Club, Team and Player Eligibility Regulations Australian Youth Water Polo Championships EFFECTIVE 1 December 2018* (*Applicable to the 2019 AYC event)
1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose 1.1.1 The purpose of the Club, Team and Player Eligibility Regulations is to recognise the importance of consistency, sustainability, equity and fair play for participation in Australian Youth Water Polo Championships, while keeping in mind the best interests of the player(s), the competition(s) and the sport of water polo in Australia in general. 1.2 Application and Scope of Policy 1.2.1 The Policy was jointly developed by Water Polo Australia (WPA) and its seven (7) State Members. 1.2.2 This Policy applies to all State Members of WPA and in turn all members and affiliates of the State Members. 1.2.3 If there is inconsistency between these regulations and the WPA State Members Membership and Registration Policy then the WPA State Members Membership and Registration Policy takes precedence over these regulations to the extent of the inconsistency. 1.2.4 For the purpose of this document, the Australian Youth Water Polo Championships (AYWPC) is referred to as the Championships 1.2.5 Any dispute in relation to the interpretation or application of these regulations, generally or in any particular case, shall be determined solely by WPA as it sees fit in its absolute discretion, which determination shall be final and binding on the disputing parties and all other Championship participants. WPA is not obliged to provide reasons for any determination made, but may do so. 2. Teams 2.1 Team Eligibility 2.1.1 All team nominations must firstly be endorsed by the respective State Association as per the entry criteria as outlined in the nomination process. 2.1.2 Following State Association endorsement, WPA may accept or decline entry into the Championships of any team that has nominated for entry. 2.1.3 In the event of an International team entering, endorsement is required by WPA. 2.1.4 Team Type (Club/Composite/Regional/State) must be clearly indicated on the nomination/entry form. 2.1.5 Any composite team name must detail the clubs involved. 2.1.6 Any composite team nomination must clearly indicate the primary club of each player. 2.1.7 Any team, including composite and international teams, that are granted entry into the Championships are fully eligible to participate and progress into any stage of the championships entered and all entries are considered equal for the purpose of eligibility.
2.2 Club Teams 2.2.1 A Club Team is a team comprising of players all of whom are members of that one club. 2.2.2 A club that has nine (9) or more players who nominate to play in the Championships must enter the championships in their own right. 2.2.3 Each club should encourage its players to nominate for their Club Team for the Championships and must select all club players who nominate unless the has reached the allowable minimum number of players to form a team 2.2.4 A club that is found to have discouraged an eligible player or players from nominating for its Club Team in circumstances where it can reasonably be concluded that the discouragement was intended to exclude that player to provide a benefit to that Club Team shall be deemed to have committed misconduct and be liable to sanctions, including but not limited to, disqualification from the Championships. 2.2.5 Club teams that do not have enough eligible players to make up a Club Team may form a composite team with another eligible club. 2.2.6 A club with an excess of eligible players may form a second composite team with another eligible club. 2.2.7 A club that intends to form a second Composite Team with their excess eligible players must select their strongest players in their first Club Team. 2.2.8 A Club Team that has eleven (11) or fewer eligible players shall be eligible to select not more than 3 players from the Player Draft for the tournament. 2.2.9 WPA may, in their absolute discretion, place left over draft players in teams who still require drafts, even if they have reached their three (3) draft player limit. 2.3 Composite Club Teams 2.3.1 A Composite Club Team is a team comprising eligible players of not more than two (2) clubs that have entered into a written agreement between them and which has been approved by WPA. 2.3.2 A club team in the first instance should form a composite team with another club within its own State. If there isn t another team within the state to form a composite team with, they can request to form a composite team with a team from another State. 2.3.3 To seek approval from WPA, both clubs must: i. Formally write to the state association to request approval to enter a composite team. ii. Once endorsed by the respective State Association, the State will then request approval from the WPA Competitions Manager. The WPA Competitions Manager will approve or reject the request based on the information supplied by the State Association. iii. Satisfy WPA that, if one or both clubs already have Club Teams entered in the tournament, that the Club has selected its strongest eligible players in their Club Team. 2.3.4 A Club cannot participate in more than one Composite Club Team per age group in each gender; that is to say, a Club cannot participate in multiple agreements nor have players spread across multiple Composite Teams. 2.3.5 Composite Club Teams are eligible to select players from the Player Draft for the Championships, however they will be placed behind all single teams who enter the draft, regardless of their draft selection position.
