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THE HAWKS ATHLETIC CLUB
The HAWKS Athletic Club (HAC) is a volunteer organization, registered underthe Alberta Society's Act. The HAC Mission statement is as follows:
"TheHAWKS Athletic Club is dedicated to providing a quality hockey programfor all players, on all teams, at all levels, while striving for fairplay, team work and commitment. We are dedicated to developing a bettertomorrow." The HAC is one of the governing bodies for minor hockey inthe North West Zone of the City of Edmonton. A volunteer ExecutiveCommittee is formed to operate and administer the minor hockey programfor the HAWKS Athletic Club area. The Executive consists of bothelected and appointed members. Elections are held annually at the AGMheld in April or May. The Executive meets approximately once per monthand all members are welcome to attend. A meeting schedule can be foundon the Hawks website. The bylaws by which the HAC operates can also befound on our website. The bylaws were rewritten and adopted at the May,2002 Annual General Meeting.
[3] TEAM FORMATION AND TIERING
Whenevaluations are completed, the Evaluation Committee (EvaluationDirectors, Category Directors, Hockey Director and Coaches) will placeplayers on teams based on evaluation results.
Teamformation can be a very emotional time for parents, players andcoaches. Evaluations will initially place players on a "team" with acoach. All pre-season skates are to considered as an extension of the evaluation process.This will allow for a fine tuning of the initial process, give extraconsideration of those players who perhaps don't do well inevaluations, and give coaches time to evaluate late registrants.Coaches must be cognizant of this extension period and be clear to theinitial players selected for the team, that things are not finalizeduntil the actual hard card is signed. Movement or reallocation ofplayers to accommodate other players can be difficult and emotional. Itis important not to raise any false expectations of the players andparents.
TheFederation Hockey Council organizes a tiering committee with achairperson and representatives from each of the operating programs inthe city. The committee is responsible for placing teams in divisionsof approximate equal abilities. This committee meets prior to the startof the season and after each of three rounds during the season. Teamscan be moved to lower and higher divisions depending on their level ofplay. The purpose of tiering is to group teams at similar competitivelevels.
[4] EVALUATIONS
Playerevaluations are conducted at the beginning of every hockey season todetermine the level at which each child is able to play within his/herage category. Every attempt will be made to ensure that players areevaluated fairly. A ranking can then be established to list players inanticipation of team selection. Players who have obviously beenmisplaced in an evaluation session may be reassigned to another sessionwith players of similar ability at the discretion of the hockeycommittee.
CategoryDirectors and Coaches must ensure that teams at any level are balancedand competitive. Although balanced teams are the primary criteria forteam selection, consideration will always be given to the playersself-esteem and well-being. Accommodation of parent requests for theirchild to play with a friend will also be considered for players ofsimilar ability in Tier 4 and lower levels. Players selected for thecity-wide Tier 1, 2, and 3 teams will be based on the outcome ofevaluations and will be adhered to.
Ingeneral, players will advance with those players of similar ability andage. As they progress through the categories, they will have theopportunity to build friendships and make new friends year after year.
Parentswho are not satisfied with their child's team placement should approachthe Category Director as early as possible to determine optionsavailable to them. The decision of the Hockey Committee shall be finaland binding.
[5] PARENT LIAISON ROLE
Eachteam must choose a Parent Liaison who will be responsible to provide acommunication link between parents and coaches during the hockeyseason. This person needs to be available to hear concerns and bringforward these concerns accurately and in a calm, clear manner to helpresolve team conflicts and problems. A parent liaison's most importantduty is to be a good listener. Parents and coaches who have concernsshould discuss the concerns with each other whenever possible. Theparties involved should let the parent liaison know what has happened.If it is not possible to discuss the concerns with each other, theparent/coach should seek out the Parent Liaison for assistance. TheParent Liaison will seek to understand what the main points of concernare, try to find out how you feel the problem can be resolved and findout what you would like to see done about your concern.
REMEMBERthe 24 hour cool down principle: It's simple ... many of the problemswe get so excited about or angry about do not seem so important whenwe've had time to "cool down" and think matters over. The ParentLiaison may suggest the parent or coach take a day to think things overand speak to you again before the issue is brought to the parent orcoach. If an issue is not resolved on the team by the Parent Liaison,concerns can be forwarded to the Director of Disputes, Mediation andArbitration. Any concerns must be expressed in writing. Upon receivingthe letter, the Director will call a panel to schedule a meeting tohear the concern. Parties involved will have an opportunity to describetheir concerns to the panel andhear and respond to the other parties'statements. At the completion of the hearing, the panel will adjournand issue a written decision. The panel's decision is final. TheDirector will not respond to phone calls and will not become involvedin trying to resolve the concern. The Director's area of responsibilityis to chair a panel to deal with a concern. For more information on therole of Parent Liaison, please check the HAWKS website atwww.Hawks.ab.ca
[6] TEAM EXPENSES, FUNDRAISING, SPONSORSHIPS
TheExecutive reviews the fee structure prior to the start of each hockeyseason. Registration fees help cover the cost of the regular scheduledgames, assigned practices from EMHA, playoff games, insurance, teamjerseys, some equipment (such as pucks, goalies equipment, pylons,etc.), referees and other expenses that benefit the participants. Inaddition to the expenses covered by registration fees, each team isresponsible for expenses such as the cost of tournaments, additionalpractice ice and other expenses such as team clothing, photos, awards,and end-of-the-season parties. Teams should prepare a budget and reachconsensus on how they are going to raise the necessary funds.
