NEZ Initiation Program Handbook

NEZ Initiation Program Handbook 2014 2015 Table of Contents 1) North East Zone Sports Council 2) Hockey Administration 3) Registration Process Information 4) Hockey Program Information 5) Initiation Hockey Program 6) Initiation 1 Program 7) Initiation 2 Program 8) Your Team 9) Equipment Policy 10) Facility Information - Arenas 11) Discipline and Complaints 12) Recognition and Prevention of Abuse and Bullying 13) Safety and Insurance 14) Volunteers North East Zone Sports Council 0 The North East Zone Sports Council (NEZ) is a body of volunteers who aim to serve their community members by promoting, organizing and administering minor sports in North East Edmonton. The NEZ Sports Council s goal is to foster the growth of capable and well- rounded athletes who will proudly serve their communities in the future. In order to permit the growth of such individuals, the NEZ Sports Council is supportive of participants (coaches, players, parents, officials and spectators) who demonstrate fairness, good sportsmanship and positive attitude. The children involved in the NEZ Sports programs are the number one priority and 1

their experience must be positive in all aspects of the game. The NEZ Sports Council centres the hockey program around fun and player development. The NEZ Sports Council fully supports Hockey Edmonton s Good of the Game and "Respect In Sport" conduct requirements and Fair Play Pledges. Hockey Administration Many administrative bodies, mostly made up of volunteers, provide the rules and regulations, and support necessary to a successful hockey program. The North East Zone administers the NEZ hockey program in cooperation with the NEZ Eagles, Northstars and Brave Raiders. The following is a breakdown of hockey administrative bodies: Hockey Canada Hockey Alberta Hockey Edmonton Edmonton and Area Federation Hockey Council Northeast Zone Sports Council / Northeast Zone Hockey Committee Northeast District Hockey Operating Areas: Brave Raiders Athletic Club, Edmonton NEZ Eagles and Edmonton Northstars Athletic Club Community Leagues and Members Contact information for Northeast Edmonton minor hockey are as follows: NEZ Hockey Committee Initiation Directors Melissa Chipchura mchipchu@ualberta.ca Jeanie Feeder peeweedirector@telus.net NEZ Eagles Initiation Category Director Melissa Chipchura mchipchu@ualberta.ca Brave Raiders Initiation Category Director Adam Zarowny Adam_z@shaw.ca Northstars Initiation Category Director Robin Stocks hockey@stoxservices.com A Category Director is a volunteer appointed by the NEZ Hockey Committee as well as the Hockey Operating Areas to oversee a particular category of play (Initiation, Novice, Atom, PeeWee, Bantam, Midget) during the team formation process and throughout the hockey season and to act as a liaison between teams and the organizations. Registration Process Information Each organization is responsible for different aspects of hockey administration. All associations share the same principles: FAIR PLAY, FUN, and RESPECT. 2 Registration Fees are set by the NEZ Hockey Committee prior to the start of the season. Registration fees cover the cost of player and coach insurance, ice slots, coach education, administrative costs, equipment, jerseys/socks and city team 3

registration fees. Registration as a player or member is not a right, but a privilege and the Hockey Edmonton Board of Directors reserves the right to refuse or revoke membership and/or registration for conduct that does not comply with the Good of the Game. Hockey Program Information The NEZ Sports Council would like to make parents/guardians of Initiation players aware of the program that their child is participating in. Below is a list of categories that separate children by age (Note: based upon children s age on December 31 st of the current season). All players register and play hockey in the Hockey Edmonton zone in which they reside as at September 1st. Initiation Novice Atom PeeWee Bantam Midget Initiation Hockey Program New Players aged 4-6 7-8 yrs 9 10 yrs 11 12 yrs 13 14 yrs 15, 16, 17 yrs The Initiation Program is provided in two levels. Initiation 1 is for first time hockey players. Initiation 2 expands on hockey knowledge and skills learned in Initiation 1. Hockey skills vary considerably. In general, players have a much more enjoyable experience when they play with others of a similar 4 skill and ability. The Initiation Category does not involve any formal evaluations, scoring or tiering. Players are placed on teams together based on basic hockey skills observed. Each team will ideally be made up of 12-14 players depending on the number of registrants. The aim is to not rush players through the Initiation program but rather to develop the players and provide them with the fundamental hockey skills they can expand on in the future. Most importantly the program is for their skill level and enjoyment. Further information on the Initiation hockey season is listed below. In higher age categories parents should be aware that children are grouped, evaluated and placed on teams - - a process called tiering. Tiering makes hockey more accessible, more enjoyable and safer for all players. Initiation 1 Program The Initiation 1 (I1) Program is designed to introduce players to the basic skills of hockey. Most players have never skated while wearing hockey equipment and they are not ready for competitive hockey. There is a strong emphasis on skating development but most importantly the goal is to make the program fun such that players wish to continue playing hockey and return to the program each year. Hockey Canada outlines that players of this age learn individual technical skills and tactics - - they do not learn team tactics, team play or strategy. We develop players using the Hockey Canada program that features basic movement and 5

