Players are allocated to teams based on evaluation results during the sort out process.
Players will be assigned to teams such that the balancing of the teams in terms of skill shall be the first priority. The process to determine the equal balancing of players on teams will include rating of players' skills by controlled scrimmages and/or on‐ice drill stations by a minimum three independent evaluators. Any player who misses the entire sort out evaluation will automatically be placed at the discretion of the director, and will then be evaluated during the balancing process.
To provide the optimum balance between teams, friend requests will not be considered. Volunteer requests will only be considered under the following circumstances:
1. The Head Coach’s player and the requested volunteer’s player both sort to the same level. A player will not be moved either up or down a level to accommodate this request;
2. The request can ONLY come from the Head Coach. Requests from volunteers to work with a certain coach will not be considered;
3. The Head Coach may only request a manager or an Assistant Coach.
4. The placement of this requested volunteer cannot affect the balancing of the team in any way either for team building during sort outs, or team balancing once the season has started.
5. Even if the request is granted by the director, it is not a guarantee that the player requested is exempted from movement in the interest of balancing teams.
The Division Director will monitor and balance teams up until picture day when the teams will be
finalized.
Team Re-Balancing Policy
The NMHA, to the best of our ability, is committed to ensuring all teams are balanced and fair within their respective divisions. It is often necessary to rebalance teams several weeks after the season has started when some teams are proven to be far stronger or far weaker than other teams within their division. It also becomes necessary to move players to other divisions in the event that they have been sorted incorrectly and are not playing in a division to which they are suited. The NMHA reserves the right to move any player to any other team at any time in order to promote team balance, up to the weekend of Team pictures (often mid to late November). By registering with the NMHA, parents and players acknowledge the NMHA’s sole rights in this matter, and agree to abide by any such roster changes. Failure to comply with the move will result in the player becoming a member not in good standing and as such will be suspended from all hockey activities.
Revised: September 24, 2018
Approved: September 24 2018