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HOCKEY TRYOUT PROCEDURES

2023-2024 Season

Overview:

As we close out the 2022-23 season and look forward to tryouts, we would like to communicate the guidelines that will once again be used throughout the tryout process. Please keep in mind that tryouts are a difficult time for everyone. It is the goal of the Hockey Committee to place players where they will have the best opportunity to succeed and compete.

NEW!! GSC will conduct “Closed Tryouts”:

The Hockey Committee is committed in its efforts to place each player on an appropriate team based on the individual merits of each player and his or her contribution to the team. While we are unwavering in our mission to be a family club, at the travel level, we are also committed in our efforts to create the most competitive teams that we can.

GSC has decided to move toward a more common approach to tryouts whereby parents are not allowed to view tryouts. We ask parents to trust the process and remember that we have hired professional coaches and heads of hockey to lead the club, including overseeing and completing tryouts for all age groups.

Please note: that there will be a non-refundable fee of $250 payable at the time of tryout registration. We will apply that fee to the travel hockey program fee for anyone that is offered a spot on a team and accepts. If a player is offered a spot on a team and does not accept, they forfeit the $250.

Team selection and player placement philosophy:

We believe that the selection process should be meritocratic and should be based on each player’s complete “body of work”.

In an effort to meet these commitments, the Hockey Committee will make sure that team placement is undertaken in the following manner:

1. The selection committee for each team consists of a group of evaluators with hockey experience and without any relationship to a player being evaluated.

2. The try-outs are fair and balanced and open to all eligible players.

3. The evaluation is systematic, structured, and rigorous.

Each player’s efforts, contributions and achievements to this years’ team are incorporated and are taken into consideration.

We believe that this will create the appropriate impartiality in the selection process and also will enable each player to be more completely evaluated - not only on the basis of a few tryout skates but also on his or her characteristics over a season.

Evaluation and Selection Process:

The evaluation process will incorporate the following:

• Input from this year’s coaches (‘22-'23)

Each coaching staff has completed an evaluation of his or her players based on their full year experience with each player. We think this provides a great perspective on each player in terms of practice participant and game competitor, teammate, as well as skills and hockey sense.

• Tryouts Detailed Scoring

Evaluators will all use a structured evaluation framework that will score players on a number of criteria. Evaluators will all be experienced hockey evaluators. There will be multiple evaluators at each tryout.

• Transparency and Impartiality

Parents of a player trying out for a team will be excluded from the evaluation process.

Commitment:

Playing travel hockey is a commitment. While we understand participating in other activities, playing travel hockey is a commitment to a team and to a program. As such, we will expect attendance at practices, games and tournaments except for emergencies, to be approved by the Coach. The club expectations are as follows and each team’s coaching staff may provide additional guidelines:

• If your child is on a Travel team, they will practice twice per week and typically play 1-2 games per weekend. In addition, there will usually be 1-2 tournaments throughout the year. Players are required to be at all tournaments, including their state tournaments that take place in February or March. Failure to participate in the State Tournament may result in exclusion from an A or B team the following season. GSC does not enter tournaments during Thanksgiving or Christmas. The expectation is that your child will participate in about 50 practices per year and play in about 30-35 games per year.

• If you think that the commitment level of playing in a travel team is too significant please let us know in advance as we go through the selection process. Travel Development Teams are available and may be a better option for those who would like to play competitive, developmental, local and fun hockey.

Registration:

While the exact fees for the 2023-24 season will depend on several factors including outside ice time required and additional league play, our expectation is that the fees will be in line with this past season.

As the number of teams and roster spots per team will impact our planning process, it is critical for us to finalize commitment and rosters. As result, for the 2023-24 season, you will be required to pay the hockey fees with a credit card at the time you accept your child's spot on the team.

Once your player’s spot is accepted and the deposit is paid, there will be no refunds. We budget the program based on participation and as such need everyone to honor these commitments.

A girl is welcome to tryout for their respective Squirt, Pee Wee, and Bantam Team. The Hockey Committee has determined the following evaluation and selection process if a girl wants to try out for a spot on a Boys team (Squirt, Pee Wee or Bantam).

· If she is in her first year of a category, (e.g. Squirt, Pee Wee or Bantam), she must make the B or A team but will not be considered for the C team.

· If she is in her second year of any category, she must make the A team, but will not be considered for the B or C team.

· If a girl does make a boys’ travel team, they will be required to cross-roster with a girls travel team that suits their ability.

Please note that there may be exceptions to these rules for the benefit of the club and our teams.

We recognize that some girl players may seek to play up an age division. These inquiries must be proposed to the Hockey Committee three weeks prior to tryouts.

Summary:

Again, we are already looking forward to the 2022-23 season. It is our hope that you share our enthusiasm. We believe that this process improvements and guideline will enable a smooth, fair and balance evaluation process and keep our program on the right track for a successful year. As always, our goal is to place players where they will have the best opportunity to succeed and compete. Good luck in tryouts and, as always,

Go Wings!

Hockey Committee