SMS Parents and Players,

We are now in the planning stages for the 2008/09 SMS hockey season.

 

2008/09 Age Classifications

Midget 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 Birth years

Bantam 1994, 1995 Birth years

PeeWee 1996, 1997 Birth years

Squirt 1998, 1999 Birth years

Mite 2000, 2001 Birth years

Mite In House 2000 Birth years and younger

 

There will not be any placement sessions for Mite In House or Midgets, just registration.

Team placement for these will be done via coach recommendations and board approval.

 

Placement sessions will be held for Bantam, Peewee, Squirt and Mite league play level teams for the 2008/09 seasons.

 

The leagues that SMS places team into, the Northstar Youth Hockey League at the Northstar rink in Westboro and the National Youth Hockey League at NESC, both have parity rounds during the season where team movement will occur to find the appropriate level for the teams. All teams are intended to be placed in a division with teams of similar abilities, to maximize development. No players gain from 10-0 games. All players will benefit from 3-2 games, in contention until the end, every shift matters.

 

Placements are the process of determining the best fit for both individual players, teams and the entire SMS organization to maximize player development while having fun. All players develop at different times and intervals during the younger years, there are no set formulas. Some players will develop the most from being one of the top players and driving the team flow. Some players will develop the most from being one of the lower players, having to step up their level of play. The highest level team is not always the best fit for a player. The goal is to build teams that consist of players with similar abilities, in a competitive atmosphere, while fostering skills development, and helping to mold quality individuals that will have the confidence to succeed in all aspects of life, not just hockey.

 

Placement format will consist of skills sessions and scrimmage sessions. Skills sessions are where the player can demonstrate their hockey skills through skating, passing, shooting and puck handling drills. Skill Placement session drills can be found on the documents section of the SMS web site, under Skill Placement Drills A-D, E, and F-G. Drills A thru D are different for Mite age players than Squirt, Peewee or Bantam players. Scrimmages allow the player to demonstrate their game knowledge and team skills in a realistic environment. All players will attend one skills session and at least one scrimmage sessions. Most players will attend multiple scrimmages, enough to be able to determine their proper placement, as well as to help show the appropriate level of the other players in their age group. Absence or requested attendance at a particular session is not an indication of team placement, just part of the process. The number of scrimmage sessions is determined by the number of players in an age group, allowing all players to have ample opportunities to demonstrate their skills.

 

Player Evaluations from this year’s coaches are part of the placement evaluation process for understanding a player’s hockey skills, team skills, commitment, and “coachability”.

Each coach will rate and rank the players on their team based upon the criteria of the SMS Player Evaluations document which can be found on the documents section of the SMS web site. Input from all the team coaches will be used to generate a rating and ranking for the players on that team. All the coaches in an age group meet to generate age group rankings to complete player evaluations. SMS philosophy is that the coaches learn more about a player over the season than can be learned during placement sessions. Tryouts are equally important. They enable SMS to normalize player rankings across teams and across age groups, something beyond the scope of an individual coach’s consideration.

 

The results of the skills and scrimmage sessions, along with player evaluation input from this year's coaches are used by the board to determine team placements for next season. Actual numbers of players on teams can be determined based upon talent levels or based upon numbers. Talent level determinations are groupings of players with similar abilities or perceived potential development. Number determinations are to allow ample playing times for all players to develop. Two lines is the best for development, more than three lines is a detriment to development, with the actual size determined based upon the number of players in an age group. As hard as SMS tries, there will be cases where parents and players disagree with their placement. Often there is an “overlap” of kids with comparable skills that span two teams, and the distinction between who is above or below the cut can be a subtle one. In some cases it may be the feedback from last year’s coach that made a difference. In other cases it can be a player’s performance in tryouts. And there are cases where a 1st and 2nd year player in an age group have similar skills, and the 2nd year player is given the advantage based on the intangible value of the extra year of experience.

 

 

This year’s coaches will be given packets of the planned placement skills drills so that players will be able to perform them prior to the actual placement sessions.

 

SMS is an organization of volunteers comprised of parents, coaches and players.

We are only as strong as those who volunteer. Volunteers are needed to make the coming season successful for all the players involved.

 

Check in volunteers are needed to coordinate placement sessions, registering players and pinney assignments.

 

On Ice volunteers are needed to run placement sessions. The volunteers must possess knowledge of the tryout drills and have the ability to guide players thru the process. Typically volunteers are coaches who have a player being evaluated at that level.

 

Evaluators are needed to assess player talents and ability potential as demonstrated thru skills and scrimmages. Hockey knowledge and the understanding of youth sport development principles are required. Most evaluators will have coached youth hockey. Evaluators may not evaluate players within the age group of their children.

 

If you would like to volunteer to help please let me know. A list of volunteers will be compiled. Each age group will have a Placement Coordinator who will contact volunteers and oversee the placement process.

 

Placement sessions actual times are as of yet undetermined.

The sessions need to be planned around league schedules and playoffs.