5 - Team Competition & Officials

Rules Governing "Playing Up" into Higher Age Grades

Should there be an A Division, any player in an AA Division cannot play down. Any player selected as a state representative player in the previous season is not eligible to play in any A division until the current state team has been selected. If selected in the current year, the player is not eligible to play in the A division.

"Annual "Playing Up" Approval Form"

Eligible players aged under 18 years, wishing to "play up" into a higher grade than their grade of registration, are required to lodge an 'Annual Playing Up Approval Form' for each and every higher grade.

The fully completed form must be lodged with the Association prior to the first game in the specific grade, bearing the approval of the parent or guardian, coach, manager and a club office bearer. A player that is approved to play up, may do so provided the lower grade is not disadvantaged.

Note: The reasons for this are:-

• The IHNSW "duty of care" to ensure that the nominated parties are all of the opinion that the player has the ability to compete proficiently and safely at the proposed level.
• The administrative needs to ensure that all those involved are aware that the player will be committed to play for more than one team, and that they accept the logistical implications of this.
• Players requesting to play up 2 divisions, must apply for written approval from the Committee of Management.
• 1st year Pee Wee to Bantam playing up form must be submitted to IHNSW for formal written approval.
• 1st year Bantam to Midget playing up form must be submitted to IHNSW for formal written approval.

"Playing up" Regulations

A player that is approved to play up may do so provided the lower grade team is not disadvantaged. This means that a player that is approved to 'play up' has the obligation to play for the team of his/her initial registration, that being the age-based team, if any games occur at or around the same time.

It is the responsibility of both the individual player and the coach of the 'play up' team to ensure compliance with this regulation.

Should a player be played in contravention of this regulation, the play up team who allows the player to participate will forfeit all competition points for that game. In addition, the coach of the team choosing to play the play up will automatically be suspended for 2 games.

Players and coaches who continually abuse this rule will be brought before the IHNSW executive committee for a 'show cause' hearing.

Goalkeepers may be an exception to this rule, on application to the IHNSW Executive.

IHNSW strongly recommends that a player that is approved to play up may do so provided no player registered on the play up team is disadvantaged. This means that a player approved to play up should not be used to replace a player that is registered on that team and is able to play.

Specifically, should a team carry able players to satisfy the team requirements, coaches have an obligation to play the players registered in that age group as a priority.

Coaches who continually abuse this recommendation will be brought before the IHNSW Executive committee for a 'show cause' hearing.