EPSC Policy

2026–27 Age Group Transition (Birth Year to School Year)

Purpose

To support player development and roster continuity during the transition from birth-year to school-year age grouping, EPSC will allow limited “play-up” flexibility for the 2026–27 seasonal year.

Approval Process

Final decisions will be made by the Director of Coaching (DOC) in collaboration with:

Age Group Directors
Team Coaches

Evaluations may include:

Prior season performance (2025–26)
Training observations
Tryout results

Policy Statement

For the 2026–27 season only, players may be permitted to play in an older age group aligned with their 2025–26 birth-year placement, subject to strict evaluation criteria.

Roster Considerations

Play-up placements will be limited in number per team
Priority will be given to maintaining:

Balanced rosters
Appropriate development environments for all players

Players approved to play up will not be guaranteed positional roles or playing time

Eligibility Criteria

Approval to play up will be granted only to players who clearly demonstrate the ability to make a positive impact at the higher age group. This includes:

Technical ability: Able to perform consistently at the speed and quality of the older group
Tactical understanding: Demonstrates game awareness appropriate for the level
Physical readiness: Can safely and effectively compete with older players
Psychological maturity: Shows confidence, resilience, and coachability
Team impact: Projects as a meaningful contributor, not solely a roster filler

Duration

This policy applies only to the 2026–27 seasonal year
All placements will be reassessed annually beginning in 2027–28 under full school-year alignment.

The primary objective is to ensure that all placement decisions:

Support long-term player development
Maintain competitive integrity
Align with EPSC’s values of Passion, Respect, and Excellence