This page contains important information about the evaluation process for the Verona Wildcat Youth Hockey Association.  The Vice President serves as the Chair for the Evaluation Committee and is responsible for recommending to the Board any tryout process improvements or changes. The Evaluation Committee also must obtain and organize materials, evaluators, on-ice help, and off-ice personnel needed for the tryout sessions.  

Any questions regarding this process can be directed to Justin Temple.  

The following (FAQ’s) have been written to help families better understand the evaluation process and prepare themselves and their skaters for the upcoming evaluation sessions and team placement.  It is our desire to help everyone find a level of comfort and understanding with our evaluation process.      

1.  How many on-ice sessions does this process take and what do they do during each session?

The evaluation process will consist of three sessions.  All sessions are weighted equally, with each session accounting for one third of the player’s total evaluation score.  The first session will be a skills session. The second session will be a scrimmage that includes all players in a specific age classification using a 3 vs. 3 reduced surface format.  The third session will be a scrimmage that includes all players in a specific age classification using a 5 vs. 5 format.  At the end of the third session, select skaters will participate in an additional "call back" evaluation session.   

2.  Who serves as evaluators for each level?

Four evaluators will evaluate each age division. All evaluators are qualified “outside evaluators”. An outside evaluator is defined as a person who is not the parent of a player in that particular age division.  If at all possible, the evaluators are asked to score all sessions for an age division.  

3.  Who determines how skaters are placed and what if there is a tie score?

Representatives from the Board of Directors will divide skaters into teams after all evaluation phases have been completed.  In the case of tie scores at the cutoff points, the Board considers the following guidelines in the following order:  1) Coach’s preference, 2) Second year skater or last year skating at the level.  

4.  How are skaters placed on a particular team?

All players will be placed on a team according to their evaluation scores.  After teams are formed it is sometimes necessary to move a player(s) up to a higher team within an age division to fill a vacancy.  If a space must be filled on a higher level team, the player with the highest evaluation score on the lower team will be moved.  A player may not decline assignment to a higher team.

5.  What happens if my skater misses an evaluation session?

Players are required to attend all evaluation sessions. If a player misses any of the evaluation sessions they will be placed on the lowest level team at that age level. The player may be moved to a higher-level team in the age division with approval of the Division Coaches and Board of Directors. This roster change must be completed prior to the USA Hockey deadline for submission of official rosters.

6.  Who is determining my skater’s placement for the season?

The Board of Directors and Evaluation Committee will ensure proper team placement. Evaluators are individuals with a high degree of experience and knowledge of youth hockey who devote many hours of service to the association. They are required to make very difficult decisions regarding players whose skill levels are often very comparable.  All players are placed on a team based solely upon their combined evaluation score. The judgment of the evaluators is not subject to appeal.

7.  What options do I have if I don’t agree with my skater’s placement?

Any parent may request a review of their child’s score by notifying the division director in writing within 72 hours of team posting.  If a review is requested, the Board of Directors will recalculate the players scoring to assure that no mathematical errors were made and the parent may review the player’s score. A player will not be moved to a higher team unless it is determined that a mathematical error was made in the calculation of the players combined score.  No player will be moved down after teams are posted.

Additional information about our organization policies and procedures are documented in our association parent handbook.  

You can review this document at http://www.veronayouthhockey.com/parent-handbook