Underage Player Policy

 

Purpose

This policy establishes the approach of the Abbotsford Female Hockey Association (AFHA) to requests made by parents or players to allow a player to try out for and play on teams in older birth years.

The remainder of the Policy does not apply to situations in which AFHA, of its own accord, makes a decision to move players up or down age divisions, which decisions involve different considerations (including, but not limited to, the balancing of teams and age divisions as well as the placement of coaches) and apply in different situations than set out in the remainder of the Policy. In such cases, the Board of Directors of AFHA (the “Board”) may, in its sole and absolute discretion, move players between teams and age divisions as it deems appropriate.

Policy Statement

  1. AFHA does not encourage players playing up an age division in those circumstances that this Policy applies. In such circumstances, it is the policy of AFHA to encourage players to play with their same age peers except in the most extraordinary circumstances.
  2. Players who demonstrate significantly advanced skills and abilities may, at the discretion of the Board, be permitted to try out for the A level team (or C1 team in the case where teams are tiered and there is no A level) in the next older birth year division if:
    1. The player’s skill are significantly above those of her same age peers and the competitive level of play in the division;
    2. There is a reasonable expectation that the player will be selected to the rep team of the next higher age bracket; and
    3. It will not materially disadvantage the balance of the players in either age division.

Procedure

  1. Parents must apply in writing to the Board of AFHA for permission to try out for a rep team in a higher age division or to be placed on a higher aged division team when no rep level team exists.
  2. Parents will be required to acknowledge and accept that:
    1. There may be social conduct and conversation in the higher aged division that the player is not accustomed to; and
    2. There may be additional risk of injury
  3. The Board will review the written application and make a decision as to whether the player is permitted to try out for the rep team in the older division (or C1 team if there is no rep team).
  4. The Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion, make any decision it considers appropriate in the circumstance
  5. If the Board provides its appeal and:
    1. If a rep team exists (including Atom C1), the player may participate in the evaluations for the higher level team:
      1. If the player is selected as one of the top 3 players by the independent evaluators during the usual evaluation process and if the head coach of the higher level team agrees that the player should be part of the team, that player will be placed on the team. If the player is not selected as one of the top 3 after the independent evaluation process, the player will return to their division and may join the working group to be considered for selection to the rep team in her division.
      2. If the goalie is evaluated as the top goalie by the independent evaluators during the usual evaluation process and if the head coach of the higher level team agrees that the player should be part of the team, that goalie will be placed on the team. If the goalie is not selected as the top goalie, the goalie will return to their division and may join the working group for selection to the rep team in their division.
    2. If no rep level team exists and try outs are not required, the player will be placed on a team in the higher division.

 2017-07-31