2015/16 Ancaster Avalanche Midget A Team Outline

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2015/16 Ancaster Avalanche Midget A Team Outline Dear Players and Parents I would like to take this opportunity to welcome and thank-you for your interest in the 2015 Ancaster Midget A tryouts.

1 2015/16 Ancaster Avalanche Midget A Team Outline Dear Players and Parents I would like to take this opportunity to welcome and thank-you for your interest in the 2015 Ancaster Midget A tryouts. I encourage all of you to enter this experience with an open mind, and see it as an opportunity to learn and have fun. My inspiration comes from the belief that hockey is a forum though which life lessons are learned and transferrable skills are built for experiences on and off the ice. Highly-spirited athletes who come prepared mentally and physically are looked upon most favorably. During each tryout session, players will be assessed by independent evaluators who have no direct affiliation with the Ancaster Midget A team. The players will be individually rated on all aspects of hockey. Feedback provided by the evaluators will assist in the team selection process. It is an expectation that prospective members of the Midget A team are courteous and supportive of their fellow players and conduct themselves in a professional manner in representing the AGHA. Victory begins in the heart. I look forward to witnessing you talents. Coach Jamie TRYOUT SCHEDULE: Sunday April 19, 2015 Monday April 20, 2015 Wednesday April 22, 2015 Thursday April 23, :30 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. Morgan Firestone A 7:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. Morgan Firestone A 8:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. Morgan Firestone A Exhibition Game vs. Stoney Creek 8:30 p.m., Seymour Hannah Arena Exhibition Game vs. St. Catharine's Tryout Status Notification and Team Selection Players may be released after each tryout session including the first tryout. The AAGHA has implemented a new policy for notification of status during rep team tryouts. At the start of tryouts, each player will be provided with a unique identifier number that will follow them throughout tryouts. The Midget A team has its own

2 webpage and the list of players by number who are invited to the next tryout will be posted by no later than 8:00 am the morning following each tryout. A letter including instructions on where and when to find postings as well as the players identifier number will be provided at the registration table at each team s first skate. If a player has tried out for other Ancaster teams already, they will use the same identifying number. The team pages can be found under the Tryout tab/menu at The rationale for this system is that we must take the time to review and discuss each player with our independent evaluators after each tryout session. This will take some time for us to process. Player offers may be made at any time during the tryout process. Players and parents would then be expected to sign a letter of acceptance. COACHING PHILOSOPHY Don t cry because it s over, smile because it happened Hockey has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Lacing up my skates with anxious excitement before a game is an unforgettable part of my past, and thankfully the game continues to be a significant part of my life. As a coach, I want to share my hockey knowledge, my passion for the game, and my desire to mentor and lead young athletes to succeed on and off the ice. I believe that a great hockey season is determined by the sum of all its parts, and building a strong foundation from the onset is imperative. It starts with the team selection process and clear understanding of my expectations for 100% attendance at games and practices. Players who devote themselves to the team with positivity, energy, and willingness to learn are favorably looked upon. It s about shaping hockey players into better young adults. It s about teaching them that hard work beats talent when talent doesn t work hard. It has been my experience that coaching strategy combined with the girl s skill and enthusiasm shapes a team into a healthy, strong, and highly competitive unit. Before you win you have to believe that you are worth it Every practice and game offers a unique challenge and opportunity for learning, showing your personal best, celebrating individual and team successes, and learning from one other. This season, the team will experience powerful ice instruction providing guidance and leadership. We will endure wins and losses, the grace by which we do both will define us as a team. We will without a doubt represent the organization with pride in ourselves and our team. I look forward to a remarkable season.

3 REP TEAM COMMITMENT Selection of the TEAM will result in: 9-10 Forwards 6 Defense 1-2 Goalies This year the commitment begins April 22, 2015, when the final selections are made. I expect all girls to be active during the summer and begin training for the season a minimum of two weeks in advance of our first practice (running, sit-ups, shooting pucks etc). There will be a focus on pre and post-game nutrition and activity. PROPOSED TOURNAMENTS (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Two/Three away Three local SEASON COMMITMENT Summer Conditioning Camp - TBD Summer/preseason exhibition games Practices - two regular practices per week Games regular season games Dry-land Training Extra ice sessions Playoffs five to ten games Any additional activities outside of those listed will be negotiated as a Team. Please note some activities may be subject to change depending on scheduling and facility availability. Please remember players can be cut from this team if they are not committed to all stated team requirements. Failure to abide by the expectations would be unfair to players who get cut. Playoffs begin in February and hopefully do not end until late March. Playoff games during March Break are a possibility. Efforts will be made to schedule playoff games if need be during March Break at either the starting weekend or ending weekend. If you plan on going away on March Break that is fine as family comes first but you may miss games. REGISTRATION 2015/16 $50.00/$70.00 tryout fee Online registration starts May 1st, every player must be registered by May 15 th. A late payment charge will be added after May 15th. visit to register

