02-03 Association Philosophy:
Head coaches will provide the opportunity for all players to learn and develop individual hockey skills, enhance team play, and good sportsmanship, while avoiding a "Win at all cost" attitude.

02 – 03 Coaching duties
Overall responsibility for on and off ice team administration. The 02–03 coaching policies requires the naming 2 assistant coaches and a team manager by June 1, 02. Other duties, that can be delegated to the assistant coaches or team manager include: writing of 2 newspaper articles including the sponsor’s name, providing copies of games sheets to the age director once a month, participation in the USA hockey player patching award program, assisting in the collection of fundraising monies, passing out game schedules, managing the call-up policy for games and practices, along with following WYSA, Mass Hockey, USA Hockey by-laws, policies, and guidelines.
Head coach is responsible for MA / USA roster, Dual State roster, Valley League roster, CORI forms and making sure the following 02-03 patching requirements are followed:

Here is the information given to every coach during interviews in January 2002 for  the 2002-2003 (Current season)

02-03 Association Philosophy:
Head coaches will provide the opportunity for all players to learn and develop individual hockey skills, enhance team play, and good sportsmanship, while avoiding a "Win at all cost" attitude.

02 – 03 Coaching duties
Overall responsibility for on and off ice team administration. The 02–03 coaching policies requires the naming 2 assistant coaches and a team manager by June 1, 02. Other duties, that can be delegated to the assistant coaches or team manager include: writing of 2 newspaper articles including the sponsor’s name, providing copies of games sheets to the age director once a month, participation in the USA hockey player patching award program, assisting in the collection of fundraising monies, passing out game schedules, managing the call-up policy for games and practices, along with following WYSA, Mass Hockey, USA Hockey by-laws, policies, and guidelines.
Head coach is responsible for MA / USA roster, Dual State roster, Valley League roster, CORI forms, and making sure the following 02-03 patching requirements are followed:

02-03 Coaching Commitment:

It is the expectation of the Board, parents, and players, that all head coaches have a 90% or better attendance record.
A head coach must name capable assistants, team managers, and on-ice helpers that can run the team if they are going to miss a practice or game. Team personal is appointed to coach all the players on a team and should make a strong effort to attend practices and games even if their player does not.

Tryouts (Old Process)
Current Head Coach’s evaluation – 27% (Due in by March 9, 2002)
Attendance ("unexcused" or "no call" absences) : 3 = misses 50%, 6 = attends 75%, 9 = almost always attends

Coachability: 1 = doesn’t listen / follow direction, 2 = sometimes, 3 = almost always

Game Play: 1 = Core player , 2 = Better player, 3 = One of the best 5 on the team

Tryout Evaluation (73%) - 1 per Coach / Evaluator (Due immediately after each tryout)

Committee will use 3 categories:
a.) Skating ability (10 pt.) b.) Puck Control skills (10 pt.) c.) Scrimmage play (20 Pt.)

Scoring is 1 - 10 (Skills) & 1 - 20 (Scrimmage) where 1 = lowest / 20 = highest) – Max = 40
Criteria used in scoring Scrimmage play MUST be clearly defined & explained. (What are you looking for: positional play / passing / aggressiveness / movement away from puck / defensive skills, player who scores the most goals, etc.)

1. If a coach misses a player or skill, the other coaches’ / evaluator’s average score(s) shall be used.
   
2. The tryout evaluation sheet must be turned into the Director immediately after each tryout.
   The same sheet will be returned at the next tryout. Director will keep a copy of each tryout’s results as a back up.
   

1. Midget, Bantam. Peewee, and Squirt head coaches get 2 picks; if they have seen at least 3 games of all the potential players. A coach will not be allowed to pick a player they have not seen at a game or if they pick a player from a team below a team they haven’t seen (i.e. cannot pick a Squirt B-White player if you did not see the Squirt B-Red play)
   
2. Mite and Instructional Mite Divisions will be 100% Evaluation process. No picks allowed
   
3. Tryout attendance: Any players unexcused from tryout will be dropped to the lowest team in their division.
   

If Squirts play in the Peewee division, they will play on the lowest level team, like 01-02 Squirts on the PW C team.

Below  are the 1994 - 1995 Season Coaching "requirements".

These are just for purpose of providing historical  information.

1.) The head coach of each team was selected by the Board of Directors based on the objectives and standards of the association. It is the responsibility of the head coaches to comply with these standards and work with their directors in achieving the objectives. The head coach is responsible for all of his team's activities. The head coach shall run the team as he/she desires, staying within the framework of the rules and bylaws of the association. Remember, our association is judged by the conduct of the head coach and their team. As stated in the USA hockey "Zero Tolerance" will be enforced at all times.

