Coaches Committee
The Board of Directors shall establish a Coaches Committee composed of not less than two members that will rotate and serve a term recommended to be not more than two years.
Grievance Committee
The purpose of the Grievance Committee is to attempt to resolve disputes as soon as possible after such disputes have arisen, without the necessity of resorting to a full Board of Directors meeting.
Playing Time
Ilderton Minor Hockey Association is committed to the principles of sportsmanship, including and using all reasonable attempts to ensure that players receive equal opportunity to contribute towards the success of the team.
All coaches shall attempt to play all players equally, including goaltenders except for the following circumstances:
Purchasing Policy
Remuneration for Volunteers
Ilderton Minor Hockey Association is a non-profit organization. One of the requirements of this is that the Board of Directors serve without compensation. Our Board of Directors are however entitled to honorariums. Members of the Board of Directors shall, in each year, be entitled to receive one family seasons pass and five fundraising credits. IMHA has adopted a credit system for fundraising. Every registered player provides a $60 contingency fee, equivalent to five credits, posted dated to the end of the hockey season. Opportunities are provided throughout the year to earn credits. However, the system requires that all five credits be earned to avoid cashing of the cheque. Uncashed cheques will be destroyed and not returned. Each Head Coach shall be given ten credits to disburse at his/her discretion to any member of IMHA who has helped the team. The coach may retain no more than five of the ten coach’s credits. Members of the Board of Directors and other volunteers shall not be entitled to any other remuneration, other than reimbursement for expenses passed by the board.
Discipline and Suspension
Generally, Ontario Minor Hockey Association/Ontario Womens Hockey Association rules dictate the penalties and suspensions which may be levied against a player or team official for conduct on or off the ice. We abide by the OMHA/OWHA Code of Conduct. Some types of conduct, whether on or off the ice however, may warrant additional discipline or suspension. All OMHA/OWHA penalties and suspensions shall be considered to be minimum penalties and any penalty set out in this policy will be in addition to such penalty.
Harassment and Abuse
Ilderton Minor Hockey Association is a member of the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA). The CHA has developed policies and procedures on harassment and abuse of players. IMHA has adopted all of the policies put forward by the CHA through the Prevention Services program. IMHA requires all players, parents and Team Officials to sign an IMHA Code of Conduct form annually. These forms will be collected, maintained and kept on file for the season by a Team Official of each team.
Allocation of Ice Time
Policy and Procedures Committee
Coaches Selection
The objectives of the Board of Directors for coach selection are:
(a) to choose the best available coaches for all of the players on all of the Ilderton Minor Hockey Association hockey teams;
(b) to ensure that coach selection does not prejudice the selection of the most suitable hockey players for all teams;
(c) the Coaches Committee acts on the premise that more than one person has shown an interest in coaching a team.
Applications for coaching and other team official positions will be available:
(a) prior to the end of the current hockey season;
(b) in the Minor Hockey room; on the IMHA Board or on the IMHA website
(c) by contacting any member of the Board of Directors Completed applications are to be returned to the Coaches Committee by May 31 annually.
The Coaches Committee may have a discussion with an applicant relevant to:
(a) clarifying any confusing information on the application or;
(b) asking new or unknown applicants about their previous coaching history. Also, to explain the IMHA team selection process and philosophy regarding playing time, responsibilities of the coach during the year, guidelines and any other important information. Only those who have submitted a written application will be considered for the position of head coach for a team.
The Board of Directors will hold a series of meetings in order to select all coaches.
The selection of head coaches will be determined, in no specific order, by the following guidelines:
(a) applicant’s preference to coach at a specific age level;
(b) applicant’s second choice to coach at another age level;
(c) past coaching experience;
(d) applicant’s ability to demonstrate on the ice, the necessary skills required for that age level;
(e) any additional information or knowledge that members of the Board may have regarding the abilities, skill level, experience or parent concerns;
(f) a new, qualified applicant will be considered for coaching positions where a parent has been a head coach on their son or daughter’s team for two consecutive years, subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
(g) In addition, a minimum of Level Coach, CHIP, or Recreation / Developmental 1 and Prevention Services and a Police Record Check has been or will be obtained.
Every attempt must be made by the members of the Board to remove any personal bias towards any applicant. Only information or knowledge relating to the applicant’s hockey skills or attitude and behaviour on or off the ice while representing the team or IMHA should be discussed. As many coaches as possible will be selected by July 31 annually. This allows the Coaches Committee time to arrange certification or refresher clinics for the selected coaches if necessary. It also gives applicants not selected an opportunity to pursue other coaching opportunities. If a pre-selected coach’s son or daughter is not selected for that team by the on ice selection committee then they can apply to be reconsidered for another coaching position. All head coaches have the option to select the assistant coaches, trainers, manager and other team officials of interested people in that age group or from their own preferences. The Board of Directors reserves the right to accept or deny any team official.
