Registered: Jul 2004
Location: kitchener
Posts: 147

Id like to hear everyone's opinions on this topic.
I'm a coach of a young lady's team first starting at bantam age and now full junior age.
The issue I would like to discuss is the use of the fifth player.
In the oca rules we currently can not bring or use a fifth player at provincials. Any team making provincials must use a player from the host club supplied player pool.
In today's game with teams forming with five players that are use to each other and have played together all year, does it not make sense to allow them to be a part of the team at provincials? We have to have a player registered at our home club just in case of injury to be eligible to fill in at the zone or regional level, is this not a waste of a player that may never see provincial ice?
I understand the issue of extra cost to put these players up in hotels and other things offered to teams reaching this level isn't cheap, but I believe if you would give team the option of bring their own fifth player at their own expense I think they would do it.
This fifth player status is the status-quo at jr nationals as well, and id like to lobby curl Canada to change the rules so it at least gives teams the choice.
Curl Canada is slowly focusing on developing teams to the best they can be regardless of location, do you not think having a full time fifth might be a good choice as well?

looking forward to everyone's feedback.

steve szymanski

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Registered: Dec 2013
Location:
Posts: 13

I 100% think all provinces should allow juniors to bring a fifth player to provincials and to nationals. If thats the standard for adult teams it should be the standard for junior teams. It just makes sense.

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Registered: Jul 2004
Location: kitchener
Posts: 147

I think we all need to talk to our provincial associations and push for this change, im from Ontario and have started discussion here among other coaches and teams. they agree to at least have the option is the best way to go.
we all know at the start of each season how much making a national may cost us adding one players isn't going to change that by much in the long run of things especially if they have been with you all season long.
if all the provinces and territories move this way and talk to curl Canada we can get this changed for next season.

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