MEMBERSHIP NOTICE

BENCH STAFF QUALIFICATIONS

All bench staff must have proper qualifications as of January 8^th of the playing season. It is the Home Association's responsibility to ensure that Bench Staff are qualified as of January 8^th. There will be no replacement of unqualified bench staff as of January 8^th.

Any certification acquired by a Provincial level coach between November 15^th and January 8^th will be collected from the course registration forms (Technical) and from copies of the Course Completion Certificate (Theory) by the Regional Co-ordinators. The coaches will be responsible for sending a copy of the Course Completion Certificate to the Regional Co-ordinator as of January 8^th.

The deadline for changes to Team Registration Form is January 8^th. As of January 8^th Designated Bench positions must stand. If the Head Coach is not qualified for said position, he/she cannot assume another position (e.g. Trainer) in order to remain on the bench after January 8^th. Rather, he/she must be replaced as of January 8^th with qualified personnel. The ineligible coach may not be involved with the team, from whose bench they have been removed, for the remainder of that playing season.

Non-qualified Bench Staff shall not be allowed to participate in O.R.A. Sanctioned Events as of January 8^th. Should a member of your association bench staff violate this rule, it shall result in a team disqualification and/or fines levied. There shall be no exceptions and/or appeals to this rule.

It is highly recommended that all bench staff members be encouraged to upgrade their qualifications to the highest level possible to increase their coaching skills.

For tournaments as of January 8^th the Regional Coaching Co-ordinator will be sent a list of teams participating in any tournaments from the Pre-Tournament Package by the Regional Games and Tournament Co-ordinators so that they can be checked for any teams that might be at risk for having an ineligible bench staff member. If there are teams in the tournament at risk of having ineligible bench staff copies of their game sheets will be sent to the Regional Coaching Co-ordinator from the Post-Tournament Package by the Games and Tournament Co-ordinator to be reviewed to see if an ineligible bench staff member has participated in the Tournament. If the ineligible bench staff member has participated a fine of $50.00 per game will be assessed by the Regional Coaching Co-ordinator.

Substitute Bench Staff for Invitational Tournaments:

Substitute Bench Staff may be used as follows:

Pre-registered Substitute Bench Staff as listed on T.R.F. or Information Change Forms submitted to the O.R.A. office. If pre-registered, no T.R.F. Adjustment Form is needed.

1. Any O.R.A. registered member with the appropriate qualifications for the position being assumed that have been obtained prior to January 8^th may fill in a T.R.F. Adjustment Form and become a valid member of a Bench Staff with approval of the Regional Coaching Co-ordinator/Designate. Proof of qualification is required.

    

   NOTE: The above rule does not allow a Bench Staff member who is not properly qualified for their registered position to assume a new position within the team in question after January 8^th of the playing season.

    

   Substitute Bench Staff for Provincial Championships:

    

   Substitute Bench Staff in Provincial Championships may be used as follows:

    

1. Any O.R.A. registered member with the appropriate qualifications for the position being assumed that have been obtained prior to January 8^th may become a valid member of a Bench Staff upon presenting proof of qualification and registration to the Provincial Coaching Chair/Designate.

    

2. All Substitute Bench Staff (no more than five (5) may be on the bench at any one game) must sign in on the Provincial Championship Registration Form and the game sheet prior to each game.

September 21, 1998.