EIHA Rule Change

[#44wannabe 4]

Any one heard about this? They have cut off the top tier of the under 19s age group and cut it down to under 18's.

EIHA Press Release

[Langkow22 5]

Yeah Playing for the solent devils u19s and if this ruling is passed its gonna take alot of are best players away this will really SUCK!!!

[#13 0]

Are they gonna bring in an u21 age group instead? I've been playing roller for 10 years now and was gonna start playing ice. I'd be in my final u19 year next season cos I'm 18 but now it looks like I'd have to play seniors. I'd probably get killed cos I'm too small.

[Nick23 0]

Yeah Playing for the solent devils u19s and if this ruling is passed its gonna take alot of are best players away this will really SUCK!!!

You mean you will lose Alex Murray!

Apparently there has been an application for an u21's league, which, is still not as good a set up as now, as an u21's league will cause the demise of the ENL, and leave a gap for players who are older than 21, but not up to EPL standard.

If an u21's league is not started, then there will be added pressure for ENL teams to sign players which would not meet its current standard, diluting the leagues quality and making it even harder for fringe players to develop to EPL quality.

And where does this leave juniors who are playing up to help development? It gives them one less year in which they can play both juniors and seniors. While those rexceptional younger plays who have been playing up to the seniors before 16 could have their development halted in playing only juniors.

Those who are now left without a club to move to with such little notice are the worst affected.

I've always counted on playing up to help my development, and this is true for many players, especially in 'b' league clubs. This now leaves me only one more year of juniors, instead of two on previous rules. I have only just broken into our ENL team to get any sort of ice time, and i'm left with an unrealistic&impossible task of making an EPL squad in any form in the next year.

The EIHA have made a big mistake here, and more bad than good will come from this.

[Nick23 0]

PHASED INTRODUCTION OF UNDER 25 AGE RESTRICTION IN ENIHL

The Board have recently considered that question of introducing an age restriction within the ENIHL. The recent changes to the age limits whereby young players can share competitive ice time with their adult counterparts has heightened awareness of this issues – but to be fair it has been debated again this season prior to the press release announcement by Ken Taggart about the younger age groups. In the circumstances, the following restrictions are to be introduced in the ENIHL. The five season phasing in period is to allow teams to cope with the changes. For information, the restriction of “over age” players relates to those players on a team sheet. The amateur nature of ENIHL (and the fact that players earning their livings outside the game and are not always available for selection on match days) means that more than 5 over age players can be registered for any team.

A restriction in ENIHL is to introduced from season 2007-2008 to the effect that the league becomes an Under 25 league. The reason for this is to maintain and strengthen the “development” role of the ENIHL in providing an environment in which younger players can mature and grow in stature.

The restriction is to be phased in order to reduce the impact on players currently playing in the ENIHL

The phased introduction will take place over a five season timetable as follows:

2007/2008 - teams to ice only five over age players

2008/2009 - teams to ice only four over age players

2009/2010 - teams to ice only three over age players

20l0/2011 - teams to ice only two over age players

2011/2012 - teams to ice only one over age player

2012/2013 - all players to be Under 25 years.

All players born in 1983 or later will be under 25 this season.

And the plot thickens.

Rumour has it that the Enl teams are going to register with the Elite league, and so not to be under the EIHA as a govourning body, obviously not playing with the Elite league teams, but to prevent the implication of the u25's rule.

To be honest im not sure where i would stand on this, as most teams will have a majority under this age anyway. Although it will create a problem with imports, as most are older than 25, and any under will probably be of a much higher quality than those u25's.

[pantherfan 0]

Heard it's being planned to revert to 11's 13's 15's 17's and 19's in a few years time which is pretty pointless as they should just do it now or before August when it comes in to action.

[Nick23 0]

To help with the following years national selections? It does make sense, the current set up makes it hard for the less know players to get noticed, since if your the top player in your age group that means your the younger year for conference, while a top year for a conference age boundary leaves you as a lower year for team.

It just makes it that much harder to get noticed in the league with the already little/non-existant scouting, and your selection for National teams is based on a 3 day tournament at the end of the year...its a poor setup.

[pantherfan 0]

I hate to say it but these teams are pretty much already decided long before tourneys, it depends on stats and coach reccomendations.

[Langkow22 5]

Did they make the changes they were supposed to be deciding on the 9th of june but ive heard nothing from my manager or my coach??

[Nick23 0]

There will be an u18's league, with only 2nd year 16s able to play up.

Theed1 will n ot become an u25's league (yet), but with 15 teams next year, they are looking to split it into 2 divisions, most likely being into one with teams who are the main senior teams at their club, and a development division, for those with teams at a higher tier at the same club.

[ShaneyB 0]

I beg to God that they make an u21's league

[Langkow22 5]

Yeah me too otherwise unless we can skate from our own goal line through everyone and put it in the net we aint gonna be picked for ENL and we wont beable to go rec because of the age restriction.

[ShaneyB 0]

Theres an age restriction on rec now?

[Langkow22 5]

Well i was at basingstoke rink yesterday and the guy in the shop said that he hopes ther will be an u21 league as when we leave the u18s (was u19s) we wont be old enough to play rec!!

[ShaneyB 0]

I dont think theres an age restriction as 2 of my friends are both 17 and play for a rec team.