4 TEAM BUDGET / FINANCIAL COST The team budget, including rep fees, tournament costs, extra ice time, training, team wear, etc. will be in the approximately $1650 per player. Final numbers will be determined once tournaments are booked, and sponsors are confirmed. We will be doing a couple of fundraisers this year. These will be discussed at a team meeting. A fundraising team will be assembled. TEAM CONDUCT In order for the team to operate smoothly over the course of the season we will have Team Rules. We would like all players and parents to follow and respect the rules for our Together Everyone Achieves More policy. All players will be required to sign a Code of Conduct letter that will include; Respect for the opposition: It is our goal for the girls to play hard and compete in every game they play, but never to lose perspective that it is a game. Disrespect towards the opposition will be subject to discipline. Respect for officials: Referees, like everyone else, are there to support the game and fair play. Regardless of decisions on the ice, respect and character must be shown. Disrespect towards officials will be subject to discipline. Respect for Coaches: Coaches are volunteering their time to teach and help the girls participate in a sport they are fortunate enough to play at a high level. Disobedience towards coaches will be subject to discipline. Respect for Parents: Parents, like coaches, deserve the utmost respect from all players for their support and dedication. Any lack of appreciation or disrespect towards the parent group will be subject to discipline. Respect for teammates: Evert girl on the team has a role to play and they are integral in the eyes of the coach, and will be treated as such by the players. Disrespect towards teammates will be subject to discipline. Respect for the game: Hockey and the Ancaster Midget BB team is a privilege not a right. Any continued lack of effort or dedication is a disrespectful to the girls who did not make the team, and has not place in Canadian hockey and will be subject to discipline. Respect for themselves: At no time will the coaches tolerate girls who do not push themselves to be better hockey players, and more importantly better people. We want girls to set goals beyond their reach, and exceed them. Players in violation of team conduct will be subject to verbal warning. A second violation will result in a parent meeting with the player. Continued violations will result in loss of ice time and/or suspension/ potential removal from the team.

5 AAGHA SOCIAL NETWORKING POLICY SOCIAL NETWORKING is defined as communicating through on-line communities of people such as, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, blogging, etc. The Ancaster Avalanche Girls Hockey Association (AAGHA) understands the importance of SOCIAL NETWORKING, however, it also allows for inappropriate unsupervised conduct which may be detrimental to the welfare of the AAGHA, and the future of AAGHA players. The AAGHA holds the entire AAGHA community, including Executive Members, Managers, Coaches, Trainers, Players, Scouts, Support Staff, on/off-ice Officials and others who participate in SOCIAL NETWORKING to the same standards as it would with all forms of media. Inappropriate behavior over SOCIAL NETWORKING media will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action being taken by the AAGHA. The first violation will result in a verbal warning from a team official and notification of the violation to the Executive. The second violation will result in an automatic 5 game suspension and a discipline meeting with the Executive The third violation is automatic suspension until a discipline meeting with the Executive arranged with possible player release from the association The Executive recognizes that perpetrator intent and victim impact may differ in each case, and reserves the right to escalate the process to automatic suspension immediately. In other words, if you don t have anything nice to say, don t say anything at all. No photographing devices are to be used in the dressing room at any time. Electronic devices will be collected in a common valuables bag during games. NOTICE OF ABSENCE This is rep hockey and we are looking for players to be committed to this team. This does not mean Team functions cannot be missed. Parent s discretion will be respected. Please notify coaching staff of absence in advance. This allows the coach to be properly prepared. Please be respectful to others on the team and keep the lines of communication with coaches open. Repetitive absences will be closely monitored and scrutinized. Keep in mind that other players were cut from this team so being committed to all team functions is expected.

6 Arrival time Games & Practices Be diligent in your preparation. For games we are asking players to arrive at least 45 minutes prior to game time. Arrival times for tournament games are 1 hour prior to game time as per most tournament rules. For practices we are asking players to be ready 10 minutes prior to practice time. Late arrivals cause disruptions to the entire team. Please notify coaching staff if players are going to be late. Early arrival also allows time for the girls to build their friendships with dressing room banter. Coaching staff will also require this time for pregame/practice warm ups, chalk talks and also about 5 minutes post game/practice talks. Repetitiveness as a late arrival will be closely monitored and scrutinized. Playing Time As the coach it is my goal to have all girls have equal playing time. That said, closer to playoffs, or in deciding games of tournaments and playoffs there may be times when certain players may receive more ice time than others. This includes all players as well as goalies. The reason for doing so is not to punish individual players, but to put the TEAM in the best position to succeed. Please respect my decisions as Head Coach. Sincerely, Coach Jamie