2.3.6 Composite teams may only be made up of two state club teams which needs to be reflected in their team entry name. (i.e., Sharks Dolphins composite). If the composite team picks up additional players in the draft, the draftee s team should not be reflected in the team name. 2.3.7 WPA may in their absolute discretion, approve a composite team of players from more than two clubs where those players all come from eligible teams that have not entered the relevant championships. 2.4 Regional/State Composite Team 2.4.1 A Composite Regional Team is a team comprising eligible players from clubs within a Regional Association (as defined by the WPA State Members Membership and Registration Policy). The Composite Regional Team must be approved by WPA. 2.4.2 A State Composite Team is a team comprising eligible players of a State or Territory of Australia and which has been approved by WPA. 2.4.3 WPA may accept a Composite Regional Team in its absolute discretion. 2.4.4 In exercising its discretion WPA must take account of: i. what is in the best interests of the players and the sport generally in the region that has applied for registration for a Composite Regional Team: ii. the preference for clubs to enter Club Teams; and iii. what is in the best interests of the Championships generally. 3. Players 3.1 Player Eligibility 3.1.1 Players must meet the age eligibility criteria as per the Technical Rules for their team enters, as well as being listed for the correct eligible team. 3.1.2 Players must be financial members of the relevant affiliated club and have paid their current seasons State and National Capitation fees of a Youth or Senior category. 3.1.3 Players must be members in good standing with their Club, State and WPA 3.1.4 Any player serving a suspension from competition arising out of the participation in club, regional, state or international competition at the start of the Championships must not commence any match in the Championships in contravention of their suspension. 3.2 Primary Place of residence 3.2.1 A player s primary residence is as defined in the WPA State Members Membership and Registration Policy 3.3 Primary and Secondary Club 3.3.1 Where members are registered to multiple clubs at the same time, (commonly referred to as second claim or secondary membership ) the player must select a primary and secondary club, this for the purpose of WPA competition eligibility.
3.3.2 A player may only nominate a primary club within the State of their primary residence in accordance with the WPA State Members Membership and Registration Policy. 3.3.3 Exceptions and releases to this rule are; i. If a player and/or their family relocates to another city, town, state or 100km from their previous place of residence. ii. If a player has requested a compassionate grounds release from the club, which is approved by WPA. This is used in the event that the relationship between player and club has broken down to the point where it is no longer a healthy environment for the individuals involved. 3.3.4 In the event that the primary club is not entering the Championships or a player is not selected in accordance with clause 2.3, a player must play for their nominated secondary club only. This includes composite team entries. 3.3.5 In the event that both primary and secondary clubs are not entered in the Championships, the player is then eligible to go in the draft only. 3.4 Correct Eligible Team 3.4.1 For the purposes of the Australian Youth Championships a player must enter in their correct eligible team 3.4.2 A player s correct eligible team is determined by the player s primary place of residence in accordance with the WPA State members Membership and Registration Policy. 3.4.3 In order of priority of claim for the services of a player, a player s correct eligible team is as follows: i. If a player plays for a club in the player s region of their primary place of residence and that Club has entered a Club Team, the player s correct eligible team is to that Club Team; or ii. If a player plays for a club in the player s region of their primary place of residence and that Club has entered a Club Team but the player is not selected in that Club Team, but the club has a second Composite Club Team, the player s correct eligible team is to that Composite Club Team; or iii. If a player s State or Territory of their primary place of residence has entered a Composite State Team, the player s correct eligible team is to that Composite State Team, subject to the selection criteria for that team; or iv. If a player is actively playing with a secondary club and the three scenarios above are not relevant, the player s correct eligible team is to that Club Team of the secondary club. v. If a player is eligible to and enters the Player Draft and is selected by a Club Team, then the player s correct eligible team is to that Club Team. 3.4.4 A player who does not make themselves available for selection for the player s correct eligible team or not participate in the spirit of the selection process for their correct eligible team with the intention of not being selected and then the team withdraws from the competition the player is excluded from the tournament and may not play for another club. 3.5 Player Transfers 3.5.1 Transfers of players within three (3) months from the first day of the competition shall not be permitted.
3.6 Player Draft 3.6.1 The player draft will be managed by WPA. 3.6.2 An eligible player must apply to WPA to be included in the draft. The player must supply a short resume and contact details on the appropriate form by the publicised closing date. 3.6.3 A condition of entry to the draft is that a player will commitment to play with the team they are picked up by. A player that withdraws from a draft team after confirmation will not be refunded their entry deposit. 3.6.4 Teams that have eleven (11) or less players will be permitted to select a maximum of three (3) players from the draft. Clubs with multiple team entries in any championship will only be allowed to draft players to the bottom ranked team. 3.6.5 Teams must apply to WPA to select players in the draft prior to the tournament on the appropriate form by the publicised closing date. WPA will decide the order of draft selection if necessary. Teams in the same state as the player wishing to be drafted will have first choice at all times. 3.6.6 The draft for the Championships will be conducted over two (2) rounds. The first round will be restricted to teams and players within the same state/territory. Any players who are not selected in the first round may, if they and their parent/guardian agree and subject to clause 3.6.5, progress to the second round. The second round will be a national draft. 3.6.7 Any player/s who is/are under the age of eighteen (18) as at the start of any tournament may only be drafted by an interstate club if both the parent/guardian and club representative sign the WPA consent document and lodge it with WPA at least one (1) week prior to the commencement of the Championships. The document will include acknowledgement by the parent/guardian that they have contacted the relevant club and are in agreement with the terms and conditions of the participation in the team of their child/dependant. The document must also include a statement by the club representative that they have contacted the parent/guardian, explained the conditions of participation in the team and that the club guarantees that the coach, assistant coach, team manager and any other team staff have the required accreditations, including valid working with vulnerable people clearances recorded in the WPA MemberPool database. 3.6.8 WPA may, in their absolute discretion, place left over draft players in teams who still require drafts, even if they have reached their three (3) draft player limit.