Playing Up/Down Policy:
Playing in a Different Age Category
Board Approved – 14 Apr 2026
Policy Statement
The Crusaders Rugby Club is committed to providing a safe, fair and development-focused rugby environment. Playing up/down in an older/younger age grade will only be permitted when it supports an athlete’s growth and can be done safely without affecting all athletes in the club in either age grade. All decisions will be made through a consistent, transparent process based on player readiness and welfare.
Purpose
The purpose of the playing up/down policy is to ensure that any decision for a player to “play up” or “play down” in an older/younger age grade is made with player safety, development and fairness in mind. The Crusaders Rugby Club wants to provide a consistent process for evaluating, approving and monitoring any athlete wishing to play up/down an age grade.
Operations Guidelines
- To be eligible for higher age-grade rugby, players will be permitted to participate in an age-grade competition that is not more than two (2) years above their age on January 1st of the year in which the competition is held (referred to as the ‘two-year window’), provided that they comply with the procedures set out below and receive approval from Rugby Ontario. For example, the two-year window applies to a player who is eligible for Under-15 competition but wants to participate in an Under-17 competition.
- For players who are turning 17 years of age or turning 18 years of age and requesting to play in a front row position during the calendar year, to be eligible, they must comply with the procedures set out below and receive approval from Rugby Ontario.No player shall play in the Front Row in an age grade older than their natural age, with the sole exception of 18-year-old U18 players approved for Senior Rugby.
- In exceptional circumstances, playing up requests will be considered outside the designated age groups, taking into consideration height, weight and experience level of the player, as well as the welfare of other players in that age group. Playing down requests will be considered solely on the basis of height, weight and the welfare of other players in that age group (experience level will not be considered).
- Each request to play up/down must be made to the relevant club Rugby Director who will confer with both age grade coaches ((i)natural age grade and (ii)play up/down age grade) and determine if the play up/down request is appropriate. If deemed appropriate, parents should complete a Rugby Ontario’s “Different Age Category” form (available here https://www.rugbyontario.com/forms-guides/) and comply with approvals required in Appendix A. Once an application has been approved, the approved form must be provided the Director of Rugby prior to any play up/down.
- Applicants must not participate in matches outside their age category until written notification of approval has been received.
- An approved application will only be valid for the year in which the application is made.
- Dual Eligibility
Dual eligibility is intended solely for the purpose of completing rosters in situations where there is a lack of players in an age-grade:- Where players are playing up because it is a safety concern to participate in their natural age grade, the older age group would be their “home” age grade and they would not have dual eligibility.
- Where it has not already been deemed a safety concern, players are eligible to play outside their “home” age grade to maintain participation opportunities. Playing outside of your “home” age grade is only available where it is required to support roster needs (i.e., number of players to field a team).
- Established limitations to minutes of contact rugby per week must be adhered to. Playing up/down outside of a player’s “home” age-grade shall not be used to stack teams or gain a competitive advantage.
Eligibility
To be considered for playing up in age, a player must meet all of the following:
a. Physical Readiness
- Comparable size, strength, and conditioning to players in the older age group.
- No identified medical or safety concerns.
b. Skill Competency
- Demonstrated proficiency in core rugby skills (tackling, passing, positioning, game awareness).
- Ability to perform safely and confidently at the higher level of play.
c. Emotional and Social Maturity
- Demonstrated maturity and ability to integrate positively with older players.
- Ability to manage increased expectations and physical intensity.
Conditions
- U6 flag rugby moving up to U8 flag rugby
- Any player meeting the eligibility criteria defined in this policy (i.e., social maturity, as well as the physical ability to participate in structured U8 practices) may be approved to play-up.
Policy promotes player retention by recognizing the extreme variation in ability at the U6 level and maintain a fun-based U6 program while meeting the needs of more advanced players
- Any player meeting the eligibility criteria defined in this policy (i.e., social maturity, as well as the physical ability to participate in structured U8 practices) may be approved to play-up.
- U8 flag rugby to U10 flag rugby
- Players will be approved to play-up where they meet eligibility criteria defined in this policy and it has been deemed that it is a safety concern in allowing them to continue to participate in their natural age grade and/or they demonstrate exceptional physical ability and skills that would make it unfair for them to compete at their natural age-grade.
Policy maintains the fairness and quality of play in both age groups
- Players will be approved to play-up where they meet eligibility criteria defined in this policy and it has been deemed that it is a safety concern in allowing them to continue to participate in their natural age grade and/or they demonstrate exceptional physical ability and skills that would make it unfair for them to compete at their natural age-grade.
- U10 flag to U12 flag intro to contact
- Players will be approved to play-up where they meet eligibility criteria defined in this policy.
Policy requires strict adherence to the physical readiness and skill competency eligibility criteria but could allow greater movement to the U12 intro to contact category to improve player enjoyment, development, and retention.
- Players will be approved to play-up where they meet eligibility criteria defined in this policy.
- All other contact rugby age groups
- Players approved to play-up where they meet eligibility criteria defined in this policy
- Where players are eligible to play up because they meet the eligibility criteria but it is not a safety concern to participate in their natural age grade, they would have either their natural age grade or older age grade deemed to be their “home” age grade.
Policy requires strict adherence to the physical readiness and skill competency eligibility criteria but would allow for temporary playing up or down to meet roster needs where it is not a safety concern to do so.
Monitoring
The player’s performance, safety and enjoyment will be reviewed after 3 games by the coach and the Director of Rugby responsible for the age grade.
The Directors of Rugby reserve the right to reverse the decision
The Directors of Rugby will review all play-up decisions annually to ensure consistency and fairness.
Governance
This policy will be administered by the Directors of Rugby in collaboration with the coaches.
Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Executive Directors (President, Vice-President, Treasurer AND Secretary).