The Rookie Rule Amendment has been overturned and the Original Rookie Rule Restored
The amended Rookie rule (with rookies being retainable for more than 1 year based on different criteria) has created much confusion and extra work for the Administrator every single year for almost zero benefit. I’ve reviewed the last 2 seasons, and the amended rule has been utilised only once out of 20 potential opportunities. Yet it creates the constant need to remind people how to comply with the set of qualifying criteria and folks routinely fail to comply every year by writing a qualifying comment or screw it up due to confusion. Further work is then created trying to establish the facts for almost zero benefit.
Consequently by Administrative Decision the Original Rookie Rule has been restored – this will apply from next season 2026 PSD (though I could just as easily apply it retrospectively to this season given everyone this season would comply with it anyway).
Original Rookie Rule
A coach can retain a player as a “Rookie Retention” if he has played less than or equal to 27 career games.
Rookie Retentions are exempt from statistical ranking-based restrictions on retentions. E.g. if a Rookie Retention is an elite, this does not prevent the coach from also retaining 1 elite player.
With the return of this rule, I now also relieve the coaches of any obligation to write a qualifying comment. The rule is simple and impossible to screw up so it will be assumed your Rookie Retention complies based on an honour system. If it later found he did not comply (and you lack honour and/or the most basic diligence) he will simply be removed from your squad (even if the season has already started).