Dear Members,
Please take a moment to review the NLL Player Status list attached to in your email. It is important that you know and understand your Free Agency Status before entering contract negotiations with your club.
Since we are also in the middle of CBA negotiations, your status may change during this off season. Therefore, it is in your best interest to wait until a new CBA is agreed upon before agreeing to a new contract. Particularly, if you are close to reaching one of the free agency thresholds. For example, you are 29 and/or have 5 seasons played and the current requirements are 30 and 6 seasons played to become a UFA. A new CBA could result in better negotiating power for you. If you have any questions about your particular situation please do not hesitate to contact me.
Free Agency is one of our most important CBA items during this negotiation. Please understand that we are pursuing very reasonable free agency improvements. For comparison purposes, please see the below basic differences between the NHL and the NLL currently:
NHL
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RFA: player is 25 years of age or older OR has played 3 seasons
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UFA: player is 27 years of age or older OR has played 7 seasons
NLL
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RFA is never guaranteed during your career unless you play 3 seasons and then sit out an entire season
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UFA: player is at least 30 years of age AND has played 6 seasons
Current Free Agency Situation Examples:
RFA A1 & RFA A3
If you are a RFA A1 or RFA A3, on August 1st other teams may contact you and offer you a contract. Following an offer from another team, if your team wishes to retain your rights they must match the offer you received. Therefore, your leverage greatly increases after August 1st and you can truly understand your market value.
UFA
If you are a UFA, on August 1st you are no longer the property of any team and you may negotiate with any team you would like. Where you play and for how much is completely within your control. Therefore, once again, your leverage greatly increases after August 1st.
Thank you,
Reid Reinholdt
Vice President & Executive Director
National Lacrosse League Players Association
P: 604-897-5517
