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posted 04/23/2008
Dear Western Parents, Players and Families,
Tryouts for the 2008/2009 season are almost upon us. Our tryout process works a little differently this year than we have done in the past. In an effort to have things runs smoothly, this e-mail identifies some important items for you to review as you prepare to join us for tryouts. To familiarize yourself with our Tryout Process, please see the “WCYHA Tryout Process” document on our website. It can be found under the TRYOUT PROCESS tab on the menu located on the left side of the Western website.
- Attendance Policy To be considered for placement on a team, a player must attend and participate in at least one tryout session (we encourage attendance and participation at all sessions). If you cannot attend and participate in at least one session, you may apply for “special case” status. Under “special case” status, a player will be evaluated and considered for team placement based solely on the evaluation form provided by last season’s coach. The provision for “special case” status under our try out process is meant for emergency and unusual events, such injury, family emergency, previously scheduled travel (such as a school trip), etc. Requests for special case status will be reviewed and granted on a case-by-case basis. “Special Case” status is available to returning Western players only. Players who miss tryouts and who do not have “special case” status will be considered for team placement on a case-by-case basis depending on roster spot availability. .
Please let our Registrar, Megan McLean, know if you plan to attend tryouts, but will not make one of the tryout sessions. Requests for “Special Case” status should be directed to Tom Harrison. Tom and Megan’s e-mail addresses are
and
- Jerseys. Returning Western players should bring both their home (white) and away (blue) game jerseys with them. Players new to Western will be provided with a Western jersey for use during tryouts. Players will be assigned a jersey color at registration.
- Registration and Fees All players seeking consideration for team placement must register with the WCYHA and pay Registration/Tryout fees. Registration will be available at each tryout session. .
a. On-site Registration only All registrations will be taken on-site, at DIA, just prior to the tryout sessions. This year, unfortunately, we do not have a pre-registration option. Players who have been granted “special case” status are asked to contact Megan McLean to arrange for registration and payment of registration/tryout fees. Players/parents are to complete the following forms in the registration process: 1) Player Information; 2) Code of Conduct and 3) Consent to Treat. You can find these forms in DOCUMENTS section of the WCYHA website..
To help expedite the registration process, please print and complete the registration forms before coming to tryouts and arrive at least one hour before your first try-out session.
b. Fees.
i. Registration/tryout fees must be paid for consideration for team placement. Fees must be paid prior to participation in a tryout session.
ii. Registration/tryout fees are $350 ($125 of which is registration/tryout fees with the balance, $225, being a deposit for next season). See the Tryout Process document on our website for our payment and refund policy.
iii. USA Hockey. For returning Western players, your current USA Hockey membership remains in effect. You do not need to bring USA Hockey membership credentials (though you will need to renew your membership and present your updated membership information prior to the season). Players new to Western must bring their current USA Hockey membership number.
iv. Returning players: If you have an outstanding balance with WCYHA for a prior season, you must make arrangements for payment of that balance with WCYHA Treasurer Terri Allen before you will be allowed to participate in a tryout session. Terri can be contacted at 203-775-6594 or
Please note: Credit Cards are not accepted for payment of registration/tryout fees. Checks and cash only.
- Schedule and Format Please refer to the schedule on our website for tryout session times. We are holding two 90-minute sessions for each age group. Each session will have a 20-30 minute warm-up/skills & drills segment with the balance of the time spent scrimmaging. .
- Evaluation, Team Selection Process, Timing and Communication.
a. Tryout evaluations are weighted more heavily to performance during the scrimmage sessions.
b. Team placement assessments are made using input from prior season’s coaches’ evaluation in addition to evaluations from the tryout sessions.
c. Head Coaches will be identified just after the initial team placements are made. The new Head Coach will review the initial team placements and be involved in the final placement of “bubble” players.
d. Final Team placements will be announced within seven days from the last tryout session via the WCYHA website.
e. See WCYHA Tryout Process document for complete details.
- Parent Involvement. Parents are asked to stay away from our Evaluation Area and from communicating with our Evaluators. Parents of mite and squirt level players are allowed in locker rooms to assist players with equipment. We ask that parents of peewee and bantam level players stay out of locker rooms.
Parents should refrain from yelling, directing or communicating with players during tryouts.
Please contact Tom Harrison (
) or Phil Sandercox (
) with questions regarding the Tryout and Team Selection process. Please contact Megan McLean (
) or Terri Allen (
) with questions regarding registration and payment. | 
