Minor Release Policy

1. Sport Development Director or designate will reach out to all active teams/association contacts within the province to determine their need for players at all age categories and if they can accommodate players from another region requesting a release. 
2. Any player wishing to be released from their region must submit a request to the Sport Development Director or designate within the request window. Players may indicate their preferred team, but are not guaranteed to be placed on that team. 
3. The Sport Development Director or designate will review the request and grant or deny the release based on the following:
   • No teams in the players age classification or tier within their region for the player to play for. 
   • Exceptional circumstances.
4.  If granted, the athlete will be released from their region and will be permitted to play with another team in the province in their age classification and tier determined by the Sport Development Director or designate.
   • The released player may only play at a Provincial Championship or Eastern Canadian Qualifier with the team they were released to. 
   • If there is no team within their age classification or tier in the province able to accommodate the athlete, their next option will be to play at the next oldest age classification and tier within their region (ex. U13 athletes will play U15, U15 athletes will play U17, etc.).
   • If there is no team within their region at the next oldest age classification, the athlete will be released from their region and will be permitted to play with another team in the province in the next oldest age classification and tier determined by the Sport Development Director or designate.
5. If a player requests a release based on exceptional circumstances from their region which already has other teams within their age classification and tier available to them, the Sport Development Director will follow the following procedures, if it is deemed an exceptional circumstance.
   • Consult with the Regional Director and appropriate coordinator.
   • Consult with the existing teams within the province on their roster needs

Release Requirements

1. If a player is granted a release they will be required to attend Eastern Canadian Qualifiers and Provincial Championships with the team they were released to, if applicable, unless an exceptional circumstance arises. 

• Failure to comply with these requirements will result in the athlete not being eligible for a release in the following season.