Exec Statement re: Junior Rule Changes

UPDATE (15/08/2018): A junior player may play for another team in an older age group so long as their main registered club doesn't have a team registered in that age group. The parent must complete a Cross Registration Request & Consent Form in order to trigger the process: https://goo.gl/forms/j17QouiWvDiB2SPQ2 

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Dear Members,

Following recent queries and concerns raised by several members in regard to below three points, I would like to confirm the league's position for the 2018/19 season and beyond.

1) Junior age group classification
2) Junior cross-registration to Junior teams
3) Junior cross-registration to Senior teams

To address each point in turn…

Junior age group categorisation

As most of you will already be aware, the BRHA is reverting to age groups that fall in-line with the EIHA and other Inline leagues. The age groups are now based on year of birth meaning it is now that year and below (e.g. 18 and below as opposed to under 18's) so if the junior player was born on any date that year then they register in that age group. Each season, the age group brackets simply shift by 1 year.

Under 10's = Born in 2008/09
Under 12's = Born in 2006/07
Under 14's = Born in 2004/05
Under 16's = Born in 2002/03
Under 18's = Born in 2000/01

As a result of this change, BRHA rule 5 clause A/5 will be updated accordingly.

Junior cross-registration to Junior teams

Junior players may play up to any junior age group they please as long as they remain within their primary registered club. E.g. a player is able to register in multiple age groups (e.g. U14, U16, and U18's) but must remain within the same club.

The parent will need to submit a consent form as part of the cross-registration process which will be subsequently approved by all affected team managers and the Registration Secretary. The General Secretary will assist where necessary with the further assistance of the wider Executive Committee should any disputes arise.

The Cross Registration Request & Consent form can be found here: https://goo.gl/forms/j17QouiWvDiB2SPQ2.

Junior cross-registration to Senior teams

To be eligible to play up to a senior division, a junior players must be at least 16 years old on or before 1st January of the active season (e.g. 16 years old on or before 01/01/2019 to play in seniors for the 2018/19 season). This is a condition of our insurance policy.

Additionally, BRHA rule 5 clause C/1 stipulates that a junior player may only play up to a senior team within the same club. I can confirm that has been lifted for the 2018/19 season and it is now at the discretion of the affected team managers to agree between themselves. However, it is important to note that a junior player can only play up to one senior team irrespective of division (i.e. must play in either Senior A or Senior B but not both).

The parent will need to submit a Cross Registration Request & Consent form in order to trigger and formalise the request to the League. The Registration Secretary will contact both team managers for their approval and, once the request has been granted, the 'Player (Cross-Registration)' role will be added to the player's Sportily profile and confirmed to all by the Registration Secretary in writing.

This change has been made by the Executive Committee under BRHA rule 7 clause H/4: "the BRHA Executive Committee reserve the right to amend or add rules throughout the season under unforeseen, special circumstances or for safety reasons" as the changes made to the junior structure for the forthcoming season have been deemed significant enough to do so with immediate effect.

All league documentation will be updated in due course to reflect this statement and ratified at the next AGM. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me directly either on Facebook or by emailing brha.exec@gmail.com.

Many thanks,
Dave McGill.

General Secretary, BRHA.