PLAYER EVALUATIONS & TEAM DRAFT
The following standardizations are being put into practice to provide to all NLSA families,
· An open process that is consistent across all age divisions.
· An understanding of the process that will be followed in team formation.
· A structured format for on-ice evaluations and team drafts at all age divisions.
· An understanding of conflict resolution.
· To ensure fair and balanced teams.
· For the benefit of all Players, Parents, Coaches, Convenors, and Board.
Requests:
1. Any player requests shall be submitted to the division Convenor in writing. Generally, requests will only be considered in special circumstances, and will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Balanced team formation will take precedent over requests. Examples of possible requests that will be considered,
a. First year Pre-novice registrant.
b. Siblings/twins.
c. Transportation, i.e. single parent household.
Team Staff:
2. Head coach will be allowed to select their assistant coach and trainer to ensure that each team has a coach/trainer available for all games and practices, keeping in mind that team balance must be ensured.
3. Coaches will NOT be allowed to recruit players to play for their team alone. Players who are late registrants (after team formation), will be evaluated by the division Convenor and will be placed on a team determined by need to ensure balanced teams – both in skill level and overall player numbers.
Evaluations:
4. At the beginning of the season, an evaluation of players’ overall skill level will be conducted. The evaluation process will consist of the following procedure for all divisions – Pre-novice through Juvenile.
a. One week prior to HL start date evaluations, division Convenors will receive a list of their respective player registrations. Division Convenors will contact the players / families and confirm date and time of evaluation skates. This info will also be posted on the NLSA web site by early September.
b. Dependent upon age level, evaluations will be comprised of skill evaluation and scrimmage play, or possibly scrimmage play solely at the Minor Midget, Midget and Juvenile divisions (at discretion of Midget / Juvenile division Convenor).
c. Midget Coaches will help evaluate the Bantam Division to include the on ice portion. Bantam Coaches will help evaluate the Midget Division to include the on ice portion. Peewee Coaches will help evaluate the Atom Division to include the on ice portion. Atom Coaches will help evaluate the Peewee Division to include the on ice portion. Novice Coaches will help evaluate the Pre-Novice Division to include the on ice portion. Pre-Novice Coaches will help evaluate the Novice Division to include the on ice portion.
d. Evaluation registration. Pre-Novice through Juvenile, at time of evaluation registration, each player will receive a player number. This same player number will be displayed at all times on-ice during all evaluations and scrimmages.
e. During on-ice evaluations, the division Convenor, evaluators and coaches will utilize a pre-determined evaluation work sheet as provided by the CHL Representative.
f. Players will be ranked using a number system of 1 through 5 (1 being the lowest skill level and 5 being the highest skill level). Half number scoring will be allowed.
g. Following completion of all evaluation on-ice skates, including scrimmage games, the division Convenor will tally and average out each player ranking based solely upon the evaluation work sheets. Anomalies (vast differences) for any player on the evaluation work sheets will be reviewed by the division Convenor with the on-ice coach evaluators.
h. The division Convenor will arrange a Team Draft with their respective coaches. In advance of the Team Draft, the division Convenor shall provide their coaches with an overall summary of the players’ rankings, i.e. Listing all players and their overall evaluation ranking of 1 through 5.
i. The Team Draft shall take place prior to balancing games being played.
5. The Team Draft shall be conducted as follows:
a. The CHL Representative(s)/division Convenor shall govern the team draft.
b. Only the head coach, or designate, for each team shall attend the Team Draft.
c. The division Convenor and each head coach/designate shall have a summary of all players showing their respective ranking, as determined solely by the on ice evaluations and scrimmages.
d. The division Convenor shall provide all coaches / designates with the approved requests as provided by the CHL Representative to the division Convenor.
e. Head coach will be allowed to select their assistant coach and trainer to ensure that each team has a coach/trainer available for all games and practices. Team balance must be ensured.
f. Coaches shall each pick one player at a time to ensure team balancing (standard draft, i.e. 1, 2, 3, …; 3, 2, 1, …). Siblings / twins shall be kept together and drafted together.
g. Protected players shall be placed on the team first. Protected players are those of the head coach, assistant coach, and trainer.
h. Next, players are selected to match up with the rankings of the protected players. i.e. NLSA 15’s protected players are ranked 3, 2.5, 1 – remaining teams select a 3, 2.5, 1.
i. Goalies are selected next. Consideration shall be afforded a team who receives a lower skill ranked goalie than another team, i.e. the team with the lower skilled goalie will receive one additional strong ranked skater over a team with a higher skilled ranked goalie.
j. Players are selected starting with 5.0s, then 4.0s, then 3.0s, then 2.0s, then 1.0s, until all players have been placed on a team. Each coach selects one player at a time.
k. During the Team Draft, there shall be no Player / Parent requests taken into consideration. Exception: special circumstances will be dealt with on a case by case basis, and as provided by the CHL Representatives to the division Convenors. Balanced teams take precedent over requests. Examples of possible requests,
a. First year Pre-Novice registrant.
b. Siblings/twins.
c. Transportation, i.e. single parent household.
l. During the Team Draft, no coach may choose two players at a time.
m. During or after the Team Draft, no coach may interfere with the selection of another coach’s pick.
n. There shall not be any player trades between coaches. All player trades shall be at the discretion of the division Convenor and CHL Representative.
o. During the team draft, coaches/designates, will not put forward player requests.
