If you want to ensure only age-eligible players can register for a division, use Age Validation.
This feature automatically checks a player's age or birth date during registration and can either prevent registration, display a warning, or allow registration without validation based on your settings.
This article answers questions like:
- How do I make sure only eligible players can register?
- How do I restrict registration by age?
- Can I stop parents from registering a child for the wrong division?
- How do I validate player age during registration?
- How do I set age cutoffs for divisions?
- How do I restrict registration by birth date?
Step 1: Enable Age Validation
- Go to Programs > Manage Programs.
- Open your program.
- Select the Setup tab.
- Scroll to Age Validation Type.
- Choose Age as of.
- Click Save.
Once enabled, each offering (division) can have its own age requirements.
Step 2: Configure Each Offering
For each division or offering:
- Click Add Offering or edit an existing offering.
- Configure the offering details.
Age as of Date
Enter the cutoff date used to determine a player's age.
For example, if your league uses Age as of August 31, enter that date. TeamSideline will calculate each player's age using this cutoff.
Age Restriction Action
Choose what happens if a player does not meet the age requirements.
Prevent (Recommended)
- Players outside the allowed age range cannot register.
- Ineligible divisions will not be available during registration.
- This is the best option if you want to ensure only eligible players can register.
Warning
- Players can still register.
- A warning message is displayed informing the registrant that the player is outside the recommended age range.
None
- No age validation is enforced.
- Players can register regardless of age.
Restriction Range Type
Choose how you want to define eligibility:
- Age — Specify minimum and maximum ages.
- Date — Specify a range of birth dates.
Age Restriction
Enter the allowed range for the offering.
When using Age, the ending value is exclusive, meaning you enter the next age after the oldest eligible age.
Examples:
| Division | Enter |
|---|---|
| 5–6 Year Olds | 5 to 7 |
| 8–9 Year Olds | 8 to 10 |
| 11–13 Year Olds | 11 to 14 |
This means:
- Ages 5 and 6 are eligible when the range is 5–7.
- Ages 8 and 9 are eligible when the range is 8–10.
- Ages 11, 12, and 13 are eligible when the range is 11–14.
Click Save when you're finished.
Best Practice
If your organization wants to prevent parents from registering for the wrong division, set Age Restriction Action to Prevent. This hides ineligible divisions during registration and ensures players can only register for divisions that match your configured age requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make sure only eligible players can register?
Enable Age Validation and set the Age Restriction Action to Prevent. TeamSideline will only allow players who meet the configured age requirements to register.
Can I prevent parents from choosing the wrong division?
Yes. Using Prevent automatically removes divisions that don't match the player's age, eliminating the possibility of registering for an ineligible division.
Can I validate by birth date instead of age?
Yes. Set the Restriction Range Type to Date and enter the acceptable birth date range for the offering.
What happens if I choose Warning?
Parents will be notified that the player is outside the recommended age range, but they can still complete the registration.
What happens if I choose None?
No age validation is performed, and any player can register regardless of age.