Policies

Please find below the Waverley Hockey Club Policies covering the following topics:

- Age level

- Gender

- Team Selection

- Club Awards

- Juniors playing Seniors

Age Level, Gender and Team Selection Policy

Waverley Junior Hockey club is committed to provide hockey for all players at an appropriate level. Players should have the opportunity to play in the highest grade possible for their skill level. They should play in a team where they are more likely to use all their skills.

For the age groups where Waverley has teams in level A, Shield or a Pennant grade a selection process will be carried out. See more detail regarding the selection process below.

Age group

Our policy is for players to play in their own age group, but very occasionally circumstances may make it more appropriate for a player to play out of their age group. Such a decision would be made on an individual basis after discussion with the player and parents.

To determine which year level your child is in depends on the age of your child. The “cut off” date is 1^st January (eg. for under 11’s your child will need to 10 or younger on 31^st December).

Children under 10 who have not played hockey before should do a year of Minkey before progressing into an age appropriate team. Children under the age of 7 should do Minkey rather than progressing to Under 9s.

Girls playing in Mixed teams U13 +

Where an appropriate girl’s team exists it is club policy that girls play in the girl’s competition, rather than in the mixed competition. This policy is about maximising the hockey development opportunities for all of our junior hockey players. Girl’s teams offer a better opportunity for girls to develop all skills. This policy extends them the opportunity to play key positional roles and be involved in all set plays within the team. This also makes it more likely for girls to play with friends of the same gender in a competition level that is appropriate.

Very occasionally, circumstances may make it appropriate for a girl to play in a mixed team. Such a decision would be made on an individual basis after discussion with the player and parents.

Process for applying for an exemption

In those situations where the player:

would like to be considered to play out of their age group and/or,
in the U13, U15 and U17 age groups where a girl would like to be considered to be able to play in a mixed team,

such a request must be put into writing to the Junior Unit Age Group Co-ordinator (see web site for contact details).

The request will be reviewed by the relevant coach, Junior Unit Age Group Co-ordinator and Junior Unit President. The review process may include a range of criteria such as fitness, player commitment and skill tests, as well as a meeting with the parents and / or player to discuss the situation.

This request would need to be formally made on an annual basis four weeks prior to the start the season.

Team Selection – level A, Shield or a Pennant grades

Team selection will occur during the pre-season training and practice match sessions. The coaching team will be looking for skill attributes such as technique, tactical awareness, potential, coachability, positional qualities and specialist skills; and physical attributes such as speed, endurance, agility, and flexibility. Also taken into consideration are previous form (i.e. where you played for Waverley last year), attendance at pre training, performance at training and matches, and game availability.

For other teams, players will be allocated on the basis of comparable team ability, team balance, position previously played, friendly and car pooling may be taken into consideration, where possible, if the year level co-ordinator is advised prior to the date of the initial selection.

Selection is an ongoing process therefore players may be promoted or stepped down a grade during the season depending upon how their performances are rated against the above criteria. If players or parents are not happy with the result of the selection process then please feel free to discuss with the Team Coach or Year level coordinator for that age group. If the matter is still unsatisfactorily addressed it should be brought to the attention of the junior committee.

It is important for all players and parents to remember that the selection process is sometimes difficult for both players and officials. Please also remember that all coachers and officials are volunteers putting in a considerable amount of time and effort to enable all the children to play hockey. Please note that some players set themselves unrealistic goals. Frequently an athlete’s own assessment or their parent’s assessment is very subjective. Our aim with this policy is to be as objective as possible.

Club Awards Policy

Under 9’s celebrate their end of season with a presentation on Saturday morning with Minkey players. This usually takes place after the last game is played for the season. Each child receives are medal of participation. No awards are given at this age group.

All other age groups attend a Presentation day at the end of the season and the following are awarded per team:

Best and Fairest
Coaches award
Team award (not in U11)

In addition the Junior Committee will select one junior player to receive a Junior Club Person Award.

Best & Fairest award

At the end of the season, a player will be awarded the ‘best and fairest’. This will be determined at year end by the team manager, accumulating a 3, 2, 1 voting system awarded by the team coach, team players and/or other team official after each match.

Specifically in relation to each junior level:

U11 & U13 teams – the coach and a parent on a rotating basis to vote after each match

U17 & U15 teams – the coach and players, will vote after each match.

