Underage Player Policy

Effective Date: Sept 15, 2018

Purpose

This policy establishes the approach and process for the Whitby Ringette Association (WRA) to handle requests from parents to allow a player to tryout and play on a team in an older birth year.

This policy does not apply to situations when the WRA, of its own accord, makes a decision to move players up or down age divisions to balance team rosters. In such cases the WRA Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, move players between teams and age divisions as it deems appropriate.

WRA Board Approvals may be delegated to a separate committee if agreed to by the Board.

Policy Statement

1. The WRA does not encourage players to play in a division above the athletes birth age. Players will be encouraged to play with their age peers except in the most extraordinary circumstances.

2. Players who demonstrate significantly advanced skill and ability may, at the WRA board discretion, be permitted to play in a division a maximum of 1 year above their birth year (eg. 9 year old playing in the U12 division may be permitted; 10 year old playing in the U14 division will not be permitted under any circumstances).

3. This procedure applies each year, a player granted permission in one season does not guarantee they will be granted permission in subsequent years.

4. At anytime during the season the WRA Executive Board can return a player to their age appropriate team due to, but not limited to, social development, skill development, or safety concerns.

5. All decisions are final and not appealable.

Procedure

Provincial Teams (P, A, AA)

1. Parents must apply in writing to the WRA President for permission to tryout for a provincial team in a higher age division a minimum of 1 week prior to the first tryout.

2. Parents will be required to acknowledge and accept that:

a. There may be social conduct, language and conversations in the higher division that the player is not accustomed to; and

b. There may be additional risk of injury

c. The player may be moved to their age appropriate team at any time during the season at WRA Board discretion, with no financial compensation if costs differ between the two teams.

3. The WRA board will review the written application and advise the parent of a decision whether the player is permitted to tryout for the provincial team in the older division. This decision will be based on, but not limited to;

a. The player’s skills are significantly above those of their peers and the competitive level of play in the division;

b. There is a reasonable expectation that the player may be selected to the higher age bracket team;

c. It will not materially disadvantage the balance of the players in either division; and

d. It is determined that there is no safety risk to the underage player during the tryout process.

4. The applicant will be informed that they are permitted to attend the tryout for the higher team, but must also attend the tryouts for their appropriate age team if applicable.

5. The player will only be selected for the team if;

a. All WRA evaluators and the team’s head coach determine the player to be in the top 4 skaters or top goalie on the team. This is to ensure fairness for appropriate age players competing for a position on the team;

b. All WRA evaluators and the team’s head coach feel there is no significant safety risk above if the player stayed in the appropriate division for their age; and

c. The team’s head coach feels that the player is socially mature enough that the experience won’t be detrimental to the player or the other members of the team. This may require a discussion between the coach, the player, the players parent and a representative of the WRA.

6. The WRA Board in it’s sole and absolute discretion can make any decision it considers to be appropriate under the circumstance.

Regional Teams (B)

Players must first register in their age appropriate division.
Parents must apply in writing to the WRA President before July 31^st prior to the start of the season.
Parents will be required to acknowledge and accept that:
1. There may be social conduct, language and conversations in the higher division that the player is not accustomed to; and
2. There may be additional risk of injury
3. The player may be moved to their age appropriate team at any time during the season at WRA Board discretion, with no financial compensation if costs differ between the two teams.
The WRA board will review the written application and advise the parent of a decision whether the player is permitted to join the team in the older division. This decision will be based on, but not limited to;
1. The player’s skills are significantly above those of their peers and the competitive level of play in the division;
2. It will not materially disadvantage the balance of the players in either division;
3. There is no significant safety risk above if the player stayed in the appropriate division for their age; and
4. The team’s head coach feels that the player is socially mature enough that the experience won’t be detrimental to the player or the other members of the team. This may require a discussion between the coach, the player, the players parent and a representative of the WRA.
The WRA Board in it’s sole and absolute discretion can make any decision it considers to be appropriate under the circumstance.