Player Evaluation
& Team Placement Policy
Player Evaluation and Team Placement
Player evaluation and team placement decisions at McKinney Ice Hockey Club (“MIHC”) are made within the context of league rules, available ice, roster size limits, and the club’s overall development philosophy. The goal is to place players in environments that are appropriately challenging, safe, and conducive to both individual growth and team success.
Player Evaluation and Team Placement
Evaluations are holistic and may include, as appropriate for the level and season:
• On‑ice skills: skating, puck control, passing, shooting, checking (where age‑appropriate), and overall game awareness.
• Hockey sense: decision‑making, positioning, anticipation, and ability to read and react to play.
• Compete level and work ethic: effort in drills and games, consistency, willingness to battle for pucks, and resilience.
• Coachability and attitude: response to feedback, respect for coaches/teammates/officials, and adherence to team rules and values.
• Attendance and commitment: participation in practices, games, meetings, and off‑ice sessions, recognizing that consistent attendance is critical for development and fairness.
• Prior performance and progress: demonstrated improvement over time and performance in both practices and games.
• Positional and roster needs: balance of positions (for example, centers, wingers, defense, goalies), age mix, and depth at certain spots needed for league play..
Decision Criteria
MIHC may use a combination of tryouts, evaluation skates, practice and game observations, and coach or hockey‑operations input to make decisions. Where appropriate, the club may use structured evaluation forms, independent evaluators, or cross‑coach reviews to improve consistency, but these are tools to inform not replace the judgment of the club’s hockey leadership.
Final placement decisions rest with MIHC’s hockey leadership and designated coaches, and are made in what the club believes to be the best overall interests of the program and its players. Placement on a particular team in one season does not guarantee similar placement in future seasons; players’ skills, team needs, and league structures may change from year to year, and rosters may be adjusted accordingly.
Roster Selection Disclaimer
By participating in MIHC programs and evaluations, families acknowledge and accept that:
- Roster and team‑placement decisions are inherently subjective and may differ from a player’s or family’s expectations or self‑assessment.
- Not all players will be placed on their preferred team, line, position, or role, and ice time may vary based on coach decisions, team strategy, attendance, and adherence to team standards.
- MIHC cannot guarantee roster spots for all interested players in all seasons, particularly where league rules, ice availability, or roster size limits constrain capacity.
- Evaluation results, comparative rankings, and internal discussions among coaches and evaluators are considered confidential and are not shared in detail with families.
While MIHC strives to be fair, consistent, and transparent about its process, roster selection and team placement decisions are final and made at the discretion of the club’s hockey leadership and coaching staff.
Dispute Limits and Communication Guidelines
MIHC recognizes that team placement and coaching decisions can be emotional and encourages constructive, respectful communication when questions arise. Parents or players who seek clarification should:
- Wait at least 24 hours after a placement decision, game, or emotionally charged event before requesting a discussion (“24‑hour rule”), to allow for a more productive conversation.
- Request a meeting or call at an appropriate time, never during or immediately before/after games or practices starting with the head coach where appropriate.
- Focus on the player’s development, effort, and areas for improvement rather than comparisons to other players.
To preserve the integrity of evaluations and avoid ongoing disputes, MIHC does not re‑litigate or formally appeal coach selections, team placements, or ice‑time decisions, except where there is a credible allegation of:
- Violation of club policy or league/USA Hockey rules.
- Discrimination or retaliation.
- SafeSport‑related misconduct or abuse concerns.
In those limited circumstances, concerns should be raised through existing club channels (such as the Board, the SafeSport/Discipline contact, or designated hockey operations leader) and will be reviewed in good faith under applicable club, league, and USA Hockey policies. Families should understand that while MIHC may review whether policies were followed, this does not mean that individual roster spots, lines, or ice‑time allocations will be changed as a result.