About the Ottawa Sting

 

General

 

The Ottawa Sting is an Association for “AA, A and B” competitive hockey teams in District B (Bytown) playing in the Ottawa District Minor Hockey Association. Recognizing that the O.D.M.H.A. is set up according to geographical boundaries, our intent is to run a hockey program for the best players at any age level from Minor Atom to Major Midget within our boundaries. To as great a degree as possible, we strive to ensure that the choice of our players is as fair and equitable as possible, and that we provide them with as good coaching and development as possible.

 

Team Size & Make-up

 

The Ottawa Sting promotes the concept that teams and players must be developed on an ongoing basis. We ask all our coaches to select at minimum a full 17 player roster. We feel that this is a reasonable and responsible philosophy, in order that our teams will have an ongoing roster on which to draw year after year. We expect some players will change year to year, and we will inherit players developed at other levels, and will send our developed players to other teams and levels. Taking a full roster ensures that more players have an opportunity for hockey development. We also encourage each team to take as many Affiliated Players as possible, and to try to include them on practices as well as games as needed.

 

Imports

We believe that, in general, we should be able to ice very competitive teams from players exclusively within our area. Beginning in 2003/04, the ODMHA determined that player imports would not be allowed. So the Ottawa Sting will not accept players from any other District unless they can show that the ODMHA will make an exception for them, and the team for which they would play can demonstrate that it is unable to ice a full slate of 17 players.

 

Releases

 

The Head Coach and a Board member are require to meet with each player and to be supportive and positive when releasing the player, but shall not forecast or guarantee the success of a released player with regards to subsequent tryouts. All players released after the official team lists have been submitted, require the approval of the Ottawa Sting Board.

 

Fair Ice

 

We believe in fair ice time NOT equal ice time for all Sting players. This means that all players will not get the same amount of ice in each game, or play at all times during a game. Recognizing that this is Competitive hockey, we allow our coaches a certain amount of latitude in icing players, particularly at critical times in a game(ie. during the last 5 minutes of the game). We ask, however, that coaches are discriminating about this latitude, and give all players an opportunity to develop in all parts of the game.

 

Costs & Commitment

 

Playing competitive hockey requires a major commitment from the players and parents. One can expect annual costs of approximately $2,000.00 for the Association and team fees. Further costs for travel to out-of-town tournaments, bus rentals, accommodations and so on will be incurred. Teams have successfully fund-raised a good portion of these costs, but this also requires a commitment from team members. These costs and commitments are explained by the coaches prior to the season, and players who can not make these commitments are asked to withdraw from tryouts before the team is chosen. Once a player is signed to the Ottawa Sting, they are expected to meet these commitments.

 

Code of Conduct

 

District B Minor Hockey Council has implemented a Code of Conduct to ensure that players and parents act in a reasonable manner during their involvement in Minor Hockey. These regulations include comments by members towards others involved in minor hockey, including on-ice officials, team officials, association officials and other members. All members are asked to read and sign a copy of the Code of Conduct at registration. Failure to comply with the code can result in disciplinary action, including the opportunity to participate in District B activities or to continue to be a member. The Code of Conduct can be found by following this link.

 

Coaches

 

Our notification for coaching applications is published in February for the next season. Coaches are interviewed, chosen and announced at the time of the Annual General Meeting or late in May. Head coaches must have Intermediate Level (Development 1) coaching certification. Assistant Coaches must have Coach Level (Coach Stream) certification. Trainers must be certified at least Level II. All team staff must have taken the Speak Out certification as well.

 

Although at this time we have no policy restricting coaches from coaching their own children, we believe that where possible independent coaches are preferred. However, sometimes the best coaches interested in a particular team have children playing at that level. We ask that such coaches commit to accepting these teams whether or not their child makes the team. As well, to ensure children of coaches are evaluated fairly, in these situations the Ottawa Sting Board will appoint an independent evaluator to verify the player's ability to play at this level. Finally, we expect our parent-coaches to be vigilant in assessing the ice time given to their child-player.

 

We have no specific policy on coaches staying with a team for more than one year. We consider coach applications for all teams each year. If a coach has worked well with a team, has good relationships with the players and parents, and wishes to continue with them, we feel as long as the team is progressing fine, that's a good thing. Many things go into the process of choosing our coaches, so we feel it is best for the Association to re-evaluate each year.

 

We feel it as important to develop our coaches as our players. We promote the use of a coach-mentor and arrange for our coaches to meet regularly to discuss things about their teams, successes and difficulties.