The Mississauga Rattlers U16 players and families are requesting you sign this petition.

The GTHL chose to give the boys on the Rattlers U16 team 16 default losses, which later was changed to 14, on games they had won or tied, moving them from a top team to eliminating them from the playoffs and killing their season. These kids and their families are very upset.

This was due to the fact the team had a trainer that they thought was registered and permitted on the bench, until they learned in December, he was not properly registered. The team needed 2 trainers and has proof that they submitted all the correct credentials for both trainers in September. The team thought he was permitted on the bench.

There was a lack of knowledge and understanding about the “trainer-at-large” policy that allows trainers outside of the 5 team official spots. Our organization was not aware of this and never got his registration completed. They are sorry. The team did not know. Once this issue came up, he was properly registered as a “trainer at large”. In no way did he impact the outcome of a game or did the team know anything was wrong.

This was an understandable mistake by the organization and GTHL policy permits this to be overturned if it is an understandable mistake. The 15-year-old kids should not be punished for this error that had nothing to with them. It is causing these kids a lot of mental and emotional harm. These kids are completely innocent and the priority of all our organizations, including the GTHL, should be to protect the kids playing in the GTHL.

The Rattlers players and all our families are asking you to sign this petition saying that the “players should not be punished for this understandable mistake and their record should be restored so they can compete in the playoffs.The organization can be disciplined in other ways.”

Thank you.

The Mississauga Rattlers & all our families