Divisional Playing Up Policy

A player wishing to play up must try out for the highest level team in the older age group, and be in the top 1/3 of the skill/playing level for that team.

A request to play up must be made in writing, by email to the age group co-ordinator, at least two weeks prior to the published evaluation dates for the age group the player wishes to join. The request will be evaluated by a committee consisting of affected age group coordinators, the Divisional Coordinator and the technical director who will make a recommendation to the Board. No underage player may register for a team until approval to do so is granted by the Board. This will be strictly adhered to.

Factors that the committee may consider in reaching a decision include:

• In the situation where a player who is playing in a non-tiered environment is seeking to play up a year that is tiered, refer to the house league playing up policy. In this circumstance only, the playing up policy will be less restrictive.
• There are no teams available for the player in his/her age level.
• A team in the older age group requires additional players to be viable and there are not enough players in that age group.
• The player's social maturity, motivation, commitment, physical maturity and abilities must be equivalent to the other players on the team to which he/she is seeking placement.

The parents must be fully informed of the player's options and the pros and cons of each option.

The evaluation committee may consult with the coordinator and the coaches for the player's own age category.

Coaches may not recruit underage players. Underage players should not be invited to annual evaluations. However, if under-age players wish to attend evaluation sessions, we will not deny access.

House League Playing Up Policy
DSA strongly encourages all its players to play in their natural age group. Any players wishing to play up an age group should make a request to the DSA Technical Director and Executive via their age group coordinator by February 1.

Factors that will be considered in granting or denying a request include:

• Will the player’s development be stunted if he/she plays in his/her natural age group?
• Does the player give the team he/she is playing on an unfair or disproportional advantage? Being the “best player in the age group does not automatically satisfy this consideration.
• Does the player have the ability to compete physically with the players in the older age group?
• What are the likely impacts on the team/age group that player is leaving and on the team/age group the player is requesting to join?

Mid-season requests, which are generally disruptive, will be held to a higher level of scrutiny. It is strongly recommended that all requests to play up a year be completed by February 1. However, missing this deadline does not automatically preclude players from being able to play up a year. Players with compelling reasons for their request will be reviewed a on a case by case basis.

The playing up policy will be less restrictive in situations when a player who is playing in an un-tiered environment is seeking to try out for an age group that is tiered. Players must apply in writing at least two weeks before evaluations, if applicable, for the age group they wish to try out for. In this circumstance, the underage player must be in the top quarter of all players in their natural age group as determined by the player’s coach and DSA’s Technical Director. If this requirement is met, then the player will be permitted to register for evaluations for the older age group. Players will be placed on a team/level that best suits their development which may be in the older age group or in their natural age group as determined by the Technical Director and other evaluators.

House League Playing Down Policy
DSA strongly encourages all its players to play in their natural age group. Any players wishing to play down an age group should make a request to the DSA Technical Director and Executive via their age group coordinator. All such requests will be dealt with on a case by case basis with the executive granting/denying the request after consideration of all of the factors involved and all parties affected.

Any player granted permission to play down an age group will have to return to their natural age group once they leave House League and enter Divisional play. There are to be no players playing down an age group on a Dunbar Divisional team as the Club must abide by the rules that govern all Divisional Teams in the various leagues.