DISCUSSION PAPER: FORMATION AND REGISTRATION OF “AA” AND “A” TEAMS

( ...if you have proposals, please submit them for discussion )

OPTION ONE:

1. “To register a team, seven players must be based in the home association or be grandfathered to that association.”

Rationale:

• a team must have seven players to play a game.

• ensures skill level at A and AA levels as teams will have enough players to be competitive.

• allows development of players.

2. “To form and register a competitive team at either the A or AA level, seven players must be of calibre.”

Discussion:

• three coaches from other associations at the same playing level would verify that a player is of calibre.

• the calibre should be evaluated before teams can be declared.

OPTION TWO:

Long-term development at the association level: associations will use a (minimum) three year plan for all levels of play offered in their association. Assocations will maintain competitive levels over the long term or forfeit the right to that level allowing players to move to chosen associations. Athletes need to establish themselves within an association and a competitive stream and not flip-flop. (Note: for this option, “composite team” will refer to a team formed using players from more than one association who have a history of playing at the declared level. “Chosen association” will be defined by the ERRA policy.

Novice: associations would have Regional B and C teams.

Petite: associations would have Provincial teams and Regional B and C teams.

• Provincial teams would be formed using the more competitive athletes.

• Provincial teams would be ranked for seeding for an end of year event, e.g. Provincials

Tween: associations would have Provincial “AA” and “A” teams and Regional B and C teams.

• Provincial teams would be formed using the more competitive athletes.

• Provincial teams would be declared at the end of the current playing season based on success and the number of athletes registered.

• Teams would declare either “AA” or “A” depending on the long term plan and commitment of the association.

• Associations that plan to have teams retain a “AA” ranking will declare the teams in odd years as “AA” regardless of their competitive level.

Junior: associations would have Provincial “AA” and “A” teams and Regional B and C teams.

• Provincial teams would be formed using the more competitive athletes.

• Provincial teams at the “AA” level would be declared at the end of the current playing season for those teams that currently have a “AA” team or a “AA” feeder team.

• Provincial teams cannot be formed at the “AA” level if there is no existing “AA” team or “AA” feeder team.

• Associations that plan to have teams retain a “AA” ranking will declare the teams in odd years as “AA” regardless of their competitive level.

• Provincial teams can be formed by creating a composite team from more than one association if there are enough competitive athletes. This composite team will declare with one association which will become the athletes' “chosen” association.

Belle: associations would have Provincial “AA” and “A” teams and Regional B and C teams.

• Provincial teams would be formed using the more competitive athletes.

• Provincial teams at the “AA” level would be declared at the end of the current playing season for those teams that currently have a “AA” team or a “AA” feeder team.

• Provincial teams cannot be formed at the “AA” level if there is no existing “AA” team or “AA” feeder team.

• Associations that plan to have teams retain a “AA” ranking will declare the teams in odd years as “AA” regardless of their competitive level.

• Provincial teams can be formed by creating a composite team from more than one association if there are enough competitive athletes. This composite team will declare with one association which will become the athletes' “chosen” association.

OPTION THREE:

....please feel free to submit your ideas.