Voting – Three votes for the best & fairest player on the ground, two votes for second best & fairest player and one vote for the third best & fairest player.

Criteria- Best and fairest is based on the following criteria:

Best: based on how important their playing performance was to the team and outcome of the game. Following should be considered:

Instigating good team play
Passing to advantage
Passing to a team mate who is in a better position
What the player does with the ball when in procession
Running off the ball into space or to draw opposition players

Fairest: based on ‘fair play’ and not being suspended during the season. Suspension renders a player ineligible for the award.

Note that a player filling in for a match should not be eligible for votes for that particular match. Votes should only be awarded to regular team players.

Coaches award

At the end of the season each coach will select one player from their team to receive a Coaches Award. The coach’s award is also the encouragement award taking into account capability improvement factors (ie skill, leadership and team improvement factors).

Criteria – Greatest improvement over the season, taking into account the following factors:

Improvement in playing performance over the season (in terms of skill and ‘for the team’ factors)
Commitment and effort at training and games
Willingness to listen and learn at training and games
General team behaviour and improvement (ie relating to others in the team, coach and officials)
Any other factors taking into account improvement in skill, leadership and team

Team Award

At the end of the season each coach will select one player from their team to receive a Team award, except for U11s.

Criteria – Best team player over the season, taking into account the following factors:

Regular attendance at training and games
Behaviour to coach, team mates and officials (ie be disciplined and polite)
Playing contribution to the team (ie a ‘for the team’ and not an individual playing contributor to the team)
Commitment and effort to the team
Social contributor to the team (ie a good team person)

Junior Club Person Award – Ian Lawrence Perpetual Trophy

At the end of the season Junior Committee will select one junior player to receive a Junior Club Person Award.

Criteria – To be awarded to a junior player who contributes the most to the Waverley Hockey Club, through activities such as:

Umpiring
Coaching
Putting away gear
Working in the canteen
Helping at Minkey
Maintaining equipment etc

Any junior player can be nominated for this award and it is to be discussed and voted on by the Junior Committee.

To ensure an unbiased voting process

This applies to

‘Best and Fairest’ voting for the U9, 11 and 13 teams
Most improved award
Team award

It is important to ensure that the voting process is seen to be unbiased. If the team official in charge of voting (i.e., coach) has a sibling, child or grandchild in the team it is recommended (where possible) that a panel of voters (including the coach) be convened to vote at each match and from this process the best three players be determined. At season end, the same panel also vote on most improved and team award. This system should preserve the integrity of the award.

Voting during finals

Votes will not continue during the finals.

Juniors playing Seniors Policy

In the year of their 18th birthday, players must make the move into ‘open’ – or senior- teams; their age making them no longer eligible for junior competition. In many ways this can be a big step up, not just in the level of competition but also in the more independent way that players are treated, as adults rather than children.

To promote a successful transition into seniors, Waverley Hockey Club support and encourage young players from the age of 14 and up to join a senior team, and play in both junior and senior competitions concurrently for at least one season. Such experience will prove invaluable for the player, aiding in both their on field development as well as well as their social maturity.

While encouraging their participation, Waverley Hockey Club acknowledge that these players are not yet adults, and have put specific measures in place to ensure the senior experience is as positive as possible. The club in one of the first hockey clubs in Victoria to recognise this important distinction, and have a designated Junior-Senior Liaison Officer whose role it is monitor the development of all such players, and provide support and a first point of contact for the players and their parents.

Club policy regarding junior players in senior competition:

Waverley Hockey Club have a selection policy in place to further protect the interests of both the young players themselves, as well as the hockey club itself. A summary of the main aspects of the policy is included below, whilst the finer details can be discussed with the Junior-Senior Liaison Officer upon request.

It is advised players are at least 14 years of age as of January 1st to register for senior competition that year.
Upon registration for senior competition, junior players will be given the opportunity to play for a senior team in at least 75% of the remaining rounds of that competition.
Junior players will not be discriminated against in senior competition with regards to team selections and field-time irrespective of age, fees, or the playing of an additional (junior grade) match in the same round.
Junior players in senior competition will play the majority of their senior games in a single team.
It is preferable that junior players will play the majority of their senior games in a team which features at least one “peer” player, of similar age and experience level.