GUELPH MINOR HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS AND PLAYERS DURING SPRING REP TRYOUTS 2008:
REP Tryout Schedule - April 14 - May 11, 2008

NOTE: Rep Passes are no longere on sale online. They will be available at the door for purchase ONLY for $100.00 (cash).

• Major Midget and Select Tryout Passes will be sold at a later time, Major Midget can be purchased at this time.
• EACH PLAYER PASS purchased comes with a receipt. It is the responsibility of the parent to keep the receipt.
• Only registered GMHA players in good standing will be permitted to attend tryouts
• In the spring, there will be five (5) tryouts for AAA, five (5) AA tryouts and five (5) A tryouts. There will be two 2 skates for the Tyke Minor Development team. The AAA, AA and A divisions will select their entire teams in the spring, with the exception of Major Midget and Tyke MD teams.
• Each player who purchases a tryout pass will be given a minimum (3) three tryouts, including Select, with the exception of F-1 waivered players. F-1 waivered players buy a pass for each tryout they attend.
• The missing of tryouts without injury or medical documentation will end their tryout eligibility.
• GMHA will not waiver any players that reside in the GMHA's AAA zone until the AAA coach has released the GMHA and GMHA AAA zone player. There will be consideration given only to players who have participated in the GMHA AAA Rep Tryout.
• The Tyke Minor Development (Tyke MD) will not release any players in the spring and will resume team tryouts early fall. As per OMHA guidelines, the Tyke MD team(s) composition can be made up of only seven-year-old players, born in the respective birth year. Tyke MD focus is on increased ice time to allow for enhanced skill and game development.
• The Major Midget Rep division will start their tryouts in the fall following Labor Day Weekend.

DECLARATIONS:

• Players may declare at the time the rep pass is purchased if the player would like to bypass the AAA, or AA tryouts. This request will be forwarded to the respective head coach for consideration. The head coach will communicate the decision by way of email or phone call to the player/parent. This is the head coach's decision. The player must attend the first tryout at the level determined by the head coach. If there is no declaration then the player will start at the AAA level. The head coach's decision is final.
• There will be no declarations at the Novice (2000) and Minor Atom ('99) as a result of the low number of players in these divisions. There is no declaration for Tyke MD.
• Players who have declared to play in a division above their age category must email rep@guelphminorhockey.com of their intentions 2 weeks before tryouts begin.
• The coach of an older aged team can request a player from a younger team to tryout,  by first speaking to AAA coach of the younger team no later than the 1st tryout and by notifying the GMHA VP or rep (rep@guelphminorhockey.com) in writing within the same timeframe stating their intentions. If these conditions are met, the player will be asked to attend the spring tryouts with the older team. REP COACHES ARE NOT TO SPEAK TO THE PLAYERS DIRECTLY, and parents WILL NOT approach the coaches.
• All players "under-age" must be evaluated and be considered as one of the top 5 of each the respective category trying out.

TRYOUT PROCESS:

• The Rep Coaches have the flexibility to schedule when the players attend their tryout, depending on the numbers or whether they wish to have different combinations of AAA, AA, A or House League players at each tryout. The Rep Coach will communicate this to the player by way of email or phone call if the player has pre-purchased a rep tryout pass.
• For the AAA division only those AAA players already playing on an AAA team should not attend the first try-out (with the exception of Novice and Minor Atom divisions). All other players must attend the first skate unless advised by the coach.
• At the first tryout, players who have purchased a rep pass and presented the required documentation will be given ONE tryout card. Each card is colour coded to designate type of player. Each card is colour coded to designate the type of player.
• There are 4 coloured tryout cards.
• GREEN card represents a GMHA player trying out for a team.
• WHITE card represents a F-1 waivered player trying out for a team
• RED card represents a regional or GMHA Zone player trying out for a team.
• YELLOW card represents a player trying out for a goalie position. In the case of a F-1 waivered or regional goalie, then a yellow goalie tryout card will be provided.
• This card must be brought to each tryout and presented to the registration desk to obtain an attendance stamp. The card then will be presented to the team official who will be organizing the pinnies and specifics of each tryout at the team desk.
• If a TRYOUT card is lost or forgotten the player will be given an opportunity to repurchase a card. However, proof that the original rep pass had been purchased (receipt); a parent's signature and $5.00 cash will be required before a new tryout card will be reissued to the player.

