Competitive Policies

Competitive Team Rules

The NMHA Competitive Committee, in consultation with a number of NMHA coaches, are pleased to announce a uniform set of team rules which will govern the day-to-day operations of all of our Competitive teams. The development of these rules was undertaken to ensure that all Raiders players will be treated in a consistent and fair manner.

Commitment to Dress Code Players are expected to arrive and leave each game as per the following dress code: Shirt and tie, slacks or khakis (no jeans) and team jacket. (Major Peewee and above) Shirts must be tucked in and the players has a neat & tidy appearance. Novice to Minor Peewee dress code is track suit with t-shirt and running shoes. Winter boots are allowed at all age groups in inclement weather. Dress Code Example: Player comes to his first tournament game adhering to all the dress code requirements. He then returns to the rink after lunch for Game 2 with no dress shirt on and no tie on. Coach give the player an official warning.

Parent Involvement in Tryouts Policy

Parents of children “trying-out” for a Raider team are not to be involved in the selection process. Involvement includes not only on ice activity but extends to working with or for the Head Coach in any capacity during the try-out process. The only exceptions are when a parent is also a Head Coach or when the Head Coach has sought and received permission from the competitive Chair to involve a parent. Violation of this policy will not be tolerated.

Competitive Tryouts, Player Assignments and Late Release Policy

The NMHA holds open tryouts each year to assemble the best teams with the best players at each division and level. We encourage all players to attend all tryout sessions. However, when a player attends a tryout session, either at the AA, A or B levels, it is with the understanding that the player is attempting to obtain a roster spot at that level.

In keeping with this principle, should a player attend tryouts at any level, be offered a roster position at that level, and then refuse the offer, the player will be considered as refusing an assignment within the Competitive Program. As such, the Competitive Committee may, at its discretion and considering all factors, release the player from the Competitive Program and assign the player to the NMHA House Program. That player will not be allowed to tryout at any lower level.

If players are interested in playing only B level hockey, they should attend the B-level tryouts only at Major Atom though Major Peewee.

For combined A/B tryouts (Minor Atom) or AA/B tryouts Minor Bantam through major Midget, a player wishing to be considered only for the B-level only must obtain the approval of the Competitive Committee prior to the start of tryouts to be considered for B-level teams only.

For combined tryouts (e.g. combined “AA” and “A”) and parent coaches, it must be noted that the coach’s son has been previously evaluated by the Competitive Committee as an appropriate player for that level.

Due to circumstances such as long-term injury or illness, a player moving out of the district, re-evaluation of players by the coaches or any other circumstance, a requirement may exist to fill a roster position on a higher-level team. In the event of a reassignment opportunity, once a player has been offered a roster position on the higher level team, that player must accept such a reassignment within the Raider Competitive Program up until December 1 of the current season. Should the player refuse a reassignment, the Competitive Committee may, at its discretion and considering all factors, release the player from the Competitive Program and assign the player to the NMHA House Program.

Examples:

Example 1: A player attends minor peewee AA tryouts and is offered a roster spot but refuses, stating they want to play A. The Competitive Committee may, at its discretion and considering all factors, release the player from the Competitive Program and assign the player to the NMHA House Program. The player would not be allowed to tryout at the A or B levels.

Example 2: A player is released from the AA team during the tryout process. One month later, a player on the AA team suffers a long-term injury. The Competitive Committee evaluates and decides to reassign the player from the A team to the AA team and a player from a B team to the A team. The Competitive Committee may, at its discretion and considering all factors, determine that the players will be released from the Competitive Program, reassigned to the NMHA House Program.

Example 3: A coach can approach the Competitive Committee up until the end of November to seek the release of a player. The coach may do this if he sees that the skill of the player is not adequate for the level or there are behaviour or discipline issues with the player. If the reassignment is approved by the Committee, then the coach will follow the procedure listed above to call up a player.

Injury in Tryouts Policy

What follows is the NMHA Competitive Program Policy related to the handling of situations where, because of injury, a player is unable to participate in tryouts according to the schedule published at the start of each season. This policy covers injuries incurred by a player prior to the start of tryouts, as well as injuries incurred during the tryout period.

