Belarus League will change in 2012-2013

The next Belarusian League will have some significant changes, approved during the last meeting between Federation and coaches' board.
The format of Extraliga will change: now the championship will be held in three stages.
In  the first 11 teams will play four rounds of round robin, and at the end of this phase will be divided into two subgroups: the "A", which will include teams ranked from 1st to 6th place, and "B", which is composed by teams from 7th to 11th place. The points from the first phase are preserved. In the second step every team will play with others inside the subgroups. In the subgroup 'A' is determined by the winner of the regular season, other teams are ranked from  2 to 6. The two best teams in the subgroup "B" and the first six will continue to fight in the third stage of the playoffs.
Now also the semifinal series will be played at best-of-seven like the finals.
The limit on foreign players in the Extraliga will be reduced from six to four players. However, if the goalkeeper does not have a passport of Belarus, the quota is reduced to three (one goalkeeper and two players). For every game it will be possible to allign in the roster no more than four foreign players (now - five)
In the Second Division, composed by farm-teams, there will be an age limit: players have to be under 20 years, 5 players born in 1992, 2 players born in 1991 and, if necessary - a player from Extraliga (only in the regular season) will be allowed.
Finally the Board rejected the proposal from Dynamo Minsk to create a team competing in VHL formed by some 1989-92 players picked from every team with a monetary compensation. Thus, in the next season no Belarusian team will compete in VHL. Commenting on this decision, Federation President Evgeny Vorsin concluded: "Now the project as proposed did not pass, will explore other options. But the idea remains"

 

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