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Welcome to the FAQ page!You've got questions? We've got answers. We've just added this page for the purpose of taking some of the questions that people most frequently ask about or of the Wolverines, and doing our best to give complete answers. Simply click on the question, and you will be directed to the answer. Or, for a more complete "picture," just scroll down the page and read 'em all. - How large a roster do you carry? How large a roster do you carry? There is no definitive answer to this question. Our roster size varies from year to year.
For both Bantam and Midget, the league mandates a maximum of 45 players (in Midget it is broken down by grade; no more than 25 Grade 11's and no fewer than 10 Grade 9's or 10's). In actual fact, although in some years we are close to that number, we have never carried the maximum. For instance, last season we carried 39 Bantams compared to 44 and 45 respectively for the other two Sherwood Park-based Bantam teams. The reason is simple; the Wolverine Promise. We commit that all players play in every regular season game (click here to see the Promise in detail). Therefore, our roster must be of a size that permits us to fulfill this commitment. The more players that we carry, the harder this becomes. So it's a balance, and we have to adjust the number from year to year. [Back to Top] Can I try out for more than one team and then make my choice? CDMFA's Rules, Policies and Procedures strictly prohibit players from registering with more than one team. If you register with a team, and then subsequently register with another, the first registration automatically becomes null and void. The league no longer considers you to be registered with the first team. Registrations are all date-stamped when entered into the CDMFA system, thus allowing the league to determine when a player was registered. Furthermore, CDMFA's RPP's also specifically prohibit teams from knowingly registering a player who has been previously registered with another team. Therefore, if you register for one team, then register for another with the intention of trying out for both teams, as soon as you register for the second team you are no longer registered with the first team. Further, if a team registers you with the knowledge that you are already registered with another team, they are doing so in contravention of the rules. This is why we cannot and will not accept your registration if you have already registered with another team. This all pretty much effectively disallows the practice of dual tryouts. Teams generally have tryouts very close to each other, if not actually simultaneously; to try out for two teams, you would pretty much have to be registered for both. And as we have seen, that's simply not allowed by the league. Just to be clear, any player who is released from a team (i.e. cut) is no longer considered registered, and is then free to register with another team. [Back to Top] What is the Wolverine's policy on player cuts? We hate them. We can't state it much more plainly than that. Unfortunately, at the Bantam and Midget levels player cuts are sometimes a fact of life. It's a very unpleasant experience for the team and the player alike. In fact, any coach will tell you that it is the job that he likes the least. If, as frequently happens, our numbers at registration are such that we must make selections, we will make certain commitments to our players. Simply, as follows:
Will you accept released players from the other Bantam teams? The short answer to this question is "yes". However, there are some things that need to be understood. First of all, tryouts for all the Park teams tend to take place very close together. We have our tryouts, then play our inter-squad game (the annual Navy-Gold game), and finally make our selections over a period of about a week. If a player comes to us before we make the final selections, he has just as good a chance as anyone else. Should a player who is unsuccessful making the roster of another team come to us after we have made our final selections, we will never release a player to make room for him. We can only accept that player if there is room on the roster, and if the coaches can be confident that they will able to make sure that everyone gets the playing time that they deserve. He will also have to go through a try-out process of some sort as well. This process is at the discretion of the coaches, but the bottom line is that he must earn his spot, just like everyone else. Therefore, we encourage you to give us a call if you are released by another team. Whether we can accommodate you will have to be judged on a case-by-case basis, but it is always worth the phone call! [Back to Top] What about late registrations, like if I move here after tryouts or just sign up late? If you have just moved here, or decide after tryouts that you want to play, you can come out and have your own personal "try-out" any time before the second Wednesday of September for Bantams, or before the last regular season game for Midgets. These are the dates when the CDMFA "locks" the registrations, and further registrations are not accepted. Again, the coaches will decide on the basis of available roster spots, and we will not make room for a late-registering player by releasing another player. [Back to Top] How does the "player release system" work? CDMFA allows players from outside our recruiting zone to play for the Wolverines. We will not recruit players from within another team's zone. To do so is