GCRA Policy - Underage Players

Underage Players Policy - This policy was implemented by a motion of the GCRA Executive in April, 2008

Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette Association (GCRA) -
Policy On Underaged Players   (Novice to Belle)


There are times when the Association Executive has to consider, for the overall good of the association, requesting a player or players to play at an age level above their own.

As well, sometimes a Novice player’s skills are such that the player and/or their parents consider whether or not they should or could play at the Petitie competitive level (there is no A or AA level in Novice).

This policy provides guidelines around these two situations.

Players Playing At An Older Age Level At The Request Of GCRA. (Novice to Belle)

There will be times when registration numbers are such that our ability to field a team at a given age and division relies entirely on the Association requesting that one or two underage players participate in that division. Asking this girl to "play up" benefits the association in general, but more importantly, 8 or 9 other girls who would otherwise be unable to play on a reasonably sized team. (Normally, the alternative to doing this is to collapse the older levels into one or two teams that are excessively large.) In this situation the following guidelines apply.

  1. Association officials will only make such a request when 3 or less players are required to field a team of 10 at that next age level, and that request would not leave the younger level with teams of less than 10 players. Requests will always be first addressed to the parents of the player.
  2. Association officials will identify players who could safely play at the next age category. Only players in the last year of their age category will be requested to play up, with the permission of their parents.
  3. Players will be asked to play up in order of their birthdates in the year.
  4. A decision by the Executive to request a player to play up is one that is not taken lightly. Sometimes parents or coaching staff feel the caliber of their team has been adversely affected by such a move. Parents, players, and coaches are asked to remember that the request has been made for the good of the Association in general, and to ensure each girl has a chance to play on a reasonably sized team.

Novice Players trying out for Petite A or AA Level

Situations occur where a Novice player’s skill level causes the player/parent to consider their participation at the Petite Competitive level. In these situations, the following guidelines apply.

  1. As it is not the intention of GCRA to make a player play at a caliber that is well below their demonstrated ability, players in their final year of Novice age will be permitted to tryout at the Petite A or AA level, subject to the conditions that follow.
  2. It must be the judgment of GCRA Executive that the player stands a reasonable chance of success in trying out at the higher level (as demonstrated in past years of play).
  3. In no case will a Novice player be permitted to displace an "of age" player of caliber at the Petite A or AA level. The procedure that will be followed to determine the point at which the Novice player will be invited to the Petite competitive tryout is the same as that detailed in the Out of Area Policy.
  4. Only Novice players who in the opinion of the Petite A or AA tryout evaluators, rank in the top 2/3rds of the players of caliber required to form the team (including out of area players) will stay on the Petite competitive team, subject to 3 above.
  5. A Novice player who is not selected for the Petite A or AA team returns to play at the Novice level.
  6. In the event that Gloucester does not offer the Petite competitive level of play that the Novice player is seeking, GCRA will grant that player permission to tryout (only at the desired level) with a neighboring Association.
Introduction
   
While it is STRONGLY PREFERRED that players participate in their age appropriate age group, it is recognized that from time to time, the GCRA may need to consider the matter of an underage player being permitted to "play up" an age group.
   
At times, the matter may be advanced by the GCRA (e.g. to enable a team to be formed at an older age group or to relieve excess numbers at a lower age group). There will be times when registration numbers are such that ability to field a team at a given age and division relies entirely on GCRA requesting that one or more underage players participate in that division. Asking this player to "play up" benefits GCRA in general, but more importantly, a group of other players who would otherwise be unable to play on a reasonably sized team. (Normally, the alternative to doing this is to collapse the older levels into one or two teams that are excessively large.)
   
At other times, the matter may be advanced by an interested or affected party  (e.g. a parent/guardian or a coach).
   
Note: it is understood that from time to time, temporary (game by game) instances of underage players 'playing up' an age group is necessary in order for a coach to field a team (e.g. illness, injury, player absence). Provided the request is temporary and in accordance with appropriate GCRA, NCRRL and/or ORA regulations, the request falls outside this policy and shall be left to the interested parties to manage. GCRA reserves the right to intervene should a recurring or special circumstance warrant GCRA involvement.
   
