Coach Recruitment and Movement Protocol (Tri-Centre Jr. Attack)

Icon for Register Your Child Today
Register Your Child Today
Icon for Tournaments
Tournaments
Icon for Coach Resources
Coach Resources
Icon for Trainer Resources
Trainer Resources
PrintCoach Recruitment and Movement Protocol

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to balance the freedom of coaches to pursue development opportunities with the Association’s need to maintain program stability, player retention, and competitive integrity.

2. Definitions

To ensure clarity regarding age progression, the following definitions apply:

  • Player Cohort (Birth Year): The specific group of players defined by their year of birth.
  • Natural Progression: The movement of a coach or player from one division to the next consecutive division (e.g., U12 moving to U13) to remain with the same Player Cohort.
  • Lateral Movement: Moving to a different Association to coach the same Player Cohort at the same competitive level (e.g., Coaching U12 'A' this season and moving to U13 'A' next season)

3. Permitted Coach Movement (Approved Release)

The Association supports professional growth and changes in coaching contexts. Permission to move to another organization is granted in the following scenarios:

  1. Vertical Movement (Change in Competitive Level) - A coach may move to another organization if they are changing levels, even if they stay with the same Player Cohort (Natural Progression).
    • Moving Up: Current U12 'A' coach moving to U13 'AA' or 'AAA'.
    • Moving Down: Current U12 'A' coach moving to U13 'B' or House League.
  2. Change in Player Cohort (Changing Age Groups) - A coach may move to another organization if they are changing the birth year they are coaching.
    • Staying Back: A coach finishes U12 and moves to another org to coach U12 again.
    • Jumping Ahead: A coach finishes U12 and moves to another org to coach U15.
  3. Geographic Relocation (Exemption) - A coach who relocates their primary residence to another geographic area outside of the Association's region is exempt from this policy's movement restrictions and will be granted an approved release, regardless of the cohort or competitive level they intend to coach

4. Restricted Coach Movement (Denied Release)

The Association enforces strict rules to prevent the "lateral poaching" of teams. Permission will be DENIED in the following scenario:

  • Lateral Movement (Same Cohort, Same Level): A coach requesting a release to move to a different organization to coach the Natural Progression (Next Division Up) of their current team at the same competitive level.
    • Specific Restriction: A coach currently coaching U12 'A' will NOT be released to coach U13 'A' at a different organization.
  • Coaches of Double Cohort Teams - A coach of a mixed age or double cohort team is restricted from moving to ANY division that their current players are eligible to play in in the next season at the same competitive level.
    • Specific Restriction: A coach currently coaching U13 'B' will NOT be released to coach U13 'B' or U15'B' at a different organization.