Let's just start with player eligibility (which has been posted on our web site since January)
The 17U/11th Grade division - open to any player who is in the 11th grade and is born on or after Sept. 1, 1990.
Age Exception #1 - A player who is born on or after Sept. 1, 1991
Age Exception #2 - Players must still have high school eligibility remaining or have been accepted for admission to a Prep School
Progression of events: It was reported that one team utilized ineligible players (seniors) in their first round game. After investigation, this was proven to be true and that team subsequently had to forfeit that first game.
All of this delayed some games as things were being handled. The semi-final games began play and it was then reported that another team was using an ineligible player. As this was found out to be true near half time of that semi-final game, we agreed to allow the game to finish. That team had to forfeit their semi-final win. Some will ask why their win in the first game would count? When an eligibility situation arises we can only go back to the last game played (which was the semi-final). If we had known about the ineligible player before the start of the 2nd game, the team would have forfeited the first game.
There is one other player who has been questioned and yes, he is a senior but he was born in October of 1991. Go to Age Exception #1. Because he is born on or after Sept. 1, 1991 he is eligible to play in the 17U division.
There are young "Seniors" but if they have birthdays in June, July or August they are not eligible for the 17U division unless they meet Age Exception #2
Frustrating is the fact that we, the MYAS, take the abuse when all we do is enforce the rules that everyone is asked to follow. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse. Just because some national tournament or AAU tournament doesn't verify the eligibility of the players and teams, doesn't mean we should run our program that way.
As an FYI to all, emails were sent out and phone conversations were had with teams in this division this week.
If you know as a coach that you have seniors on your roster, why are you playing in the 17U division. Check it out, we have a separate 19U Spring Championship being played this weekend. You should have just signed up and played in that tournament. I'm sorry for the players who were affected by all of this. It all could have been avoided if coaches would read the information available and follow the rules of our events.
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