Slo-Pitch Ontario Association Team Reclassification Policy.

In order to develop equity of competition within each division, SPO “rates” each team and places each team in their appropriate division. This job has been assigned to the Rating Committee.

The Rating Committee may reclassify a team at any time during the year. They shall meet on or about the dates of the AGM to evaluate the performance of the teams during the previous season. These re-classifications for the upcoming year will be determined by Dec. 31 of the current year.

Mandatory Reclassifications: Teams finishing in the top 10% of each division (except A and Competitive) at the Provincial Championships shall be reclassified to the next higher division with no right of appeal. Teams in the next 10% (11% - 20%) shall be reclassified to the next higher division but may appeal. Placement in any Qualifying Tournament may result in teams being re-classified with the right to appeal.

Reclassified teams with five (5) or more players from the previous year’s roster must participate in their new classification for a period of one (1) year; however, teams reclassified with the right to appeal may make an appeal to be reinstated to it’s former classification only after the team has played a minimum of two (2) tournaments at their new division. Appeals must be submitted using the proper online form. Teams requesting re-classification appeals for participation in the current year’s Provincial Championships must submit their appeal prior to July 15.

If a reclassified team re-organizes and desires to compete in their previous division, only five (5) players from teams (current or re-classified) at that level may play on that team. These teams must submit an appeal to be allowed to stay in the same classification
Any teams with any combination of five (5) or more players from a team (current or re-classified)  one division higher must register and play in the higher classification. A team wishing to have one player that is classified two (2) divisions higher must submit a request to the Rating Committee. Note: Depending on the abilities of the added player(s) a team may be reclassified with less than 5 additions.

If a C, “Intermediate”, “D”, “E” or “Recreational Division Team* has any combination of five (5) or more players who meet the following criteria, the team must participate in the new division for a period of one (1) year with the same requirements as described in this policy.
      (a) Players from any combination of teams moved up within the same classification.
Example: Team One, Team Two and Team Three have been reclassified by the SPO Rating Committee from Division “D” to “C”. A team comprised of 2 players from Team One and 2 layers from Team Two and 1 player from Team Three must participate in Division “C” or higher for a period of one (1) year.
      (b) Players from any combination of teams moved up within the same classification, plus players from the previous season of the same or higher classification of the team’s new classification.
Example 1: Team One and Team Two have been reclassified by the SPO Rating Committee from Division “E” to “D”.  A team comprised of 2 players from Team One plus 2 players from Team Two plus 1 player who played “D” the previous season would be required to participate in Division “D” or higher for a period of one (1) year.
Example 2: A team comprised of 2 players from Team One plus 3 players who played “D” the previous season would be required to participate in Division “D” or higher for a period of one (1) year.

All players on a re-classified team shall be considered as a player of the higher classification. If an individual player from a mandatory upgrade team leaves his team, he/she may only participate at the same or higher division for the following year, subject to any appropriate team restrictions. Players from mandatory upgrade teams cannot move down in division for the next year.
Example: If your team participated in “D” and is a mandatory upgrade to “C” for next year, individual players from this team can only participate in the “D” or higher division programs next year provided there are not more than 4 other similar players on the team.

Players and/or teams not participating in the SPO program for one (1) or more seasons will retain the classification they were upgraded to prior to taking the absence from Slo-Pitch Ontario.

*Note: Super Series Teams have their own Roster Reclassification Policy