GUIDELINES FOR THE SELECTION OF WELLINGTON AGE-GROUP REPRESENTATIVE HOCKEY PLAYERS
INTRODUCTION
The following material has been prepared by the CoachForce Officer to support our representative coaches with regard to team selection. The information should be considered as a guide rather than a strict set of rules, as you will naturally put your personal ‘stamp’ on the selection process. However, it is important that you are very clear in what you are doing, as making errors in selection will compromise the whole campaign, resulting in your team falling short of its true potential.
CONTENTS
1. TRIALS
2. SELECTORS
3. SELECTION CRITERIA
4. THE FINAL SQUAD
5. COMMUNICATION
6. SUMMARY
1. TRIALS
The rep trial dates for 2008 have been set by the CoachForce Officer. You will be notified of these shortly. The trial dates have been set to give you approximately 10-12 weeks preparation prior to your major tournament.
The U11 trial will be a one day selection trial.
The U13 trial will be a zone tournament held over Queens Birthday Weekend.
There will be an U16 zone tournament in the month leading up to trials, which will be held on consecutive Sundays.
The U18 trial is by invitation only.
The U21 trial is by invitation only.
2. SELECTORS
‘A’ Teams
It is advisable to have a ‘panel’ to assist and support you in selecting the ‘A” squad and it is your responsibility to approach suitable people for this role.
The ‘B’ coach of the age-group you are coaching should be involved from the outset as, when the ‘A’ squad is named, the players who miss selection must be accommodated in the ‘B’ squad immediately in order to avoid any attrition.
Other likely candidates to assist you are: the previous year’s ‘A’ and/or ‘B’ coaches; the current ‘A’ coach from the age-group below; an independent observer with experience in selection and up-to-date hockey knowledge.
If your own child is trialling, it is recommended that your fellow selectors ‘make the call’ with respect to that child.
The CoachForce Officer can assist in an advisory capacity e.g. If you can’t decide between 2 players, the balance of the squad etc.
‘B’ and Development Teams
Your squad is sometimes in effect ‘selected’ for you because of the lack of depth of players in some age-groups. If you don’t have a full squad you should source more players. As the first port of call, ask the incumbents, as they will often know what talent might be available among their peers. However, if numbers do allow, run full trials based on the guidelines as set down in the previous section.
NB: the players selected should ideally be Wellington’s ‘A’ players of the future, which may mean considering and including younger players with this potential.
To download a copy of the Youth Selection Policy click on the link below.
3. SELECTION CRITERIA/OBJECTIVES
Wellington Youth Hockey (WYH) has a target of having all its representative teams finish their national or regional tournament in one of the top four places. To achieve this objective, selectors are required to select teams on the following basis:
- The ‘A’ team should be the 15 best players available in the age-group, with reference to team formation and player position requirements.
- The Development team must comprise at least 50% (8 players) of the team who are eligible to represent Wellington in the same age-group, in the following season. (This does not apply to U11 selections, being the first age-group for representative selection.)
- Selectors are encouraged to look at ALL trialists with “fresh eyes”. As players grow and develop, their skill, speed, and physical characteristics change, and from season to season a player’s form may improve or decline.
You should have clear ideas about what you are looking for in players. Consider these as a guide (not necessarily in order):
- Speed
- Athleticism
- Technical skill
- Temperament/Personality
- Hockey ‘intelligence’
- ‘Coachability’
4. THE FINAL SQUAD
If, after the trials, there are still some players you want to observe further, carry a few extras before the final squad is named. Inform the players and parents if present about this. If it is an ‘A’ squad, tell the ‘B’ coach also, and when these players are ‘trimmed’, they will automatically be added to the ‘B’ squad. You may also name 3 as non-travelling reserves, in case of withdrawals or injuries. If draft players are needed, see the CoachForce Officer early in the process.
Key Points:
- It is recommended you name a full squad of 15/16 players.
- Make sure you have a balance of strikers, defenders and midfielders.
- Consider specialist skills also e.g. Overheads, PC striking, Drag Flicks etc.
- Also look at players’ versatility, especially with substitutes.
- It is a good idea to carry more than one goalie in the squad, but think carefully before taking two to a major tournament.
- Don’t forget that 50% of the Development Team needs to be eligible to play in the same age-group the following season.
5. COMMUNICATION
At all stages of the selection process, keep communication lines open, provide feedback, give handouts when necessary and stick to the letter of your word. It is vital that the players, parents and the hockey public perceive that all trialists have had an equal opportunity to be selected and that the process has been fair and transparent.
Naming a team almost always involves angst. At the earlier trials, with larger numbers of players present, the easiest method of reducing the squad is to read out names at the conclusion of a session. If it is an ‘A’ team, the ‘B’ squad coach can then be introduced and the ‘B’ trials announced. The ‘B’ squad coach should then meet with the players concerned. For the naming of the final squad, it is recommended that players are first contacted by phone, then a list be posted at the turf. The team should then be put onto the WHA website and a tournament registration form completed.
6. SUMMARY
Selecting teams is a learning curve and is seldom straightforward. You may make mistakes, even after intense observation and research of players, but unless there are exceptional circumstances, you should stand by your initial selections. The completion of the ‘Player Reports’ form which is located on the WHA website in the COACHES CORNER after your campaign, completes the process and will make the job much easier for the coach in the following year. This might be you!
Good Luck!
Here are other document that you will need or can be of help during the season.
HNZ Team Registration Form - you do this online now. visit http://www.hockeynz.co.nz/eventscalendar/?event_type_id=2
WHA Player Registration Form- this is important as it contains contact information on players for nomination to Regional Coaching Clinics.
Players Contract and Medical Form
Below are a list of documents that were covered in the Coaches and Managers Meeting. (these can be used as templates).
Team list for card - sticker form
Schedule for tournament - Food version
Happy Hockeying!
CoachForce Officer.