Evaluation FAQ's

1. Who is the Evaluations Committee?

President (non-voting chair)
VP Hockey Operations
VP Evaluations, Tiering & Development
Novice Director
Atom Director
Peewee Director

These are the people you would contact with any questions you may have. Their contact information can be found under the executive contact listing on this website.

2. Where will you post information about my child's next skate time?

The skate times will be posted on www.hawksathletics.ca under the Evaluations tab at the top of the home page and the specific category your child is playing in. These skate times will be updated regularly - please check the website.

If you do not have internet access please contact your Category Director for your next skate time.

3. What is the Evaluation Process for Players?

HAC evaluates its players and puts them on teams that are placed within the Hockey Edmonton tiering system. Hockey Edmonton and HAC want every child to be treated fairly, with respect and have the opportunity to enjoy the game of Hockey. 

In HAC, each player will typically have four skates in the evaluation process. The first skate consists of Hockey Canada approved technical skills evaluation, which will then organize players into initial scrimmage groups of similar skating ability, with the exception of Novice which will have 2 technical skates and 2 scrimmages. For all other players, the next 3 skates will be scrimmages. The individual player skills in game situations are compared to the skills of their group. Players may be moved to different groups after each evaluation session, some players may not move at all throughout the process.

The HAC Program is a developmental program that follows Hockey Edmonton tiering guidelines. It is important to understand that the objective of tiering is to allow the participants to play at a level in which they can be competitive.

4. What is the Evaluation Process for Goalies?

Novice Goalies will be evaluated along with the players - there will not be a specific technical session for Novice Goalies. They will be asked to attend specified evaluation skate times.

Atom and Peewee Goalies will have a specific technical session with same age and category shooters present. The remainder of the evaluation sessions for the Atom and Peewee Goalies will consist of them being involved in the player scrimmages. The technical sessions will consist of Hockey Canada approved Goalie evaluation drills.

The HAC Program is a developmental program that follows Hockey Edmonton tiering guidelines. It is important to understand that the objective of tiering is to allow the participants to play at a level in which they can be competitive. The placement of goalies on teams is based on the recommendations of the evaluators. On 2 goalie teams, both goalies will be of similar skill level as determined by the evaluators.

5. How does the Technical Skill evaluation affect my child's placement?

The Technical Skill evaluation only determines placement of the players into the initial scrimmage groups.

6. How long is each shift during scrimmage evaluations?

* Players- Novice/Atom/Peewee - will have at minimum, 1 minute and 30 second shifts

* Goalies- Novice/Atom/Peewee - depends on the number of goalies in the scrimmage - they will be rotated evenly throughout the game.

7. What are the evaluators looking for, and who are they?

During the Technical skills, the evaluators are objectively looking for the ability of each player/goalie to perform the skill as set out in the Hockey Canada guidelines, based on the age/category appropriate drills.

During the scrimmage sessions the evaluators are objectively evaluating for the ability of the players to play both offensively and defensively in a game situation. They will also be evaluating team play (passing, positioning, communicating)

The evaluators are former and current coaches of the HAC program and other organizations. These volunteers make a pledge to evaluate objectively and without bias. The evaluators do not have children within the category they are evaluating. The number of evaluators per session will vary based on the size of the group they are evaluating.

8. Can you share the results of my child's scores with me as a parent?

Feedback is provided following each skate for skaters and goalies by means of player movement. Specific results are not communicated since player performance is based on the overall performance of the group. HAC supports the confidential nature of this information.

9. My child did not perform their best today. Can this be taken into consideration in their overall scoring?

It is understood that from time to time players may not be performing their best. This is why HAC structures the evaluations over a number of skates with the hope that each player has an opportunity to do their best. Scores provided by the evaluators are final and no changes to these are permitted. This ensures a fair process for all the participants.

10. We are not able to make the next skate time (child is ill, other commitments, etc.) How will that impact their evaluation? Can they skate with another group?

It is the responsibility of the parent to find their child's skate time on the HAC website which will be updated prior to the categories next skate time. Players can not reschedule to skate with another group- if your child can not make the skate time - it is the parents responsibility to notify the Category Director, as early as possible.

11. I am not convinced my child received a fair evaluation at today's skate, who can I speak to about this?

The HAC requests that all inquiries of this nature honor the 24 hour rule to ensure concerns can be addressed appropriately and professionally with facts regarding this position. If you have a concern, please contact the VP of Hockey Operations.

12. My child did not have the same amount of ice time or opportunities during the skate. Who should I speak to about this?

Every effort is made throughout the evaluation process to ensure fairness and equity for all participants. However, the HAC requests that all inquiries of this nature honor the 24 hour rule to ensure concerns can be addressed appropriately and professionally with facts regarding this position. If you have a concern, please contact the VP of Hockey Operations.

13. I thought my child looked really good out on the ice today. What do you think Mr./Ms. Evaluator?

From time to time parents do request feedback from the evaluation team on their child's performance that day. The evaluation team is responsible for overseeing the the process to ensure it is fair and consistent with this, volunteers will always encourage all participants to work hard and try their best. Individual rankings are not shared with parents during the process as this continually changes with each skate. If you are contacted following a session it is to communicate the child's movement to another grouping to re-evaluate placement and if you are not contacted it is an indication your child is properly placed at this time. Following all evaluation sessions final placements will be assigned. You will be notified of your child's placement once the designated coach of your child's team contacts you.

14. What if I register after Evaluations have started?

If you register during the evaluation process the HAC registrar will notify the VP of Hockey Operations so that accommodations to bring you into the process can be made. If you register after evaluations are completed, the Hockey committee will do its best to place you on a team with player of similar ability.

15. How will friendship and non-friendship requests be handled?

Friendship requests will be done with the higher ranked player moving down only one team. If the players are ranked more than one team apart the request will not be honored. There is no movement up.

HAC does not encourage non-friendship requests. In the event there is one, and there are valid reasons for such a request, and the child making the non-friend request tiers with the child they do not wish to play with, then the player initiating the request will be moved down one team.

16. My twin/siblings seem to be evaluating at different levels and we would like to keep them together, what are our options?

Twins or sibling requests are not the same as friendship requests. We will accommodate the placement of siblings automatically when:

1. The situation is identified and,

2. The movement between teams is not outside our friendship request guidelines and twins/sibling requests will be allowed to move down 2 teams.

Movement outside the guidelines cannot and will not be guaranteed. Each situation will be looked at on an individual basis. Movement will be evaluated on how it will affect the team rather than the individual.

If you have any other questions about the evaluation process that may not be answered in this article please contact the VP Hockey Operations