WINNETKA HOCKEY CLUB POLICIES FOR ALL STAR TEAMS 

Updated 2004

INTRODUCTION

This pamphlet sets forth the basic policies of the Winnetka Hockey Club (WHC) concerning All Star teams. The fundamental goal underlying these policies is to give the best possible experience to the greatest number of children. While we hope that our teams will win their share of games, it is more important that the children have fun, develop hockey skills, and learn the rewards of teamwork, dedicated effort, and sportsmanship.

This pamphlet is a compilation of WHC policies. Anyone with questions about these policies should contact a Winnetka Hockey Club Board Member.

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY FOR NIHL TEAMS

The WHC has eligibility rules that go beyond the requirements of NIHL and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois (AHAI). These rules are designed to preserve the community orientation of the club and to maximize the playing opportunities for children from Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield, and Winnetka - the villages that comprise the district of the WHC. The WHC’s eligibility rules are as follows:

The WHC does not allow out-of-district players on NIHL All Star teams (gold, silver & bronze) unless there is an insufficient number of qualified players from the WHC district to field a team. The prohibition of out-of-district players does not apply to (a) children of coaches in the All Star program or (b) children who played in the WHC program while residents of the district, who move to another district, and who continue to play in the WHC program without interruption.

ELIGIBILITY POLICIES FOR ALL PLAYERS

1. Any resident who plays for another Tier II team during a regular season shall thereafter be ineligible to play for a WHC All Star
team unless there is an insufficient number of players who have not played for another Tier II team available to field a team.

This prohibition does not apply to a player who: (a) tries out, but is not selected, for a WHC All Star team and then plays
for another Tier II team during that season; or (b) resides in an area shared jointly by the WHC and another Tier II team,
and the player has not previously played for a WHC All Star team; or (c) plays for an open (AAA) team and does not play
for another Tier II team before playing for a WHC team.

2. The WHC does not allow children to play up on a team of older players. For example, a Mite-age player cannot play on
a Squirt team. Similarly, the WHC does not allow double rostering under which a skater would play on two All Star
teams during the same season. Any parent who seeks an exception to the rule against playing up should file a written request with the Hockey Director, specifying the basis for the exception. The Hockey Director will evaluate the request and make a recommendation to the Board, which will then vote to approve or deny the request.

3. Once a player is selected for a team and placed on the team’s roster, the player is prohibited from playing on any other team
until the AHAI State Tournament is completed.

PLAYER CONDUCT

Players are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and responsible manner and act as a team on and off the ice.

On the Ice - Unsportsmanlike conduct (trash talking, swearing, yelling at the referees, opposing team, or your own teammates.) or the intent to injure another player (slashing, checking from behind, high sticking, etc.) will not be tolerated.

Off the Ice - In the locker rooms, corridors, parking lots, and elsewhere, you are representative of your team and the Winnetka Hockey Club. Players are expected to show the highest level of respect for their teammates, officials, opponents, and spectators. This means no bullying, no teasing, no trash talking, no hand gestures, no demeaning locker room antics, no swearing, no locker boxing and no fighting. At hockey games and practices, all coaches will be addressed as coach, sir, or Coach D.J.-- not by first name only.

Reporting - Reporting of violations can come from players, coaches, parents, referees, league officials, or WHC Board members.

Disciplinary Action - Any player exhibiting behavior described above will be required to appear with his or her parents before the Rules and Ethics Committee. The Committee will examine the reported infraction and may assess strike(s) against the player.

Consequences - Every player will be allowed a maximum of three strikes per season. Each instance of behavior that is deemed to have violated the above code will result in at least one strike. It is possible to earn all three strikes for a single infraction. Player and parents will be notified in writing of any strikes assessed.

1. Strike One - one week (minimum one game) suspension.
2. Strike Two - two week (minimum two games) suspension.
3. Strike Three - suspension for the balance of the regular season.

Appeals - Appeals may be made to a joint committee of no less than five members of the Executive, All-Star, and Rules and Ethics committees assembled on an ad-hoc basis by the President of the WHC.

COACHES CONDUCT
Coaches are role models on and off the ice and are expected to exhibit quality leadership and enthusiastic behavior. It is the intent of the WHC to enjoy a variety of coaching styles, however, certain types of behavior will not be tolerated: verbal abuse of players on either team or abusive remarks to referees.

Coaches will arrive at the rink at least 20 minutes before games and practices. They will be in the locker room with their players (not outside with the parents). During this time the Coach will be responsible for supervising the players and upholding WHC conduct policies. Coaches will remain in the locker room after games.

Coaches should abstain from profanity and encourage sportsmanship. Coaches will not allow bullying or misconduct by players. They are responsible for enforcing the player’s code of conduct.

COMMITMENT & ATTENDANCE

Parents and players must realize that membership on an All Star team requires significant commitment (a much higher level of commitment than House League play or most other recreational activities). Although the attendance policy excuses certain types of absences, it is important to remember that hockey is a team sport and that the team suffers if any of its members are absent. Parents and players should make every effort to be responsible, contributing members of their teams if they choose to try out for travel hockey and are placed on a team.

