5.02 COACH SELECTION
The Coaches’ Selection Committee is a standing committee of SHA. Its members include the Vice Chair Representative Teams, the A/AA Rep Teams Director, the B/BB Rep Teams Director, and a minimum of two (2) and up to three (3) independent qualified individuals from outside the Association appointed by the Association for that particular year. Independent individuals with children eligible to play on representative teams, applying for a coaching position or with any apparent conflicts of interest cannot be considered for these positions. The Coaches’ Selection Committee shall present its recommendations to the SHA Board of Directors at an in-camera meeting for its approval.
Coach selection begins in Winter and is undertaken by the Coaches’ Selection Committee. The selection process tends to unfold rather than follow a prescribed formula. The call for Rep Coach applications typically appears on the SHA website in late January/early February. It is recommended to make application through this process; however, applications will be accepted that are emailed directly to the Vice Chair Representative Teams. Not all teams may receive an application by a Coach so the Selection Committee may pursue individuals directly. Not all applicants may be given an interview if it is deemed by the Selection Committee that the applicant is not qualified.
A consensus-building format is used but voting takes place when necessary. It is a time-consuming endeavour with most committee members spending on average one to two hours per team, between reviewing applications and feedback, phone calls, e-mails, interviews, and meetings. There are many factors that enter the decision-making process.
There continues to be an interest in volunteering as coaches; overall, there is usually a greater number of applicants than there are teams available. With such interest comes the need to distinguish between applicants, which results in placing certain staff with teams that may not be their first choice and disappointing others by not awarding them a team at all.
At the end of each season, all coaches must re-apply. There are no guaranteed positions. This does not mean however, that all staff are automatically dismissed. Our coaches, trainers and managers are a very dedicated group of volunteers, and they must be treated with respect. If a staff is doing a good job, then removing them and replacing them with a new staff would be of no benefit to the Association. Regardless, there is usually turnover and some who have coached in previous seasons are not awarded teams.
Like any selection process, subjectivity is involved. However, the Committee places the greatest emphasis on the applicant’s qualifications as both a coach and mentor, and on his or her ability and desire to promote and implement the goals of the Association.
A coach or entire staff is not precluded from moving up an age division and/or category from one year to the next. As well, a staff is not excluded because it is comprised partially or entirely of parents. Of particular concern to the Committee though, is the evaluation of a coaching staff that has children trying out for the team being applied for. To prevent any real or perceived conflicts of interest, prior to the approval of such a coaching staff, every effort is made to ensure that the parent’s children have both the ability and desire to play on the respective team.
Not every applicant is interviewed. If the committee believes that there is a good applicant for a given team, interviewing frequently adds little to the process unless a competing applicant has expressed an interest in a different team. That does not mean however, that applications are ignored. All are reviewed and re-reviewed in the hopes of finding superior applicants or applicants suitable for teams without coaches.
All members of a coaching staff (assistant coaches, trainer, and manager) must be agreed upon by the Vice Chair Representative Teams, A/AA Director, or B/BB Director.