Evaluation FAQ's

2. Where will you post information about my child's next skate time?

The exact times and dates for your child's first skate will be communicated to parents by the last week of August. Following that, subsequent skate times and dates will be determined based on your child's performance during the initial session. You can view the entire schedule here.

Skate times will be posted on an app you will download from Sports Evaluations and on www.hawksathletics.ca under the "Evaluations" tab at the top of the homepage. These skate times will be updated regularly, so please check the website.

If you do not have internet access, please contact your Category Director for the next skate time.

3. What is the Evaluation Process for Players?

HAC evaluates its players and assigns them to teams that are placed within the Hockey Edmonton tiering system. Both Hockey Edmonton and HAC aim to treat every child fairly, with respect, and to ensure they have the opportunity to enjoy the game of hockey.

In HAC, each player typically has four skates during the evaluation process. The first skate involves a Hockey Canada-approved technical skills evaluation, which organizes players into initial scrimmage groups based on similar skating ability. The next three skates will be scrimmages. During these sessions, the individual player's skills in game situations are compared to those of their group. Players may be moved to different groups after each evaluation session, while others may remain in the same group throughout the process.

The HAC program is a developmental program that follows Hockey Edmonton's tiering guidelines. It is important to understand that the objective of tiering is to allow participants to play at a level where they can be competitive.

4. What is the Evaluation Process for Goalies?

Goalies will be evaluated in U11 and U13. There will not be a specific technical session for U9 goalies; they will attend designated evaluation skate times.

U11 and U13 goalies will have a specific technical session with same-age and category shooters present. The remainder of the evaluation sessions for U11 and U13 goalies will involve participation in player scrimmages, using Hockey Canada-approved goalie evaluation drills.

The HAC program is a developmental program that follows Hockey Edmonton's tiering guidelines. The objective of tiering is to allow participants to play at a level where they can be competitive. The placement of goalies on teams is based on the recommendations of the evaluators. On teams with two goalies, both will be of similar skill levels as determined by the evaluators.

5. How does the Skills Skate evaluation affect my child's placement?

The skills session determines the initial placement of players into scrimmage groups. Players may move up or down after scrimmages depending on their performance and fit within the group.

6. How long is each shift during scrimmage evaluations?

• Players (U9/U11/U13): Shifts will be a minimum of 1 minute and 30 seconds.
• Goalies (U11/U13): Shift length depends on the number of goalies in the scrimmage. They will be rotated evenly throughout the game.

7. What are the evaluators looking for, and who are they?

During evaluations, the evaluators focus on the following categories:

• For players:

  • Skating
  • Skills
  • Offensive / Defensive Tactics
  • Intangibles

• For goalies:

  • Goalie Skating
  • Positioning
  • Compete
  • Rebound Control
  • Save Ability
  • Puck Handling

For more details please review the Evaluation Process page for specifics in each category.

8. Can you share the results of my child's scores with me as a parent?

Feedback is provided following each skate for skaters and goalies via the app provided by Sports Evaluation. Initially, feedback is kept to a minimum since the evaluation process is based on the collective results of four skates. Specific results are not communicated, as player performance is assessed based on the overall performance of the group. HAC supports the confidential nature of this information.

9. My child did not perform their best today. Can this be taken into consideration in their overall scoring?

It is understood that players may not always perform at their best. This is why HAC structures the evaluations over multiple skates, giving each player the opportunity to showcase their abilities. Scores provided by the evaluators are final, and no changes are permitted. This ensures a fair process for all participants.

10. We are not able to make a skate time (child is ill, other commitments, etc.). How will that impact their evaluation? Can they skate with another group?

It is the parent's responsibility to check their child's skate time on the HAC website, which will be updated before the category's next skate. Players cannot reschedule to skate with another group. If your child cannot make the scheduled skate time, it is important to notify the Category Director as early as possible. If a child misses one skate, their evaluation scores will be based on the weighted averages of the other three skates. If the child misses two or more skates, the parent must inform the Category Director as soon as possible, as proper evaluation metrics may not be applicable.

11. I am not convinced my child received a fair evaluation at today's skate. Who can I speak to about this?

HAC requests that all inquiries of this nature observe the 24-hour rule, ensuring that concerns are addressed appropriately and professionally with the relevant facts. If you have a concern, please contact the VP of Tiering & Evaluations.

12. What if I register after evaluations have started?

If you register during the evaluation process, the HAC Registrar will notify the VP of Tiering & Evaluations so that accommodations can be made to include you in the process. If you register after evaluations are completed, the Hockey Committee will do its best to place your child on a team with players of similar ability.

13. How will friendship and non-friendship requests be handled?

• Friendship Requests: If the players are ranked within one team of each other, the higher-ranked player may move down one team. If the players are ranked more than one team apart, the request cannot be honored. There is no movement up.

• Non-Friendship Requests: HAC does not encourage non-friendship requests. However, if a valid request is made and the children are tiered together, the player initiating the request may be moved down one team.

14. My twin/siblings seem to be evaluated at different levels, and we would like to keep them together. What are our options?

Twin or sibling requests differ from friendship requests. HAC will accommodate the placement of siblings automatically when:

1. The situation is identified early.
2. The movement between teams does not exceed our friendship request guidelines. Twins or siblings may be allowed to move down up to two teams.

Movement outside these guidelines cannot be guaranteed. Each situation will be evaluated individually, with consideration given to how the movement will affect the team rather than the individual.

If you have any other questions about the evaluation process that may not be answered in this article please contact the VP of Tiering & Evaluations.