unethical. However, we are pleased to talk to any player from outside our zone who initiates first contact with us, and wishes to play as a released player. We emphasize, however, that the initial contact must come from the player. Here is a "cut and paste" from the CDMFA website that explains the player release system in detail. "... Each Member Club or Association has been assigned a recruitment area. However, in the past we have always had requests from players who wish to play for a team other than the one based in the area in which they live. Until a few years ago, each team could carry up to three "imports" without asking permission from the association or team where the player resided. Any imports after these three required a letter of release. These letters were seldom forthcoming, and as a result many players were not permitted to play outside their zone. The league had no power to require a team to release a player, and it was seldom done. As the number of players playing the game of football grew, we saw that there was a growing number of cases where players chose not to play at all if they couldn't play with friends or with a team that they had developed -- for whatever reason -- a relationship with, and happened to be based outside of the area in which they lived. Therefore the rule was changed. Imports were no longer allowed; and in the place of the old three-import rule, a modified release system was implemented. Now, any player who wishes to play as an import must have a release. If, however, the release is denied, the requesting team can now appeal to the league, and the league has the final say. The league's position is that releases should be granted unless there is compelling reason not to do so. The result has been that, as a general rule, players are more or less free to play outside their zone, as long as they follow the process. The problem of players choosing not to play because they were forced to play for a team that they did not wish to play for is no longer an issue; it's encouraged more players to play and to remain in the game, and that has to be a good thing." [Back to Top] Tryouts vary from year to year, and a lot of factors come into play, not the least of which is the fact that our coaches all have lives and jobs away from football and have to be able to all get together during this particular week and weekend. Our tryout times are not based on any league-based guidelines, as none exist at the Bantam level. For the Midgets, there are stricter rules in place, however, and generally all of the teams are holding tryouts very close to one another. As to the Bantams, we have to have all of the equipment from the Midget season turned in, and inspected and repaired or cleaned as necessary. Additionally, this season many of our coaches will be participating in the Summer Games and that will have an effect. As a general rule of thumb, however, you can expect our tryouts sometime during the month of May. [Back to Top] What do you mean when you say that player input is respected regarding position? Simply this. Our coaches will always have the final say on our player positions. However, if you wish to play a certain position, or wish to learn an additional position, your opinions and desires are respected and discussed. If there is a good case to be made for you to play a certain position, your opinions will be respected. We will listen to you, and if it makes sense and is good for you and for the team, there is every chance that your desires can be accommodated. But, as we say, the coaches always have the final say. The biggest reason that the coaches have the say is safety. Obviously if a small player wants to be a middle linebacker, we might have to say no. Conversely if a lineman wants to convert to a wide receiver, that might not be an appropriate position. Common sense has to prevail. But talk to the coaches, have the discussion and your opinion will be considered. [Back to Top] You don't charge fees for your Gym Nites. What about insurance for these events? We've stated elsewhere on the site that we always make sure that anyone who participates in a Wolverine Gym Nite is fully insured. Here's what we do and why, in a bit more detail. There are two issues; the insurance, and how it's paid for. Football Alberta charges a fee of $15 for the insurance. Teams then have the option of charging back to the player to cover this cost. The Wolverines have simply made a choice that we will cover this fee, and we will not pass it on to the individual who is coming out to see what our program is all about. It's a one-time fee; if you come out to more than one gym nite, the team's already paid it to Football Alberta once on your behalf, and the insurance is still in effect. We look at it as just another service that we provide. If another team charges you an "insurance fee" for a similar type of event, that's their choice; and each team is free to make that determination depending on its own philosophy. That's why when you show up for a Gym Nite we take your name and other information, so that we can immediately send it to Football Alberta. Once your name is on the sign-in sheet, you are insured. It's really just as simple as that. [Back to Top] Can you give me information on the CDMFA? Rather than go to a long discourse on the league, you can Click Here to go directly to the CDMFA's FAQ page. [Back to Top] Do you have a question we haven't answered and that you thing belongs on this page? Give the webmaster an email by clicking here.
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