Team Selection
When possible, approximately one month prior to the initial try-outs, all coaching applicants will be advised if they have been selected as the on-ice coordinator, as an assistant or not selected, required in writing. Prior to commencing the team selection process, a meeting will be held with all approved on-ice instructors to discuss the team selection process. The coordinators and their assistants, during the selection period are responsible for ensuring that all players receive an equal chance to demonstrate their skills. The coordinator will solicit feedback from all voting assistants regarding their choices for player selection to all teams. Players will be rated on a player assessment form provided by the Coaches Committee. In all cases, every effort will be made to make teams in each age category equal in numbers. If more than one House/Local League team is entered in a specific age group, the selection committee will recommend equally balanced teams relevant to skill, ensuring all players receive the best possible opportunity to compete. Requests to allow players to play on other eligible teams will be considered at the discretion of the Board of Directors based on the numbers with the intent to maintain the integrity and spirit of Ilderton Minor Hockey. At the end of the selection process, a completed list of players selected for all teams must be completed, signed by all voting on-ice personnel and submitted to the Coaches Committee for approval by the Board of Directors. The selection of these players must be agreed upon by a majority of the on-ice voting personnel. Once a player has been placed on a list, his or her name cannot be removed without consultation of the parents or guardian and the Board of Directors. Once team selections have been approved by the Board of Directors, respective coaches will attempt to notify all players in their age group of their placement as soon as possible after verification by the Coaches Committee. Every effort will be made to notify all players in an age group on the same day.
Affiliation
Tournaments
Ilderton Minor Hockey Association has determined that each team shall be entitled to enter as many tournaments as they wish. However, coaches cancelling regular season games due to tournaments must ensure rescheduling cancelled games are their first priority. Cancelled games and to be scheduled games must be rescheduled by Jan 15 of each year. Eligible teams are entitled to enter into the OMHA/OWHA playdown. Tournaments are not recommended during playdowns. Coaches are responsible for obtaining all necessary travel permits and documents necessary for tournament entry.
Equipment
All equipment belonging to Ilderton Minor Hockey Association that is issued at the beginning of each season shall be returned in order and complete at the end of the season. A team official will have to sign out all team equipment through the equipment manager. This includes sweaters, water bottles, pucks, first aid kits and goalie equipment. Equipment borrowed during the off-season will require a $500 Deposit. Equipment not returned or returned damaged shall be subject to full replacement charge to the signee.
Refunds
The Board of Directors will consider refunds on an individual basis upon receiving a written request by the participant or the participant’s parents. Refunds will be granted to an injured player after three months regardless of whether or not the injury was hockey related. Requests for injury related refunds may be made at anytime throughout the hockey season. All refunds are pro-rated over a seven-month period of time. Refunds on pre-season tryouts for any player who does not wish to continue will be given upon receiving a written request. There may be a fee per skate charged to the participant. If a player chooses to not participate for a portion of or for the whole hockey season, refunds will be given upon receipt of a written request and pro-rated over a seven month period of time. They will be subject to a minimum retained registration fee of 50% unless a written request for consideration is received, approved and accepted by the IMHA Board of Directors.
Releases
The Board of Directors will grant carded representative players an outright release under the following conditions:
(a) as a result of a legitimate change of principle residence to a non-contestable address (OMHA rule #18);
(b) as a result of signing with a higher classified team (ie. AAA or OHF).
The Board of Directors may grant carded representative players an outright release under the following conditions:
(a) by application in writing to the Ilderton Minor Hockey Board of Directors at which time the application will be considered by the Board of Directors. Factors to be considered include but are not limited to age, residence, team size, and any other extenuating circumstances.
(b) a player released under (a) forfeits any automatic right of re-registration and may re-register only upon written application to the Ilderton Minor Hockey Association Board of Directors which will be considered by the Board of Directors in the same fashion as (a) above.
Community Service
Ilderton Minor Hockey Association may provide opportunities for carded IMHA players attending high school to earn community service hours. Head coaches will be responsible for ensuring the students fulfill the requirements provided by the school board and are granted authority to sign the student’s community involvement record book. Any student participating in this program must be at least one complete age division higher than the players on the specified team and must wear, at a minimum, a CSA approved helmet, face mask, neck guard and gloves when on the ice. Only players as noted above, in addition to the players of the specified team, are permitted to participate in on-ice practices.
Election of Officers
Elections to the Board are carried out according to the Constitution of the Affairs of IMHA and will be done on an annual basis at our spring open meeting. Individuals wishing to serve on the Board of Directors must be nominated at the annual meeting when vacancies exist. All nominated individuals and Directors wishing to renew their terms must be elected or reelected by ballot. Parties interested in letting their name stand for nomination must either be present at the open meeting or indicate in writing their willingness to serve
Police Record Checks
IMHA requires that all carded officials and members of the Board of Directors undergo police record check as per OMHA guidelines annually. A non-voting member of the Board of Directors shall be responsible for administering all record checks.
Age Restrictions
IMHA requires that players be a minimum of four years old by December 31 of the current season.
Try-Outs
A $50 Competitive Team Try-Out fee will be charged for any player who wishes to try out for the competitive team. The cost of registration includes the cost of trying out for one team. If a player wishes to try-out for more than one eligible team, a $50 additional try-out fee will apply. For eligibility refer to Policy #11, Team Selection.
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