Chapter 4:  Team Administration:
Coaching:  

 
General: Coaches are expected to carry as many players as possible and still allow equal participation of all players. Coaches must display responsible leadership and install attitudes of fair play and pride of achievement.

 
Becoming a Coach:
  • Send applications for coaching to the Hockey Director or the Convener of Coaches at your Area Centre by September 15 for coaching positions for the upcoming season.
  • Coaching assignments are confirmed after the tryouts are completed and the teams are selected.

 
Selecting Team Coaches:
  • Coaches for House League will be selected by the Coach Convener.
  • Coaches for all other age groups and divisions will be by committee of the amalgamated Area Centres or by the Coach Convener is the Westdale team is not part of an amalgamation.
  • Coaches for age groups up to 9 years old is mandatory to have the CHA Coach Certification of Initiation Program (IP level).
  • Coaches after 10 years old must have CHA level I.
  • All coaches are encouraged to obtain their CHA certification as quickly as possible and the Hockey Program will reimburse those who are actively coaching.

 
Responsibilities: The Coach:
  • Selects (and searches out if necessary) assistant coaches.
  • Selects (and searches out if necessary) a team manager.
  • Understands the rules of hockey.
  • Prepares for practices.
  • Holds meetings with parents at least three times: at the beginning and the middle of the season, and the end of the season before the playoffs.
  • Displays appropriate behavior at all times.
  • Determines the positions of the players.

 
Expenses: Coaches may be reimbursed only for coaching clinic fees.

 
Captains: Westdale Community Centre Hockey Program recommends that the captain's and assistant captain's badges be rotated equally among players so that each player is exposed to this responsibility. This may not be practical in all instances. A coach may assign permanent captain roles in the appropriate circumstances.

 
Selecting Players:  

 
Tryouts: Tryouts continue for Al, A2 and A3 hockey. The Evaluation Committee will consist of independent evaluators and potential coaches for ages 8 to 17, from 8AI to Midget. The evaluators are recruited for their hockey qualifications and their fairness.

 
Coaches who are not parents are allowed to participate in team selection throughout the entire selection process. Potential parent coaches are not allowed to participate in the assessment discussion for their own child but is involved in all other aspects.

 
Ice personnel do not participate in team selection but may be consulted on evaluations of goalies and of the coachability and attitude of any player.

 
The tryouts consist of at least three separate hours of on-ice drills. If the evaluators feel they need an additional hour to complete the team selection, that hour is scheduled.

 
Evaluators use the system for team selection outlined in Exhibit #l. Each skill assessed is graded with equal attention to defensive and offensive skills. Checking, playing at the blue line, and taking a player away from the net have a value equal to shooting, puck
handling and scoring. Basic skills common to all aspects of the game, such as skating, puck handling and hockey sense, are evaluated. Skating includes skating forward and backwards, crossovers, speed, agility, balance, and strength players show on
their feet.

 
The on-ice staff are responsible to provide a well balanced tryout to allow for proper selection of offensively and defensively skilled players.

 
Important procedures:
  • During and immediately following each tryout, left to itself to carry out its job. They are not to be approached by anyone, including conveners, and on-ice help.
  • Immediately following the last tryout, the committee meets to assemble the list of players for each team. No one may approach the evaluators during this time. The evaluators sign their names to the team lists, which may then be copied for the use of conveners in contacting players.
  • After tryouts, not at the arena, evaluators or conveners telephone players to tell them the team they will play with and the name of the coach, if that is known at the time.
  • The list of players is final, with one exception. A player might be moved to a higher level if:
    - The player was a top performer in the previous year at a higher tier than the one the player is currently selected for.
    - The Hockey Directors or Conveners at each community centre agree that an error in selection was made.
    - There is room on the higher team for an additional player.
    - The coach of the team agrees.

 
Responsibilities of Hockey Volunteers:  

 
The Team Manager: The team manager is selected by the coach, and has the following responsibilities:
  • Secures ice time required in addition to the ice that Area Centres supply to each team.
  • Maintains and administers the finances of the team and issues a statement to all parents at the end of the year.
  • Organizes a team windup (there are no individual awards other than those given by the home centre).
  • Secures the team's equipment from the team community centre; supplied equipment includes sweaters, goalie equipment and pucks.
  • Notifies players of games changed or canceled, practices, etc.
  • Organizes exhibition games as determined by the coach; this includes getting referees, time keepers, and ice.
  • Enters the team into tournaments as determined by the coach.
  • Fills out the team roster to be submitted to the WMHA.
  • Obtains required birth certificates from team members.
  • Organizes team photographs if the parents request them

 
Conveners: The hockey convener:
  • Determines the number of players on each team, at theamalgamation meetings, using the WMHA guidelines, which seta minimum and maximum number of players a team may carry.
  • Informs all players of their tryout schedules.
  • Informs coaches of the tryout schedule and gives the coach a full roster of all players.
  • Helps the coach when called upon to clarify league rules.

