SLPHA Tryouts Guidelines

Please check the level tryout pages to find specific information regarding try-out dates/times.

TRYOUT ATTENDANCE FAQ'S

• Are absences from tryouts approved?
• How do tryout absences affect overall scores?
• Will absences in the tryout process will have an effect on final team placement?

HERE'S THE SCOOP.......

Players are encouraged to attend each and every tryout.

The more your player is seen by evaluators, the more likely your player will be placed on an appropriate level team.

Each session matters. 

Do not make presumptions on where your player is rated in the middle of tryouts as a consideration of whether or not it is “ok” to miss a session. 

No excused/unexcused policy

SLPHA does not have a set policy of “excused” or “unexcused” absences for players who miss tryouts. Missing a tryout session is missing an opportunity to be evaluated for placement on a team for an entire season.  

If you have to miss a tryout

Please report player's absence(s) to the Level Coordinator prior to the tryout session. 

Team placement of a player who is not available to attend any tryout sessions will be decided by the HDC based on previous season placement, coach input, etc.

GENERAL PROCESS

St Louis Park Hockey Association selects Bantam, Peewee, and Squirt teams for the upcoming season through a structured tryout process that incorporates SLPHA intra-scrimmages, scrimmage(s) with other hockey associations and/or competitive practices.  

The goal of the tryout process is to ensure each player is given a fair evaluation and to place each player on a team at an appropriate competitive level for their individual abilities. This will allow players to: 

• Play with others of a similar skill level 
• Further develop their skills in a suitable team environment 
• Most importantly.... Enjoy the game! 

Please keep in mind, this tryout document is a guideline. There is simply no way to create a document that would cover every conceivable circumstance that could occur. When the situation occurs when the general well-being of a player and our association is not appropriately addressed within these guidelines, the SLPHA Board reserves the right to amend, or disregard these guidelines on a case-by-case basis.   

Please remember... 

Although tryouts are time-consuming and can be stressful for the players and families of our Association, the process is necessary to achieve our goal of correct team placements for all players. It's important to support and encourage your player and their participation in tryouts with these points in mind.  

Eligibility 

Any youth player who meets the eligibility requirements as determined by the Minnesota Hockey age guidelines and the SLPHA board are invited to participate in SLPHA tryouts. Tryouts are mandatory for all players whose objective is to play at an “AA”, “A” or “B” team level. A player may elect not to participate in tryouts in which case they will be automatically assigned to a “C” team or the lowest team level fielded at their appropriate level. 

General Player Information 

• Players attend your assigned tryout session. 
• At the first tryout session check in with the level coordinator. They will give you a tryout jersey to keep for the duration of tryouts and answer any questions. 
• Both socks should be the same color. SLP orange, black and/or white socks only. 
• NO AAA stickers or names on helmets 
• Wear all your standard hockey equipment. 
• Check your hockey bag each day before tryouts. 
• Arrive at the rink ½ hour early before each session. 
• If you are sick or injured or otherwise unable to participate in tryouts, notify the Level Coordinator as soon as possible. 

TRYOUT SESSION PROCEDURES

Tryouts schedules are posted on-line as soon as they become available. Depending on their level, players will be asked to attend from two to five evaluation sessions. Each tryout session will be approximately 60 to 90 minutes in length and is designed to limit the number of players on the ice to a manageable number per session.  

The initial tryout groups will be established by placing all registered players at their level in a random order and divided so we have an equal number of skaters and goalies. After the first and/or second sessions players will be assigned to a specific tryout scrimmage pool.   

Scrimmage pool assignments will be posted on-line at www.slphockey.org website. Tryout pool assignments are designed to help the evaluators grade players of comparable skill level. Participating in a specific pool does not guarantee players will be assigned to teams drawn from that pool. Although rare, players may be asked to attend more than one tryout pool on the same day. 

Evaluators 

Independent evaluators (evaluators do not have family members playing at given level for SLPHA) and non-parent coaches (if available at a given level) will evaluate each session except the Jr. Gold/U16 program. In addition, goalie specific evaluators will grade the goalies.   

