by
posted 03/10/2010 To All Coastal Stars Parents and Players:
Over the past few years, the number of alternatives to town hockey has increased significantly. Youth hockey players today have a number of choices regarding club teams that they can play for, either as their main source of hockey or as a supplement to their town team. Unfortunately, some very good town team players are now opting to make club teams their main source of hockey.
For the Coastal Stars, this has meant that a number of talented, young hockey players are no longer a part of our organization, or have chosen to play for a club team, over a town team, when a scheduling conflict arises. Due to the large number of higher level players leaving our organization, we have been forced to move remaining Coastal Stars players up to higher levels of competition in order to field teams. In some instances, that level of competition was not equal to the player’s abilities. The results have been uncharacteristically poor performance from many of our teams.
At the March 2nd Coastal Stars board meeting, the board voted in favor of a proposal that would allow us to consider the option of a game only team, at the Squirt, Pee Wee and Bantam A divisions, for the 2010-2011 season. Below are some details on the concept:
- Unless otherwise approved by the Board of the Coastal Stars, players on the game only teams must play in another program so they can receive the necessary practice ice time each week.
- The roster size of the game only teams would be determined by the Coastal Stars, recognizing that players on these teams will occasionally have conflicts during the season. If an insufficient number of players try out for game only teams, then the Coastal Stars could decline to have a game only team at a specific level. Rosters could be more than the traditional 16 but would not exceed USA, Mass Hockey or SSC limits. Alternates would not be used so as to encourage use of B level players. At a minimum, a game only team must consist of 15 skaters and a goalie.
- The coaches of the teams would be selected by the Coastal Stars and would need to meet all coaching criteria and standards applied by the Coastal Stars with respect to all other coaches. The Coastal Stars Board would name a coach in advance of the tryout to provide momentum for this new initiative.
- The establishment of a game only team at a specific playing level would not preclude the selection of a team to compete at the same level that would have practices in addition to games. For example, if the Coastal Stars established a game only Squirt A Team, it could also establish a Squirt A team that has practices. This would allow players seeking to participate in the Coastal Stars' "traditional" offering to participate at the A level.
- In the event of scheduling conflicts with other programs, the game only coaches will be directed to borrow players from within the Coastal Stars B teams to allow those B level kids to play up. In this respect, there will be more opportunities for B players to get A level playing time.
- Potential game only players would tryout along side all other players at their respective level, and be subject to the same evaluation process as other players.
- Other than SSC allocated practice ice at the beginning of the year for which each team would be charged, no practice ice will be required allowing other Coastal Stars teams to benefit from use of the ice.
- Tuition for game only teams would be $575 per skater, $450 for goalie. If a team has two goalies, each would pay one-half the tuition that would apply to a single goalie as an additional added incentive to participate.
- The tuition amount would not include the cost of shirts or other costs typically paid by players such as USA hockey fees. SSC play downs and playoff charges would be an extra fee charged if the team participates in the play downs or makes the playoffs. Upon selection to a game only team, a payment must be received for the tuition in accordance with a schedule established by the Coastal Stars.
The game only option intends to serve two purposes:
1) Bring back players to the Coastal Stars program, to play hockey with friends and school mates; that would otherwise not be involved in the program.
2) Allow us to better balance our remaining teams, by leveling players where they will develop properly.
If you have any questions regarding the game only concept, please contact:
Registrar: Brian Kennedy (
)
Thank you,
Coastal Stars Board of Directors
