Evaluations

Background - Why are Evaluations Necessary?

Hockey players may vary considerably in their individual skills. In general, players have a more enjoyable experience when playing with other players of similar abilities. In order to provide this, an evaluation process is necessary.

In the Hawks Athletics Club, all players will participate in evaluations. Evaluations are based on the player's age category and direct observation of hockey skills with a strong emphasis on skating. The purpose of evaluations is to create teams consisting of players with similar abilities. Every effort is made to ensure a fair and equitable process.

Evaluations can be the most stressful part of the season for both the players and their parents.  The process appears opaque, and because of this sometimes capricious.  It can take the better part of a month, at a time when everyone is most excited for the coming season, which can sour the season before it even begins.  With this in mind we have revised our process to make it more transparent, to complete the process in less time and form teams sooner so they can come together earlier and practice before the beginning of the season and, above all, place players on the appropriate teams. 

To improve our ability to accurately rank players we will be using a 7-point scale to measure individual skills.   If you use a five point scale, evaluators are hesitant to use the top and bottom of the scale.  The result is a large number of players in the middle who don’t necessarily have the same abilities, which doesn’t produce a reliable ranking of players.  With a 7-point scale the top and bottom score is left for outlier players, leaving a usable 5-point scale that reflects a normal distribution of abilities, which will produce a more reliable ranking of players.

To ensure we have the right players on each team more attention will be paid to individual skills and 1-on-1 competition, and less focus will be placed on scrimmages.  Individual performance under a controlled competitive environment can more easily isolate skills and be evaluated according to a common, quantifiable, standard, while scrimmage performance lack an identifiable standard and are prone to partiality and unconscious bias. 

To ensure the process is followed in a fair and transparent manner, all teams will be reviewed by the Evaluation Committee.

Please remember that the selection process may be difficult for both players and evaluators and we ask that you do not make it more difficult with your actions or comments.

Any questions about the evaluation process should be directed to the VP Hockey Operations.