The Hockey Development Committee/Hockey Development Director’s expectations will be set with the evaluators prior to tryouts defining evaluation criteria, tryout format, how to complete forms, evaluation scale, comments, etc. 

Scoring for All Levels 

Skaters will be graded using a scale from 1-10 at each tryout session. Criteria includes, but is not limited to: Skating, passing skills, puck handling, shooting, scoring and playmaking, body use and positioning, teamwork, hustle/compete level and body language/sportsmanship. 

Goalies will be graded on a scale of 1-7 for each criterion. The performance score for each session will be the sum of the grades. Criteria includes, but is not limited to: Mobility, angles and squaring to the puck, hand work, stick work, rebound control, skating, passing and puck control, effort/compete level, goals against and body language/sportsmanship 

To the extent possible, all goalies will split time in the goal evenly during the scrimmages. 

Decisions regarding players pool assignments during tryouts and team assignments after tryouts are completed are final and not subject to grievance committee appeals. 

Any player that cannot attend a tryout session for any reason must notify the level coordinator before their session begins 

Goalie Only Session 

During the tryouts, some levels will have a separate goalie only evaluation session with only goalies, volunteer shooters, and evaluators allowed on the ice. All goalies must attend these sessions in addition to their assigned groups. The shooters will be volunteer coaches or players that are not trying out with the goalies. Goalie specific evaluators will grade these tryout sessions 



STAFFING

EVALUATORS

Evaluators are selected by the HDC based on their hockey experience, knowledge, qualifications and independence from the players being evaluated.  

ON ICE COACHES

Registered coaches are recruited to help on ice and ensure player safety and fair play. Penalties are not called, however a player who penalizes it may negatively impact their score.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are on hand to open doors, pass-out jerseys, run the clock, and assist evaluators as needed. Tryout volunteers do not grade or evaluate players and are directed not to coach players during the tryout process. 

SCORING & TEAM PLACEMENT

After each session, evaluators will submit scores through player evaluation software (TeamGenius) to be compiled. In addition to performance scoring from tryout sessions, other factors will be considered for final team placement. These include previous coach evaluations of a player’s work ethic, attitude, coachability, sportsmanship, team-orientation, etc. The team formation process will be led by the Hockey Director with input from the team coaches. 

Team placement of a player not available to attend any tryout sessions will be decided by the HDC based on previous season placement, coach input, etc. 

Team Size: ideal team size varies by age. While considered "ideal", these may be modified based on registration numbers and HDC recommendation. In some cases, team size may not be equal within an age group at each level (A, B, C). We will do our best to place each player at the appropriate skill level 

• Squirts/10U: 10 -12 skaters | 1-2 goalies 
• Peewee/12U: 11 - 13 skaters | 1-2 goalies 
• Bantam/15U: 13 - 16 skaters | 2 goalies 

All detailed tryout information will be communicated on the Bantam, Peewee and Squirt main pages or you will receive an email.

You can direct all questions related to tryouts to the level coordinators:

• Bantam:  Mark Gryniewski (651-421-5937)
• Peewee:  Jeff Thompson (612-309-0380)
• Squirt:   Annie & Seth Haight (612-719-6885)
• Girls 15U, 12U, and 10U: Critter Johnson (608-335-7203)

POST TRYOUT PROCESS

• Feedback from parents/players about the tryout process can be shared with the level directors. 
• Team placements are non-negotiable. Player final ranking or score will NOT be shared with players/parents. Evaluator’s comments will NOT be made available.
• Players looking for feedback on where they can improve, should discuss with their team coaches.

The Hockey Development Committee reserves the right to review and make revisions to all team rosters for a number of reasons, including but not limited to: 

• Injuries
• Bantam | 15U players that chose to play high school hockey

It is the objective of the Hockey Development Committee to choose team levels that enable our players to learn, practice, apply and ultimately master both the physical skills and mental toughness required by the game of hockey. Our goal is to provide the best opportunity for our kids to have fun and develop as hockey players. 

Before HDC members vote on the matter, the Committee reviews our teams' performance the past 3 seasons, the number of players forecast and feedback received from coaches, association members and District 3. Level declarations are made for one season at a time and reviewed every year.