Underage Player Policy

Effective June 18, 2024, the following policy will be applied to player movement requests as it relates to underage players who have been requested, or request on behalf of themselves to play ringette at an age level higher than their actual age level as determined by birth year. 

ASSOCIATION REQUESTS

The Association (represented by a Board Member, or Team Formation Committee members), or Head Coach may request that a player be moved up to play at an older age level if it is deemed favourable for all parties involved and approved by the Board.

They should provide rationale for why this is required, and the impact to:

• the player
• receiving team
• team that they will be leaving

This request should be made in consultation with the Head Coach of both teams (receiving team and team they would be leaving, if Head Coaches are named/known). 

The Team Formation Committee must approve the request before any players are approached by the Association and requested to play up at a higher age level.

A player may choose to accept or decline an offer to play at the higher age level, and ERA will never force a player to play on a team at a higher age level.  ERA will be required to explore other options to make teams viable if voluntary agreement cannot be made on player movement. 

NOTE:  Players on a two-team contract are not subject to this policy.

PLAYER/FAMILY REQUESTS 

A player/family may request to play in an age-division at a level higher than their proper age level (defined by birth year) for the upcoming season. 

The player/family must make this request, in writing, and will be asked to provide a letter of reference from their former Head Coach* stating that this player is exceptional among their peers and recommends that this player should play at a higher age level.

The reference letter may include the following supporting points:

• Explanation and recommendation based on the past season, whereby the player demonstrated skill that was exceptional in their peer group
• Player’s level of maturity
• Leadership quality
• Impact on their development - ie: will it hinder their development to stay at their designated age level
• Impact on the development of the players at the next age level (ie: the team that this player is requesting to join)

The Team Formation Committee will take this recommendation into consideration, along with other factors, before making a decision to grant an exception for an underage player. Other factors may include (but are not limited to):

• Number of years played at their proper age level (ie: 1st or 2nd year player, or has played at that level previously)
• Number of age divisions being skipped (ie: U12 to U14 vs. U12 to U16)
• Evaluations at their designated age-division tryout/sortout
• Size of the team(s) at both age divisions
• Ensure that the younger-aged player is not displacing age-appropriate players
• Ensure that the team they are leaving is not compromised or impacted negatively
• Team formation of both teams with respect to ensuring a balance of skills
• Overall needs of the association

*Note: The Head Coach may not be the parent of the player in question. In this case, a reference letter must be written by another member of the Bench staff without bias or input from the Head Coach. 

PROCESS

Players are encouraged to register in their proper age division. Exceptions to play as an underage player on a higher age-level team will not be granted until all steps above have been satisfied, including an on-ice evaluation.

A teams - all requests must be made in writing by March 31 

• Players must attend tryouts in their designated age division
• If deemed that this would be in the best interest of all players involved, and the player is exceptional among their peers, the Team Formation Committee, will invite the player to attend the tryout of the higher age level team
• The Team Formation Committee in conjunction with the Head Coach will then evaluate the player among their peers in the higher age division before making their final assessment. 
• If it is not deemed to be in the best interest of all players involved, this player will not be granted an exception to play underage on a higher age team.

B teams - all requests must be made in writing by July 31

• Players will attend the sort outs of their designated age division
• If deemed that this would be in the best interest of all players involved, and the player is exceptional among their peers, the Team Formation Committee, will invite the player to attend the sort out of the higher age level team
• The Team Formation Committee in conjunction with the Head Coach will then evaluate the player among their peers in the higher age division before making their final assessment. 
• If it is not deemed to be in the best interest of all players involved, this player will not be granted an exception to play underage on a higher age team.

(For the purpose of this policy, 12A is considered a Regional B team)

Any exceptions or requests outside of this policy, must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.