THE SELECTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE TEAM:

• All AAA, AA and A coaches will sign 15 skaters and 2 goalies at the conclusion of the rep tryouts. Please note that a player can be sent back to a lower level team before November 1, 2008. Any teams wishing to carry above these limits must first seek approval from the VP of Rep.
• Coaches select the players depending on their skill, attitude or what role is needed on the team. The coaches are volunteers and put a lot of time into the team and the players involved. The coaches need your support during the selection process and during the season.
• At the end of each tryout, the rep coach will inform the players where to report next if different from the schedule. This will be communicated by way of a list that will be posted after each tryout, with the exception of the final tryout. This procedure is being done to allow the Rep Coaches to focus their attention on the remaining players and their skill level.
• Once the team has been selected and the player has been offered a spot on a team then the PLAYER AND PARENT will be asked to sign the back of the tryout card and hand the card to the team official. The coach will then submit to the office the signed tryout cards and team official information as a formal way of communicating the team roster.
• For a player that refuses a Rep Position offered by the coach Item "6." of the Rep Bylaws will come into effect.
• Coaches can exchange players between levels (e.g. AAA to AA , or AA to A etc.) up to November 1, 2008 with the permission of their Convener and the VP of Rep. After November 1st, they need the permission of the VP of Rep and President of GMHA to make any changes.
• Players and Parents that have signed and agreed to play with a team agree to register and pay in full with GMHA before May 30, 2008 for the 2008-2009 season. Players who do not register and pay in full for the 2008-2009 hockey season will not be rostered to the teams or allowed to continue with GMHA team activities.
• Registration for the 2008-2009 hockey season will be conducted online at www.guelphminorhockey.com/registration . Registration will commence May 1, 2008. More details regarding this will be posted on our web site.
• Head coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, and managers must receive written approval from the evaluation committee prior to signing their child to a team. An e-mail received by the recipient or the GMHA office and the V.P. of Rep shall constitute a notification in writing. Head Coaches are responsible for communicating with their rep conveners within 48 hours notice of the tryout of which player must be evaluated and changes to their team officials. The conveners will ensure that the evaluation committee has been informed.
• Players who will be released from the A team may attend the Select Fall tryouts. All players who attend Select tryouts must register for the 2008-2009 GMHA hockey season and completed payment in full prior to stepping on Select tryout ice.

F1-WAIVERED and REGIONAL PLAYERS

• Guelph Regional Zone includes Woolwich, Fergus, Elora, and Arthur. The Regional players are only allowed to try out at the AAA level. Before stepping on the first tryout ice, players must present a permission to skate form signed by the proper authority within their home centre. Players needing this must contact their home centre. If the player does not make the AAA team, the player is released back to the home centre.
• GMHA accepts "F-1 waivered" players from adjacent AAA centres only. These players must be currently registered with a hockey association in Ontario. The F-1 waivered players are only allowed to try out at the AAA level. If they do not make the AAA team, the player is released back to the home centre. ALL original (no copies) documentation including the correct necessary number of waivers that are to be obtained between the player's home centre and GMHA will be required at FIRST tryout. Players must also bring a copy of the player's birth certificate.
• GMHA allows for a combination maximum of five (5) Regional players and or F-1 waivered players on each AAA team. The Regional and F-1 waivered player pays a higher basic hockey registration.

ILLNESS DURING TRYOUTS

• Players who are unable to attend rep tryouts due to illness or medical reasons will report to a designated fall skate for evaluation at the approval of the VP of Rep, only. This would also include those who move into the GMHA zone over the summer.
• Players who do not attend due to injury or with medical conditions must provide documentation from a doctor to the GMHA Executive.

REP HOCKEY COSTS

Please note that to play Rep hockey there is a travel and financial commitment.
   Registration Fee(basic hockey fee for all GMHA Members)
+ Rep Fee (additional ice costs, jersey etc)
+ Team Fee (tournament and team expenses)
= Fees due per Rep Player

Each Rep team may decided to fundraise or set a monthly Team Fees payable by each player to the team to pay for tournaments and team functions. This team fee is over an above the registration hockey fee for 2008-2009, due May 30 and the “rep fee” which is collected early fall. Once the team has been selected then at the first team meeting the team parents decide how team funds will be raised. If you cannot make this commitment, please notify the coach or GMHA office prior to the final tryout.

AAA CENTRES PLAYED - S.C.T.A. AAA Centres: Halton, Guelph, Oakville, Niagara Falls, Grey-Bruce, Brampton, Burlington, Hamilton, Welland, St. Catharines

AA CENTRES PLAYED: TriCounty AA Centres: Burlington, Oakville, Guelph, Owen Sound, Brampton, Stoney Creek, Orangeville, St. Catharines, Georgetown, Caledon, Milton

A CENTRES PLAYED: TriCounty A Centres: Acton, Milton, Elora, Fergus, Caledon, Orangeville, Georgetown, Owen Sound, Dundas, Arthur, Flamborough and Ancaster

During the Rep tryouts, representatives from our director team will be in the arenas to answer any questions