Minor Regional Releases / Diffusion Régionales Mineures

A minor aged athlete is required to play within their region for the following events: Eastern Canadian Qualifiers & Championship and Provincial Championships, unless they are granted a release from their region.

The goal of the minor release policy:

To ensure all athletes in New Brunswick have a place to play softball at their age classification and appropriate tier, while ensuring teams are not being depleted of players and are able to maintain growth within their region. 

• To request a release, members must submit their request for release in writing to the Technical Director or Designate of Softball New Brunswick Inc. between April 23rd and May 7th, 2025. Decisions will be made by May 14th, 2025.
1. The Technical Director/Designate holds the right to consider requests for release after the May 14th, 2025 deadline.

If a minor player requests a release from their region, the Technical Director/Designate will make a decision in the best interest of the sport and the athlete, considering the needs of the team(s) within the province and preference of the player. Athletes must request for a release on a yearly basis.

Procedure

1. The Technical Director/Designate will reach out to all active teams/association contacts within the province to determine the need for players at all age categories and if another player from another region can be accommodated. 
2. Any player wishing to be released from their region must submit a request to the Technical Director or designate within the request window. Players may indicate their preferred team, but are not guaranteed to be placed on that team.
3. The Technical Director/Designate will review the request and grant or deny the release based on the following:
   1. No teams in the players age classification or tier within their region for the player to play for.
   2. Exceptional circumstances (see #5)
4. If granted, the athlete will be released from their region and will be permitted to play with another team in the province in their age classification and tier determined by the Technical Director/Designate.
   1. The released player may only play at a Provincial Championship or Eastern Canadian Qualifier with the team they were released to.
   2. If there is no team within their age classification or tier in the province able to accommodate the athlete, their next option will be to play at the next oldest age classification and tier within their region (ex. U13 athletes will play U15, U15 athletes will play U17, etc.).
   3. If there is no team within their region at the next oldest age classification, the athlete will be released from their region and will be permitted to play with another team in the province in the next oldest age classification and tier determined by the Technical Director/Designate.
5. If a player requests a release based on exceptional circumstances from their region which already has other teams within their age classification and tier available to them, the Technical Director/Designate will follow the following procedures:
   1. Consult with the Regional Director and appropriate coordinator.
   2. Consult with the existing teams within the province to establish roster needs

Release Requirements

1. If a player is granted a release they will be required to attend Eastern Canadian Qualifiers and Provincial Championships with the team they were released to, if applicable, unless an exceptional circumstance arises. 
   1. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in the athlete not being eligible for a release in the following season.

For more information, please contact technicaldirector@softballnb.ca

Minor Regional Release Application Form