In all cases, a medical certificate must be provided to the Competitive Committee as evidence that a player cannot participate in team tryouts. In addition, the nature of the injury and the expected return date of the player are also required. Upon returning from injury, each player must provide a medical certificate stating that the player has been cleared to return to play. 

To determine the subsequent tryout status of the returning player, the Competitive Committee will consult with a variety of sources to obtain sufficient information about the player so that a reasoned decision can be made that considers both what is best for the player as well as the affected team or teams. The sources will include, but not be limited to, the current coach, previous coach, lower level coach, and any other appropriate source deemed relevant by the Competitive Committee

The decision of the Competitive Committee in determining the player’s tryout status will be final.

Fair Ice Policy

Competitive Hockey demands:

1. A high level of commitment to team success and individual development is required from all participants;
2. Excellent communication between coaches and players; and
3. A balance between fair playing time and competitiveness.

To meet these demands, the following fair ice policy is mandated for this organization:

The basic assumption for all players and teams is that there will be an equal sharing of ice time, based on position; i.e. defence vs. goal vs. forward. There are a number of circumstances during which this equal ice time requirement may be superseded, including, but not limited to, team disciplinary measures, suspensions or injuries. It is also recognized that, to a reasonable extent, coaches may use ice time as a motivational tool.

A key concept is that coaches are expected to teach every tactical and situational aspect of the game to every player. Throughout the course of the season, the coach is expected to allow all players a reasonable opportunity to use these skills in a game situation. In the older age groups (i.e. Bantam and Midget), this will allow a coach, over the course of a season, to establish specialty teams, both for competitive reasons as well as to allow players to play to their strengths. Coaches may also choose to use certain players in key situations or during the last few minutes of a close game to give the team its best chance to win. This could result in some players finishing games with more ice time than others but only on a limited basis. Players’ ice time may not be equal in each and every game, but should be roughly equal over the course of the season.

Concerns about the implementation of this policy should be expressed first to the head coach, in keeping with the team’s stated communication policy, and then to the NMHA Division Director. The Division Director can then use any resource including, but not limited to, the Club Head Coach to assist in resolving the issue.

Note: In cases where a coach is obviously and blatantly abusing ice time, complaints will certainly be investigated and appropriate corrective actions taken. But parents who take unnecessary measures (e.g. using a stopwatch to time shifts) at games should possibly re-evaluate their decision to allow their son or daughter to play hockey at this level.

Equipment Policy

What follows is a confirmation of the long-standing NMHA Competitive Program policy on Raiders Equipment. The NMHA believes that all Raider teams, while participating in game play, should present a consistent look. This look is anchored by the Nepean Raiders Sweaters. In support of this, Players are required to wear black helmets and pants. Hockey gloves must be consistent with the Raiders colour scheme (Red, Black, Grey, White).

This policy in no way supersedes the requirements of Hockey Canada with respect to required equipment.

In order to have a consistent look, each team’s name tags must have the same presentation style for the entire team. Therefore, to ensure this consistency, new name tags can be obtained each year through the NMHA office. Player name tags will be placed above the numbers (i.e. across the shoulders) while sponsorship tags will appear under the numbers. Name tags will be white background with black lettering on white sweaters, and black background with white lettering on black sweaters.

Jerseys are not to be tucked into hockey pants. Sponsor tags on the jersey must be visible.

It is also expected that teams and players will take necessary care of the game sweaters so that they are presentable at games. Garment bags or other similar protection must be used to minimize the wear to the sweaters. The sweaters must also be reasonably clean and in proper repair. Game sweaters are to be worn only for games and not for practice.

Failure to comply will result in the player being warned and reminded of this policy. Continued violation will result in suspension.

Affiliation Policy

What follows is the NMHA Competitive Program policy on the use of affiliated players. This policy was drafted by the Competitive Committee and was circulated to all Raider Head Coaches (2001-02). With the introduction of AAA hockey this policy was revised in 2007.

The NMHA operates a Club affiliation system (Hockey Canada Regulation E) where all players on lower level teams are automatically affiliated. The following describes three scenarios for affiliation and policies for each.

