Baseball Alberta 2017 Player Transfer Rules

Baseball Alberta Player Transfer Rule Changes for the 2017 Season

The topic of player transfers is one that has been part of the agenda of the Baseball Alberta Board of Directors every season. Following the Open Session on Player Transfers held in October 2016, the Board of Directors has determined the following changes to the player transfer rules effective for the 2017 season, subject to final approval at the January 2017 Board of Directors Meeting.

• Player residency will be defined as the residence of the player’s parents or legal guardians. Acceptable proof of a players residence will be a certified true photocopy of government issued identification (such as a driver’s license or passport) of the player’s parent(s) or legal guardian. Players who are subject to the joint custody of parents who are not cohabitating may use the address of either parent for the purposes of player registration.

Players will not be required to submit proof of residency at the time of registration with Baseball Alberta. However, players continue to be required to register with the member Association geographically closest to their residence (Home Association). Member Associations need to ensure that registering players residences are closest geographically to their Association. For extra clarity, billet addresses will no longer be accepted as residency for Baseball Alberta registration.

• ‘AAA’ and ‘AA’ coaches will be required to review their team roster submission and certify that all player addresses are accurate and comply with Baseball Alberta residency requirements.

• Coaches who are found in violation of player residency or transfer rules will be suspended for the balance of the current season. Players who are found to be in violation of the residency rules will be ineligible for all league, Provincial, and post-Provincial play for the balance of the current season.

• Violations of the residency or player transfer rules may result in further sanctions at the discretion of the Executive of the Board of Directors of Baseball Alberta for the Association involved. These could include ineligibility of Association teams for Provincial and/or post-Provincial play, loss of funding for teams to attend post-Provincial Championships, and/or probation for one or more future seasons of Baseball Alberta League play.

• Players wishing to play for an Association other than their Home Association will continue to need to complete a player transfer request as outlined in the current player transfer rules in the Baseball Alberta Handbook. Any player playing in Baseball Alberta’s leagues may be required to submit proof of residency directly to Baseball Alberta upon request of the Registrar. The Registrar may make this request of players selected at random from League rosters or in situations where questions have been raised regarding the residence of a player.

It should be noted that the Board recognizes that these changes may not address all issues related to player transfers. However, the Board is confident that these changes respond to the feedback collected at the Open Session and serve to improve the administration of this aspect of Baseball Alberta League play going forward.

Please feel free to contact the Baseball Alberta office at registrar@baseballalberta.com if you have any questions regarding Baseball Alberta residency or player transfer rules.