2024-2025 Tryout Message (Kingston Area Minor Hockey Association)

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Print2024-2025 Tryout Message

Welcome to the Kingston Canadians Evaluation (tryout)

Rep Coaches will do their best to develop our players but also provide a safe, fun and competitive environment for our youth to play Rep hockey.

This year's Spring tryouts will feature U10 - U16 AA & A selections, fall evaluations (tryouts) will include U9MD and U8MD as well as U18AA, & U18A.

Please take a moment to read the evaluation (tryout policy) if you have not done so already.  Due to ice shortages again this year, tryouts will be held in various arenas around the city.

Tryout Expectations:

WHAT EVERY PARENT and PLAYER SHOULD KNOW BEFORE ATTENDING EVALUATIONS (TRYOUTS)

  1. Tryouts are an ongoing process. Next year's coaches (who in most cases are this year's coaches) have been watching games, practices and other team events all year. You would be surprised to learn how much a coach knows about your player before they even step on the ice for the first tryout.

  2. Coaches may not pick who YOU think are the best players/ goalies. That is because coaches have to build THEIR TEAM; not yours. That involves a mix of left and right shots, offensive and defensive players, fast players, grinders, creative/flashy players, and steady/dependable players, along with strong, agile, athletic goalies who track the puck well. They also may have to keep body checking in mind, work ethic, which way a player is trending and coachability. Finally, Rep teams generally have between 110 and 180 events over the course of an 8-9 month season, and team chemistry is an important component for success. So, player behaviors/ attitudes along with parent behaviors/ attitudes also have a role in team selection.

With all of this in mind, what should you do to maximize your chances of achieving your goals?

  1. If you are a player - work hard in games and practices - do the little things - be a great teammate who is easy to coach. You never know who is watching.

  2. If you are a parent, be realistic. Make sure they know who your child is and why you think your child is or is not a strong candidate for the team.