Recreation Balancing Information
Hello AMHA Families!
We hope that you have all had a wonderful summer and are looking forward to the start of hockey season!
As mandated by PCAHA, we will spend September creating balanced groupings in all divisions before we finalize teams. Initial scrimmages will begin on Tuesday, September 3rd. During this time there will be movement across the various groupings in each division, so please help your child understand that this is part of the process.
This year, PCAHA East member associations have agreed to follow consistent methods for balancing, including a double-blind allocation system while creating recreational teams to ensure the highest levels of equity and fairness possible. Double-blind refers to a process where teams are allocated based on player skills and experience, then once balance is achieved and agreed upon, coaches randomly select a team to guide and lead. In order to achieve a true double-blind allocation, no individual requests will be granted for team placements (this includes but is not limited to specific coach requests and ride-sharing requests). Exceptions will only be granted for siblings to be placed on the same team. Only exceptional circumstances requested and approved by the executive committee will be considered. For a summary of how the balancing process will work, please see here: https://docs.google.com/
Within the next week, information regarding balancing groups will be posted on the website. For the complete schedule please see here: https://docs.google.com/
Please ensure that you refer to this schedule often as there may be changes.
Please ensure that you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your ice time as you will need to check-in and receive your jersey. As well, since we will be moving a lot of players through the arenas each night please encourage your child to vacate their dressing room as quickly as possible so that we can get the next group in on time.
It is imperative that all players and goalies attend all of the balancing scrimmage sessions. We are unable to assess the strength of a group and the overall balance between them without proper attendance. We do not want to have to extend the balancing process as it would cause a delay in the assignment of coaches to groups and create a reduction in time to practice, do exhibition games and bond prior to league balancing. We acknowledge that the short blocks of ice time on some nights is perhaps not the easiest for families, but it is the best way for us to see all of the groups in a 2-3 week period.
AMHA relies on the support of our parent volunteers in order to run smoothly. We would not be able to do all that we do without our wonderful volunteers! In order for balancing to occur, we will need parent volunteers for each ice time in each division. Positions include jersey parent, registration table, safety, dressing room supervision as well as the bench coaches during the scrimmages. In order to do safety, dressing room supervision or the bench, please note you must have already completed the criminal record check, respect in sport, and CATT. Please follow the link below to access the sign-up sheet - we encourage parents to sign up as soon as possible. The sign-up sheet is being posted on the AMHA website so please sign up quickly!! If you have any questions please contact your division director.
Volunteer Signup Sheet
https://docs.google.com/
Codes of Conduct
The AMHA has developed through its policies the following codes of conduct contracts. These codes of conduct are mandatory for every Parent/Guardian, Team Official, and Player to sign at the beginning of the season. The AMHA will keep on file the original copy of all codes of conduct. All codes of conduct contracts must be signed and brought to your first balancing session. No player will be permitted on the ice for balancing until the required contracts have been signed and submitted.
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Balancing Groups (Initiation Minor, Initiation Major, Novice Minor, Novice Major)
If you have any questions throughout this process or would like to provide any feedback please contact your Division Director.
Thank you for your assistance and support throughout this process.