7 Dressing Room Policy (Ref.: AAGHA Constitution) The following is the dressing room policy approved by the AAGHA Board of Directors for all AAGHA teams regardless of age or OWHA Category. This policy has been adopted to make the arena a safe, secure and comfortable place for all the girls participating in the Association. a) Dressing rooms will be off-limits to all males, including, but not limited to, fathers, Brothers, grandfathers, while any players are changing into or out of hockey equipment before or after a game. In application this means that any equipment adjustment required to be done by a male, such as, but not limited to, skate tying, will be done outside the dressing room. b) A minimum of one adult female must be present in the dressing room at all times during which players are in the room. Preferably this individual will be the registered team trainer; however, in her absence she may designate another suitable adult female as dressing room monitor. This individual should remain in the dressing room until the trainer returns or another designate is appointed. c) Male coaches will be admitted to the dressing room 10 minutes prior to official game or practice times to conduct pre-event talks and for up to 10 minutes after the game or practice is completed and players have left the ice, to conduct post-event discussions. During these two periods, a minimum of one adult female should be present in the dressing room as per the above. d) In the event that a player arrives in the dressing room during the 10- minute pre-game period she is not to commence dressing until all male coaches have left the room for the start of the game or practice. e) In the event that a player is still in the process of dressing when the 10- minute period is to commence, that player will be requested by the trainer or her designate to stop changing, to don suitable covering clothing and not continue to change until all male coaches have left the room for the start of the game or practice. f) The only exception to the above will be in the event of a medical emergency as determined by and at the sole discretion of a qualified trainer or medical practitioner. g) The use of cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDA s) and photographic devices is prohibited in all dressing rooms except when being used to deal with a medical emergency as determined by and at the sole discretion of a qualified trainer or medical practitioner.

8 Code of Conduct (Ref.: AAGHA Constitution) This Code of Conduct identifies the standard of behaviour which is expected of all members of the AAGHA including players, coaches, team staff, parents, Board of Directors members, volunteers, chaperones and others. The Association and its members will conform to the Constitution, By-Laws, Rules, Regulations and Policies of the Ancaster Avalanche Girls Hockey Association Inc., Ontario Women s Hockey Association, Hockey Canada and rules of all Associations with which AAGHA is affiliated. Members shall at all times conduct themselves in a fair and responsible manner. Members shall refrain from comments or behaviors which are disrespectful, offensive, abusive, racist or sexist. In particular, behavior which constitutes harassment or abuse will not be tolerated by the AAGHA. Members shall not engage in activity or behavior which endangers the safety of others. During the course of all AAGHA activities and events, members shall avoid behavior which brings the AAGHA or the sport of hockey into disrepute, including but not limited to abusive use of alcohol and non-medicinal use of drugs. Members shall not use unlawful or unauthorized drugs/narcotics or performance enhancing drugs or methods. Any team official, player, or Board of Directors member who is intoxicated, under the influence of any illegal substance or who consumes alcohol or any illegal substance in the arena shall be subject to a Disciplinary Hearing and may be subject to expulsion from this Association. Smoking or the use of profane language will not be tolerated in any arena building. Any abuse of arena facilities is forbidden. All municipal directives will be strictly enforced in all city arenas. All player or coach suspension are to be communicated to the Board (President and Rep Convener)

9 Zero Tolerance Policy for Violence in Recreational Properties / Facilities (Ref.: City of Hamilton, AAGHA Constitution) Summary The following activities will not be acceptable: physical violence loud continued verbal abuse of participants, referees, members of the public, which is deemed to be aggressive, intimidating, or having the objective of inciting violence physical vandalism to the building refusal to exit the building or ice surfaces in accordance with the rules as a means of disrupting activity or continuing to intimidate personnel any overt activity aimed at intimidating and which can be seen as promoting or escalating potential situations The minimum suspension is 2 months for any transgressor. For vandalism, the charge will be twice the cost of repair for vandalism, and minimum 2 months suspension.

10 Ancaster Avalanche MIDGET A Letter of Acceptance Congratulations on earning your position on the Ancaster Avalanche MIDGET A TEAM! By signing this letter you are accepting the conditions established in the welcome handout letter and this offer letter and acknowledging that you have read and accept the AAGHA Code of Conduct, Social Networking Policy and Dressing Room Policy, The City of Hamilton Zero Tolerance policy and the MIDGET B Team Rules. I agree to the team agreement as it is written and will (PLAYERS NAME) abide by the Codes and Policies named herein PLAYERS SIGNATURE I by and (PARENTS NAME) agree to the team agreement as it is written and will abide encourage the Codes and Policies named herein Phone# PARENTS SIGNATURE I agree to the team agreement as it is written and will abide by and (COACHES NAME) encourage the Codes and Policies named herein COACHES SIGNATURE

Welcome to Ancaster Midget AA Tryouts for the Season

Welcome to Ancaster Midget AA Tryouts for the 2016 2017 Season The tryout schedule will be posted on Ancaster s website. Please check frequently to ensure you haven t missed any changes. A unique identification