GUIDING PRINCIPLES

LONG TERM DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THE FLAWS OF PLACING ATHLETES INTO THEIR BIRTH YEAR FOR PARTICIPATION IN SPORTS. IN SHORT, THE DISCREPANCIES THAT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN YOUTH WITHIN THE SAME BIRTH YEAR CREATE SIGNIFICANT DISADVANTAGES FOR LATE DEVELOPING MAKE ATHLETES AND TO A LESSER DEGREE, EARLY DEVELOPING FEMALES.  THEREFORE, PROVIDING A RANGE OF MONTHS (16) WITHIN A COMPETITION DIVISION GIVES ATHLETES GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO SHOSE A LEVEL THAT BEST SUITS THEIR NEEDS. ATHLETES, PARENTS AND COACH SHOULD CONSIDER THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM BENEFITS OF PLAYING IN DIFFERENT AGE CATEGORIES.  IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT EACH CLUB MAY HAVE THEIR OWN POLICIES REGARDING PLAYING UP/PLAYING DOWN.