Parents Guide to Evaluations

Pawling Youth Hockey holds evaluations in March and April each year. Evaluations are intended to ensure that each player is placed on a team that will provide them with the best environment to develop their hockey skills, continue to learn the game of hockey and to be able to compete at an appropriate level. A lot of planning goes into evaluations to ensure that players are given the best possible opportunity to showcase their skills in a fair and objective environment. Player evaluations are one of the most difficult tasks that our coaches take on. The margin between players is often very close and difficult decisions must be made at times. It is important for players and parents to understand that a lot of thought and consideration is taken when making these difficult decisions.

What to Expect:

1. Age level coaches and directors will work together to create an evaluation plan that will consist of multiple drills and small area games designed to measure core hockey skills.
2. On ice assistants may be utilized to conduct and demonstrate drills.
3. All age level coaches will be present for tryout sessions and player selections will represent a consensus of the age level coaches.
4. There will be 2 evaluation sessions held for each age level. Players must attend one of the evaluation sessions. Players are strongly encouraged to attend both sessions, but it is not mandatory.
5. Target team size will be 11 – 15 skaters and 2 goalies for Squirts and Peewees. Target team size for Bantam and Midgets will be 15 – 18 skaters and 2 goalies.
6. Team composition and size will be directly related to tryout registration and commitment numbers. The PYH Board of Directors may be required to increase or decrease the number of teams based on the number of players possessing the necessary skills to play travel hockey and the commitments received following tryouts.
7. Players families will be notified of team placement within 7 days of the last tryout session for each age level
8. In the initial placement coaches will aim to list teams by letter, A, B, C, or D.
9. When appropriate some positions for players may be left open on higher level teams allowing for additional players to move to the higher level team prior to the start of the travel season. Evaluations are done this way to be able to adjust for new skaters or other skaters who were unable to tryout in the spring. It also allows for players who further develop over the summer to be appropriately placed for the season.
10. The goal of PYH is to have a place for each child to play and learn at an appropriate skill level. In the event that numbers do not allow us to accommodate all players in the spring, a waitlist will be created and those players will be contacted if an opportunity for them to join becomes available.
11. Once a player receives an offer for a roster spot on a team they will have 5 days to respond to that offer. At this time a PYH letter of commitment must be completed and a $250 non-refundable deposit will be required. This deposit will be applied to your registration/tuition cost at the time of registration.