Exceptional Player/Move up policy

[JSR]

All associations should be evaluating their players at the end of each season. After ranking 8-9 in his class each season it would be unusual for a player to jump to #3. The evaluations can also be used in parent/player meetings to discuss what the player should work on during the off season. Parents and players are both looking for transparent feedback. Beyond the on ice grades each player is given points for attendance, attitude, and parent behavior. The bubble this fall is broken based on historical data regarding the player. When it's all said and done I'll take the player with a good attitude, that's a positive influence, doesn't skip practice, and no parental baggage, every time.

Beyond skaters I find it really unusual that more goalie data isn't used. The kid has been playing goal for 4 years now. Has a winning percentage and a goals against average. To rely on outside evaluators to watch a couple hours of scrimmaging and select goalies seems stupid based on all the available statistics.

I've seen this happen several times. One example that jumps out at me is a kid who was never on an "A" team ever through his first year in Pee Wee's. Suddenly that summer he had an epiphany of sorts and really started working on his game AND he got more mature physically and mentally. His second year of Pee Wee's he made the "A" team, the following year he made a Tier 1 AAA winter AAA team (as a player not a payor). He is now entering his senior year of high school, he played for Team Wisconsin, was all-state his junior year and is considered one of the best defenseman in the entire state now. So "jumps" can and do happen. I am not saying it is the norm but it hapens enough that no player should ever be disregarded just because he wasn't that good the year before IMHO

[Night Train]

That's great!

My point was in regards to associations being better organized with their own internal player evaluations to give feedback to the families and having a player history to potentially share with outside evaluators when breaking the bubble. Also fits in the discussion regarding exceptional player move-up.

I've also asked my association to rank the kids by both player class (July 1-June 30) and by birthyear. The birthyear ranking is important to watch out for player opportunities including Advanced 15, etc. Associations should be proactive in finding off season opportunities for their players and not necessarily together.

[JoltDelivered]

Hey Jolt, yes we actually had at least a couple players that were PeeWee A's last year and did not make it this year.

Interesting. Was there any fallout from that decision?

I think if that happened in my association, heads would roll and parents (of the cut returning A player) would be livid, dressing down board members, coaches, the process, etc.... But we don't have outside evaluators so this situation has really never come up as long as I have been around. All of our A teams from squirts to bantams are coached by non-parent coaches. The coaches have 100% autonomy on who gets selected for teams. And usually a returning coach won't cut a returning player. That's like admitting fault or that he (the coach) had made a mistake the previous year.

Although I will say there have been years where the parents talk to each other during tryouts and I have heard the comment, "Have they ever cut a returner?" Usually you hear this comment when watching a returner loaf around with little to no intensity during tryouts. But where I am from, the answer is always no.

[dreampuck]

I guess there was some complaining by parents and obviously heart broken kids, but nothing more than that.

I think we had somehitng like 78 PeeWees try out, so I dont think its inconceivalbe that a couple kids neer the bottom of the top 15 1 year would fall out of the top 15 the next.

Again, I dont think we have the perfect system, but if a first year PeeWee makes the A team 1 year why would it be an automatic the next? That is not a fair system in my opinion. Why even make the returning A players even try out then?

Im amazed this has never happend in your assocaiton before.

[JoltDelivered]

but if a first year PeeWee makes the A team 1 year why would it be an automatic the next? That is not a fair system in my opinion. Why even make the returning A players even try out then?

It's interesting you say that. During our tryouts we often scrimmage other associations to see how players react in game situations. At those scrimmages the returners usually only play the first few shifts (if any at all)...after that they find a spot on the bench and don't come out again. Right or wrong it is automatic and the coaches aren't there to watch the returners. They are open about the fact they are watching the new kids that are trying to crack the line-up. And we start with about 100-120 pee wees when tryouts kick off.

Is it fair? I don't know. All I have is my experience to go on and I can't remember a time where mid-season rolled around and a returner looked like he didn't belong.

[dreampuck]

That is interesting Jolt, I would think there might be a guy or two that really made big improvments or maybe a guy or two that might take a step back, but either way it sounds like you have a strong association and think things are done pretty well. I thnk ours does a descent job as well. I have enjoyed the converstaion.

[Bronc]

That is interesting Jolt, I would think there might be a guy or two that really made big improvments or maybe a guy or two that might take a step back, but either way it sounds like you have a strong association and think things are done pretty well. I thnk ours does a descent job as well. I have enjoyed the converstaion.

If a kid is truly that exceptional (to move up early) they would not be competing with the bottom of the top 15.