KMHA House League Policies

Effective May 1, 2011

Sort Outs

All players will take part in the sort out process prior to being placed on a team. The sort out process will vary slightly across divisions but will entail each player participating in a variety of drills and or games over 4-6 one hour sessions.

Various assessors will score players and the score will be used to determine if the player will be placed in A/B/C categories. The assessment process is designed to be ‘blind’ in that the people doing the assessment are not aware of what players they are assessing.

Team Formation

Once the sort out process is complete the convenors will determine based on the scores which players will be placed A/B/C levels. Convenors make every attempt to create balanced teams from the beginning of the season however there may in some cases be changes made during the first few weeks of the season if it appears that one team is significantly stronger than others in the group.

The number of teams in levels A/B/C is based on the ODMHA guideline as follows:

  • 20% A
  • 60% B
  • 20% C

Given the number of teams it is not possible for these percentages to be followed absolutely. The final decision as to the number of teams at each level will be determined by balancing the guideline with the need to have enough teams at each level to make each league viable. Weight will be given to the availability of interlock and participation in leagues external to KMHA in making this decision.

Number of players per team

Other than at the Initiation level the average team will consist of 15 skaters and 1 or 2 goaltenders depending on the level and the number of goalies available. For various reasons there are cases each year where the team format will not be the standard for example 14 skaters and 1 goaltender. Effort is always made to not have more than 15 skaters on team however on occasion this may occur.

Selection of Coaches

Coaches for the house league program are selected at the end of the sort out process. As the bulk of coaches are parents it is necessary to determine what level the player sorts out at prior to selecting the coaches.

All perspective coaches must contact the convenor for the level they wish to coach to let them know they are interested in a coaching position for that season.

Convenors will make the coaching selections for their program as per the guidelines determined by the Hockey programs Committee. This may include input from other Hockey Programs executive members, and/or input from results from previous KMHA coach surveys.

Coach Qualifications

All Head Coaches Novice level and above must complete the Coach Stream Certification (CSC) or equivalent. The clinic is offered several times per year by KMHA and by other area organizations. A head coach must take the clinic within 30 days of the team’s first game and must complete the post clinic tasks in order to be reimbursed for the clinic fees by KMHA and to be considered certified.

Any Head Coach not complying with this requirement will be removed as Head Coach. All Head Coaches must also complete the Police Record Check process and Speak Out certification.

Assistant Coaches are not required to complete the CSC certification though KMHA encourages that they do so. All Assistant Coaches must complete the Police Record Check and complete a Speak Out clinic.

IP Instructors must complete the Intro Coach program; this includes not only the Lead Instructor for the team but all on-ice volunteers who will be delivering any instruction to the players. Instructors must also complete the Police Record Check and Speak Out clinic.

Other Team Officials/Volunteers

The team trainer must complete at minimum Trainer 1 certification. All trainers must be re-certified every two years. A trainer is required at all games and practices.

Team Managers must attend a manager information session, which will be scheduled in the fall of each season.

In addition both managers and trainers must complete the Police Record Check process and Speak Out clinic.

All coaches/Trainers/Managers are required to provide to the Registrar via the team list their Full Name, Address, Phone Number and Date of Birth. This is to create a record in the Hockey Canada database where qualifications are tracked and so that they may be added to the official team roster and covered by Hockey Canada insurance.

The head coach will select their assistant coaches, goalie coach (mandatory for teams with one or two dedicated goalies), on-ice assistants, trainer and manager.

Equal Ice Policy

Within House League KMHA subscribes to an Equal Ice Policy for all players. This means that each player over the course of the season should have basically the same amount of time on the ice. Under no circumstances should a KMHA house league coach be “shortening the bench”. Trying to win is important, but winning is NOT a higher priority than teaching fairness and allowing each player an equal opportunity to contribute.

Ice time over the course of individual games may vary for many reasons and parents should not be timing every shift of every player trying to ensure each player gets exactly the same ice time. As long as the ice time over a series of games is roughly equitable then the policy is being adhered to.

If parents are concerned over the equality of ice times they should first have a conversation with the teams Head Coach. If there is still a concern after this then the issue should be escalated to the division’s convenor.

Team Budget

KMHA rules regarding House League Team budgets can be found here  – House League Budget Policy.

Travel

All teams wishing to participate in tournaments or exhibition games outside of the ODMHA but in Canada must obtain a Canadian travel permit prior to their trip.

Teams wishing to participate in tournaments or exhibition games outside of Canada must also obtain a US Travel permit. It is further recommended that travel insurance is purchased as the Hockey Canada insurance policy covering the players is limited in the US.

Tournament Participation

KMHA teams are only permitted to participate in Hockey Canada or USA Hockey sanctioned tournaments. It is the responsibility of the Head Coach to ensure that all tournaments their team participates in are properly sanctioned.

Player Age Categories

KMHA operates teams at all divisions and levels as endorsed by Hockey Canada guidelines. No Age Advancement will be considered.

Affiliation

The KMHA firmly believes in the affiliation process for the success and development of players and teams.
All teams will participate in the affiliation process.

House League Affiliation Policy and Process

Equipment

Equipment is a large cost each year for KMHA. All players with the exception of IP are issued a home and an away sweater, IP players are issued a single sweater. All sweaters must be returned at the end of the season.

Players, parents and coaches are expected to treat all equipment loaned to them by the association with respect. Sweaters should be hung to dry after wearing and should not be stored in the same section of the players’ hockey bag as skates to avoid damage to the sweaters. Sweaters should only be washed in cold water and hung to dry. No sponsor or name bars should be affixed to the sweaters in such a way as to not allow them to be removed at the end of the season.

All team sponsor bars and player name bars must be removed from the sweaters and all sweaters must be washed prior to their return at the end of the season. Any sweater returned damaged due to improper use or storage will be billed to the player to which it was assigned.

Goalie equipment is provided each season as follows;

  • All IP teams, Novice B/C will be allocated one set of equipment to be revolved among players wishing to try it.
  • Atom B and C teams will be allocated one set of equipment as available.
  • Goalie equipment is not to be worn by players other than for practices and games for KMHA. In no circumstances should the equipment ever be worn to play road hockey. Equipment needs to be allowed to dry out between uses to avoid damage. Equipment not returned in the same condition it was loaned in (allowing for normal wear) will be billed to the team/player to which it was lent.

Dressing Room Policy

From IP to Atom dressing rooms are co-ed and parents of either gender are allowed into the dressing room to assist their player in getting dressed. As of the Peewee level gender separation occurs. No females are to be present in the same dressing room as males, this goes for both players and parents. Female team members must dress in the alternate dressing room available at the arena; once all players are dressed the female players may join the male members of the team for any pre-game/practice meetings.

At all times at least two adults must be present in the dressing room in order to maintain the safety of the players. The only exception would be one parent with only their own child.

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