The NMHA believes strongly in the affiliate program and desires to see affiliated players used as often as possible.

1. NMHA Competitive team to NMHA Competitive team

There remains a requirement to notify and obtain agreement from the affiliate’s regular coaching staff of your intention to use a player as this ensures that suspensions and other issues are known and respected. Similarly, coaches using affiliated players must notify the affiliate’s regular coaching staff following a game should injuries or suspensions occur. Team officials must respect this policy and make no effort to discourage affiliated players from participating with affiliated teams as a result of its implementation.

To this end the following guidelines must be followed:

• Where there is no event conflict (the player’s regular team does not have a game, practice or other team function), it is not necessary to seek permission from the regular team’s coach.
• Where there is an event conflict, the following schedule of event priorities should be used. The team with the highest event priority will take precedence.
• Where the event priorities are the same, the player’s regular team will take precedence.

6. League or playoff game.
5. Out-of-town tournament (where roster is depleted).
4. In-town tournament game.
3. Practice.
2. Exhibition game.
1. Off-ice team event

2. NMHA to AAA Affiliation

The Ottawa Senators AAA organization will be using the 19-player special affiliation list as defined by Hockey Canada Regulation E. The regulation stipulates that a player who is affiliated under this list cannot be affiliated to any other team.

Any NMHA player that signs an affiliate card with an AAA team is automatically excluded from affiliation to any other NMHA team.

3. NMHA House League to NMHA Competitive Team

There remains a requirement to notify and obtain agreement from the affiliate’s regular coaching staff each time of your intention to use a player; this ensures that suspensions and other issues are known and respected.

To this end the following guidelines must be followed:

• Where there is an event conflict, the following schedule of event priorities should be used. The team with the highest event priority will take precedence.
• Where the event priorities are the same, the player’s regular team will take precedence.

6. League or playoff game.
5. Out-of-town tournament (where roster is depleted).
4. In-town tournament game.
3. Practice.
2. Exhibition game.
1. Off-ice team event

Similarly, coaches using affiliated players must notify the affiliate’s regular coaching staff following a game should injuries or suspensions occur. Team officials must respect this policy and make no effort to discourage affiliated players from participating with affiliated teams as a result of its implementation.

Playing Up Policy

What follows is the NMHA Competitive Program Policy on Raider players “Playing Up”, i.e. joining and playing on a team with older aged players, on a full-time basis. This policy is the result of consultations, feedback, and a strong desire to ensure the best possible hockey experience for all NMHA members. No NMHA player in Novice, Atom or Peewee may attend try outs for teams other than those at their own age level. For Midget and Bantam aged players, the higher-level coaches may make a request to the Competitive Committee, seeking permission to have a younger player come to their tryouts. Permission will only be granted by the Competitive Committee on an exception basis, after consulting the player and his or her parents, the affected coaches, and the NMHA Executive Technical Director.

Competitive Transfers

The objective of the NMHA is to provide, for all players within its boundaries, a place to play hockey. This objective is supported by Hockey Eastern Ontario Minor (HEO Minor) residency regulations and Hockey Canada rules. However, there are occasions when players ask for a transfer to another association to play competitive hockey.

Transfers for tryout purposes at the competitive level are permissible under the following circumstance:

• The player is registered in the NMHA; and
• The player has attended NMHA tryouts, has been released, and wishes to try out for a higher-level team in another District or Association.

In all cases, to apply for a transfer, the requesting player must:

• Have attended NMHA tryouts and been released;
• The player must obtain a tryout approval signed by the receiving organization’s President or their delegate, the receiving District Chair (should they require it), the NMHA President or their delegate, and the Nepean District Chair.

If a player trying out for another District or Association is released; they have three (3) days to notify the NMHA of their release. Failure to notify the NMHA of their release within this time period will result in their removal from the NMHA active player list. Players making the roster of a competitive team in another District or Association must complete a transfer request, as per the usual process.

If a player attends tryouts in another District or Association, the NMHA is under no obligation to hold a position for the player on any of our competitive teams.

Detailed information on the Hockey Eastern Ontario Minor Competitive Transfer procedure can be found on the HEO Minor website.

