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All information will be posted on ephockey.com/registration/tryouts. Always be sure to check the morning of your skate as schedules are apt to change. This will be the only communication method.

EPHA will follow all posted EPCC COVID guidelines and/or any guidelines put forth by Minnesota Hockey. EPHA members are expected to adhere to all posted COVID protocols at other rinks.

Tryouts are closed to the public.

All players must have neck guards and mouth guards to be permitted on the ice. Those wearing masks do not need mouthguards.

Squirt/10U parents will be allowed to enter to assist with skates. Please exit swiftly upon completion because the session will not begin until everyone has cleared.

IMPORTANT TRYOUT INFORMATION

The EPHA is a volunteer run non-profit.

Your board is comprised entirely of volunteers who also have players participating in the tryout process.

Paid Coaches and Non-Paid Parent Coaches who have been appointed prior to tryouts are responsible for team selection. If a Coach has not been appointed before tryouts, the

team is selected strictly by ranked tryout scores.

Any effort by parents or players to contact members of the Board in a berating manner are in violation of the Player or Parent Code of Conduct and will be

turned over to the grievance committee.

REMINDER

Any necessary communication during tryouts

(such as illness, injury, fever or equipment problems)

should be routed through the Executive Committee

President, Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer

without consequence.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES

ATTEND ANY SESSIONS OF THE EPHA HOCKEY TRYOUTS

IF YOUR PLAYER, OR ANY MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY,

ARE EVEN SLIGHTLY SYMPTOMATIC WITH COVID SYMPTOMS

OR IF YOUR PLAYER, OR ANY MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY,

MAY HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO SOMEONE

WHO HAS RECENTLY TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

SICK, INJURED, QUARANTINED, EXCUSED OR UNEXCUSED PLAYER

1. If a player is injured, ill, participating in a required school function tied to a graded part of their curriculum, or participating in a MN Hockey sanctioned program (as evidenced by a signed note from a licensed physician or healthcare professional; or a signed note from the appropriate MN Hockey program coordinator or coach.)

a) In the event no tryout grade is recorded a ‘comp grade’ will be collected.

(1) To obtain a ‘comp grade’ the Vice President will consult with the coaches of the previous season who will advise the three compatible players who are most similar in skill to the absent player. A ‘comp grade’ given that will be the average score of those three like players.

b) In the event of a partial grade:

(1) If the player has recorded one to three grades, the Vice President will consult with the coaches of the previous season and shall place the player in the appropriate pool, with consideration of their past EPHA history.

c) In the event of an unexcused absence:

(1) A grade of zero will be given for the tryout session that is missed.

2. If a player is currently quarantining due to a positive COVID test or currently awaiting the results of a recent COVID test a ’comp grade’ will be collected.

a) A signed note from a licensed physician or health care professional or proof of a positive or pending test is required.

Per the EPHA Policies and Procedures:

BLACK HELMET WITH CAGE or SHIELD

o All non-EPHA provided stickers and any numbers should be removed from helmets

• This includes summer hockey teams, flair, or other identifying marks or insignias

• Goalie helmet wraps are not included (within reason)

BLACK BREEZERS

JERSEY

• Plain white, red, grey or black without visible names or identifying words or marks

• Jerseys worn inside-out are permitted provided identifying information is not visible

SOCKS

• White, red or black or combination of those colors

• Socks may be from a previous EPHA season

TETHERED MOUTH GUARD unless player is electing to wear a face mask.

NECK GUARD AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

TRYOUT UNIFORMS

EPHA Tryouts are closed to the Public.

Who is allowed in the Eagles Nest during tryouts?

Executive Committee Members

PeeWee Session facilitators

Chris Howes, EPHA Webmaster

Board Members who have been pre-approved by the Executive Committee

Evaluators and Pre-registered Tryout Volunteers

Tryout EMT

WHO IS ALLOWED IN THE EAGLES NEST

Please note: Members of the Executive Committee will not be in the Eagles Nest when their players level is in session. The President and/or Vice President will remain on site, elsewhere in the EPCC, in the case there is an injury or other emergency requiring immediate attention.

It is the goal of the EPHA that we place the right players in front

of the coaches selecting the teams. It is our intention that every

player be placed on a team that will afford that player the highest

level of development.

THE GOAL OF TRYOUTS

Our tryout process goal:

Players will check-in starting 30 minutes before every skate at the check-in table.- Sign name, check for accuracy and confirm correct pinney number and color

before each skate- Bantams/15U will declare their desired position at each check-in

- F, D or F/D

Pinneys will be washed before they are used again.

Players should arrive partially dressed at a minimum.

Pinney number assignment will be checked 3 times before each tryout session.- Once by player at check-in- Once by POD in locker room- Once before players enter the ice

A collection basket will be provided to each locker room. If your player inadvertently takes their pinney home with them, it must be returned ASAP.

