SHELBURNE COUNTY MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION TRYOUT POLICY

1. Purpose

This policy aims to ensure a fair, transparent, and consistent tryout process for all players within the Shelburne County Minor Hockey Association (SCMHA). The policy aims to select players for teams based on skill level, performance, and commitment to promote a positive and competitive environment.

2. Eligibility

All players must be registered with the SCMHA for the current season and must have paid all necessary fees prior to participating in tryouts.

Players from outside associations must be in good standing with their home association and have a release to try out with SCMHA.

3. Tryout Registration

Players wishing to participate in tryouts must complete the tryout registration form and submit it by the specified deadline.

A non-refundable tryout fee is required upon registration to cover ice time and evaluation costs.

4. Tryout Process

Each division will have a minimum of three (3) tryout sessions.

Players will be evaluated based on skills (e.g., skating, shooting, passing), game play, work ethic, and overall performance during drills and scrimmages.

Independent evaluators, appointed by the SCMHA board, will oversee the tryout process.

Coaches and evaluators will use standardized evaluation forms to ensure consistency.

Tryouts will be closed sessions

5. Evaluation Criteria

Players will be assessed on the following criteria:

Skating: Speed, agility, balance, and edge work.

Puck Handling: Control, passing, and shooting accuracy.

Game Play: Positioning, decision-making, and teamwork.

Physicality: Fitness level, checking (where applicable), and strength.

Attitude and Effort: Sportsmanship, effort, and coachability.

Evaluators will be knowledgeable of the game and have limited involvement with the age group they are evaluating.

A minimum of 3 evaluators excluding the head coach.

Evaluators will evaluate all players that tryout for a given position (forward, defense and goalie) for all groups of a given session.

The tryout committee may reject or reduce the value of results from an evaluator they judge blatantly biased. In such cases, the evaluator will be immediately removed from evaluating tryouts at all levels.

6. Team Selection

Final team selections will be made by the head coach, in consultation with the evaluators and the SCMHA Development Coordinator

The number of players selected will depend on the roster size requirements for each age group as outlined by Hockey Nova Scotia.

Players will be notified of their selection status via email or a posted list on the SCMHA website within 48 hours of the final tryout session.

7. Player Placement

Players not selected for competitive teams will have the opportunity to participate in development or recreational programs offered by SCMHA.

The goal is to place every player at the appropriate skill level to encourage growth, enjoyment, and development.

8. Appeals

There will be NO appeals of the tryout selection results.

9. Attendance and Commitment

Players are expected to attend all tryout sessions unless excused by the coach for valid reasons (e.g., illness, injury, family emergency). the player shall be scored for the sessions in which they participated, and the Tryout Committee will attempt to acquire additional background information (past performance) to assist in making an appropriate ranking for the missed session(s).

Players selected for competitive teams must commit to all scheduled practices, games, and team activities throughout the season.

10. Conduct and Expectations

All players, parents, and coaches are expected to uphold the SCMHA Code of Conduct throughout the tryout process.

Abusive or disrespectful behavior toward players, evaluators, coaches, or other participants will not be tolerated and may result in immediate disqualification from the tryouts.

11. Health and Safety

All players must wear appropriate protective equipment as mandated by Hockey Nova Scotia.

Any player showing signs of illness or injury will be assessed by the coach or trainer and may be restricted from further participation based on their health status.

12. Conflict of Interest Guidelines (amended 10-17-24)

• Evaluators will not have any sons, daughters, stepsons, stepdaughters, or grandchildren trying out for the team they are evaluating.
• Members will not be in the presence of any evaluators when their child is being evaluated, regardless of their position within the Association.
• Evaluators and Tryout Committee members will respect the confidentiality of the process at all times.
• Evaluators are not given players’ names and are not provided with the other evaluators’ scores.
• Scores will be inputted by an independent volunteer and cross-checked for accuracy.
• Head Coaches & coaching staff with Children Trying Out: In cases where the appointed head coach has a child trying out for the team they are coaching:
• Independent evaluators will assess the child's skills and determine their placement along with all other players. The child must be evaluated and scored within the number of available roster spots. For example, if there are 15 spots and the child’s total score from the independent evaluators ranks 18th, the child cannot be added to the roster.  
• While the head coach has the right to make the final team selection, this right does not extend to including their child if the child does not place within the number of available roster spots based on the independent evaluations.

13. Communication

All tryout schedules, player lists, and related updates will be communicated via the SCMHA website. Parents and players are encouraged to check regularly for updates.

Coaches will not contact any players until the roster is posted. Coaches will not be calling players who are released

14. Disclaimer

SCMHA reserves the right to amend this policy at any time to ensure a fair and effective tryout process.