The 2017-18 domestic competition season is fast approaching, and BCAN is excited for the upcoming events that are already beginning to take shape.
First, we have our 2017 Yonex Prairie Junior Elite taking place September 22nd – 24th 2017 at the Riverside Badminton Club in Saskatoon, SK. During the same weekend, the 2017 Yonex Quebec Elite will be taking place at the Universite Laval in Quebec City, Quebec.
Both of these events will be open for registration tonight (August 11th, 2017) at 9pm PST, available at the links below:
2017 Yonex Prairie Junior Elite - http://badmintoncanada.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=54CC9F3C-75F0-487A-8C0E-EED0DE6661A4
2017 Yonex Quebec Elite - http://badmintoncanada.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/tournament.aspx?id=68BE8236-9DAB-426E-85D5-8390B220789F
In preparation, we (Badminton Canada) would like to inform you all of some items to be aware of starting the 2017-18 season.
- Age groups – For the 2017-18 season, Badminton Canada has aligned their 2017-18 Competition Calendar Year with the 2018 BWF Calendar Year. Because our season start date (September 1st, 2017) does not match the starting date of the BWF calendar on January 1st, 2018, we must plan accordingly for the events that take place in 2017. To ensure that all athletes are competing in the correct age category throughout the 2017-18 season, the ages are adjusted for 2017 as follows - Competition is open to athletes born 2004 or later (U15), 2002 or later (U17), 2000 or later (U19). This may cause confusion for some athletes whose birthdays fall in September to December. They will have to play in the age category for which they are age eligible for 2018.
- With registration opening for both the 2017 Yonex Prairie Junior and Quebec Elite, please ensure that all athletes and clubs are in good standing with your provincial organization. Athletes will be unable to register if they are not in good standing with their province and if their clubs are not recognized by you the PTSO. BCAN will help coordinate solutions with you and the athlete(s) involved to facilitate this process.
- Coaching registration will have the same registration deadlines as athletes for events. As both these events are closed for registration on Friday September 1st, 2017, we ask that all coaches that wish to be involved with either of these events to be registered for the 2017-18 season by this deadline as well. We will send an update next week on the final regulations and registration process for all coaches for the 2017-18 domestic season. Please ensure your coaches are registering on time or they will not be eligible for the first events of the season.
- As is generally the case for the first events of the season, we anticipate some bumps in the registration process. If an athlete is late in registering, for the first event only we will consider a late registration. That being said, there will be a $50 penalty for late registrations if we do choose to allow any late registrants. Please encourage your athletes to register early so they do not end up missing out on the events.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions/comments/concerns, I will be happy to discuss them with you in further detail.
Regards,
Mike Luck
Events & Communications Officer
Badminton Canada
700 Industrial Av, Ottawa, ON
613-569-2424 Ext: 102