CHECK IN PROCESS AND PINNEY ASSIGNMENT

Each session is given a unique ID that evaluators will use to access the session.

Evaluators will not see a player name at any time during the evaluation process.

Evaluators may elect jot scores on paper and will use their personal device to record scores for each player.

Once an evaluation score is posted it automatically propagates directly into the program. Once posted, a score cannot be changed unless the evaluator changes the score using his/her original device.

At the end of the session, once it has been determined that all evaluators have concluded entering scores for all of the players, the session is locked.

Once a session is locked, it is not possible for a score to be changed or amended.

At the conclusion of each session, the highest score and the lowest score given by the team of evaluators will be removed and the player receives a single “averaged score” for each session.

After all 4 sessions are completed, the player will receive a single “averaged score” which will determine their player rank.

TRYOUT SCORING PROGRAM :: TEAM GENIUS

Evaluators will use the following point system to give players one overall score for each of the four sessions:

TRYOUT SCORING PROGRAM :: TEAM GENIUS SAMPLE VIEWS

WHO ARE THE EVALUATORS

The players will be scored by a panel of independent evaluators*.• A total of 25 skater evaluators will rotate their attendance throughout tryouts • A total of 9 goalie-specific evaluators will rotate their attendance through tryouts• 5-8 independent evaluators and/or paid coaches will be scheduled for each session

• If a non-paid parent Coach attends, they will only observe the session and not be allowed to score

• The high score and low score for each session will be removed, resulting in an average of the remaining scores

Evaluator experience:• All tryout evaluators have either played college hockey, major junior hockey or have a

minimum of 10 years of higher level coaching experience

*Please note: A list of all independent evaluators will be posted to the website upon completion of tryouts.

WHAT ARE THE EVALUATORS LOOKING FOR?

SKATER evaluators will look at the following criteria before providing a cumulative score*• Skating, Stickhandling, Passing• Hockey IQ, Level of Compete, Puck Aggression• Work Ethic, Team Play, Sportsmanship • Style of Play: Two Way Player, Defensive Expert, Natural Goal Scorer, etc.

During the scrimmages, skaters will be assigned rotational positions by the bench attendant to ensure each skater has an opportunity to play each position.

• The position rotation spreadsheet will be provided for evaluators to reference.• Players are expected to play the position they are assigned, because evaluators will take

that into consideration.

GOALIE Evaluators will look at the following criteria before providing a cumulative score • Skating and Movement • Angles and Positioning• Recovery and Rebounds• Glove and Blocker• Speed and Reaction Time

*Please Note: Points and goals scored during tryouts are not effective criteria for evaluation.

SCRIMMAGE ROTATIONS AND FORMAT

Scrimmages may be 4 v 4 or 5 v 5 determined by the number of skaters.

Players will be assigned rotational positions by the bench attendant whereby each player is able to skate in position during the scrimmage.• Evaluators will be provided the list of pinney numbers and positions assigned on each shift prior to each session,

so players not in playing in their assigned positions could be penalized.

Example of a 10-playerrotation

Shift length will be determined by number of skaters and be changed with the scoreboard buzzerin equal intervals – typically 1 minute in length.

SCRIMMAGE SCORING PERCENTAGES

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Skaters and Goalies are evaluated over the course of four sessions.

Session One: 0% - session scores will be used to divide players into Session Two scrimmage groupsPlayer group list is divided alphabeticallyCompetitive Drills (If time permits, an unscored scrimmage may occur)

Session Two: 1/3Graded Scrimmage #1 with assigned position rotationPlayer group list is determined by the scores of previous session

Session Three: 1/3Graded scrimmage #2 with assigned position rotationPlayer group list is determined by the cumulative scores of previous sessions

Session Four: 1/3Graded Scrimmage #3 with assigned position rotationPlayer group list is determined by the cumulative scores of previous sessions

*Please note: Every attempt will be made to keep the lists as evenly balanced (by number of players) as possible. In the case where player scores indicate a clear break, the lists will be amended accordingly.

If a returning player is a clear lock to a team, a non-paid parent Coach may be appointed prior to tryouts.

The appointed non-paid parent Coach will be allowed to attend all tryout sessions for his/her team, but will

not be allowed to score or evaluate.

A parent Coach who is appointed prior to the season starting will be approved with the stipulation that their

player is not guaranteed a spot on the team in which the coach is assigned. If the player fails to make the

team, the appointed Coach will be relieved and a replacement coach will be found.

At levels where the availability of parent coaches cannot be determined until the roster is set, the Coaches Director

or the Coaches Committee will interview head coach applicants during tryouts.

Head Coach selections will be posted during or after the completion of tryouts.

Parent coaches who are placed after the formation of the teams will be recommended by the Coaching Director and

approved by the Executive Committee.

