City of York Hockey Club

Selection Policy 2013/14

Introduction

This policy is written to cover selection of players, in all competitions, for the City of York Hockey Club (the Club). It is designed to provide a framework for decision making for those involved in the selection process, and to illustrate to all members, the issues concerned relating to selection.

This policy covers selection for all adult sides, which includes youth players playing in open adult and development competition. For particular requirements and guidance regarding such selection, please refer to appendix 1“Youth Players in Open Adult Competition”.

1. Objectives

i)To select players who will form teams to help achieve the team objectives for the season in question (see appendix 2 “Team Objectives”).

ii)To employ an open and fair selection process that gives all players a chance to challenge for higher selection where appropriate.

2. Eligibility

i)To be eligible for selection, all players must be appropriate members of the City of York Hockey Club.

3. Selection Framework

i)Hockey is a team sport. Whilst players can do a great deal to develop in an individual environment, ultimately that player has to be able to realise their potential and perform within a team. Acknowledgement is made that in selecting for a team sport, combinations of players, the balance of a squad and the ability of players to play in more than one position are also considered alongside individual skill level.

ii)City of York Hockey Club operates a squad structure that includes the provision for playersto seek personal development opportunities and opportunities to test their performance in competition, social/recreational hockey and the opportunity to work with young people.

iii)For the aims and objectives for particular teams, please see appendix 2. It is recognised however that these may change as a season progresses, and policy regarding individual teams may change throughout a season as circumstances dictate, but this document seeks to establish general guidelines to help drive the selection process.

4. Selection Committee/Selection

Selection will be carried out by a Selection Committee which will comprise of:Men’s & Ladies Chair of Selection, 1st XI Coach/Manager and Team Captains. The Selection Committee may also consult with the Fixture Secretary, Youth Co-ordinator, Membership Secretary, Disciplinary Officer, Chair of Senior Hockey and any other person/body as required.

5. Selection/De-selection Process

i)Selection will be carried out by the selection committee, who shall meet before the season begins, and then meet regularly throughout the season, to constantly review the selection process. At such meetings the committee will discuss, review and agree, individual aims and objectives for each side, and select squads appropriate to those objectives. Squads will be selected to cover the periods between review meetings.

ii)Captains should ascertain availability of all players, and select squads, wherever possible, of suitable size and strength, to cover any player shortages during this period without significant disruption to other sides.

iii)Captains shall inform their Chair of Selection of their weekly selection by Monday preceding their next fixture.

iv)Selection, or de-selection, of players from individual squads must be discussed and agreed by the relevant captains, coaches and managers prior to any notification being given to the affected players themselves.

v)Players will be notified of their selection or de-selection as soon as possible with an agreed method of communication – preferably in person or by phone (rather than email or text)

vi)The Chair of Senior Hockey has final sign-off on selection criteria and all selections of teams.

It is a NHA andYHA regulation that in the event of player shortage, sides shall take players from teams below (subject to registration requirements), who must release them, no side shall forfeit a game if a lower placed side is able to fulfil their fixture (i.e. only the bottom sides shall be able to cite insufficient player numbers to withdraw from a fixture).

Selection Criteria

The multi-faceted nature of team sport makes objective criteria very difficult to define, and thus there will be a significant component of subjective decision making in regard to final selection of squads. Squads will be selected in merit order (i.e. 1st XI first, etc) unless specifically agreed otherwise by the selection committee. The criteria applied when considering players will be based on a balance and blend of the following:

Personal Attributes

  • Pride in representing City of York Hockey Club
  • Work ethic, both on and off pitch. Supports team-mates, in matches, training and off-pitch
  • Players who take responsibility
  • Learns and is aware of options within systems of play, to understand tactical instructions and be able toimplement them
  • Consistently takes right options and has the technical ability and athletic ability to make right options work
  • Utility – can effectively play more than one position
  • Understands playing philosophy; believes in it and commits to it.
  • Team player – selfless in attitude towards team members – both on and off pitch. Will give everything for thesuccess and enjoyment of their team-mates.
  • Copes with, and bounces back from the lows of hockey. Remains focused on the tasks still to be completed
  • Open minded
  • Plays to strengths
  • Regular availability and reliability

Squad Attributes

  • Balance of the squad – the balance of attackers, midfield and defence, left, centre and right sided players are a crucial part of the selection decision.
  • Special skills – the ability to score and defend set-pieces is fundamental to success (e.g. PCA, PCD, PS).

Discipline

  • All players shall conduct themselves in accordance with the Club’s disciplinary code of conduct. Any player failing to do so may be withdrawn from selection by the disciplinary committee, as outlined in the code.

Subscriptions/Match Fees

  • All players shall pay the requisite match fee and annual subscription. Any player not meeting such payment within a designated timeframe (set out in the Member’s Handbook)will, on the recommendation of the membership secretary, match fee co-ordinator or treasurer, be withdrawn from selection until such a time as adequate payment is received.

All players satisfying membership requirements will be eligible for selection, no discretion will be made between full and student members for the purposes of selection, ie no team shall be considered a York St John team etc.

Any queries relating to selection within the respective sections, should be directed, in the first instance, to the Team Captain/Coach/Manager of the team in question, then to the Chair of Selection for that section, then to the Chair of Senior Hockey.

Appendices…

  1. “Young Players in Open Adult Competition”
  2. “Team Objectives” for Men & Ladies

/ An England Hockey ClubsFirst Accredited Club
European Hockey Federation Merit Award Winners 2008 /