Eachteam must appoint a treasurer, open a team bank account, and produce ateam budget. Bank accounts must be set up with a requirement for atleast two signatures to withdraw funds. Accounts must be closed at theend of the season and are not to be carried over to the followingseason. If a team receives a sponsorship or donation, please make thePresident of the HAC aware. The HAC sincerely appreciates thesponsorship and donations it receives and would like to acknowledge thesupport provided. DID YOU KNOW? The Hawks Athletic Club subsidizes theice bought by our teams. Ice can cost up to $200.00 per hour. Weaverage out the cost of ice and charge teams $125 per hour regardlessof the actual cost. At $125 per hour, ice is still subsidized by theHAC and our Bingo profits.
[7] COMMUNICATIONS
Oneof the biggest challenges in an organization the size of the HawksAthletic Club is ensuring people are informed about what is going on.We have a number of avenues available to us to attempt to keep allparticipants informed - our Club newsletters, individual teamnewsletters, our website and EMHA's website. This handbook is anotherattempt to ensure all participants are informed about important aspectsof our program. This year we will also try to establish an emailaddress list of our parents and coaches. You will be asked at the timeof Registration for an email address so we can create and maintain adata base so we can send out news as it happens. The Hawks AthleticClub also has a notice board at the Castledowns Arena. We will postcurrent information there as well. The majority of our Executive haveemail addresses and encourage you to send them a message if you have aquestion, feedback or concerns. You can contact members by clicking ontheir name in the Executive list on our website. If you have news youthink would be of interest to the whole organization please let MarianPangburn know. She will ensure your news is included in the nextnewsletter or have it posted on our website.
[8] BINGOS
Tohelp keep the costs of registering your player as low as possible, theHawks Athletic Club relies on Bingo revenue. As part of yourregistration fees, you will be required to work 1 or 2 MANDATORY bingosdepending on the level of hockey being played. If you choose not towork the MANDATORY bingos, you have the option of paying a higher feeto offset the loss of revenue to the HAC. Once you have signed up forthe MANDATORY bingos it is important to keep your commitment. When weare short of workers, the HAC is charged a penalty and we run the riskof losing our bingo license. If we lose a license, we have no optionbut to raise the registration fees for all our players. If MANDATORYbingos are not worked, the registration fees are deemed NOT TO BE PAIDIN FULL. The deposit cheques for bingos not worked will be cashed. Anyoutstanding fees must be paid in full prior to the registration of aplayer in the next hockey season. A record of outstanding fees is keptin the EMHA data base and stays with a player even if they transfer toanother Club in the City of Edmonton. In addition to the MANDATORYbingos, parents have the option of working EXTRA BINGOS throughout theyear. The credits earned at these EXTRA bingos can be used towardsactivities such as the next year's registration fees, conditioningcamp, in-line hockey, or for HAC merchandise. It is important to notethat extra bingos DO NOT replace the mandatory bingos signed up for atRegistration. As of March, 2002, single bingos are worth $30 credit anddouble bingos are worth $60 credit.
[9] REGISTRATION
Registrationfees are set by the Hawks Athletic Club Executive Committee prior tothe start of each season. We are pleased to advise there is no increasein fees for the 2002 - 2003 hockey season. Payment can be made in theform of cash, VISA, Master Card, Cheque and/or bingo credits. Uponregistering you must pay a minimum of $50.00 and then you have theoption of writing a maximum of three post-dated cheques for thebalance. The last date we can accept for a post dated cheque will beOctober 15, 2002. Any cancellations or withdrawals must be submitted tothe Registrar (Janet Hughes) only. Janet can be reached by calling theHawks Office at 453-3666 or her home 456-2604. There will be NO REFUNDSafter November 15, 2002. Refunds prior to that date will be proratedbased on the number of ice slots used - preseason and regular seasonskates - at a rate of $15.00 per hour of ice plus a $50.00administration fee will be held back.