Parents and players should be willing to abide by the following policies before committing to an All Star team.

1. All Star hockey players are required to attend all scheduled games,
practices and skills clinics over the course of the season and will be given 3 excused absences per year. The only excused absences are: (1) required school activities requiring the skater=s attendance, (2) religious holidays, ceremonies, and services involving the player, illness or injury, and (3) family emergencies.

If a team or player has more than one scheduled hockey event in one day, (excluding tournaments) one of the events must be
designated (by the coach) as optional. If a practice scheduling change occurs with less than 48 hours notice, the rescheduled team practice must be considered optional. If a practice game is scheduled with less than 48 hours notice, the practice game must be considered optional. Rescheduling of NIHL or Central States regular season games will not be optional.
Attendance will be mandatory.

Attendance at NIHL, Central States, and AHAI playoff games are mandatory regardless of last minute scheduling.

2. Attendance is required over the Thanksgiving weekend for participation in a local tournament, and all other weekends during the hockey season. This includes Martin Luther King and Presidents Day weekends. Winter break for the WHC is generally two weeks long and is scheduled to coincide with the calendars of the local schools.

3. If NIHL or Central States schedules do not coincide with a particular school calendar, those players will be required to
attend all scheduled events.

4. Coaches will be responsible for enforcing the WHC policy on unexcused absences. These rules, as well as any other
rules concerning disciplinary matters, shall be applied consistently to all players. It will be the responsibility of the Head Coach and the Manager to determine if an absence is excused or unexcused. Any planned absence, not discussed with the coach and manager prior to the absence, will by definition be unexcused.

Coaches will deal with the unexcused absences within the framework of the following guidelines:

First absence Player will sit out the first period of the following game.
Second absence Player will sit out the first period of the following game.
Third absence Player will sit out two periods of the following game.
Fourth absence Player will be suspended for the next game.
Fifth absence Player will be suspended immediately and may be eligible for dismissal from his/her team pending a hearing by a review board, composed of the WHC President, the Hockey Director, the All-Star Director, and the current WHC Board members overseeing Rules and Ethics.
 

WHC All Star coaches and managers are responsible for enforcing these guidelines at WHC All-Star team events. In the event of extenuating circumstances that limit the number of players on a particular roster for that next game (e.g., due to excused absences such as a sickness, school event, etc.), the head coach has the authority to postpone the punishments with notification to his team parents.

TEAM SELECTION

Teams are selected based on competitive tryouts run by the coaches at each age level. The coaches control the tryouts and make the decisions as to which players will be on which teams and which players will be cut.
 

During the several days of tryouts, parents are not allowed to watch the tryouts or to communicate with the coaches on any matter bearing on team selection or their child’s performance. Any question should be directed to the All Star Director. Similarly, if a parent feels that the coaches should be aware of some fact bearing on a child’s performance, the information should be given to the All Star Director.
 

If a child’s family decides that the child will not play if selected for a certain team, that fact should be communicated to the All Star Director. The information will be held in confidence until the coaches have selected the teams. The information will be used only to avoid a situation in which another child would be cut and later called back onto a team.
 

All Star tryouts should not be used as a practice for players whose parents want them to play on house league or house league select teams. If a family is initially undecided but during the course of tryouts decides that the child should not be on one of the full-season all star teams, this decision should immediately be communicated to the All Star Director or Hockey Director. We need this information on a timely basis to ensure that another child is not needlessly cut.
 

The policy of the WHC is that no child should be excluded from playing on an All Star team solely because of a short-term injury or illness which makes complete participation at tryouts impossible. Each child’s situation should be examined on a case-by-case basis. The procedure that should be followed, to the extent possible, is as follows:

1. The Hockey Director will gather as much information as possible, concerning both the child’s medical situation and the child’s skill level, to present to the coaches making the team selections. In the best case, these coaches will themselves be familiar with the player, but in all cases, other coaches with first-hand experience with the player’s ability will be consulted.

2. The Board insists that the coaches take a conservative approach when evaluating a child who is unable to tryout. If there is any doubt as to which team the child should be on, the child should be placed on the lower of the two teams being considered. Similarly, if there is any doubt as to whether a child should make a team at all, the child should not be placed on a team.

3. After the relevant information has been gathered, the Hockey Director will make a recommendation to the coaches and the Hockey Director and coaches will jointly decide whether a child who is unable to tryout be placed on a team. This decision will not be made until all children trying out have been evaluated.

TEAM SIZE

The WHC has the goal of providing the highest quality program for the most players possible. This means a normal team would consist of not less than 13 skaters. This policy allows the coach to make his team selections based on the natural talent break of the players. If a coach wants to field a team of less than 13 skaters, he would first have to obtain the consent of the Hockey Director, who will render a decision after consultation with the All Star Committee. Larger rosters are encouraged at the Pee Wee and Bantam Levels.

