Important Information on the Upcoming Season
August 25, 2020
Thank you for your continued patience as we move forward with planning our upcoming season. Developing a Return to Play model under ever-changing circumstances, rules, restrictions and guidelines from Alberta Health Services and Hockey Alberta has created some unique challenges for our organization. That said, the board of directors has been working diligently to ensure a fun, safe start to our season, and we would like to share the following information with you based on questions we have received from families and players:
Important dates
We have planned conditioning camps to start on or about September 12, with evaluations starting roughly one week later. Once the schedules are confirmed, we will be forwarding them to you promptly and posting them on our website.
Private camps
Some concern has been expressed that players participating in private camps in the upcoming weeks may be required to self-isolate for 14-days before joining our Association under the Cohorting Participants model. We have confirmed that any private camp participants outside of C.M.H.A. will remain eligible to participate in our conditioning camps and evaluations, so long as they follow rules and guidelines set forth by C.M.H.A. and as prescribed by our governing bodies.
Evaluations
Evaluation structure regarding cohorts and social distancing is a top priority.
We have an evaluation model that has been mandated by Hockey Alberta and we will be proceeding to evaluate players according to the same. At this point, with the registration numbers we currently have, we will be able to cohort evaluation groups so gameplay-style evaluations can occur in addition to technical skill sessions. For those of you unfamiliar with the evaluation model, we encourage you to review prior to evaluations commencing.
It’s important to note that, based on the Hockey Alberta and Alberta Health Services recommended season start-up while we remain in Stage 2 of the Alberta Economic Relaunch, we do not have the tight time constraints that we have faced in previous years for evaluating players and submitting final teams. This will allow for some additional flexibility, which in our current climate, may prove advantageous.
Players returning from tryouts with other organizations
We understand that each Association is approaching their respective Return to Play models slightly differently, and some rules and regulations may clash as players move from one Association to the next. Any player returning from tryouts with another Association will be afforded the opportunity to participate in evaluations with C.M.H.A. and we will work with players and their families along with evaluators to ensure this occurs in a fair and impartial way, while observing rules, restrictions and guidelines imposed upon us by our governing bodies.
What the season will look like
Given how quickly and how often things are currently changing, at this current moment, we have opted to postpone formalizing what the season will look like until more information is made available.
If you are uncomfortable with our approach
We encourage you to ask questions and express your concerns. We would also like to remind you that if at any time parents or players are uncomfortable with any process we have put in place; you have the right not to participate. That said, it is a requirement that every player* be evaluated, therefore please note that, should you choose not to participate in evaluations for reasons outside of those noted below, you will receive a score of zero in that portion of the evaluation. The only acceptable reasons to miss evaluations are:
- An injury that prevents play and is documented by a medical doctor’s note which must be provided to the registrar prior to the evaluation date;
- Other exigent circumstances may warrant some flexibility at the Board’s discretion. Notice must be given to the registrar of the details of the circumstances in writing and as much evidence to support the same should be included. The Board will determine the best course of action on a case-by-case basis.
*excepting only U7 players
More decisions to follow
Our next board meeting is Wednesday, August 26. At this meeting, we will continue to discuss and map out the following:
- Whether or not game play will occur in Stage 2 of the Relaunch, and if so, what that will entail;
- Parities and what initial Stage 2 team composition will look like;
- In the event we move to Stage 3 of the Relaunch within a reasonable time period (so as to likely affect how the leagues continue with the season), how we will adapt.
Please keep in mind, much of the above is not at our option or control, but rather is dictated to us by our governing bodies. We will endeavour to make the best decisions we can given the information we have, and in addition to the rules, restrictions, guidelines and best judgement and expertise of the coaches, partners, professionals, employees, volunteers, and enthusiasts we have at our disposal.
We appreciate your patience and understanding while we work through our planning, and to those players trying out for AA and AAA, we wish you the best of luck!
We’re looking forward to a great (albeit - a bit different) season!
