POLICY AND PROCEDURE

Approved: May 12, 2004

PLAYING-UP IN AGE GROUP FOR TRAVEL AND IN-HOUSE TEAMS

This policy replaces the now void March 9, 1993 and March 28, 2002 MSC Policies on these topics. It is the intent of MSC Board to encourage player development by remaining flexible on allowing players to Play Up in age brackets in cases of hardship and extraordinary physical prowess.

I. It is the responsibility of all coaches to make every effort to have enough players show up for a game so that you can get the game in. However, there will be time that a team will not have enough players to play. If this occurs it is the responsibility of the coach to notify the other coach that he is short players and they should come up with a solution to the problem so that the game can be played. The options are:

a) Borrow player(s) from the other team (your opponent), possibly switching player(s) at end of quarters so that kids don't feel that they are "traitors."

b) Borrow player(s) from another team in the same league. You must obtain permission of the other player's coach if that player has another game later in the day. Players from other teams cannot play if there is more than one player on the bench. Should the game get started with an extra player and some of your players show up late, the extra player must sit out the rest of the game (if there are more than one player on the bench). The extra player should understand that there is no guarantee of playing time. It is possible that the extra player will not play at all if enough players show up to play.

c) Play the game with fewer players than normal. Come to an agreement with the other coach as to how best to get the game in.

d) Reschedule game for another date when both teams will be able to field teams. This MUST be the solution of last resort. Rescheduling games creates a problem for parents as well as referee and practice field coordinators.

Under no circumstances can players that are registered in a younger league be permitted to play in the older league for these types of substitutions.

II. The leadership and playing strength exhibited by the better players entering the second year of the two year bracket is important if we are to maintain continuity and improve the caliber of the team as a unit. There will always be cases where a young player is capable of moving “up” and where coach/player interactions will reinforce the wish to move up.

Given the opportunities the “Cup” or “Select” program offers for advanced competition and the opportunity for leadership in his/her peer age group, requests for moving “up” shall be strongly resisted. The occasional player losses will be more than compensated for by the consistency and strengthening of the team and the overall club program.

In-House players shall be strongly discouraged against Playing Up. In rare hardship instances, as defined below, the MSC Board at its sole discretion may consider action to advance a player to an older In-House age group.

Parents must, to be considered for such an exception, follow a chain of inquiry as shown below. Cases of Hardship include:

- Demonstrated Inability of Parent and Child to participate in the Age Group games/practices.

- Demonstrated physical prowess that would be enhanced by Playing Up, but only in the 2^nd year of Age Group. Approval would only be made for that one season.

Players may be permitted to play-up under the following conditions, if the Board approves:

1. The parent shall meet with coach to jointly submit a letter to the Age Group Coordinator and MSC Board requesting permission for the child to play-up, the name of the current coach and team, the name of the new coach and team, the birth date of the child and the specific Hardship reasons for this request.

2. The current coach and Age Group Coordinator shall submit a letter to the Board stating their position about the transfer.

3. The new coach and new Age Group Coordinator shall submit a letter to the Board stating their position about the transfer.

4. The parents and coaches shall appear at a regularly scheduled Board meeting during the off season months of December, January, February, July, or August. Once teams are formed, no Age Group movement shall occur.

5. If agreement between all parties cannot be reached, the request shall be automatically denied. Even if these parties agree, the Board must approve the movement.

6. Under no circumstance will a player be permitted to move up if it leaves the current team with an inadequate number of players or would displace a player on the new team.

7. The Board will approve movement of the players only if it is the best interest of the club as a whole.