EQUIPMENT

In addition to standard hockey equipment (helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, hockey gloves, cup, hockey pants, shinguards, and hockey skates), players are required to wear neck guards at all practices and games. Helmets will be white. Pants will be black.

Squirts and above must wear colored mouth guards at all games and practices. They may wear detached mouthguards, preferably, those fabricated by a dentist or orthodontist.

Home and away jerseys will be provided by the WHC. No name tags will be worn on jerseys.

Helmets will have no markings other than WHC logo on the sides and player's number on the back.

ROLE OF MANAGERS

One parent from each team is recruited by the All Star Committee to act as the team manager. One of the manager’s most important responsibilities is to act as a liaison between the coach and the parents. Unless a coach initiates the discussion, parents are not permitted to engage the coach in a dialogue concerning hockey-related matters such as player’s ice time, a player’s position, the team’s practice routine or the team’s offensive or defensive tactics. Questions about such matters should be directed to the manager, who will confer with the coach and report to the inquiring parent.

Neither the manager, parents, or the coach should compile or distribute statistical records showing individual player’s statistics. The emphasis should be on team play rather than individual comparisons. For the same reason, individual awards, such as game MVPs or designations as captains based on game-by-game performance, should not be given our.

Managers may serve consecutive terms.

BOARD LIAISON

Each team is assigned a Board Member to act as liaison between parents of their team and the WHC Board of Directors. If a parent feels uncomfortable raising a particular issue with the manager, the parent should contact the WHC Board Liaison member. Any questions or concerns regarding board policies or practices may be directed to the Board Liaison.

TRIPS

The purpose of overnight hockey tournaments is to provide an enjoyable environment for teammates to bond, as well as experience an appropriate level of competition. Trips are defined as travel that requires an overnight stay.

All tournaments are subject to the approval of the Hockey Director and the All Star Committee.

Tournaments/trips shall be assigned in the off-season by the coaches with the input of the Hockey Director and the approval of the All Star Committee. Each team’s tournament destination and dates will be posted at tryouts.

Mites and Squirts shall seek out appropriate tournaments within driving distance.

Pee Wees and Bantams will be allowed to fly to appropriate tournaments.

Central States Teams will be allowed a trip, time permitting.

All Winnetka teams will be expected to play in a local Thanksgiving Tournament. If Winnetka’s Wishbone Classic offers the appropriate level of competition, WHC teams will be expected to play in the Wishbone.

Coaches may schedule additional local tournaments, subject to the approval of the Hockey Director and All Star Committee.

COACHES

Winnetka Hockey coaches should coach only one regular season All Star Team. The Hockey Director may coach two teams, with the approval of the Board. A full-year coach may be allowed to coach an A-2 team or assist on another full-year team with prior Executive Board approval.

Qualified fathers will be considered for All Star coaching assignments and the Board, All Star Director and Coaches Committee will meet to evaluate the coach’s background and skill level. Parent coaches are not allowed to move up with their child.

Fathers who are allowed to coach or assist at practices must be screened and must have their AHAI coach’s certification. NO ONE is allowed on the player’s bench without the AHAI coach’s certification and screening. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

PARENTAL CONDUCT

The WHC is a member of the Northern Illinois Hockey League (NIHL). NIHL Parent's Code of Conduct is reproduced below. Under NIHL's rules, the team, coach and manager are responsible for ensuring compliance with this code.

As a parent of a young person in the Northern Illinois Hockey League, I will do my part to help respect all participants.

I will not participate in any name calling or undesirable acts that detract from the game of hockey.

I resolve to conduct myself as a parent and adult even under the most trying circumstances.

I will remember that all of our children are looking to us for guidance.

It is important to remember that through hockey we are building a solid foundation for future character development.

Let’s all help to make this the best year this League has ever seen. Welcome our guests at our home rink and recognize a good play no matter who makes it.

Finally, let's remember that each game is for our young people, and win or lose, it's a stride in life for them.

The WHC also has its own Code of Conduct. The section concerning parental conduct states:

1. Parents will conduct themselves in a manner which will exemplify good
sportsmanship and fair play.

2. Parents will be supportive of all team players and coaches both on and off
the ice.

3. Parents will refrain from negative or derogatory comments about players,
coaches and officials.

4. Parents will be responsible to see that their child attends practices and games
on time.

5. Parents will contact their Board Liaison, a Board Member, or the All Star Director
if a problem exists on their team.

6. Parents will be aware that their conduct at games is a reflection on the
Winnetka Hockey Club.

Any parent's behavior occurring in or about any ice arena during a game or practice that brings discredit on the Winnetka Hockey Club or any of its players, parents, or coaches shall be immediately reported to a member of the All Star Committee or the House League Director, as appropriate. Upon such report, the All Star Committee or House League Director shall take whatever steps necessary to investigate the incident. If such investigation reveals that the incident occurred, the offending parent shall be barred from further games and/or practices for such period as the Executive Committee deems appropriate. If such parent who is banned appears at any game or practice from which the parent has been banned, the child of that parent shall be benched for such period of time as that parent remains in violation of the Executive Committee dictate.