6. Following the team draft, each coach shall contact their respective team and provide introductions, team information. The Coach shall advise all team players / families that the teams shall remain in a state of flux up until and immediately following the balancing games – that players may be moved to ensure balanced teams.
7. Following completion of the final balancing game, the Division Convenor shall meet with all head coaches to discuss team balance, and whether or not any player balance trades are necessary.
8. In the event that any player balance trades are necessary,
a. The division Convenor shall advise the CHL Representative.
b. The division Convenor and coaches of the players involved will advise the players/families of the trade.
9. In the event of player balance trades, any player who refuses to move to a new team will forfeit his/her season – they will be discharged from NLSA, their registration fee will be returned, minus a $50 administration fee, and they will be unable to play for that season. Notification will be made by the CHL Representative in writing.
10. Goalies. Not applicable to Pre-Novice and Novice. In the event that a team does not have a goalie, and there are available goalies at a level below, goalie movement of one level only may be undertaken, i.e. minor Atom to Atom; major Atom to minor Peewee; etc.
a. In the event of two goalies being available to move up a division, order of who moves shall be based upon,
i. Volunteer.
ii. Skill level – higher skill level goalie will move up.
iii. Age – older goalie will move up.
iv. In the event of equal skill and age, the last goalie to register will be moved.
b. Failure of a goalie to agree to move will result in that goalies’ registration fee being refunded, minus a $50.00 administration fee, and their season forfeit. Notification will be made by the CHL Representative in writing.
11. Team Size: NLSA is committed to providing a stable and safe hockey environment to as many players as possible. NLSA will accept late registrations in order to allow as many players as possible to enjoy minor hockey, and as our team numbers will allow. The CHL Representative, in consultation with the Registrar and division Convenor, will determine when registration is closed in any given division due to maximum team capacity. In most instances, a team will be considered full with 15 skaters and 1 to 2 goalies.
12. It is acknowledged that late registrations pose a challenge with regards to team balance, i.e. team size, proper evaluation of player skill level in context of general age group. Late registrations will be evaluated by division Convenor on-ice prior to team placement.
13. Conflict resolution. In the instance of disputes arising during the evaluation process and team draft process, the head coach shall advise the division Convenor in writing of his/her concerns. The division Convenor shall notify the CHL Representative of the issues. A meeting shall be held within one week regarding the issues. In attendance shall be the CHL Representative, division Convenor, and respective head coach in the particular division. Failing resolution of the issue(s), the CHL Representative shall bring the matter to the NLSA Board, which will decide the matter. All disputes regarding evaluation and team draft shall be made in writing no later than three weeks following the start of the season.
14. In-Season conflict resolution. In the instance of disputes arising during the season, the head coach shall advise the division Convenor in writing of his/her concerns. The division Convenor shall notify the CHL Representative of the issues. A meeting shall be held within two weeks of the Director receiving the written complaint from the division Convenor. In attendance shall be the CHL Representative, division Convenor, and respective head coach. Failing resolution of the issue(s), the CHL Representative shall bring the matter to the NLSA Board, which will decide the matter.
15. These rules and procedures are a general guideline. Circumstances and issues arising outside of these procedures will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Any and all decisions made by the Board in all matters pertaining to NLSA shall be binding and absolute.
Evaluations are held in order to select players for all House league teams. The time, locations are posted on the NLSA website.
House League Evaluations and Balancing games traditionally start in late September. Each Player must participate in the evaluations. The purpose of these balancing games is to permit coaches to see the players competing against other players from the same age level. A committee member or coach must be present at all balancing inter-squad games.
Players must understand that if selected by the coach, they are expected to play on that team.
Coaches selected for NLSA House League teams endeavour to make all the right decisions. However, they are not infallible. CHL Representatives and Coaches will select players based on balancing the teams evenly and the individual player’s ability. Some selections will not be as easily understood as others but the NLSA board has confidence in our coaching selections and to ice the most balanced combination of players to build a team. They will endeavour to teach all players individual and team skills, tactics, self-discipline and good sportsmanship.