NON-PAID PARENT COACHES

Non-Paid parent coaches placed prior to tryouts:

Non-Paid parent coaches placed during or after tryouts:

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“LOCK” VS. “BUBBLE” AND THE TEAM SELECTION PROCESS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

PLAYERS 1 – 10 ARE ”LOCKED” ON THE TEAMBased on ranked tryout scores.

TOP LEVEL HIRED COACH SELECTION PROCESS

“LOCKS” “BUBBLE PLAYERS”

THE NEXT 5 – 10 SKATERS ARE ELIDGIBLE FOR THE HEAD COACHES DISCRECTIONARY SELECTION Based on ranked tryout scores.

A player who is not in the top 20 players by ranking score will not be available for selection by the top level coach.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

PLAYERS 1 – 13 ARE ”LOCKED” ON THE TEAMBased entirely on their tryout scores.

“LOCKS” “BUBBLE PLAYERS”

THE NEXT 2 – 7 SKATERS ARE ELIDGIBLE FOR THE HEAD COACHES DISCRECTIONARY SELECTION Based on ranked tryout scores.

TOP LEVEL NON-PAID PARENT COACH SELECTION PROCESS

NOTE: These numbers are based on a 15 skater roster. Adjustments will be made depending on actual final roster numbers.

For the top team at each age group (AA or A), an optional ‘Coaches Game’ or ‘Coaches Scrimmage’

will be at the discretion of the coach who may be seeking a final look before selecting the team.

This event is unscored and will not change the ranked tryout score.

If the coach chooses to run an additional skate, this may be an inter-squad scrimmage or a scrimmage

against another association.

The head coach may elect to allow the scrimmage to be open to spectators.

COACHES SCRIMMAGE, COACHES GAME OR FIRST PRACTICE

If the coach desires to select his/her team based entirely on ranking scores, the team will be posted following the final scrimmage and this ice time will be the first practice for the new team.

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C. PLAYER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (“PDC”)

1. The Coaches Director will identify additional qualified members with high levels of hockey experience to

make up the Hockey Development Committee. The Player Development Committee, which will include both

High School Varsity Hockey Coaches and all AA/A level Coaches acts as an advisory board to the EPHA

Board. The “PDC” typically meets when needed prior to the start of the season.

2. The Coaches Director will chair the Player Development Committee. The Committee members will be

approved by the Board.

3. A “Tryout Subcommittee” will be formed from the PDC by the Coaches Director to advise all coaches

during the tryout process. This subcommittee must include the Boys’ and Girls’ varsity high school coaches.

COACHES SCRIMMAGE, COACHES GAME OR FIRST PRACTICE

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TEAM SIZE RECOMMENDATIONS

IN JUNE: Team size is recommended by the Board and approved by the Hockey Development Committee prior to registration and is based on participation projections prior to the opening of registration. This is necessary for the planning of tournaments, ice time, budgeting and registration fee amounts and occurs in June of every year.

IN SEPTEMBER: Before tryouts the board will formally recommend team roster numbers based on actual registration numbers.

NOTE: The size of the top team for an age group may be altered from the team number recommendation by no more than 2 players and only if there is a significant separation in ability as evidenced by tryout scores and consensus among the Executive Committee. The team size of the remaining teams in each age group will then be adjusted accordingly.

The maximum roster size is 18 skaters plus 2 goalies unless prior written permission is received from District 6 and Minnesota Hockey.

Bantam AA/A should have a minimum of 15 skaters and 2 goalies.

TEAM SIZE RECOMMENDATIONS

If a parent believes that their player was placed on the incorrect team for their age group, they

must file a formal tryout inquiry via email to the President no sooner then 24 hours after the

final roster posting. Inquiry requests must be submitted via email to be considered valid.

Once an inquiry has been filed, the parent will be given the opportunity to appear in front of the

Selection Committee that was responsible for scoring and/or selecting the teams.

Only discussion regarding the evaluation of the player in question is permissible and there will be

no “comparative player” evaluation information provided during the inquiry process.

Once the rosters are posted, there is absolutely no possibility they will be changed.

This formal inquiry is not to be used to satisfy curiosity.

FORMAL TRYOUT INQUIRY

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SIGN UP ON A COMMITTEE AND GET DIBS CREDIT!

Watch for the committee signups which will be out just after tryouts. Including…

INCLUSION COMMITTEE

• Hockey is for everyone! Join Minnesota Hockey and the EPHA in focusing on

inclusion, diversity, growth and retention.

EPHA LEGACY COMMITTEE

• Wonder why the most current banners hanging in rink 2 are from 1996? Yes? Us to.

This committee is for you! Let’s get the EPCC dolled up with current EPHA history!

WATCH FOR COMMITTEE SIGNUPS

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