How do contracts, transfers, loans and releases work?

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Contracts A professional player signs an OPL registration and waiver form and a professional contract countersigned by the club, with copies to the player and the league. A professional contract must end no later than December 31 of any year. An amateur player signs an OPL registration and waiver form, and may sign a supplemental amateur contract with the club. An amateur cannot be contracted for more than one season, and the contract ends on December 31 of the year it was signed. An amateur (or the club) can ask the OPL Registrar to end the registration 30 days after the team's last official OPL match of the season. Neither side can end a contract unilaterally during its term. A player can terminate for a material breach by the club after notifying the club and the league in writing, and the club then has 10 days to fix it, release the player or show there was no breach. Playing time clause: an amateur registered to an OPL roster who has appeared in fewer than 10% of their team's official matches by June 22, 2026 may ask for release on the grounds of "sporting just cause". A professional with under 10% of appearances may terminate on the same ground, but only within 30 days of the team's last official match of the season. Transfers, loans and releases Amateurs cannot be loaned out; they can be transferred through an official Player Transfer agreement. A player's request for release, transfer or loan goes in writing to the OPL team on the official form, with a copy to the league. If the club refuses a release, the player can appeal to the league's Board. All transfer and loan agreements must be approved by the OPL before they are official. While registered to an OPL team you cannot play an official match for another Ontario Soccer or Canada Soccer team in the outdoor season unless you were officially transferred or released. No player may be registered by more than 3 different licence holders in a season, and may play official matches for a maximum of 2. A club may re-sign any player registered with it as of December 1. Players may sign freely with a new club from January 1. A player who moved clubs in a season is "Cup Tied" and cannot play League Cup matches for the new club if they were on the previous club's League Cup match roster that season. Improper recruitment: no club representative may contact a player registered with another licence holder without that club's prior written consent.