 
The Parent Representative: Parents for each team select parent representatives who act as a liaison with the coaches and parents.

 
Required Equipment: Equipment needs changes as your child grows and develops. For example, when players reach the age at which body checking is permitted, they may need bulkier shoulder and elbow pads.  However, injuries can happen at any age. Accidents happen and children fall. Every player must wear protective equipment that fits properly. Do not buy equipment too large with the idea that it will last several seasons. It is better to get something second hand that fits and fits and is still in good condition.

 
All house league and traveling players must have the following equipment:

 
Elbow Pads: When secured beneath the sweater, elbow pads should be fairly snug and must not slide up and down the arm. Material outside over the elbow should be hard enough to prevent damage when falling to the ice. Beyond five and six year old hockey it is advisable to have an elbow pad with padding that wraps over the inside forearm as well. This area of the arm may sometimes receive a blow from another player's stick.

 
Gloves: Traveling players for all Area Centres use black gloves.


Select a glove that allows enough flexibility to manipulate the hockey stick and that has adequate padding to protect every area of the hand and wrist.


Select the longer cuffed glove to provide the proper wrist protection. Increasingly, older players and pros are using short cuffed gloves. However, they allow damage to wrists from sticks and skates and are not a good choice for minor hockey players of any age.

 
Groin Protection: Girls and boys must wear a "jill" or "jock" athletic protector. Many
are designed to help support socks with snap or Velcro connectors.

 
Helmet: Proper fit is critical. The player should try the helmet on before purchasing.
  • The helmet must bear the CSA label.
  • The face mask must fit so that when installed the chin cup fits directly over the chin. Otherwise the risk of injury to head or face is greater.
  • Do not place stickers on the helmet, because adhesives contained on some stickers may react with and weaken the plastic in the shell.

 
Pants: Traveling players for all Area Centres wear black pants.


Pants should be large enough to allow freedom of movement, but not so large as to have pads in the pants positioned improperly.  The length of the pants should be to the top of the shin pads, slightly above the knee. Select pants that have good kidney and tail-bone protective pads, and thigh pads.

 
Shin Pads: These should be well padded inside, with the outer hard area in good condition, that is, free of cracks, etc. Padding that wraps around the calf is important. When the cap portion is centered over the knee cap, the bottom of the shin pad should be at the top of the skate.

 
Shoulder Pads: For any player, size the shoulder pads to center the protection directly over the shoulder joint. For players 8 and over there should be pads that protect the chest and back.

 
Skates: Skates must offer a good, firm fit, with some ankle flexibility when the laces are done up. Boots should fit well with single pair of sport socks. There should be a little room behind the heel with the foot in the boot (an average sized index finger width).


Crisscross laces, pulling them tight over the toes, and snug over the instep. When tying at the top of the boot avoid wrapping the excess around the ankle. This may impair blood circulation, causing a variety of problems, including cold feet. Size the laces to the skate.


Test new or used skates before purchasing by squeezing the area around the heel and instep. It should be fairly stiff.


Ensure players wear clean dry socks for each practice and game.

Good blades are important to hold a sharp edge. Keep blades sharp and wipe well after every outing.

 
Socks: Size socks properly to the player. They can be held in place with sock tape and garter belt (or equivalent).

 
Stick: Buy a junior hockey stick for young players. The shaft size is smaller to fit the hand's grip properly. It also flexes properly to allow the player to learn to shoot the puck. Either a wooden or aluminum shaft is fine. For young players the blade should curve only slightly.


Tape the stick to allow the player to handle the puck more easily.  Tape from the heel toward the toe of the blade. Tape the top of the shaft for better grip. A ball at the end will make the stick easier to pick up, but don't make it too large. Use black tape on the blade (to hide puck marks) and white tape on the shaft (so it doesn't stain the gloves).

To cut the length of the shaft, first have your child put skates on.  Put the tip of the blade on the ice just in front of the player's skates.  Hold the shaft up against the player's chin, with the player standing up straight. Mark the shaft at the point where it meets the chin.  Cut the shaft at this mark. If it proves to be a little long you can always trim off another inch or so. The ideal stick length varies slightly according to the lie of the blade and the player's skating stance.

 
Sweaters: Community centres supply hockey sweaters for all teams. There are only for wearing at games.

 
Throat Protector: Throat protectors must bear the BNQ insignia. Adjust the strap at the back so that the neck is fully protected.

 
Team Photographs For All Teams: Each team should have team photographs. However, this is an additional expense and is not covered by registration fees. The team manager coordinates team pictures if the parents agree to this expense.

 
Ice Time: A hockey program must provide enough ice hours in a season to give players fan and skills development. There should not be so much hockey that it interferes with family and school activities, keeps children from participating in other personal development programs, or causes hockey burnout. In addition each player's season must have a balance between league, playofF, and exhibition games, practices, and free play time.