OVSS 2024-2025 ICE TIME POLICY
 
Silver Seven Ice Time Policy Amendments
Start of 2024-2025 Season
Category 1
U9, U10, U11 AA & A programs Under Hockey Canada Pathway Programs

• All Players play on a “next man up” rotation for entire season.
• Coaches are expected to follow Hockey Canada’s Pathway Programs.

• Game/Practice Ratio
• Rotation of Positions
• General Development Program

• All Players will play in all specialty team assignments throughout season.
• Coaches are given last 2 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit.
• Total variance in player ice time should only be 5% or lower.
• Goaltenders rotate on a game-by-game basis. Goaltenders can be pulled or rotation can be broken provided there is no more than a 5% variance over the course of the entire season.

Category 2
U12, U13 AA Programs
      Phase 1   - Start of Regular play to Regular Seasons end

• All Players play on a “next man up” rotation for Phase one.
• All Players will play in all specialty team assignments throughout season.
• Coaches are given last 2 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit.
• Total variance in player ice time should only be 5% or lower.
• Goaltenders rotate on a game-by-game basis. Goaltenders can be pulled or rotation can be broken provided there is no more than a 5% variance over the course of the entire season

    Phase 2 - Playoffs

• Same as Phase 1 with the following exceptions
• Coaches are given the last 3 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit
• Goaltenders are each given 1 start per playoff series then coach can adjust as he sees fit
• Total player ice time variance cannot exceed 10% (by Position)
• THESE CHANGES CAN ONLY BE MADE WITH HOCKEY OPS APPROVAL prior to the commencement of playoff games

 
Category 3
U14, U15, U16, U18 Programs
      Phase 1   - Start of Regular Play to January 1^st

• All Players play on a “next man up” rotation for entire Phase One.
• All Players will play in all specialty team assignments throughout season.
• Coaches are given last 2 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit.
• Total variance in player ice time should only be 5% or lower.
• Goaltenders rotate on a game-by-game basis. Goaltenders can be pulled or rotation can be broken provided there is no more than a 5% variance over the course of the entire season

       Phase 2 – January 1^st to Seasons End

• Same as Phase 1 with following exceptions
• Coaches can establish specialty teams PROVIDED ALL PLAYERS have a role on either or both teams. Coaches NEED to consider how many shifts it takes to get back to a normal rotation if specialty teams are drawn from different lines or Defensive pairings.
• Coaches are given the last 3 minutes to adjust line up as they see fit
• Goaltenders are each given 1 start per playoff series then coach can adjust as he sees fit (Playoffs)
• Total player ice time variance cannot exceed 10% (by Position)
• THESE CHANGES CAN ONLY BE MADE WITH Hockey OPS APPROVAL prior to February 1^st

Allowed Variances
 The variance could exceed 5% in Phase 1 & 2 due to:

• Benching for Player Accountability
• Players disregarding the coaching staff instructions
  • Examples, lengthy ice shifts, undisciplined penalties, selfish behaviour, lack of passing, etc…
• Injuries
• Equipment issues
• Penalties
• Suspensions
• Under no circumstances are players to be benched if they are deemed a liability, teams are selected at tryouts

 
 
 
Step by Step Process

• Communicate with the player effectively on what they are doing incorrectly and what is the expected behavior
• Warn them verbally if the behavior continues, they will lose a shift
• Anything requiring a period of benching should involve the parents, they are to be aware and support the coach’s message

Ice Time Policy Issue Resolution Steps

1. Encourage players to speak directly to coach and work with coach to resolve issues: no PP or PK time, ice time impacted without explanation, greater than 5 or 10% variance as specified above over multiple games.
2. Parent should request meeting with coach via manager (Observe 24-hour rule)  
3. Parent should escalate to OVSS Hockey Operations assigned to the level
4. President/Director of Hockey Operations/R&S Executive member assigns Fair Play Support team to investigate and resolve issue 

 
Notes

1. Director of Hockey Operations, Coach Mentor and President must be informed when a coach uses any variant for any reason (within 24 hours).
2. Coaches need to understand that Ice time is not only measured in Quantity, it is also measured in Quality…
3. This document is a condition of employment for all coaching staffs and MUST be followed.
4. The Head Coach is ultimately responsible for all final Bench Management decisions and therefore is held accountable by the Association.
5. Parents PAY for their kids to play…Players play hockey to PLAY in games
6. Generally, Issues on teams start with ice time issues…then they balloon into other things.

 

http://www.silversevenhockey.com/files/ovss_ice_policy.pdf