2020-2021 Evaluations and Team Placement Process
 

This document outlines the process of player evaluations for Crusader Youth Hockey (herein CYH).

Player placement will be weighted on the previous seasons coach’s evaluation in conjunction with a live and video (where necessary) evaluation by CYH coaches of other teams and levels as well as professional outside resources.

CYH is to maintain an equitable and thorough process for assessing player abilities and skill, and placing each player on a team to promote individual development and team success. Planning, coordinating and executing the evaluation process involves many volunteer hours from coaches, evaluators, and Board Members. An evaluation subcommittee has been formed to develop a repeatable player evaluation process and achieve fair team placement for all players.

The Evaluation Sub-Committee

The Evaluation Sub-Committee was designed and developed to govern the entire player evaluation and team placement process. This Sub-Committee consists of the President, VP of Operations, Coaching Director and one or two additional Board Members. The roles and responsibilities of the Evaluation Sub-Committee are as follows:

• Ensure the evaluation process is executed in a thorough, objective manner whereby every player is treated fairly and given an equal opportunity to play at the level that gives them the best opportunity to develop hockey skills

• Develop try-out schedules & logistics

• Develop team evaluation forms, evaluation session forms, and data templates

• Publish the Evaluation and Team Placement Process to the CYH membership

• Review and approve all recommendations

• Address problems and/or issues as they arise

• Annually review the process to improve quality, efficiency, and outcome.     

Evaluation Teams

Evaluators will be identified by the Sub-Committee. Evaluators may include CYH coaches, Board Representatives, and professional outside resources and is referred to as the Evaluation Team for the current year.

The Evaluation Team will be responsible for:

• Define and develop an evaluation plan for each session (skills & small gameplay)

• Staff and conduct try-outs

• Qualify all data specific to player placement, including try-out results and coaches’ evaluations, including player commitment assessments

• Select draft teams based on all available information, and

• Present draft teams to the Board Evaluation Sub-Committee for final approval.

It is important to note that the Evaluation Team will be comprised of individuals with strong hockey backgrounds, including CYH coaches possessing extensive hockey playing and/or coaching experience.

Player Evaluation

The Player Evaluation Process is comprised of two (2) primary components; coaches’ evaluations and live session evaluation. A third but less weighted evaluation criteria is player commitment to hockey (see below).

Goalie Evaluation

The Goalie Evaluation Process is comprised of two (2) primary components; coaches’ evaluations and live session evaluation. A third but less weighted evaluation criteria is player commitment to hockey (see below).

Coaches’ Evaluations

CYH head and assistant coaches are required to evaluate and rank players on their team based on their overall hockey ability. This does NOT necessarily translate into the leading scorer, fastest skater, best playmaker, etc. being ranked the #1 player. Players are judged by their impact on a game and individual skills, including skating ability, positional play, teamwork, stick handling, aggressiveness, etc. Evaluation criteria and aids have been formulated by the Evaluation Sub-Committee to ensure consistency amongst coaches and evaluators.

Player Commitment

A Player’s Commitment assessment, as specified by his or her previous seasons’ coaches, will also be used as a factor in final player placement. A player’s commitment to their team is often over-looked when placement occurs. A player’s commitment will be gauged by practice attendance and effort during practices and games.

Live Evaluation Structure

Live sessions provide evaluation teams the opportunity to observe players in a structured on ice session focusing on skating, skill, and gameplay. The evaluation Sub-committee will develop the overall try-out format for their particular level, subject to the review and approval of the CYH Board (as needed). All age levels will include a one-hour ice session, that will be comprised of skating drills, skill drills, and game scenario sessions. Game scenarios may be 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5 games at the full, half or cross ice. Live sessions are targeted to be conducted in early February of each year.

Scoring

Each evaluator, working individually, will score players in skating, skills and gameplay categories. A player’s total score will be based upon the average of scores ranked. If a player is missing a score for a specific skill the evaluation committee may use video of said player taken throughout the season. Video utilized will be taken from the live barn app, which is used by Valley Hockey League to record most games. If video coverage is inconclusive the evaluation subcommittee will refer to the player’s coaches ranking from the previous season.

Player Placement

Rankings and team assignments, at each level, will be drafted and finalized by the Evaluation Team using live evaluation results and coaches’ evaluations. Team assignments will be submitted to the Board Evaluation Sub-Committee for final approval.

Evaluation Sub-Committee’s Policy regarding 2nd Year Players within a Level

If a player is entering his/her second year within a level and whose cumulative score is similar to a player entering that level for the first time, added consideration will be given to the second-year player.

CYH’s policy regarding players missing the try-out session due to illness or injury shall be assigned a try-out score based upon the average try-out score of similarly ranked players from the coaches’ evaluation. The player placement process will then proceed in the normal fashion.

Target Date for Player Notification

CYH targets for two weeks after the end of all evaluations to post player placement and team assignments on the CYH Website. This is to ensure a uniform notification, and that all players are notified at the same time. Should additional time be needed by the Evaluation Sub-Committee, a notification will be sent out to the CYH membership.

Conclusion

The goal of the Board Evaluation Sub-Committee is to fairly evaluate players and place them on the team that best matches their skill level, giving them the best opportunity to develop. The CYH Board recognizes that there is no perfect process and that there may be players and parents who will disagree with placements. This will always exist in the case of a tiered (1, 2, 3…) system. We believe that our process is reasonable and fair, and provides players the opportunity to play on a team that is matched to that player's overall ability.

Questions and Concerns

The Evaluation Sub-Committee is available to discuss any/all questions and concerns regarding the complete evaluation process and/or player placement. Direct Contacts: Mark Ruggiero 978-837-2484; Mike Allan 978-770-7870 and Mike Eagleston 781-308-5055.