Rick,
After careful consideration on this subject I think I've changed my mind and we might need new rules for novice qualifications. Our society has long since passed the days of expecting citizens to just do the right thing. In addition, common sense now has to be legislated ala seatbelt laws. I myself detested seatbelt laws when they were first implemented even though I wore my seatbelt virtually everywhere I drove. I looked at someone not wearing their seatbelt as an evolutionary method of thinning the herd.
To the point at hand, our club had 2-3 six and under kids who started out the season in the novice divisions but after a couple of tournaments it became obvious that they needed to move up. We went to the parents and told them it was open tournaments from that point forward. We didn't need a rule or a spelling test to make us do the right thing.
I think this subject brings to light a deeper and more troubling problem than the definition of novice. That being coaches who think they are enhancing their own resume by "medal hunting". Personally, I think this type of thinking is the root of most problems encountered in youth sports. But I doubt we are going to change peoples behaviors based on what we've seen in this subject thread. Much like seatbelts, some people really do need rules to do the right thing!