Evaluations

Why do evaluations feel so stressful for players and parents?

Evaluations can be a stressful time for both players and parents. This is completely normal. Please keep in mind that adding extra pressure on your child during this process may not be helpful and can sometimes negatively impact performance. Our goal is for players to feel comfortable, confident, and able to show their true abilities.

What is the goal of St. Peters Hockey Club evaluations?

The goal of St. Peters Hockey Club is to place each player at the proper level every season. Player development looks different from year to year, and evaluations help ensure that each child is placed in an environment that best supports their growth, confidence, and enjoyment of the game.

Who conducts the player evaluations?

Evaluations are completed by a committee of individuals with diverse hockey backgrounds, including:

• Central States coaches
• Club coaches
• Former Junior and college-level players
• Additional experienced volunteers

This variety of perspectives helps ensure evaluations are fair, balanced, and focused on overall player development rather than a single viewpoint.

How are teams formed after evaluations?

When evaluating players, our primary objective is to group players with similar skill levels. While we strive to make teams as balanced as possible, some variation in skill sets is inevitable on every team. Our evaluators work hard to minimize those gaps and place players in the most appropriate competitive environment.

Are evaluations perfect?

No evaluation process is perfect, and hockey development is not linear. However, we can assure families that every decision is made with care and with the player’s best interests in mind. Our focus is always on long-term development, confidence, and enjoyment of the game.

Does the club make changes to the evaluation process?

Yes. St. Peters Hockey Club welcomes feedback and reviews the evaluation process each year. We continuously apply lessons learned to improve fairness, transparency, and accuracy in future evaluations.

What can parents do to help during evaluations?

The best support parents can offer is encouragement, reassurance, and perspective. Trust the process, allow your child to compete and have fun, and remember that placement decisions are made with the goal of helping each player succeed at their appropriate level.

Re-Evaluation Process

How does the re-evaluation process work?

During the early stages of the season, our Hockey Director and Skills Coaches actively monitor teams during practices and skill sessions. If a player appears to be significantly out of place, the Hockey Director or Skills Coaches may move a player up or down to a different team.

This process is ongoing during the early portion of the season, but changes are not guaranteed.

Can I request a re-evaluation for my child?

Yes, parents may request a re-evaluation by emailing the Hockey Director.

If a re-evaluation is requested, the Hockey Director may:

• Attend a practice
• Observe a scrimmage
• Watch during a skills session

Please note that a re-evaluation does not guarantee a team change.

What does the club look for during a re-evaluation?

When re-evaluating, we are looking for players who appear clearly out of place relative to their peers — not simply one of the stronger players on the team.

Re-evaluation requests should be made when a player consistently looks out of place during games or practices, not solely due to disappointment with the level assigned.

When can I submit a re-evaluation request?

The club will not respond to any re-evaluation requests until teams have been on the ice for at least 4–5 practices or skill sessions. This allows players time to adjust, coaches time to work with teams, and evaluators enough data to make informed decisions.

What should parents keep in mind before requesting a re-evaluation?

It is important not to confuse disappointment or frustration with incorrect placement. We encourage parents to take an objective look once teams are formed and allow time for the season to begin before drawing conclusions.

Evaluation Format & Scoring

Why does St. Peters Hockey Club use scrimmage-based evaluations?

While our evaluations now include a skills-based portion during the first skate, we believe that scrimmage-based evaluations provide the best indication of how a player will perform in actual games.

A player may be a strong skater or perform well in drills, but hockey success also requires:

• On-ice awareness
• Decision-making
• Hockey sense
• Ability to apply skills in game situations

Scrimmages allow evaluators to assess these critical elements.

How are players scored?

Each evaluation is observed by 6–10 evaluators, and every player receives multiple scores based on how they compare to their peers.

Team placement is determined by a collective average and agreement among all evaluators — not by a single opinion.

We also use evaluation software that flags large discrepancies in scoring for further discussion. This ensures that one unusually high or low score does not disproportionately impact a player’s placement.

Does the club improve the evaluation process?

Yes. St. Peters Hockey Club welcomes feedback and reviews the evaluation process every year. Adjustments and improvements are made regularly to increase fairness, accuracy, and transparency.

Additional Evaluation FAQs

What if my player misses one or more evaluations?

If a player misses an evaluation session, they will be scored based on the sessions they attend. Missing an evaluation will not negatively impact a player’s overall score; however, it does result in less data to average, which means evaluators have a shorter look at the player.

If a player misses all evaluation sessions, the Age Level Coordinator and Hockey Director will work together to determine an appropriate placement. Typically, the player will skate with multiple teams to help identify the best overall fit.

Does volunteering as a coach or team manager impact evaluations?

No. Volunteering as a coach or team manager does not impact evaluations in any way.

Coaches and team managers are selected after teams are formed. Evaluators do not have access to that information, and St. Peters Hockey Club does not adjust evaluations or placements based on volunteer status, regardless of rumors or speculation.

If St. Peters has multiple teams at the same level, can my child switch teams to be with a friend?

No. Teams at the same level are tiered based on evaluation scores.

For example, a Peewee B1‑1 team will have a higher collective evaluation score than a Peewee B1‑3 team. Allowing players to switch teams based on friendships would undermine the evaluation process and negatively impact development.

Our goal is to place players with similarly skilled peers to maximize growth, confidence, and overall development for every team.

Why can’t my child move teams because I don’t like the other parents?

The St. Peters Hockey Club program is focused on the children. Unfortunately, many issues in youth sports stem from adult interactions rather than player performance.

If there is a personal issue with another parent, the expectation is that adults handle it appropriately:

• You are not required to interact with everyone
• Focus on supporting the team and the players
• Be respectful, supportive, and positive

We encourage everyone to be the bigger person, cheer for the kids, and keep the focus where it belongs — on player development and enjoyment of the game.

Player evaluations help St. Peters Hockey Club place each child at the appropriate level for development each season. Our goal is to group players with similarly skilled peers in an environment that supports growth, confidence, and enjoyment of the game.

Evaluations are conducted by multiple experienced hockey evaluators and include both skills‑based sessions and scrimmage play, with an emphasis on how players perform in game situations. Team placement is based on a collective evaluation, not a single opinion, and is focused solely on player development.

We understand evaluations can be stressful and encourage families to keep the focus on effort, learning, and long‑term growth. Our process is reviewed and improved each year to ensure fairness and consistency.