skating development drills and utilizing fun games to develop quickness and skating confidence (ex. cops and robbers, frozen tag). One ice slot a week is scheduled for I1. This ice slot is shared with another Northeast Zone I1 team or in some cases an Initiation 2 (I2) team in a "half- ice" format. A more recent approach to hockey development is "station- based" allowing multiple player, coach and team interaction to permit both players and coaches of varying levels of skill to learn from each other. Coaches are encouraged to prepare and discuss practice plans - - even at this level - - as the players will benefit from the multiple perspectives and knowledge that each coach contributes. The NEZ Sports Council s goal is to expand player and coach development. Initiation 2 Program The Initiation 2 (I2) Program is designed to progress on the individual technical skills players were introduced to in I1. As with all levels of the hockey program the emphasis is placed on fun. Players are not taught team tactics or strategy. The program focuses on forward and backwards skating, stopping and puck handling. Players are introduced to team play through scheduled games. There are no assigned goalies - - players rotate through all positions and everyone takes a turn as goaltender. 6 The I2 Program has two scheduled ice times during the week. One is a scheduled half ice practice and the other a game. A more recent approach to hockey development is "station- based" permitting multiple player, coach and team interaction to permit both players and coaches of varying levels of skill to learn from each other. Coaches are encouraged to prepare and discuss practice plans - - even at this level - - as the players will benefit from the multiple perspectives and knowledge that each coach contributes. The NEZ Sports Council s goal is to expand player and coach development. Your Team Upon team formation, Initiation Coaches are provided with their team roster and contact information for the parents so they are able to contact their team for ice slots, team meetings and special events. Coaches are supplied with the team information at the Initiation level as they are the first point of contact for the team. Any future information will be sent to the coach and any complaints or conflicts are to be reported to the coach. New coaches are required to take the Hockey Canada Coach 1 Intro to Coach Course and complete the Respect in Sport - Activity Leader/Coach Course. One team official is required to complete the Hockey Canada Safety Program and must be in attendance at all ice slots. The NEZ will pay for any coach course or development program required by the coaches. Coaches of the NEZ are 7

required to adhere to the objectives of the Hockey Edmonton Fair Play Guidelines. Coaches are required to attend coaches meetings, as required for information, guidance, and other related business. We recognize that player, family and school responsibilities take priority over hockey and parents are reminded our volunteer coaching staff may also have other commitments from time to time. Coaching is not an easy job, but it is one of the most rewarding experiences when both coaches and parents remain focused on creating a positive, fun and fair experience for all players. Parents are expected to provide their assistance in managing the team as required by the coach. Jersey care and maintenance, Dressing Room supervision, Special Events coordination, Outdoor Ice booking, Tournament booking are just some of the responsibilities parents take on in support of the coach and team throughout the players' hockey years. At the start of the season each team must hold a parent/coach meeting to establish expectations and to communicate ideas, plan the season and any special events. PLEASE NOTE: There is a scheduled picture day for Initiation Teams. Your coach will be supplied with the date when the information is available and forward it to all parents. A coach may from time to time require a parent rep who can act as a liaison between parents and coaches, relaying information and concerns. This is 8 important as coaches are usually hard pressed for time to speak with parents as they spend time on the ice and with players. An average coach will invest upwards of 250 hours of volunteer time each season. Communication is essential to a well run team. Equipment Policy Players are required to wear full equipment on the ice. Full hockey gear includes: mouth guard, skates, shin pads, socks, pants, chest protector, elbow pads, neck guard, mouth guard, helmet (with full cage), jock, garter belt, gloves, and stick. All hockey gear must be CSA approved. There are many retail stores that have used hockey equipment for sale such as Play It Again Sports and All Sports & Cycle. Coaches are required to wear skates and helmets (with or without a cage or visor) on the ice. A hockey stick is highly recommended to demonstrate technique. Hockey gloves are encouraged. The NEZ Hockey Operating Areas provide team equipment such as pucks, pylons and tennis balls. The NEZ Sports Council will supply socks and jerseys to the players when teams are formed. Facility Information - Arenas Information about facility locations can be found on the City of Edmonton and Hockey Edmonton websites. 9

