Welcome back to the 2011-12 season for Southland Hockey Association !!

<<<   Detailed information and schedules for evaluation sessions are posted on the age category tabs on the left hand side of this page.

Please check back frequently for updates as you progress through your evaluations.   If you are using a SHA web page

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Initiation,  Mighty Mites & Pee Wee ice times are posted on the Ice Schedule page

 

   

 To All Parents:

 Hello and welcome to another Southland Hockey Association (S.H.A.) hockey season.  As always, the hockey season begins with the busy time of evaluations.  The evaluation process has been evolving at Southland over the past few years and will continue to do so as we look to improve it for the long-term benefit of players, coaches and parents.  Last year we modified it for a number of age levels in order to provide more “game condition” evaluations at the older age levels and focus on more development at the younger levels.  The year before last, Hockey Calgary implemented a new initiative for the Novice age level to focus on individual player skill development before formal teams are formed.  We will again be participating in the “Novice Development League” through September prior to evaluations beginning during the last week in September.

 

The details of the Evaluation Process for the 2011-2012 season can be found within this document and all of its attachments.  Potential coaches and assistant coaches will be asked to participate in the evaluation process as scrimmage evaluators to maintain their standing as a “potential” coach for the up coming season.  Evaluations are possible because of a dedicated group of volunteers - a group we are lucky to have. Evaluations for goalies at several age levels will begin August 29th this year, with a break for the Labour Day long weekend (September. 3rd – 5th) and resume on September 6^th, with the commencement of player evaluations.  Evaluations will last for most of September.

 

While the beginning of a new hockey season is an exciting time of year, it can also be a stressful time for both parents and players. To help make the experience less stressful and more enjoyable, we have developed some evaluation goals for everyone.

 

·         To place all players on teams with players of similar skill level and similar understanding of the game so that they can have a fun and rewarding experience throughout the hockey season. A player placed at their appropriate level will develop his/her hockey skills better than a player who is playing above or below it.

·         To ensure the evaluation process is consistent, fair and has the highest regard for integrity.

·         The evaluation process will have the best interest of all the players in mind.

·         To communicate the process to the players and parents so an easy understanding is available, thus making evaluations a less stressful time for all involved.

 

As parents, you can help the process by:

 

·         Getting your child to the arena no later than 30 minutes before his/her evaluation ice time.  Note:  your player can only skate at his/her designated evaluation time.

·         Having your child dressed and ready to go on the ice no later than 15 minutes prior to their ice time.

·         Ensuring that your child brings their own water bottle to the arena.  Water bottles are NOT to be shared to avoid the risk of passing infectious viruses to other Southland players.

·         Volunteering! Age Category Coordinators will be looking for parents to: open gates on the bench, referee and time-keep during scrimmages and sort jerseys, SHA Evaluation Committee will be looking for Independent (without a child at an age level) “potential” coaches to help with: time trials, scrimmage and goalie evaluators.

·         For Atom and older age categories the player must declare whether they will evaluate as a defenseman or forward (Declared Position).  They cannot select both.  Once selected to a team, this does not preclude the player from playing another skater position during the season; however each coach will have the responsibility to have players at their Declared Position at least 50% of the time, subject to team requirements.

·         Attending the parent meeting for your age group which is held during the first evaluation session.

·         Staying positive. Support your child throughout the process. Don’t sweat the small stuff - kids fall, miss pylons and passes. It’s all part of growing as a hockey player.

·         Setting your expectations accordingly. Do not assume your child will be placed on a specific team based on the scrimmage ice session they may participate in.  Numerous players will be moved around as we progress through the evaluation process.  Remember there could be up to parts of four teams scrimmaging during the same scrimmage session.

·         Avoiding unacceptable behavior during the evaluation period.  This includes yelling at your child on or off the ice and bothering evaluators or Age Category Coordinators for ranking information or player placement feedback.

·         We encourage all families to communicate to your Age Category Coordinator (prior to the end of the evaluation process) if they feel their child is not prepared for a serious commitment of playing for a division 1 or 2 team (if chosen).  Division 1 and 2 teams typically purchase extra practice ice; participate in weekly off-ice training and enter into many tournaments though-out the year.  We want every child’s experience a positive one. 

 

We will attempt to have a minimum of six evaluators for each scrimmage evaluation.   For the Atom and older age levels, each of the goaltenders, defenseman and forwards will be evaluated by a separate group of evaluators during the scrimmage sessions.   All defenseman will be identified with bright colored tape on their helmets to allow the evaluators to clearly identify them (parents – please do not remove this tape).  This will ensure that all defenseman on the ice for a scrimmage will be evaluated together and ranked accordingly after each scrimmage; the same goes for the forwards and goaltenders.

 

The evaluators will be dispersed to various parts of the arena.  They will not be evaluating their own children.  Please avoid sitting near the evaluators.  Having parents nearby can be distracting for them and they must stay focused on the players.  Please do not approach the evaluators with questions about rankings or marks.  Evaluation information is to be kept confidential.

 

 

EVALUATION PROCESS – GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The evaluation process for Novice and Atom age levels will consist of time trials, skills tests and scrimmage sessions. Each player in these levels will participate in a number of drills and skills tests and be either timed or rated on their ability to complete a particular drill.  This data in conjunction with the level the returning players (players entering their second year at the same age level) played at the preceding year will allow the Age Category Coordinator to then place the players in groups for the initial scrimmage session.  The only difference for these two age levels will be the types of drills used to test the skills evaluation.

 

PeeWee, Bantam and Midget age level evaluations will consist of a minimum of 4 rounds of scrimmage sessions (preferably 5 depending on available ice) to see how players perform in game situations.  For the initial round of scrimmages, a grid system will be used to place players in the appropriate session based on the level they played the previous year.  There will not be any time trials for these levels.

 

Each age group will have its own coordinator (Age Category Coordinator) who will follow this evaluation process as it has been communicated.  They will ultimately be responsible for analyzing the data, organizing scrimmages and evaluators and being involved in the final team selections, based on that data.  Each Age Category Coordinator will have a data input person appointed to them to summarize the data for the Coordinator after each evaluation ice time.  This person will maintain the data in a standardized spreadsheet to allow for simple sorting and manipulation of the data.  Each Age Category Coordinator will be assigned an assistant, with at least one of them being considered Independent (not having a child at that age level).  This will also help SHA with succession planning for these important volunteer positions.

 

An Evaluation Committee will be established each year by the S.H.A. Board to oversee the Evaluation Process to maintain the integrity of the process, to help the Age Category Coordinators in the final team selections (if required) and potentially perform random audits on the evaluation data.  The individuals making up this committee will be charged with the task of making sure the process for each division was run consistently and fairly as communicated in this document.  Each Age Category Coordinator will report to the committee with their proposed team lists for final approval and potential audit before being made public.  In order to maintain consistency and ease of understanding throughout the process, a standardized time trial spreadsheet and/or scrimmage evaluation form will be used by all age groups.  It is imperative that all Coordinators and evaluators use the same sheets in order to make a seamless transition between all age groups.  It is the Evaluation Committee’s goal to have final team selections completed within 48 hours of the final evaluation of an age group.

 

Please Note:   

The complete Evaluation process for SOUTHLAND HOCKEY ASSOCIATION 2011-12 (with attachments) can be found on

  http://www.southlandhockey.com/Coaches/Manuals.htm :  Appendix B Evaluation Process 2011-12 (August 2011) 

* SHA Goalie Evaluation Drills can also be found at the above location