No player may try out or attend any on-ice activity with another District or Association without the approvals identified above.

Players Returning from Junior Tryouts Policy

Each year, the NMHA conducts tryouts open to all registered players and those on the NMHA waiting list. This process normally ends when the teams are selected and registered with the HEO Minor. In Major Midget, there are special requirements to accommodate those players who attend junior hockey tryout camps and return after those tryouts end. Given our policy of open tryouts, it should be noted that no player returning from Junior is guaranteed a spot on any specific team.

With the increasing demand for hockey in Nepean, Major Midget level players are strongly advised to register for the season before tryouts begin, in order to guarantee a spot within the association. According to Hockey Canada regulations, no unregistered player can be placed on any team’s official roster. Players on the waiting list are not considered as registered.

To determine their final rosters, the Major Midget coaches will work together to appropriately place players who return from junior camps. It is also expected that players attending junior camps will keep the NMHA Major Midget coaches informed of their intentions.

While it will be dependant upon the number of possible returning players, at the start of league play, each team’s roster is envisaged to be:

– Major Midget AA – 15 on the official roster, plus at least 2 affiliated B players for each game and practice;
– Major Midget B – for each team: 16 on the official roster, of whom at least 1 will affiliate and play full time with the AA team, 1 affiliated House players for each game and practice.

As of October 15, all rosters will be finalized. Affiliated players who are not kept are still available to the higher level teams, as part of our Club system (see Affiliation Policy). After October 15, players returning from junior camps will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Teams can register up to 19 skaters and 2 goalies, per Hockey Canada regulations

Coach Influence on Non-NMHA Related Activities Policy

What follows is the NMHA Competitive Program Policy on Coaches Influence on non-NMHA related activity. There has been concerns raised by our membership about coaches imposing restrictions against non-NMHA hockey related activity. The most frequently heard complaint is that players are told by coaches that they may not participate in High School Hockey and play on a Raider Team. This policy is intended to clarify the NMHA Competitive Committee’s position on this issue. Coaches may not under any circumstance prohibit or discourage any activity which does not directly time conflict with team events. Players are expected to attend all team activities, properly prepared and sufficiently rested to participate. Coaches are responsible to assess players preparedness and ensure that they are not unduly fatigued. Should players be unable to participate, coaches may impose sanctions according to team rules.

Competitive Coaching Staff Expenses Policy ***NEW***

revised JUNE 2018
The intent of this policy is to provide structure to the process of reimbursing head coaches and their coaching staff for expenses incurred while traveling as a result of a team game event. All teams are to provide funds to reimburse the coaches expenses.

Payments described below are to cover the entire coaching staff. Head Coaches are responsible for determining how to share these funds with other team officials. This reimbursement will take the form of a payment  to cover expected costs while traveling to regularly scheduled league games and a flat “per tournament night” payment plus travel costs to be made based on the number of out-of-town tournaments and the number of overnight stays at each. A schedule will be published each year indicating the following:

1. The flat rate to cover travel costs for league games played outside the city of Ottawa boundaries. (This may vary by league and division).
2.  The per out-of-town tournament overnight flat rate. (This is applicable to all AA, A and B teams)
3. The mileage rate to be paid for tournament travel. (This is applicable to all AA, A and B teams)

Exceptions will be made to this for provincial championships, Silver Stick and other unpredictable tournament events.

The flat rate to cover league games should be paid in two installments, the first as soon as possible after the start of league play and the second after Christmas. The per-tournament fees should be paid prior to leaving for the tournament.

Questions can be directed to any of the Competitive Committee contacts on the NMHA Contacts web page. In keeping with our Policy on Reimbursing Coaching Staff expenses noted above, the following schedule is to be used for the 2016-2017 playing season.

The flat rate for out of town league games is set as follows: 

NOTE: The above payments must be reduced at the rate of $.40/km if the coach takes team-provided transportation to any of the league games.

This rate is based on the number of out-f-town teams declared at the “AA”, “A” and “B” League meetings held prior to the 2013-2014 season. The payment must be made in two installments. The first, consisting of 1/2 the full rate, at the beginning of the year and the balance in January. The January payment may be adjusted upwards or downwards to reflect any substantial changes to this year´s projected schedule.

