IDENTIFY PLAYER ASSIGNMENT COMMITTEE

The VP and Director of Operations will oversee and identify the members of the committee that will select the teams by level, and the players by team.  The committee will be responsible for the final makeup of the teams, and resolve any issues with too many or not enough players for a team.  The selection of players on teams will be based on all of the information available including, but not limited to Capital One Bank Ice Vault player ratings, Organizational Skate feedback, player’s coach feedback, and other coach and board member feedback.  In order to gather as much information as possible, a coaches meeting will be held prior to the final Player Assignment Committee meeting.  Coaches from all levels will be able to provide input based on the prior season’s experiences and the organizational skate.

EVALUATE PLAYERS

The Association will hold an Organizational Skate for registered players prior to the start of the season.  Each player will be asked to skate with their age level, unless they had previously skated up a level.  At this time, every player will be evaluated by the RHA Coaches.  Players should make every effort to make this Skate, as it is critical for evaluating players’ improvement from the last season.

The Player Assignment Committee will review the people who volunteer to coach at each level.  Leading candidates for each level will be identified as Head Coaches.  Other volunteers will be designated Assistant Coaches.  In the case where there aren’t enough Head Coaches for a particular level, volunteers at other levels will be asked to coach another team, or the Committee will seek other volunteers. Factors used in identifying coaches include but are not limited to hockey knowledge and experience, communication skills, discipline, attitude and the ability to teach and lead the players.  Every effort will be made to ensure that each Head Coach has significant experience in Ice Hockey.

The Player Assignment Committee will review information on each player, including past season performance, Ice Vault Coaching Staff input, Organizational Skate evaluations, and coach’s input. Each level will be reviewed independently with additional discussion surrounding players “on the bubble” between levels.   Consensus opinion of the Committee will determine each player's level.  At this time, each player will be placed on the level that serves his/her best interests.  In the event that one level has too many players, while the next level has too few players, a player may be moved up to better field full teams at each level.  At no time will the Organization risk the safety of a player by moving him/her up a level when inappropriate.  This assignment of players by level is tentative subject to discussion at the Coach’s meeting.

The Player Assignment Committee will identify the number of teams to be entered into the Ice Vault House League by level.  The number of teams will be based on the number of players registered.  An approximation of players moving up levels will be made at this time.  Ideally, there will be at least 15 players on each team (10 for half-ice mites) --- the break-even point for revenue and expenses.

The first step in assigning players by Team will be the coach’s meeting.  The coaches will utilize all information on each player to place him/her on a team in his/her level.  The process will start with the lower levels, and proceed to each next level (beginners, atoms, mites, squirts, peewees, bantams, midgets).  At each level, the “top” team will be assigned players, then the next team, and so on.  This philosophy is adhered to because it most closely approximates the Major/Minor team scheduling that Ice Vault uses to place teams within each level.  The rationale to this split among teams is that players who play with similarly skilled other players will improve better as a team.

The Player Assignment Committee will assign Head Coaches by team based upon their child’s placement.  In the case where there isn’t a Head Coach for a particular team, volunteers on other teams or levels will be asked to coach, or the Committee will seek other volunteers.

The Head Coaches will notify their players of their team placement, practice schedules and game schedules in a timely manner.

Should any of our teams are fortunate enough to qualify for Post-Season Playoffs, the same policies and guidelines followed during the regular season will apply.  If a coach wishes to enter a team into a tournament, the players and parents will be responsible for any costs associated with entry fees and travel and lodging costs.  The VP and Director of Operations, with all coaches at that level, will decide whether the whole team, or a selection of players at that level will represent the Program.

Using input from coaches and Executive Officers, the VP and Director of Operations will determine coaches and players for all teams to be entered.  In addition to pure talent, there are many other variables that go into placement on a tournament team.  Qualities such as sportsmanship, teamwork, discipline, attitude, cooperation and effort as well as attendance and participation level go into the mix.  In addition to the items listed above, another factor that goes into the selection process is balance among the positions.  There must be a mix of goalies, defensemen and forwards.

Each child’s level is determined by year of birth.  For example, for the Fall/Winter  2008-2009 season, a child born in 1998 or 1999 would be considered a Squirt, and a child born in 1996 or 1997 would be considered a Peewee.  Each level has a set of goals, which are appropriate for that age group. These goals are to be used as guidelines, but will be emphasized throughout the season.  These goals can be found in the Atlantic District Player Develop Model, available at the Capital One Bank Ice Rink.  Each participant can measure their success by the improvement of the skills listed in the goals for their level.  These goals build from level to level, regardless of age (in the case where some players may move up / down a level), so players should have attained the goals identified at the lower levels.  Skills will vary based on teams within each level (A, B or C), and will overlap across levels.  The Atom program will be run by the Ice Vault with individual registration, there will be no Ramsey team entry.