6 . Tryout Camps and Team Formation

Tryout camps are scheduled by the S.O.M.H.A. vice president in charge of “A” hockey. They typically start in the third week of September and are over by the second week of October. Camps for the 8-12 year olds start first, with consideration for the first cuts from AA Stars to be able to attend the full A1 camps. The last cuts from AA Stars will often join the process part way through A1 tryouts. Bantam and Midget tryouts start later in order that they can be synchronized with later-starting AA and High School programs.

If possible, there should be a couple of days scheduled between the last A1 session and the first A2 session to give community club convenors time to assign their A2 coaches and prepare for tryouts.  The S.O.M.H.A. Age Convenor will coordinate tryout camp registration. They will arrive at the rink at least one hour prior to the first tryout session for each age group and level. Based on pre-registered players, tryout jerseys will be assigned and blank evaluation sheets will be prepared with an equal number of players wearing two different color uniforms. If the coach is interested in uniform assignment, he must contact the Age Convenor at least one day prior to the start of the first tryout. Pre-registered players should be given priority upon arrival.

Players who have not pre-registered must be on a community club registration list (as confirmed by the Age Convenor) in order that they are properly insured.

A1 tryout camps are scheduled in sets of three, with first cuts taking place after three sessions. The schedule for A1 Round Two and the subsequent A2 and Bantam/Midget tryout times are distributed prior to the end of A1Round One (just in case scheduling changes are required, as they always seem to be). All players attending A1 tryouts will be directed to their next tryout session by the coach conducting the tryouts.

The number of players chosen on a team is based on the total number of players available at that age and the number of teams to be formed. Coaches cannot decide upon how many players or goalies to choose without the express approval of the 1^st Vice President. When a variable number of players could be picked for a team (e.g. the team could consist of 15 or 16 players) then the higher tier team gets the choice. When more than the minimum number of goalies are involved (e.g. 4 goalies for 3 teams), the higher tier team(s) get(s) to choose whether to take more than one goalie, but in the case where there are enough goalies to provide two per team, then each team will be required to take two. In no case will a team be allowed to take more than one goalie when there are not enough goalies to be assigned to all teams.

Once the A2 and Bantam/Midget tryout schedules are distributed, it is each community club convener’s responsibility to contact every player who did not attend A1 tryouts to advise them of the appropriate A2 or Bantam,  Midget dates and times. The S.O.M.H.A. Age Convenor will also contact all players who pre-registered for camps as a double check to ensure everybody knows.

The community club Convenor to which a team is assigned is responsible for coordinating all tryout camps associated with the team. He must ensure that the coaching staff and evaluators are present and that suitable drills have been planned to enable a comprehensive and equitable tryout. If possible, some evaluators that are not directly associated with the team should be used in order to eliminate bias and reduce the number of complaints after team selection has taken place. In order to eliminate confusion after the first tryout (once initial sweater assignments have been completed), coaches should post a list of players, jersey colors and jersey numbers on dressing room doors prior to each tryout session.

Be assured that there are always players/parents who will question team selection decisions, and their concerns should be addressed by way of an explanation, upon request. The coach must assume ultimate responsibility for team selection, and should be prepared to provide evaluation information to S.O.M.H.A. upon request.