SECTION 1 IJF Policy for Splitting Teams

Issue:

When IJF has registered a sufficient number of players to require (by GEJFA Squad Limit rule), splits at four out of five levels. It is anticipated that the situation will continue into the future, requiring a permanent organized way of splitting teams.

GEJFA RULE:

“B. Squad Limit:

(1) Although the GEJFA Council recommends at least 22 players per team, a minimum of 14 and a maximum of 33 players may be assigned to a team. A team must take up to 26 players in the order of application before being considered full and turning potential players away or putting them on a waiting list. A System may divide (‘split’) a team into two equal teams when the team roster has 28 to 33 players. A System must divide a team when the team roster reaches 34 players. ‘Equal’ is understood by the GEJFA Council to mean that parity of numbers, skill, size, age, etc. will be used to achieve balance. A geographic split by school boundaries is considered by Council to satisfy the desire for equity. Whatever the method of achieving the split, it must be approved by the GEJFA Council prior to implementation. If a System has team splits at more than one level, the splits must be done in a like manner (e.g., all geographic or all by draft) for all teams within that System (Note: minor deviations between levels is permitted for purposes of achieving equity in numbers).”

Policy:

Split Teams consistent with Junior High School boundaries. What that means is the players attending the following schools would play on the teams indicated:

When Equity in the number, experience, age or skill of players is not achieved by this method, a Swing school is selected and used to equalize the squad size, experience, age and skill of the teams. Every effort will be made to keep schools in tact and to maintain the integrity of the Junior High School boundaries to the extent possible.

Players legitimately participating at IJF (waivers, moved and grandfathered) that reside outside the normal; boundaries of the system shall also be used to equalize the squad size, experience, age and skill of the teams.

The third criteria for splitting teams will be reverse order of registration, i.e., the last player to register at a level would be selected to move first, the second to last next, etc.

Other Considerations:

Players participating at the level for which their parent is a Head Coach would play on their parent’s team regardless of the Player’s school, unless the parent elects not to invoke this exception.

All recommendations are subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

This policy is subject to review by GEJFA.