TEAM CODE OF CONDUCT
It is our goal to be a competitive “TEAM” and challenge all that is put before us. We will strive to be the hardest working team we encounter.
It is important we follow The Three Guiding Principles of our team as well as all the rules and guidelines set out by the coaching staff.
Three Guiding Principles
Respect to All
-It is imperative you treat everything and everybody with the utmost respect, your teammates, coaches, officials, opposition and your parents. Your jersey should never touch the floor! Each arena we visit will be treated with respect and our dressing room will be cleaner when we leave then when we arrived. We will follow all the rules set out in each arena. All players are expected to use their manners and act like young adults. Remember you are representing The City of Spruce Grove and Spruce Grove Minor Hockey so your behavior not only reflects on you but these organizations.
Accountability
-Be accountable to your teammates, coaches, and parents. You will need execution to be successful, although the most important aspects of success are work ethic and passion. If you combine all three executions, work ethic, and passion we will be very successful. DON’T CHEAT!! Not on drills, not in off-ice, not in games, give everything you have. Your total effort will not only contribute to team success but will surely improve your game. Prepare yourself not only for this season, but also for the future.
Team
-“Be A Team”, “Be part of a team”. It’s amazing what a team can accomplish when no one cares who gets the credit. If you buy into the team concept we will better those teams that rely solely on the play of 2-3 players. Our depth and hard work will show through and pay off in the end.
Rules and Guidelines
For our team to be successful our behavior, discipline and work ethic on and off the ice will have to be superior to the other teams. Following the rules set out by the coaching staff and adhering to the “Three Guiding Principles” will help us keep our mind on hockey and have a successful season. Disciplinary actions will be dependent upon the severity of the action, the less time we are dealing with problems the more we can concentrate on the game.
School
-School is the first and most important thing to your success. Each player has to be responsible for maintaining good grades throughout the school year. Players will be responsible for getting homework done on practice and game days. Missing practice because you didn’t do your homework after school will not be accepted. As student athletes you have to learn to combine play and studies. If parents have concerns at all with their child’s school work I encourage you to talk to me so we can come up with a solution.
Commitment
-Players will be expected to participate in all events planned by the team (ie practices, games, dryland, off-ice, team builders) and any other functions hosted by the team. Other sports can be considered but remember this is ‘our team’ and we cannot be successful without everyone’s participation. If you cannot attend a team event please contact the manager and provide as much notice as possible. Remember be “accountable” to your “team”.
Game and Practice Arrival
-The manager or coach will always post and email upcoming schedules and changes on the website. Please follow it regularly (daily) for changes, for the most part we will try and have the schedule well in advance and what time the players need to be there. I ask players arrive on time, being late is okay once in a while, but it certainly cannot be a habit. Remember players are not allowed to drive by themselves to away games.
There is no “I” in Team
-If you are going to be successful as a team you cannot be worried about who has “this many points” or “ref, I got that assist”. Individual goals and accomplishments are great and encouraged, but the “Team” has to be first. If the “Team” is successful chances are you as an individual will have had success.
Dress Code
-All players will be required to wear black pants, a nice shirt or sweater and nice shoes to all games. No jeans or sweats of any color are to be worn. All players will be required to have warm-up/ running gear at all games and practices. No under armor or distasteful shorts are to be worn as warm up gear. Players are expected to dress properly for practices and off ice sessions as well.
Dressing Rooms
-The dressing rooms will be cleaned after each practice and game. It is the responsibility of each individual to make sure all their garbage makes it into the garbage can. The players will police themselves and if there are any issues the coaching staff will start assigning certain players each time out. Players who have to spit will do so into the garbage can not on the floor or walls.
Foul Language
-Foul language is no acceptable anywhere, on the ice, in the dressing room, hallways, hotels or restaurants. The last thing mom and dad or Grandpa and Grandma want is to hear is an “F” bomb because you had a bad play. Have respect for all around this includes the music in the dressing rooms and pre game warm up music.
Things to Consider
Diet
-Diet is very important part of being able to perform at a high level and maintain that level for 60 minutes. This will especially come into play when we go to tournaments and have multiple games in a short time span. It will be tough for the coaching staff to monitor individual diets; we will see who is running out of “GAS” in the third period. Players and parents will need to ensure that their daughter is eating properly everyday of the week, because what you eat today is what you use for fuel tomorrow. Pre-game meals should not consist of burgers and fries, also energy drinks such as Red Bull should be replaced by Booster Juice or something similar.
Conditioning
-Conditioning is also very important; we will try to do most of our cardio and strength building off-ice. We are trying to book extra practice ice every other week; on these nights we may use time before or after practice to review plays and systems. I would also suggest that the players spend some of their off-days doing shooting, this is the most over looked area. The only way to get a good shot is to practice, practice! Another idea to help with the player’s development would be to do 20 sit ups and 20 push ups every night before they go to bed, this will help to develop a hard shot and win the battles in the corners and in front of the net.
Practices
-Practices will generally have skill components, flow drills and team tactics. It is important players practice hard, just going through the motions will not cut it. “Practice Hare, Play Hard”. Bag skating can be a useful tool to make players listen but it does waste valuable practice time.
Penalties
-It will be at the discretion of the coaching staff as to how and when we discipline players. Time of the game, seriousness of infraction and score of the game may all be factors. Players will find us pretty fair, the coaching staff will work to correct the mistake or the reason for taking a penalty but if the problem persists it will have to be dealt with. Although our punishments will very rarely be severe, they will get the message across.
Ice Time
-Ice time is earned, if effort is poor, attitude, contribution and discipline become a problem, ice time can be reduced. As a rule the coaching staff does not believe in “Shorting the Bench”, we do not feel players improve sitting and watching. Will there be PP units & PK units – generally not. We will teach all the players to play in all situations but that does not say if the circumstance arises that we will not put certain players on the ice. We will do our best to put players in situations where they can succeed and develop.
Parents
-Parent’s involvement is crucial to the success of our season. Your time put into running the score clock, game sheets, and working the penalty box, as well as any fundraising goes a long way in making the season fun and enjoyable for all players. The two things we will ask from the parents are: first do not coach from the stands or at home. The things your child is doing on the ice are done at the request of the coaching staff, so please do not contradict them this only confuses the players, as they are trying hard to please both their parents and the coaches. Secondly, and most important, cheer loud and often, there is nothing more energizing to a player then stepping onto the ice and hearing the cheers from the crowd. So bring the whole family, siblings, grandparents and the neighbors. Show off the talent your child has. If a problem arises please use the 24 hour rule. Generally a com head can be much more rational on both sides.