Gwent Hockey ClubMen’s Selection Policy
Objectives
·The selection process will be fair and transparent to all members;
·The policy will define a framework through which the players will be informed, encouraged and enabled to play to their full potential for their own benefit and to the benefit of the Club;
·The process will make selection simple and timely.
Principles
Team selection will be done by the Selection Committee as set out in the Gwent Hockey Club Constitution. The Selection Committee will include at least the men's club captain and the team captains.
It is the duty of the Selection Committee to construct, with the players available, the most balanced teams, playing the best standard of hockey that they can.
The Selection Committee will endeavour to be as fair and reasonable as possible, without compromising what it considers to be best for the Club and the Teams. Some disappointment will, regrettably, be inevitable to some members. It is important that members recognise that if they are asked to move up or down a team it is intended to be in the interest of the Club. It is equally important that the Selection Committee provides feedback, support and encouragement to any player being asked to move between teams.
Competition for places is welcomed as a tonic to the Club, and should inspire players to seek to improve their fitness levels and attend training regularly. It is reasonable for the Club to expect everyone to want to make selection into a team, and to expect everyone to endeavour to make selection into a team.
It is reasonable for the Club to promote the development of committed young players and to see their inclusion into appropriate Teams.
It is the aim of the Selection Committee to offer a game on Saturdays within the league season to all paid up members who have confirmed their availability for selection in good time.
In accordance with League rules, no player should move up or down across two teams (e.g. 1st Team to 3rd Team) without spending a reasonable period of time playing for the intermediate team.
Selection Criteria
In order to be selected for any team a player must have paid their membership fees and have informed the Selection Committee (usually through one of the Team Captains) of their availability to play in good time before the forthcoming match. Squads and Teams will then be chosen by the Selection Committee based on the following list of criteria. These are in no particular order, but will be weighed up by the Committee to provide the most balanced Teams in the best interest of the Club.
·Commitment to the Club;
·Availability throughout the season;
·Attendance and effort at training;
·Performance in matches;
·Performance at training;
·Fitness;
·Ability;
·Potential to develop;
·Experience;
·Discipline on and off the field;
·Attitude on and off the pitch towards fellow players, coaches and umpires;
·Position (e.g. Goalkeeper, Midfield etc.).
Selection Process
At an appropriate time before the start of the league season, or at the earliest opportunity thereafter, the Selection Committee will select Squads for each of the Teams based on the Selection Criteria listed above. Any disagreements within the Selection Committee should be resolved by a majority vote of the Committee in which the Club Captain has the casting vote. The Squads should be communicated to all players as soon as possible after selection.
The Squads provide the pool of players from which the teams for each match are selected. For each match the Team Captain should select all available players from their Squad. The Team Captains will share their team lists with their fellow Captains and the Club Captain as soon as possible. At this point, if numbers are very unbalanced or if any teams are short of players the Captains and Club Captain will negotiate to move a minimum number of players up or down to ensure the Club fields balanced teams in all of its matches.
It is understood that any player moved in this way will not be considered to have moved squads and will be expected to be considered for selection in their squad again the following week. Captains should not regularly move the same players in this way until the Squads have been reviewed and a player can be moved to the appropriate Squad on a more formal basis.
The Squads will be reviewed on a monthly basis. The Selection Committee should discuss any moves proposed by any member of the Selection Committee and agree on Squads for the following month. If any players are to be moved between Squads it is imperative that one or more representatives of the Committee give them the news in person (not via email, text message or social media). The representatives should ideally include the players old and new Team Captains and they should explain why the decision has been made and how they fit into the new Squad. If a player has been dropped they should be encouraged to improve their game and challenge to get a place back in the higher Squad.
In order to facilitate the selection process Players are required to let their Team Captains know about their availability for a weekend match on or before the previous Monday. If a Player is only available for a home game, or only before/after a certain time, they should make this clear to their Captain. The Captains can then finalise Team selection in good time before the weekend’s matches.
Summary
·The Selection Committee will decide on Squads for each Team and review these Squads on a monthly basis. The decisions will be based on the Selection Criteria;
·If available, Players can expect to be selected for the Team corresponding to the Squad they are in;
·Occasionally a Player may be selected for the team immediately above or below the one corresponding to their Squad. This will only be done if availability in certain Squads is low.