2.) The assistant coach shall be recommended by the head coach and work under his direction. He will fill in as head of the team when the head coach cannot be present

3.) The team manager shall be recommended by the head coach or age director and be responsible for the administration of the team. The duties of the team manager will be specified by the head coach.

4.) Assistant coaches and team managers must be approved by the Board of Directors.

5.) Coaches shall read, understand, and accept the by-laws of the Association as well as these local playing rules. The official playing rules and regulations of the Amateur Hockey Association (AHA) of the United States shall be binding where applicable.

6.) All head and assistant coaches shall be patched at the correct level oftheir division as determined by USA Hockey.

7.) Effective in the 94 / 95 hockey season, all "A" team head coaches will be considered lead coaches. That is, all warm-ups and beginning drills will be run by the "A" coach who is on the ice, when sharing ice with coaches and teams of a lower or equal division. When an "A" coach shares ice with a team in a higher division, the coach of the higher division will become the lead coach.  Exception when a "B" coach shares ice with a "C" coach, "B" coach becomes the lead coach

B - Tryouts
1.) Head coaches and directors shall meet prior to tryouts to discuss and formulate tryout procedures and techniques to ensure that all participants are treated fairly.

2.) Once the tryouts have been completed, the head coaches for each division will meet to select teams. Selection of these teams will be done by the head coach and his (her) staff.

3.) After the fall tryouts, final rosters will be submitted by the head coaches to the appropriate age directors. This must be completed by October 10, 1994, to allow time for team registration.

4.) Head coaches and directors working together shall notify all players in a timely manner of their final selections.

5.) Head coaches may not alter the team roster without the consent of the Board once they have been submitted.

6.) Players wishing to skate on a Wakefield team, who for any reason, did not attend the tryouts, will be dealt with on an individual basis. This may involve a family moving into town, a local skater who is away, or any number of reasons. The head coach will make a recommendation to the director who in turn will obtain Board approval.

7.) Teams will be selected in a fair and open tryout. No player will be selected based on a previous year teams status. (Example: "A" player on "A" team from previous year does not have to be chosen if he does not qualify for the "A" position for the following season.)

C - Team Administration

1.) Head coach should be at the rink at the time he designates for his players to report. This time should be adequate to allow for the preparation of the team by ice time. He shall stay with the players or provide adequate supervision while they are under his charge. You should arrive 1/2 hour before and leave 1/2 after the games / practices as designated in the USA hockey rules.

2.) Head coaches unable to makes games or practices must ensure that the assistant coach will fill in and assume responsibility as head of the team.

3.) Head coaches shall make every attempt to give each player equal ice time during games and practices. Each player must be give the opportunity to improve skills and participate in the program. This philosophy is supported in the By-laws of the Association and is of utmost importance. The last one minute of each game will be used at the head coaches discretion.

4.) Head coaches shall remember at all times that the director represents the Board. Close cooperation is essential to ensure that information and communications can be passed between the appropriate parties.

5.) When head coaches determine the need for additional players, alternates are to be called up as temporary replacements. The head coach shall notify both the director and the head coach of the next lower team. After the player is chosen, the player's head coach will provide notifications and details. This rule must be followed in this manner to avoid confusion and provide the appropriate contacts. The Board supports and encourages the use of alternates to give players a chance to participate at the higher level. Each player will also be given adequate opportunity to play at the next level up.

6.) The Board's goal is not to win hockey games at all costs, but to instill sportsmanship and team play at all levels, as stated in the by-laws.

D - Safety

1.) The coaching staff shall ensure that the safety of the players is given first priority.

2.) Players must be outfitted with the proper equipment at all times while participating in the program.

3.) The head coach must set the tone with respect to safety. He shall insist that while the players are under his supervision, horsing around or other unsafe practices are not tolerated.

E - Discipline

1.) The head coach shall have the authority to suspend a player for disciplinary reasons. The by-laws of the association stipulate the suspension period as the duration of the game and the following game, at the coaches discretion.

2.) When a player is suspended, the head coach must notify the director immediately so that the Board can be aware of these situations.

3.) No disciplinary action will be taken against any coach or player who misses games or tournaments due to a religious conviction.

4.) Parents who wish to discipline children because of poor grades, etc., by not having them participate in Youth hockey should notify the age director. No coach shall penalize such players. In these cases it does not exclude parents from their payment commitment.

F - Tournaments

1.) Head coaches shall recommend tournaments to the directors. The directors will present recommendations to the Board and notify the coach of their decision. Tournaments should be considered well before the required registration deadlines.