SYHA Tryout Letter

Dear SYHA Family,

Coach interviews have commenced we conducted several ZOOM call interviews last night with only the Head Coach applicants, we have a few to make up because of conflicts (life outside of hockey – is there?). The ZOOMs started at 6:00 pm and ran every 20 minutes with a 5-minute break or buffer, the last one starting at 9:20 pm. Each Zoom call was recorded and saved for the rest of the Board to review.

We have nine (9) independent tryout evaluators ranging in ages from 25 to 66, amassing over 300 years of combined hockey experience from playing to coaching, which includes Minor Professional, College, Junior A, & AAA. These non-paid volunteers are coming from some distance to assure a FAIR Tryout Experience, please give them your respect and space at this time.

ALL EVALUATORS HAVE NO TIES TO ANY CURRENT PLAYERS IN THE PROGRAM.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

Rink 2 will be roped off just inside the rink doors all the way around to the storage rooms on the NE corner of Rink 2, NO PARENTS are allowed in that area, this includes Board members during the time your son or daughter is on the ice. The only exception to the rule will be only if your player needs assistance getting their hockey equipment on, upon completion of that task we ask that you exit the roped area.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL BE EVALUATION MISTAKES THAT HAPPEN DURING THIS PROCESS, SOME PLAYERS PERFORM WELL IN PRACTICE OR PRACTICE GAMES (against their buddies) AND SOME PERFORM WELL IN ACTUAL GAMES (against an opposing team), THAT IS WHY WE WILL STILL NEED COACH INPUT TO SOLIDIFY THE ROSTERS.

I want to thank all of SYHA’s families for their continued support, we have a lot of good things coming, it just takes time and energy. We as a hockey family are always looking for good ideas and assistance, I know some of you may be reluctant to jump in but without you, the tasks of running the organization become arduous at times.

I would like to share a poem that Scotty Bowman (whom he got from Lou Holtz) shared with me personally at my Level 5 Coach Certification in Grand Rapids, MI almost 20 years ago;

                                                           THE BUILDER

                                  I saw a group of men in my hometown.

                               I saw a group of men tearing a building down.

With a heave and a ho and a mighty yell, they swung a beam and the sidewalk fell.

So I said to the foreman, “Are these men skilled? The type you’d hire if you wanted to build?”

And he laughed and said, “Why, no indeed. You see, common labor’s all I need.     

For I can tear down in just a day or two that which it took a builder ten years to do.”

And I thought to myself as I walked away,  “Which of these roles am I going to play?”

Am I the type that constantly tears down as I make my way, foolishly around?

Or am I the type that’s built with care, in hope that family, my community, and my organization will be glad I was there?”

             ~ Source: A Championship Season at Notre Dame, Lou Holtz

Yours in Hockey,

Rik Stone

VP of Competitive Teams

Springfield Youth Hockey Association