Selection Policy

PLAYERS HANDBOOK 2009 (EXTRACT)

Part 3 – Selection Policy

6. GENERAL POLICY

Players will be selected on the following criteria (not in any particular order):

  • The player must be a registered financial member of the club;
  • Fitness;
  • Level of skill;
  • Due to specialised skills e.g. goal kicking, scrummaging, etc;
  • Due to a combination with another player that particularly enhances the team;
  • Attendance and effort at training;
  • Reliability;
  • Sporting spirit and general conduct;
  • Ability to integrate into the team and not cause disharmony.

The club appreciates that some players would like to play in a specific position or grade. Although the club will endeavour wherever possible to accommodate these requests, it may not always be possible.

7. NOTIFICATION OF SELECTIONS

In general, the team selections for each Round of the Competition will be announced at the first available training session for that week. The coaching staff will endeavour to speak to a player who is being demoted to a lower grade prior to the announcement at training and explain the reason for that decision.

8. PROMOTION OR DEMOTION

The preferred position of the club is that a player should not be demoted or elevated more than one grade in one week.

It is club general policy to replace a demoted, injured or absent player with the player in the same position in the grade below. 

However, if a player is demoted and the vacancy is filled by any player other than the player who currently holds that position in the grade below, the coaching staff will endeavour to speak to the player in the grade below prior to the announcement at training and explain the reason for that decision.

The selection of a Colt to fill a vacancy in grade team is not considered to be a breach of this policy. Should a Colt be selected ahead of the player in the grade below, the coaching staff will endeavour to speak to the player in the grade below prior to the announcement at training and explain the reason for that decision.

The club promotes open and clear communication between all players and officials. If any player is not satisfied with or does not understand the reason for his selection he should first speak to the coaching staff or if he would rather he can bring the matter to the attention of the Club Captain who will raise it with the coaching staff.

9. SELECTION AFTER INJURY OR ABSENCE

A player who is injured and misses only one game or a player who is absent due to other commitments and misses only one game may, at the discretion of the coaching staff, be re-selected in the grade in which he last played.

A player who is injured and misses more than one game or a player who due to other commitments is absent for more than one game should expect to be selected in a grade lower than the grade in which he last played. However every circumstance will be considered on an individual basis.

Players who are not able to play the following week due to injury or other commitments should tell their coaching staff as soon as they are aware of the situation. Players who have notified their coaching staff of their unavailability for the next round due to injury or other commitments, will not be considered for selection in any future round until the player has advised their coaching staff of their availability.

10. REGULAR PLAYERS vs INVITATION PLAYERS

As a general rule players who regularly train and play for the club will be given priority over other players. In some exceptional circumstances the club may invite a registered member of the club who does not regularly train or play to assist by filling a particular position.

In the event that the club decides to choose a non-regular member the coaching staff, prior to the announcement at training, will endeavour to speak to the player who otherwise would be the next selected player in that position and explain the reason for that decision.

The club would like to stress that this situation will only occur in exceptional circumstances where the coaching staff believes that no player in the club can adequately fill the position and that by selecting a regular member for the one game it will unnecessarily disrupt a lower grade.