July 26, 2007
Present: Brad Whitaker, Don Morong, Bob Ceplikas, Anthony Shaw, Reed Bergwell, Jon Singleton, Kate Barber, Steve Liebold, Jon Chesnut, Randy White, Maddy Goodell, Tammy Daley, Jim Damren, Tom Barber, Julie Lyford, Michelle Lyford, Mike Lyford, Brendan Scribner, Lauren Camren, Tom Thibodeau, Jay Mullen, Marjorie Arbuckle-Morrill
Introductions were made and a review of past history between the two organizations, Midgets have been merged for several seasons, last year more levels were merged and all believe it went fairly well. There were some issues at Squirt level and both organizations have learned the communication should be better between the boards, coaching coordinators and coaches.
Registration update:
Squirts were a concern because only 1 goalie. Don has received a verbal confirmation of 1 from Hanover who will be playing for Lebanon.
Main area of concern is the Peewees: #’s are too low – 3 goalies out of 20 registered players – expected to have 1 more – possibility of only 1 team. Having only 1 team with 20 players could cause us to lose some of are registered players. Kearsarge has expressed an interest – wanted to know if we had extra to send to them. Talk of possibly having some petition to Bantams. Possibilities could include Ryan White and John Daley.
Michelle would like Reed to break down the girls by birth dates so that they can see true numbers. Reed says 8 girls are U12 that have registered as U14. Discussion about girls teams – should U12 be able to try out for U14A? Some Hartford girls will try out for the VT Select team. Reed says that 2 U14 and 2 U12 teams are solid. U12 should stay with the U12 unless they make the U14A level team – Michelle expresses concern about outside kids hearing about a “good team” and trying to register – Don says we need a policy: Do we accept players from other organizations? Both organizations have agreed that U14 players who make the High School team will receive a 70% refund.
Team Placement:
Don says that by August 8 we must put in request of tiers to the state. Don gives an explanation of tier requests – we can only request, sometimes the state will assign based on what the team did the previous year w/o taking into account how many are returning players.
Mites: Because of the ˝ ice proposal in VT for mites, there was discussion about having both mite teams registered in NH. Everyone agrees no: it is believed that ˝ ice has lots of benefits.
Upper team: GSL tier 2
Lower team: VT A/B
Squirts: Three teams, Don proposes the same as last year. Brendan says some changes should be made. How were they evaluated at tryout? Practices s/b shared along with coaches. Brendan believes the skills evaluated at tryout s/b shared with the parents. “Urge extreme caution in placing the lower team.” Brendan says. He believes that all the lower level kids should not be placed on one team, he proposes 1 top level team and the rest of the kids mixed in ability between the other two teams. Brendan says first part of practice s/b mixed: shared ice with all players and all coaches doing skating drills together, then separate for practice. – this proposal on mixed practices to be moved to the coaching committee. Jon Chesnut says he agrees that there should be 1 top level team and the other two should be mixed, not having all the lower levels on one team. Others express problems this could cause because of placement in tiers and the kids not being able to play at any certain level. Mike suggests that the third team should be a tier 5, not a VT B team. Michelle and Mike agree with Don and propose the same as last year. No one disagrees and Don will declare them to the state as the same.
Peewee: Julie says the upper team s/b a NH team, not VT. Anthony Shaw proposes looking at moving Squirts up – Don says he believes it makes more sense to move the two peewees up to Bantams. Don proposes upper team a GSL tier 3 and the lower team VT A/B – Julie agrees. Michelle questions changing what the alliance committee suggested. Don explains that having no peewee team registered in NH this year would create lost of problems in the future. Registering the upper team a tier 3 NH and the lower team in VT gives the opportunity to drop the lower team if we only have enough players for 1 team. Everyone agrees.
Upper team: GSL tier 3
Lower team: VT A/B
Bantams: Brad Whitaker suggests that we be more cautious about placing this team and do not place them above their ability. Jay says with the # of Bantams some who make the lower team could quit if they are placed at tier 5. Don recommends tier 4 because of #’s.
U14: Reed would like to know if VT will accept the team with players from 2 states? More VT teams in tier 1 than in NH. Last year NH U14 tier 2. Julie says it would not be good for the girls to play in NH and not get the opportunity to defend their title . Believes they should play in VT to keep their 1st place. Everyone agrees.
Don says he believes that head coach’s s/b identified. Anthony Shaw wants to know how we can appoint head coaches when we don’t know where there kids will end up after tryouts? Tom says he thinks identifying head coaches now would be premature. Don explains that Lebanon has always identified “potential” head coach possibilities before tryouts and that there is no effect on the tryout procedure. The coaches go where there kids are placed, but that is something that is shared in the newsletter with registration and he would still like to see it done. We need to have a combined coach selection/committee process.
Don asks that the Hartford board find 3 people willing to make up a coaching selection committee. This committee will (should) meet next week.
The tryout and selection committee will also be meeting soon to look at the existing process and identify any changes if needed. They will also begin to identify the selectors. Julie will identify the 3 Hartford people for this board and relay the information to Kate Barber.
Brad Whitaker and Jay Mullen have agreed to help with the practice schedule.
Skills night plan must have someone to run it. Jay believes we should avoid Friday nights in order to get more involvement. Jay and Julie suggest using the Cardigan Mountain ice for this skills night.
Another meeting between the two boards is proposed for late August.
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