Non-Parent Coaches

1. The per-tournament overnight rate is set to: actual hotel cost (including applicable taxes) plus $60. This amount is to cover both hotel, meal and incidental expenses for the team´s head coach. According to the policy, this will be paid for each required overnight stay at a tournament.
2. Mileage rate to cover travel to tournaments is set to: $.40/km. This should only be paid where a coach is providing his/her own transportation. The maximum claim may not exceed 1000 km for each tournament.

Goals:

1. To build the best roster of coaches for NMHA Competitive Program teams.
2. To find and develop potential coaches.
3. To evaluate coaches and to work with them to improve and develop their coaching skills.
4. To ensure that NMHA Competitive Program coaches abide by the NMHA Code of Conduct and
5. the rules governing hockey both within the ODMHA and in Canada.
6. To integrate the coaches with the NMHA Competitive Player Development Program as defined
7. and delivered by the Competitive Program Technical Director.

Strategy:

All current coaches will be evaluated prior to coach selection. This will include parent and player
evaluations (twice yearly), as well as the assessment of the NMHA Division Director, the NMHA
Technical Director and the League Convenor (if available).
• All potential new coaches will be interviewed and their references verified. Verification will
include questions tied to the evaluation process for current coaches. Current coaches may be
interviewed to advise them of any issues which may arise from the parent/player evaluations. This
will be done to assist them in dealing with those issues should they be appointed to a team for the
coming year.
• All selected coaches will complete a Police Record Check form on appointment to a team.
• Preference will be given to non-parents where candidates are roughly equal in merit. This
preference will be strong at AA, with more flexibility at A and B to ensure that the NMHA pool of
candidates is maintained.
• The Selection Committee and NMHA competitive coaches will work with the Competitive
Technical Director to deliver and improve his or her program.
• The selection of coaches will be by consensus of the Committee, or where required, by vote.
Members of the Committee with children at the age level in question may only

Process:

1. Collect and assess evaluation results of current coaching staffs.
2. Identify status of current coaching staffs (acceptable, not acceptable or to be determined).
3. Call for applications (current coaching staffs and external).
4. Collect applications for next season’s coaching roster.
5. Assemble list of applicants.
6. Conduct interviews.
7. Verify experience and personal suitability of all new candidates.
8. Award team based on the following priority order, if possible:
9. a. Acceptable current coach, one year with age and level.
10. b. Acceptable candidate, highly qualified, non-parent or parent, as per strategy.
11. c. Acceptable current coach, two years or more with age and level..
12. Notify all applicants of results.
13. Advise the NMHA Board of the results.
14. Formally announce coaching roster at the NMHA Annual General Meeting. In the event that
15. certain levels have not been staffed, those levels will be announced as “To Be Determined”.

Timeframe:

Dec. 1, Feb. 15 – Collection and evaluation of parent/player evaluations.
Feb. 28 – Deadline for applications for coaching positions.
Apr. 15 – Completion of interviews
Apr. 30 – Final coaching roster
AGM (May) – Formal Announcement of coach roster.

Coach Tenure:

All NMHA Competitive Program coaches are appointed for the coming season only. There is no
explicit promise of a second or subsequent year with the same player group.

The Committee does recognize that there are significant benefits in allowing coaches to plan a two
year program. The Committee also recognizes that, historically, three years with the same group
has been problematic for many coaches, regardless their success or level of respect in our
community.

The Committee will undertake to award a second year to any coach, should he or she apply,
provided the applicant is otherwise suitable and if there is a spot available. Suitable means, among
other things, no unresolved issues from evaluations, and no significant changes to the coach’s
availability.

This undertaking is very strong at AA and A, with more flexibility at B. That being said, our
experience has been that the problems which appear after two years in AA and A still eventually
appear in B.

Each year, in selecting and assigning coaches, we have some excellent current coaches or coach
candidates who do not get teams. This can be a problem with the number and quality of candidates
at a level or the parent vs. non-parent decision. The fact that a particular current coach does not get
a team should never be construed as a criticism of that individual or as an indicator of problems
with their tenure.