Discipline and Complaints The North East Zone does not tolerate any abuse of coaches, officials, players or arena personnel whatsoever. The NEZ Sports Council fully supports the Hockey Edmonton Good of the Game conduct regulation. The NEZ Sports Council does not accept obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures from participants and defines abuse as any verbal or physical assault on a participant or team official. In the event that abuse of participant(s) occurs the perpetrator will face consequences as outlined by the Hockey Edmonton discipline guidelines and could face further discipline by the NEZ Sports Council. All participants in the NEZ Hockey Program are expected to act respectfully and never discuss or engage in a dispute in front of the players (see the "24- hour rule" below). The North East Zone Sports Council will enforce the 24- hour complaint policy. If there is a complaint/dispute/incident regarding a coach, player, parent or any circumstance in which it is believed a complaint must be filed, the complainant must wait at least 24 hours after the incident before contacting the necessary individual(s). This policy allows for a "cooling off" period and allows individuals involved to become more objective. At the Initiation level when a complaint arises, parents should have a direct conversation with the Coach (24 hours after the incident) as the coach is 10 the first point of contact for the team. If there is a concern with the coach the individual should: 1) Report the concern to the Operating Area Category Director. If you are not satisfied with the response/action then; 2) Report to the Operating Area Executive. Please be objective with your concerns and remember that concerns should not be of a personal nature. The Disputes and Arbitration Committee, where possible and appropriate, will conduct an investigation to ensure fair resolution. The North East Zone Sports Council aims to support children in the development of their hockey skills, help them enjoy the game and encourage them to grow up to be active and positive members of their communities. The actions of those around the children involved in North East Zone Hockey Program should foster the positive experience that the NEZ Sports Council fosters. Recognition and Prevention of Abuse Hockey Canada has developed a comprehensive policy on abuse and its prevention. Hockey Canada and the NEZ Sports Council is committed to keeping children safe. Protecting participants from all forms of abuse and neglect, whether it be emotional, physical or sexual, is of utmost importance. Hockey 11

Canada considers any form of abuse or neglect unacceptable and will do everything in its power to prevent this intolerable social problem. Hockey Canada will promote awareness of all forms of abuse and neglect and provide educational materials and programs. There will be a clear message that hockey participants are not easy targets of potential abusers. Hockey Canada is committed to the highest standards of care for its participants and the NEZ Sports Council supports this endeavor. Hockey Canada and the NEZ Sports Council support a sport environment that promotes equal opportunities and prohibits discriminatory practices and bullying. Relationships between coaches and players should be ones of mutual respect and trust. Bullying is not a motivational technique nor is it appropriate on or off the ice. The NEZ Sports Council encourages all participants to treat each other with respect and report all incidences of bully and harassment to the appropriate individuals. It is the policy of Hockey Canada that there shall be no abuse, neglect, bullying or harassment of any participant in any of its programs. Hockey Canada expects every parent, volunteer and staff member to take all reasonable steps to safeguard the welfare of its participants and protect them from any form of maltreatment. Safety and Insurance Safety is of utmost importance on the ice and in the dressing rooms. Skates and sticks as well as many other items can be very dangerous. A coach - - or a designated parent - - must remain in the dressing room at any and all times there are players in the dressing room. Coaches are required to remain on the ice at all times with the players. Children should never be left unattended at any time for any reason. A part of registration fees paid to Hockey Edmonton as team fees are used to pay for the Canadian Hockey Association National Insurance Program. This plan only provides coverage for injuries sustained while participating in hockey. This plan requires that players be properly attired in full equipment in order to come into effect. This includes Comprehensive General Liability, Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Major Medical/Dental Coverage. The Major Medical/Dental coverage is a third line payer, who provides supplemental coverage to augment the Provincial Health Care Plan and Private Insurance Plans. Any claims must first be pursued through these channels before the Canadian Hockey Association Plan comes into effect. Volunteers The NEZ Sports Council and all associations mentioned in this handbook are volunteer based 12 13

organizations. Volunteers are required at all levels. Our combined efforts make the hockey program available to the children of our community. Please take the time to consider that your time and effort can be volunteered to help support the program. If you would like to volunteer for the NEZ Sports Council or the Operating Areas, contact Melissa Chipchura by email at mchipchu@ualberta.ca to find out how you can support the NEZ Hockey Program. The NEZ Sports Council hopes everyone will enjoy a fun and safe hockey season! 14