So, you want to be on the "A" team? Then memorize these 10 questions and ask for answers !

For those unfamiliar with the structure of competitive play within the MHL, this is the highest level offered by this league. Tryouts for next year's teams will be held in April/May after this year's season is completed.

As a parent member of the Erindale Hockey Association, you have some choices to consider about where your child will play next year. For those who have children playing at the other house league levels (green, blue, white and red), you might opt to stay within those levels of competitive play. There is less demand on your personal time, less of a commitment from both player and parents alike, not to mention the lower financial commitment. In that case, you need only return your pre-registration package that will be mailed to you following this season. Your child will be re-evaluated next fall and placed in the division that is then appropriate for his/her skill level.

If you believe you and your child are able and willing to make a greater commitment, you will want to find out the dates for the spring try-outs for the 'A' team. Erindale's try-out dates will be posted on the website and in the Mississauga News prior to the date.

Should you attend a try-out, but subsequently are not offered a spot, it would be wise to prepare your child for that situation - this should not be seen as a failure in his or her eyes. We want them to return at a level where they will enjoy the competition and continue to develop in an appropriate environment. There are plenty of stories about young athletes who were advanced a year or two ahead of their time and resulted in nothing but feelings of inadequacy, failure and bitterness - some even drop out altogether - tired of trying to live up to expectations that they feel are beyond their capabilities. Often, it's better to be a big fish in a small pond.

If you feel your child is ready to play at the 'A' level, it may be your preference to play at Erindale for a number of reasons: friends, familiarity, location - to name a few. But you could also choose to try-out for another 'A' level team within other associations in the league. They all conduct try-outs during the same week. At Erindale, we encourage you to place your child at a competitive level that is appropriate for them, even if that means they will be playing outside of our association next year. By moving up, this leaves room for other children to advance as well, building up their sense of accomplishment.

So, if you think you (parents and child) are ready to make a greater commitment, we offer the following ten questions you should ask. Five of these questions are for you to answer - the other five should be directed at the head coach of your new team.

YOUR QUESTIONS:

Are you prepared to make the personal commitments that are expected at the 'A' level of competitive play (more practices, games, tournaments and the larger team budget that is associated with an 'A' Team)?

Do you feel that your child is committed to play at this level ? (Ideally, he/she should always be looking forward to practices as well as games!)

If your child "just makes the team" as one of the final open spots, are you prepared to perhaps see him/her play at a lower skill level than others on the team and will you still provide encouragement to your child? Will you also be able to deal in a positive manner with other parents on the team who may get a bit too competitive and make negative remarks concerning your child's contributions?

If your child is not offered a spot on the Erindale team but is offered a position with another association team, it could be because there is less depth of skill level there. A "winning" season (in terms of points) may not be in the cards. Can you deal positively with such a situation?

If you have more than one child active in sports - each at different competitive levels of play, (or perhaps other children not involved in any sport), are you prepared to deal with the perceived inequities in time spent with some of them because of the demands of the 'A' level player in your family?

"A TEAM" HEAD COACH QUESTIONS

The Number One question: What is the head coach's philosophy - on equal playing time for all players (this is not a well known MHL mandate), on effort versus game results, on skills development and on the power of positive reinforcement?

The next question is particularly aimed at coaches at the minor novice level, but may also apply to older levels: What are the head coach's intentions for the year after this next season? The answer to this question might be determined by whether they have a son or daughter on the team who is on their way to 'AA' the following year. If that is the case, and you are not sure that your child will be ready for that even higher level, then what is the depth of coaching talent within the association? Do they have a solid contingent of coaching talent, ready to step in when others leave? Now, you need to look at the association as a whole, rather than just the immediate coaching situation.

Don't forget to ask about the costs of the program. Some coaches/managers don't like to talk about this before you commit to their team. Ask what will be expected. Be prepared to participate in team fund-raising efforts to pay for the costs of extra practice times, exhibition games, tournaments, travel and accommodations. It is not unusual to see team budgets of $20,000 - $25,000 and sometimes even higher.

Ask what teams this head coach has coached in the past, with which associations and how many coaching years of experience does he have. You have a right to ask these questions. If he acts offended - run, don't walk away! Ask how many of his players have been developed through his association and how many were recruited from other areas - this may tell you something about the depth of his association's development program. Some associations have teams with winning records because they recruit well. The question is: will all the players continue to develop to their best potential on this team? Is the coaching up to par with the recruitment activity? If recruitment plays a bigger part than internal development, one might want to question both the development program of the association and the "win at all costs" philosophy of the team.

Ask any other questions that are important to you. Some children react in different ways to certain actions of the bench staff. You might want to ask if the coach has a philosophy of benching players for particular actions or miscues. You might want to inquire about the credentials of his anticipated bench staff.

These suggestions may seem onerous, but they are presented to you so you can make an informed decision. The decision you are making for your child will affect the hockey enjoyment for their next season-don't take it lightly!

We hope that it lends to yet another enjoyable season of hockey for all.

Any further questions can be directed to: inquiries@erindalehockey.com