Novice – Program Overview

Welcome To The 2011 – 2012 KMHA NOVICE Season

CONVENOR – Gino Aiello

I am responsible for the daily operation of the Novice house league program (there is no competitive level in Novice), ensuring compliance with KMHA directives, code of conduct and any discipline and appeals decisions or ODMHA regulations. The Convenor takes direction from the VP of Hockey Programs and Director of House. I attend KMHA Executive meetings and Hockey Program meetings contribute to the management of the hockey program as a whole.

The Basics – Season Overview:

May 1 – August 31 – gather volunteers, receive and review coaching applications
September – Sort outs – 3 weekends
October – March – 2 weekend ice times provided by KMHA, (1 Saturday, 1 Sunday) Minimum (Team may acquire up to 2 additional per week depending on level A, B, or C)
April – Playoffs, Team Year End Party, Return of Equipment, Coach Evaluations by Parents.

Required equipment to be allowed on the ice:

Hockey Skates, Helmet, Neck Guard
Shoulder Pads, Shin Pads, Elbow Pads
Jock/Jill, Hockey Pants, Hockey Gloves
Socks / Garter Belt – Mouth Guard – (off the shelf, or custom one from the dentist)
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.

The Details:

Before sort-outs:

I receive the list of players from the KMHA Registrar in August and will begin preparing for sort-outs. We will communicate with the players and their families to welcome them to the program, to describe the program, and to make them aware of the sort-out schedule.

Sort-outs:

We will use 6 hours of ice over a 3 week period for each player. Each player will be assigned a specific time Saturday and Sunday of 3 consecutive weekends. Week one is to establish tentative levels according to fundamental skills. Week two is to confirm the levels through inter-level exhibition games. Week three is to establish ability within each level to assist in balancing teams. I will select a group of volunteers to help with welcome desk helpers, on-ice help, and evaluators. The sort-outs will be unbiased. We will balance the teams within each level to the best of our ability and not permit groups of players or other cliques to influence team composition and/or to potentially create an imbalance.

Goalie sort-out: There will likely be 2 goalies for each team in Novice A and Novice B, so an additional sort out session for goalies will be held. Players trying out to be a goalie position must also attend player sort out as they are not guaranteed a goalie position. If you are interested in trying out for goalie please us know ASAP. If you do not have your own goalie equipment – please advise us and we will provide it. After the sort out process players will then be allocated to each of the divisions (A, B, and C house) based on their skills and game scores. Sort out scoring will be done by experienced volunteers and are confidential. If we achieve 2 goalies per team – each goalie will play/practice 50% of the time – the other 50% of the time will be as a defence or forward player.

If you would like to volunteer to help out, please send me an email or fill in the following online form. All volunteers will be required to participate on one of the three weekends, for all day for both days (typically consists of 7 hours on each day).

After Sort-outs

Coaches

We will select a head coach for each team no sooner than the end of the second week of sort-outs. That list will be submitted to the Director of House and VP of Hockey Programs for verification. We will attempt to place qualified assistant coaches, trainers and managers on each team list, and ensure that head coach fills these positions. We will hold a coaches meeting with the Director of House and the VP of Hockey Programs in attendance to discuss the requirements and expectations of the season.

If you would like to be considered for a head coaching position and you haven’t already expressed your interest to me, please do so ASAP. An application will then be provided to you. Coaches will be assigned teams and players once the sort out process is complete in September, but we will be reviewing the Coaching situation over the summer.

Throughout the Season

We will be appointing a representative to oversee each of the A, B, and C levels – these 3 individuals will be responsible to attend 1 game or 1 practice per week at that level and to maintain open and regular lines of communication with the coaches at that level, and report back to me.

The “interlock” schedule with Nepean is not likely at this point. We hope to at minimum play exhibition games with Nepean and other associations. The “make up” of our “league” will be resolved throughout the summer – stay tuned.

Each team will be required to have affiliate’s, approximately 3 players from the level below – to make up a full bench at all practices and games.

We will allocate game and practice ice from the allotment given from the Ice Scheduler. Each team should have two appearances per week, though due to scheduling issues, teams may occasionally have one less or one more, but should average two. The Convenor will ensure that unfavourable ice is equally distributed to all teams over the course of the season. Ice Times will vary from day to day – week to week. All teams will get their share of each time slot – including 6am (yes 6 in the morning! That means waking up around 5!). Unless otherwise indicated, the Convenor is responsible for the regular season and playoff game schedule for their teams. The Convenor will also maintain and have an avenue to publish up-to-date standings for each division.

We will ensure that all equipment is returned, bank accounts closed, and any other year-end wrap-up duties are performed. We document the season in terms of process and scoring used for sort-outs, and any other information that would assist volunteers that will be in the same Convenor role.

Finally we will select a coach of the year for each level, and one volunteer of the year for their division, and prepare a summary of the season to the VP Hockey Programs prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Volunteers are required – please contact me.

Ice Scheduler for Novice
Rep for A, B, C
Sort Outs Registration Desk – (great for Moms and their kids)
Dressing Room Helpers – (Siblings from higher levels of hockey to help get kids dressed),
On Ice Evaluator (all potential coaches and assistant coaches are required to do this or on ice shepherd),
Head Evaluator
On Ice Shepherd (great for students looking for volunteer hours)
Coaches, Trainers, Managers

See you at the rink

Gino Aiello – noviceconvenor@kmha.ca