[10] EMHA POLICY
Notwithstandinganything contained in any bylaw, regulation, or operating directive, orany other rule of the EMHA Board of Directors, Federation, Junior or AAHockey, registration as a player or member is not a right, but aprivilege, and the EMHA Board of Directors reserves the right to refuseor revoke membership and or registration to anyone whose conduct orthat of her parent, guardian or family has failed to comply with thevalues or our mission statement, vision statement or "Good of the Game"conduct requirements.
[12] RECOGNITION AND PREVENTION OF ABUSE
Inresponse to adverse events that have occurred over the past few years,the CHA has developed a comprehensive policy in this area. The CHA andHAC are part of the sporting community in our country committed toseeking better ways to keep our youth safe. Protecting participantsfrom all forms of abuse and neglect, whether emotional, physical orsexual, is an important element of safety. The CHA considers any formof abuse or neglect unacceptable and will do all it cn to prevent thisintolerable social problem. To this end, the CHA will promote awarenessof all forms or abuse and neglect by providing educational materialsand programs for participants, parents, volunteers and staff members.Through the use of these strategies, we will send a clear message toall potential abusers and sexual predators that hockey participants arenot easy targets. The CHA is committed to the highest possiblestandards of care for its participants.
[12] POLICY
Itis the policy of the CHA that there shall be no abuse and neglect,whether physical, emotional or sexual of any participant in any of itsprograms. The CHA expects every parent, volunteer and staff member totake all reasonable steps to safeguard the welfare of its participantsand protect them from any form of maltreatment.
[13] UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
TheHAWKS ATHLETIC CLUB colors and style are based on designs that wereselected by the HAC Executive Committees. These colors and styles arethe HAC identity, and as such, substitutions, changes or deviationscannot be made without the consent of the HAC Executive Committee. Eachteam will be supplied with a set of home and away jerseys for eachplayer as well as one pair of hockey socks. In order to maximize thewear and tear of the uniforms, players ARE NOT ALLOWED to wear thesejerseys for practices and must therefore supply their own practicejerseys. The team jerseys shall be carried in the HAC provided garmentbags and laundered by appointed parents on the team. JERSEYS ARE NOT TOBE GIVEN TO INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS to look after as they are easilydestroyed in player's equipment bags. Jerseys must be returned to theHAC at the end of the hockey season in good and clean condition or theteam will be responsible for replacement/cleaning costs - one jerseydamaged or lost in a set, renders the set useless for the followingseason. If a team chooses to put namebars on jerseys, they must be sewnon (not glued or ironed) and removed before they are returned at theend of the hockey season. Any "C's" and "A's" must also be removed fromthe jerseys so please sew them on as well. Each player is responsiblefor obtaining the remainder of his or her own equipment. Insurancecoverage dictates that each player must be fully equipped with CSAapproved equipment. The HAC will supply goaltender equipment (ifpossible) to goaltenders who do not have their own.
[14] HOCKEY ADMINISTRATION
Hockeyis a big organization of volunteers in Canada. This "picture" will giveyou a sense of how the Hawks Athletic Club fits into the big picture.Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) Administers amateur hockey acrossCanada Alberta Hockey Association (AHA) Administers amateur hockeyleagues in Alberta Edmonton Minor Hockey Association (EMHA) Administersall of AA and Federation leagues in the City Edmonton & AreaFederation Hockey Council (FHA) Administers minor hockey on behalf ofthe Community Leagues and Knights of Columbus programs North West ZoneCommunity Athletic Club Administers the HAC, WWHA, and NWZ Midget andInitiation Programs Hawks Athletic Club Includes all affiliatedCommunity Leagues
[15] CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE
Whydo our players want to play hockey? The most common answer we hear is"because it's fun!" We should not lose focus of this answer as theseason progresses and we many not see things that we dislike ordisagree with. As parents our role is to support our players and manyvolunteers who give of their time to help players develop, demonstrategood sportsmanship and make new friends. As parents, let's try tosupport our players by contributing to the hockey season in a positiveand constructive manner. Let's contribute to this atmosphere by makinggames, practices and any other team activities as free of conflict andunpleasantness as possible. If conflicts arise, let's deal with them ina manner that is constructive and leads to positive resolution.Remember we are all volunteers. Remember to support and encourageefforts made by game officials, team officials, opponents or teammates. Harassment of officials, opponents or team mates is NOTACCEPTABLE and will not be tolerated. The Hawks Athletic Club stronglysupports EMHA's "Good of the Game" initiative. It is expected allplayers, parents and team officials sign the agreement at the beginningof the season and then adhere to the spirit and intent of the programthroughout the season. The Hawks Athletic Club reserves the right toimpose "penalties" on those who do not adhere to the values of theHawks Athletic Club or Good of the Game conduct requirement.
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