Tournament Age Limit

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Question from rookie parents about travel/tournament softball:

(1) Do (ASA) tournaments grant age limit "exceptions" or "waivers"? If so, is this a common occurrence?
The player(s) in question - born in the year prior to the cutoff year (so only a few months over the age limit - not at 14 YO playing 10U!!!)

(2) Since we're rookies, we're looking for honest advice from more experienced parents:

If waivers are not generally granted by tournaments, is this a big deal? Should we speak up, even if it is "against" our own team? We think it would be better to address this situation (if it needs to be addressed) BEFORE the violation occurs.

Of course, if tournaments frequently grant exceptions to the age limit, then, there will be no violation and no further discussion is necessary.

Thanks!

 

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I do not know of any situation in which a waiver has been granted, or for that matter in which a waiver has been requested. I've read the ASA Code a gazillion times (not that I have mastered it, as the document isn't exactly a model of good draftmanship) and I don't think I've seen any reference to a waiver. Whether Ohio ASA has some form of waiver, I don't know, but again I've never heard of a waiver being granted.

I didn't understand your reference to 14u . . . I'm just going to assume that the player(s) in question are a few months over the age limit.

Whether to raise the issue is a tough call. Presumably the coaches know that they are playing with an illegal player or players for the age group. If you raise it with the parents and coaches, there could be retribution. On the other hand, if you are playing in an ENQ or a ASA/USA qualifier, the team could be disqualified when and if birth certificates are checked, and they definitely will be checked if you make it to Eastern National or ASA/USA Nationals; they might even be checked at the qualifier, though TD practices vary on that.

Then there is the larger question whether, assuming your coaches turn in a roster at the ASA events in which you are playing, the roster truthfully states the age of the player and the question of what birth date was used in obtaining the player's sanction card.

I guess if it were me I would hold my nose and not say anything unless your team is entering a ENQ or an ASA/USA qualifier. If it is a qualifier, I would raise the issue with the coaches, because if you win the berth, there will be a whole lot of expenses to travel to the nationals with a significant risk that the entire team will be disqualified once you get there.

And unless I'm missing something, find a different team for next year. Coaches who deliberately use an overage player raise all other kinds of red flags.

 

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There's no such thing as a waiver for an older kid to play in a younger age bracket. There is an age limit for a reason.

It's also not specific to just ASA, as all sanctioning bodies handle it the same.


Example:
December 31st, 1996 is 16U
January 1st, 1997 is 14U.

 

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the document isn't exactly a model of good draftmanship

Understatement of the day !

Plus, There isn't a coach out there who wouldn't scream "forfeit" the minute they find out that they were beaten by a team who has bent the age rules.