Player Grading Policy (2026)

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide a fair, transparent, and consistent method for assessing and grading player ability within the club. Player grades represent the club's assessment of a player's competitive playing standard and are used to determine eligibility for competitions, leagues and graded sessions.

2. Principles

Player grades will be determined by the Grading Committee based on all available evidence of a player's demonstrated playing ability.

The Grading Committee will consist of club members appointed by the Player Development Officer (PDO) to oversee the grading process and ensure that grading decisions are made fairly, consistently, and in accordance with this policy.

To protect the integrity and independence of the grading process, the identities of Grading Committee members will remain confidential. This confidentiality helps ensure members can make impartial decisions without being subject to undue influence, pressure, or harassment.

The Grading Committee will:

• Apply grading decisions consistently and objectively.
• Give greater weight to performances in more competitive formats.
• Give greater weight to recent performances than historical results where appropriate.
• Review player grades regularly, with grades able to be increased or decreased as evidence warrants.
• Communicate decisions and the reasons for the decisions to players upon request.

Where sufficient evidence exists from higher-level competition, results from lower-level formats will have less influence on a player's grading.

Players may request a review of their grade at any time; however, a player may not submit more than one grading review request within any three-month period.

3. Order of Priority

Player ability will be assessed using the following order of evidence:

3.1. Tournament and League Results (Highest Priority)

Official club, regional, or national tournament and league results provide the strongest evidence of a player's ability and will carry the greatest weight when determining or reviewing a player's grade. A DUPR rating with a reliability score greater than 60% will serve as a primary factor in determining a player's rating.

Consideration may include:

• Overall results and finishing positions.
• Quality of opposition.
• Consistency of performance.
• Recent results over historical performance.

3.2. Club Box League Results

Club Box League matches provide the next most reliable measure of a player's current standard. As these matches are competitive and played over an extended period, they provide valuable evidence of consistent ability.

Consideration may include:

• Match results.
• Winning margins.
• Consistency across the season.
• Performance against players of different grades.

3.3. Competitive Club Session Results

Results from club box format sessions and other competitive club sessions will be considered where tournament, league or box league evidence is limited. These results provide useful supporting information but carry less weight than official tournaments or league play.

3.4. Social Play (Lowest Priority)

Social play will only be used where there is insufficient competitive evidence available. While social matches can indicate a player's developing ability, results may not accurately reflect competitive performance due to experimentation, coaching, varying levels of effort, or informal playing conditions.

Isolated or occasional strong performances against higher-graded players in social matches will not, on their own, be regarded as sufficient evidence of sustained performance at a higher grade. Grading decisions will be based on consistent performance demonstrated over an appropriate period.

4. Additional Considerations

In addition to the priorities above, the Grading Committee may consider:

• Demonstrated improvement or decline in playing ability.
• Extended absence from competition.
• Injury or illness affecting performance.
• A sustained pattern of results rather than isolated performances.
• Overall consistency across multiple formats.
• A player's DUPR rating with reliability less than 60%. While DUPR may provide useful supporting information, it will generally be given limited weight where the player has not competed in a sufficient number of recent tournament or league matches to produce a reliable rating.
• The Skill Levels Matrix published on the club website. This matrix describes characteristics commonly associated with different playing levels. Demonstrating a skill during practice or drilling sessions alone is not sufficient evidence of proficiency. The skill should also be demonstrated consistently during competitive match play, where its selection and execution are appropriate to the game situation.

No single match or result will automatically determine a player's grade. Decisions will be based on the overall body of available evidence.

5. Grading Assessment Session

The Grading Committee will conduct grading assessment sessions at least quarterly for players with limited competitive evidence who wish to be considered for a grading review.

Players requesting a grading review may also be invited or directed to attend an assessment session.

While an assessment provides only a snapshot of a player's ability, it enables the Grading Committee to evaluate a broad range of technical, tactical, and match-play skills. Assessment results will be considered alongside competitive evidence from the formats outlined in this policy.

Where appropriate, the Grading Committee may seek input from qualified external coaches to assist with assessments.

Attendance at an assessment session does not guarantee a change in grading.

6. Grade Reviews

Players who believe their current grade no longer accurately reflects their playing ability may submit a request for a grading review. All requests will be assessed by the Grading Committee in accordance with the criteria and evidence outlined in this policy.

The Grading Committee may also initiate a review of a player's grade:

• At intervals determined by the Grading Committee.
• Following the completion of major competitions or league seasons.
• When sufficient new evidence is available to justify a review.

Once a grading decision has been made, the player's grade will not normally be reviewed again for a minimum period of three (3) months, unless exceptional circumstances exist at the discretion of the Grading Committee.

Players who are dissatisfied with the outcome of a grading review may appeal the decision in accordance with the Club’s Grading Decision Appeals Policy.

7. Grading Committee Discretion

While this policy provides a structured framework for player grading, the Grading Committee retains discretion to make decisions where exceptional circumstances exist or where the available evidence does not fit neatly within the grading framework.

Any discretionary decision will:

• Be supported by clear and objective evidence.
• Be applied fairly and consistently.
• Be documented where appropriate.
• Be made in the best interests of maintaining equitable competition across the club.

8. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the committee to ensure it remains fair, transparent and aligned with the club's objectives.