is someone connected with the game (coach or spectator), inform them through the appropriate team staff that the game will not continue until the drone is no longer being used.
3. If it is someone not connected with the game, you will need to determine the level of risk to the participants in the game, and decide whether the game can continue or not.
4. In either case, if the drone continues to be used, you will need to determine the level of risk to the participants in the game, and decide whether the game can continue or not.
5. If you feel that there is obvious risk to your participants, and the drone use cannot be stopped, then you should suspend or terminate the match and report full details to the appropriate authority. (League or Competition for game termination, Transport Canada or local police for drone use).
   Alberta Soccer will support you in this decision.
6. If you feel that the game can continue safely, but the drone use has not stopped, we strongly recommend reporting the activity to Transport Canada or the local police. http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/aviation/drone-safety/report-drone-incident.html

If you have any questions or concerns about the memo, please do not hesitate to contact Alberta Soccer.

Memo Alberta Soccer Position on Drones