Criteria for “PLAYING UP”

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The Las Cruces Inline Hockey Association (LCIHA) routinely receives requests from parents to have their child play up one age division above their designated play age. These requests are based on a variety of reasons. The LCIHA has established a policy of “Playing Up” for its members. The policy is based on the USA Hockey Inline Risk Management Opinion – Criteria for “PLAYING UP”*. The policy strives to clarify the guidelines to be used in applying for and reviewing any such “play up” request.

 

The decision to “play up” should always be made with the safety of the player as the primary (1^st) consideration. All other decision-making criteria must remain secondary to player safety, and to the safety of the other players in that particular division. In order to manage the possible risk of injury to a player who may be permitted to “play up”, it is imperative that the guidelines shown below are followed. Note that USA Hockey Inline’s rules nor bylaws require such a “play up” provision. A league / association may decide to allow the practice of “play up”. This is what the LCIHA has done. It must be understood that at any time the LCIHA may revoke this privilege when a player’s safety is placed in jeopardy.

 

Size, skating ability, playing experience, and maturity all play an important role in the consideration of whether a player is allowed to “play up”. In addtition, these questions must be answered, “Why does the player need to move up? And “do the benefits outweigh the risks involved?”

 

“Play Up” Guidelines:

 

1. A player cannot move up more than one age group.
2. Requests should be made in writing to an LCIHA Administrator or Board Member to be considered for “play up” permission. The request may be in the form of a separate letter or on the seasonal registration form. Either must be signed by the parent and/or guardian of the player.
3. Players must have demonstrated to following skills:
1. Skating ability equal to or higher than an average player in the “play up” division.
2. Playing skills equal to or higher than an average player in the “play up” division.
3. Skating and playing ability that puts then in the top 10% of the players in their designated age division.
4. Players must exhibit the mental maturity required to play in a higher division.
4. An evaluation panel consisting of LCIHA Administrators and Coaches knowledgeable about the skill level of the payer will evaluate the skill set of the player to determine the players ability to “play up”.
5. Each player’s request will be evaluated separately by the evaluation panel.
6. The LCIHA makes it clear that it has reserved the right to revoke its permission to “play up” at any time should a player experience difficulty with “playing up” or whenever a player’s safety, or the safety of others, is put in jeopardy because of the “play up” move.
7. Parents will be notified of the inherent risk in a child’s “playing up” or outside their designated age division. The parents and players must sign additional waiver forms, stating the risks involved with “playing up”, and clearly indicates that they fully assume the responsibility for any and all results of their request, and that they agree to hold the LCIHA Administrators / Board and USA Hockey Inline harmless, if permission is granted and an injury occurs to their child as a result of the “playing up”.
8. All documentation of requests, evaluations, LCIHA Administrators / Boards actions and any parental notices MUST be maintained each year by the LCIHA.

 

From USA Hockey Inline: The request for “playing up” is an uncertain concept at best, and has the inherent risks of potentially severe injury to the player and increased litigation because of those injuries. USA Hockey Inline does NOT encourage the granting of “play up” permission, nor does it prohibit it, except where it violates the guidelines as shown above.

 

* Criteria for “PLAYIN UP”, USAHI Risk Management Opinion, February 27, 2001, James Archibald, Risk Manager, USA Hockey Inline.