Atom – Program Overview
Welcome to the KMHA Atom House League Program for 2011-12
KMHA’s Atom House League program is organized into three divisions, an A Division, B Division and C Division. Our sort-out process, held in September, will provide the data needed to assign our young players to these divisions. My goal as convenor is to ensure all our kids are playing in a division where their speed and skills allow them to be part of the game. There are some distinctions in both player ability and parental expectations between these divisions.
A Division
Hockey Canada recommends that 22% of 9-10 year-old house league players be assigned to “A” level play. A level play is fast, fairly well-skilled, and more competitive by nature than other divisions. To achieve the recommendations, I expect 4 (four) A level teams to be formed this coming year, each comprised of 15 skaters and 1 goalie. Further, A level teams typically levy an additional $300-$350 in team fees to cover the costs of extra ice times and 3-5 tournaments (some out-of-town). KMHA’s Atom A teams play a schedule of 20-22 games, interlocked with Nepean’s Atom HL program.
B Division
KMHA’s Atom B HL program will have approximately 56% of our 9 and 10 year-old players. With our forecast registration numbers, I expect 8 House League B teams to be formed, each comprised of 15 skaters and 1 goalie. In HL B, teams play roughly 18-20 regular season games, against the other KMHA Atom B teams. Team fees can range between $150-$250 additional costs per player, to cover extra-curricular team events, 2-3 tournaments, potentially with one being out-of-town, and some additional extra ice.
C Division
KMHA’s Atom C HL program will have 22% of our players, and, for the first time, may be interlocked with our Nepean colleagues. 16 skaters are likely to be assigned per team with no dedicated goalies. This gives young players the opportunity to try the goalie position using KMHA provided equipment. The game schedule will be approx 16 games and a significant focus on skating and skill development is brought to practice times. Additional team fees of approximately $100-$150 can be expected to cover extra-curricular team events and a couple tournaments.
SORT-OUTS
We will be running three weekends of sort-outs this year, beginning in mid-September. Sort-out schedules are available on Atom Sort-outs webpage and will be posted once available.
The first weekend focuses on taking objective time ratings in 5 different drills. Forward skating, Transition skating (forward to backward to forward), Stopping and Starting speed, Open ice weaving with a puck and Tight Turns with a puck. These skating times will account for approximately two-thirds of your players sort-out ranking. The primary differentiator of a player`s ability to ‘be in the game’ at A or B levels is their raw speed, their transition speeds and their ability to carry a puck with speed.
A second hour will evaluate some of their softer skills, these are more subjective evaluations and will count for approximately a third of their sort-out ranking.
The second weekend will have our players sorted into their skill divisions, and exhibition games will determine whether we have properly ascribed them to these divisions. If past experience is a guide, very few players (less then 5%) will have their division sort-out level changed in these games.
The third weekend will have rough team formations in place. We will use this weekend`s exhibition games to try and ensure we have balanced teams within our divisions. By this weekend, I will have selected our coaches who will help me evaluate team equality – although they will not know which team will be assigned to them until this weekend is completed.
Goalies
Goalies will be evaluated separately, and will continue to be evaluated in the exhibition game schedule. Goalie registration numbers are a variable that will help me determine how best to assign goalies to our 2011-12 teams.
Equipment
Please note that your player needs the following equipment before they will be allowed on the ice:
- Helmet
- Hockey Skates
- Shoulder Pads
- Elbow Pads
- Neck Guard
- Jock/Jill
- Hockey Pants
- Shin Pads
- Hockey Gloves
- Socks / Garter Belt
- Hockey Stick – cut to appropriate size (generally between the upper lip and chin depending on the child. Too long or too short will make it difficult to handle).
DO NOT use an adult stick cut down as the weight and balance are drastically different - Jersey – one will be provided near the beginning of the season but you will have to bring your own for sort-outs and to start the season.
- Mouth Guard – DOES NOT have to be a custom one from the dentist, off the shelf’ ones work fine.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at atomconvenor@kmha.ca
I look forward to spending this upcoming hockey season with you!
Mark Melanson
Atom Convenor