For permanent instances advanced by the GCRA, policy guidance is in existence and will be used by the GCRA in making a decision. For permanent requests advanced by an interested party, some policy guidance has been developed for certain circumstances which will also be utilized by the GCRA in rendering a decision.
   
Decision making process
   
In order to consider a request for a player to play in an older age group, the following process shall be used:
   
    - It shall first be determined by the VP of the appropriate division (e.g. Competitive or House League) whether the request merits review on the following basis (a plus b plus c plus d OR e):
   
    a. The request has been made in writing by the GCRA or an interested party; and,
    b. The affected player(s) are in her/their final year of the lower age group; and,
    c. The affected player(s) are to attend the tryouts of the lower age group to demonstrate appropriate competitive calibre; and,
    d. GCRA has determined there is a need for a player or more than one player to play at an older age group in order for a team to be formed at the older age group or to relieve excess numbers at a lower age group or some combination of the two situations; or,
    e. Players have been released from the younger age group as the, or part of the, final release(s) from tryouts.
   
- If the request merits review, a three person ad hoc panel consisting of the President (or President's designate), a VP (preferably of the appropriate division - Competitive or House League but circumstances may dictate other wise) and one other member of the GCRA Executive shall be convened to consider the request(s).
   
    a. In forming the panel, consideration should be given to using best efforts to be free of real or perceived conflict of interest - that is, the three members should not have an interest in the teams affected (e.g. team staff or child involved, or child involved on either of the affected teams)
    b. In rendering a decision, consensus among the panel is preferred and the President (or designate) should only vote to break a tie, should the other two members disagree.
    c. The decision taken by the panel shall:
     
    		• accept the request to allow the player(s) to move to the older division and tryout for the team;
         
    		• accept the request to allow the player(s) to move to the older division and place the player(s) on a team; or
         
    		• reject the request to allow the player(s) to move to the older division.
        d. The decision of the panel shall be final and binding on all parties and NOT subject to appeal to the GCRA Executive.
       
    - While consideration of the request should be undertaken in a timely fashion, care should be taken to enable all necessary factors to be considered.
       
    - While the request is being considered, and with permission of the GCRA and the parents/guardian, the respective player(s) should participate in the older age group tryouts with no obligation on the part of the GCRA to grant the request.
       
    GCRA Request
       
    A GCRA request shall be in considered in light of the following guidelines:
       
    - A decision by the Executive to request a player to play up is one that should not be taken lightly. Sometimes parents or coaching staff feel the calibre of their team has been adversely affected by such a move. Parents, players, and coaches are asked to remember that the request has been made for the good of the Association in general, and to ensure each girl has a chance to play on a reasonably sized team.
    - 3 or fewer players are required to field a team of 10 at that next age level, and that request would not leave the younger level with teams of less than 10 players.
    - Requests will first be addressed to the parents of the player(s) and would only be permitted to play in the older age group with the permission of their parents/guardians.
    - A player or players will be identified who could safely play at the next age category.
    - If more than one player could be considered, players will be approached to play up in order of their birthdates in the year with older players approached first.
       
    Request by another party
       
    A request from another party shall be in considered in light of the following guidelines:
       
    		• The parents/guardian of the affected player(s) shall be permitted to outline their request (verbally or in writing) for consideration by the panel.
    		• The affected coach of the lower age group team should be consulted by the panel (verbally or in writing) to assess her/his view of the impact of the player(s) being released from the lower age group.
    		• The affected coach of the older age group team(s) should be consulted by the panel (verbally or in writing) to assess her/his view of the impact of the player(s) being permitted to tryout for (or be placed on) the older age group team.
    		• Content Considerations (not an exhaustive list):
       
    		• Team composition - Ample players of appropriate competitive calibre in the age division the player wishes to leave.
       
    		• Team composition - Player(s) moving up should not displace any player of age and competitive calibre at the higher age.
       
    		• If the player(s) participate in the tryouts for the older age group, as a demonstration of their appropriate competitive calibre, they should finish the tryouts ranking no lower than the lowest of the skaters of appropriate age who make the team for the division.
       
    		• Social factors - age spread, maturity and social issues between the youngest and oldest player on the team.
       
    		• Extenuating circumstances.
                     

     

    This policy was implemented by a motion of the GCRA Executive in April, 2008