SPRING TRYOUTS
There will be spring try-outs commencing in April this year. We will not host fall try-outs for the 2010-2011 season. The coach will request that each successful player complete an OMHA Offer of Commitment form which will in turn be submitted to the Registrar. The Registrar will register these players with OMHA and submit for approval on the team roster.
We strongly suggest that you privately interview each and every player alphabetically throughout the try-outs. From the Peewee age on down, please invite the parent to be part of the interview process. Notify them as to whether or not they have been successful, please advise them of the specific areas that you believe they should be working on over the summer.
This is also an ideal time to distribute literature such as summer training programs, dietary information etc.
One of the the try-outs may be used as an exhibition game. The association will pay for referees and will also pay for timekeepers, if necessary. This offer applies only to the tryouts and will not be credited at a future date. Furthermore, once your team is chosen, an additional exhibition game will be made available to you at the association's cost. Referees must be contacted through the association's ice convenor.
In addition, no one but the ICE CONVENOR is permitted to cancel ice time. Regardless of whether it's a game or practice only the ice convenor has the authority to speak to arena managers or our competitor’s ice convenors on Highlanders official business.
O.M.H.A. TRY-OUT PERMISSION FORM
Any player attending try-outs will have to request this form from their residing centre. The form must be signed by the president of the players residing centre and must be completed prior to the player stepping onto the ice surface. There will be "NO EXCEPTIONS" due to possible liabilities associated with insurance coverage.
Along with this form, the O.M.H.A. has approved severe penalties for teams who allow players to skate with them without having this permission form. These penalties include: a 10-game minimum suspension to the team's head coach, a $500.00 fine to the offending organization payable to the O.M.H.A. as well as declaring the player in question, ineligible to sign with the team with which that player had an illegal try-out with.
For the record, our bantam and midget players will also require this form completed by their residing centres, prior to tryout with junior clubs.
TEAM ROSTERS
You must have minimum 16 players signed and submitted to our Registrar five days prior to the O.M.H.A. roster deadline of the current season.
ASSISTANT COACHES, TRAINERS & MANAGERS
You must include your complete list of Team Officials on your O.M.H.A. roster, complete with PRS, trainer's and coaches' card numbers. Police check "Consent to Disclosure" forms must submitted by the date set by Highlander Executive. Police checks must be done on all bench and manager staff so please explain to them that they will have to sign a consent of disclosure form(to be processed at their local OPP office) prior to officially being listed on your roster. Furthermore, all of these candidates will have to be officially approved by our Highlander Executive.
For the record, please advise your staff that only the Registrar should have direct contact with our Regional 5 - O.M.H.A. Representative regarding Highlander business.
The executive strongly suggests that you do not offer the position of manager to an immediate family member. This only makes parents uncomfortable and reticent about approaching this individual regarding legitimate concerns that they may have about the head coach's philosophy. We cannot emphasize the importance of selecting a capable manager. Ultimately, the head coach will be accountable for any wrong doings or indiscretions associated with this high profile individual.
We also believe that it's awkward and not a good practice for a coach to be listed as one of the signing officers on a team's bank account. This administrative function should be left to the manager and perhaps one or two other parents. Our coaches should be more concerned with on-ice related problems as opposed to managing team funds.
The manager along with you, the head coach, will be expected to meet periodically with the two vice-presidents, as well as our other coaches and managers. This will give you the opportunity to voice your opinions and share your concerns and achievements with your peers and executive members.
OUT OF ZONE PLAYERS
If "in zone" players are of equal talent we expect you to give signing preference to our "IN ZONE" player.
AFFILIATED PLAYER GUIDELINES
(A) Affiliated players are to be used only when a team is short of signed Highlander players due to suspensions, disciplinary action, injuries, illness or other valid reasons for absenteeism from a game.
(B) Preference should be given to affiliating players internally from our own association. There will be no charge to players affiliating from within our own organization.
(C) All affiliated players must fulfill their obligations (games and practices) to the team they are rostered to, unless given permission not to do so by their coach. Your AP Roster must be approved by the O.M.H.A. prior to an AP player participating in any on-ice activities. On each occasion when a coach or manager desires to use an affiliated player, in either a game or a practice, he must first obtain permission from the affiliated players coach. The affiliated player's coach may at his discretion, grant permission. If permission is granted, the Highlander coach or manager may then approach the player and request that player's services. The affiliated player is under no obligation to play for the affiliated team at any time.
(D) Affiliated players cannot automatically attend games and practices unless "invited out" by the team they are affiliated with and this aslo requires consent from the home centre coach. A fee of $10.00 per practice and $20.00 per game will be charged to all non-Highlander players affiliating.
(E) If you wish to "AP" a player from within our zone (out of zone players are not eligible) complete the Highlander permission form provided and forward it along with your O.M.H.A. AP roster form to the home centre for required signatures. These signed forms are then submitted to the Registrar who will in turn submit to the OMHA for approval.
(F) It is strongly recommended that one goalie be affiliated.
(G) You may AP up to 19 players.
COMMENTS REGARDING PLAYER AFFILIATION
The Grey-Bruce Highlander Association encourages our coaches not to use the same affiliate player on every occasion. By discussing the situation with the affiliate player's coach, he will be able to determine which players deserve the opportunity of playing at this higher level of competition.
PROGRESS REPORTS
The head coach will meet with a players parent twice throughout the season. Once in late October and once in late January. Discussion will be of an open forum type, centred around your child and his role on the team. We believe it is inappropriate to have conversation about players other than your child.
TOURNAMENTS
The coaches report to the 1st Vice-President and the managers report to the 2nd Vice-President.
At the request of the SCTA please do not enter into any more than three (3) tournaments during regular season. Furthermore, please ensure that your manager receives input from you and your parents regarding the number and location of tournaments that your team intends on entering. Remember, travel, transportation and lodging can all very expensive undertakings and your parents should definitely be involved in the decision process.
Keep in mind that O.M.H.A. play-downs take precedence over tournaments.
CLOSING COMMENTS
Please keep in mind that this is not junior hockey where the parents don't pay a registration fee. Our parents pay a healthy fee to register and they expect their children to receive the appropriate amount of ice time.
Remember, everyone makes the play-offs. We would like to see you develop your players throughout the regular season, in an attempt to have each of them ready for the playoffs. However we also realize that there may be critical points in a game where you may want to shorten your bench and these situations will be your call and your call only.
As a hockey coach, you are an important individual in a young person's life. We trust that you will strive to be an important role model, both on and off the ice. You have the support of our entire executive and we wish you well throughout the upcoming season. Go out and have some fun.
If you have any questions please contact our 1st Vice-President.
If your managers have any questions please contact our 2nd Vice-President.
Note: Failure to comply with any of the above policies and procedures will result in suspensions to the offending coach and possibly the team manager.
Note: No coach will not receive his final cheque for reimbursable expenses until the following have been submitted to the 2nd Vice-President by March 30th each year:
- Year end budget (copy to parents of players on your team).
- Team Banner
- First Aid Kit
Sincerely yours,
The Entire Grey-Bruce Highlander Executive
Please download and sign this form. as a confirmation that you understand and agree to abide by the above philosophies, guidelines, policies and procedures of the Grey-Bruce Highlander AAA Minor Hockey Association.