Age Limits

Age Groups

For Rugby, Swimming, Cross Country & Track & Field (as at 2007), the age an athlete is turning in the year of competition is the age group this athlete is eligible to play/compete for. (for Cross Country these age groups are 14s 16s and Opens)

ie. If a boy is turning 14 on January 15, 2018 – he is eligible to compete in the 14 years age group in 2018.

Year groups

For all other sports – Football, Tennis, Cricket, Basketball, boys will be eligible to compete in the year group they are at their school in the year of competition.

Opens

Any boy turning 19 years old or younger in the year of competition is eligible to compete in the Opens age group ( for any sport other than Rugby – no boy may turn 20 years old ).

Rugby

Rugby Australia (RA), the governing body of Rugby Union in Australia has two policies – the RA Safety Policy and the RA Participation Policy – that focus on safe, inclusive and fair participation. It is prudent that the CAS, in consideration of the GPS and ISA policies, aligns itself as an Association where possible with the RA policies and guidelines.

1. Definitions

Eligible Grades:                                                 Refers to the age group that a player turns in the relevant calendar year                                                                                                AND in the age group one year above.

 

Dispensation:                                                    Permission or Approval to play in an age group other than their ‘eligible grades’.

 

Qualified Assessing Coach:                             A coach who has completed the RA’s Assessing Course and holds a                                                                                                       minimum Level 2 accreditation and current Smart Rugby.

 

 

2. Criteria for Rugby Age Dispensation

• Players who turn 13 to 18 years of age in the year of competition seeking to play up one age group:

No dispensation required

Discretion is only to be exercised in circumstances where the player’s participation in their current age group is deemed to present a safety risk to themselves or other participants.

• Players who turn 13 to 18 years of age in the year of competition seeking to play outside their Eligible Grades (up or down):

Dispensation is required

•  An Assessment of the player is to be arranged by the relevant school. This can be completed by a Qualified Assessing Coach at the school.
• The Age Dispensation Consent Form and Dispensation Form Schedule A (and in the case of Front Row – Schedule B) is to be submitted to the CAS Convener prior to the player playing in the CAS Rugby competition
• Players who turn 19 years of age in the year of competition who seek to play down:

Dispensation is required

The following criteria must be met before a student can progress to assessment:

• The date at which they turn 19 must be after the last round of the competition (in 2018 that is after August 11^th).
• The student must have been enrolled at the school for the February Census date for year 10 of their cohort (for 2018 they must have been at the school in year 10 in 2016)
• The player must be below the height and weight guidelines set by RA. The current guidelines are H190.73cm W101.89kg
• The player cannot have played 1sts and 2nds for the previous 2 years
• The player will only be allowed to play 3rds or below.

All schools have a duty of care to ensure that players are playing in the appropriate age grade competition, based on the player’s physical development in conjunction with their ability and/or experience. Hence, players with dispensation to play down or up two age groups, may then NOT play any competition games in their birth year age group or eligible grades. In exceptional circumstances, it may be mandated that a player participates in a specific age group either within or outside the player’s eligible grades.

3. Process for Age Dispensation Applications for students turning 19 in the year of competition

If the student seeking dispensation has met the above mentioned criteria then the following process is to be followed before any dispensation can be granted.

• An independent Assessment of the player is to be arranged by the school. This will be carried out by CAS Convener. This assessment will use the RA assessment procedures for players.
• The Age Dispensation Consent Form and Dispensation Form – Schedule A (and in the case of Front Row – Schedule B) is to be submitted to the CAS Convener at least three (3) weeks prior to the end of Term 1 of the year of application.
• The CAS Rugby Management Committee will review the application and respond with a decision within a week of receiving the application. The Management Committee includes the CAS Convener, the Current Chair of the CAS General Committee and 2 other Principals/Heads of School other than that which the student is currently enrolled.
• An Age Dispensation Register will be maintained by the CAS Convener and distributed to member Rugby schools.
• Throughout the process, it is a responsibility of the member school’s Sportmaster or Rugby MIC, to keep the player and their parent/guardian up to date with the procedure and CAS Rugby Management’s decision.
• All members schools of the CAS will be advised of a decision to approve a dispensation by the CAS Convenor.

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CIS

Please refer to CIS website for age limits at CIS representative level.