SELECTION & DEVELOPMENTAL SELECTION POLICY

Objectives

The objective of selection is to field the best possible teams by selecting the best possible combination of players available and to ultimately win matches and to provide appropriate platforms for progression for aspiring younger players. Selection aims to be objective and in so doing will consider a number of factors including versatility, skill, fitness, teamwork, contribution, attitude, commitment and availability. Attendance at training is considered a key factor in teamwork so this will be taken into consideration. Selection is not an easy task as these attributes cannot be measured and the Club has an ever-growing number of talented players.

It is recognised that some people only play because they have friends in certain teams. So whilst we will not allow teams to create a block to advancement, we recognise certain teams exist primarily for social reasons and their composition may not be subject to the selection principles without flexibility.

Selection

The Team Captains and Coaches work together to offer opinion and input from what they observe, and squads are selected as appropriate. Selection should give the chance for players to settle into a new team as well as providing opportunity for movement between squads under the discretion of the Captains, Club Captains and Coaches.

Captains are responsible for ensuring that those making selection decisions have the appropriate information on their squads, and updating it in a timely manner to assist fellow Captains. If in particular availability is not kept up to date, it can become a logistical nightmare to organise teams week to week. After teams are finalised for the week Captains will inform players which team they have been selected for. This may require some sensitivity, especially when players are selected down a team and may require a phone call from both the old and new Captain.

Selection Principles

Team selection during the regular season follows these principles:

Only members who have paid subs or who have an active payment plan for subs in place at 31st October will be eligible for selection (unless otherwise agreed with the Treasurer and Chair)

The best available match-fit players will be selected for the 1XI, then 2XI; thereafter for teams 3XI and down a number of criteria will be considered to ensure the optimal team is fielded for each fixture in terms of ability, team mix, potential, availability etc

Attendance and performance at team training
Availability and commitment to the team on match days
Ability or potential to play at the level of the team
Adherence to the LHC Code of Conduct which can be found on the Club’s website

Outfield players will normally move up or down by no more than one team in any given week.

Players ‘dropped’ from a team will receive feedback from the captain or coach of the ‘higher’ team

The Coach/Team Manager and Club Captain together, and then the Captains will have the discretion on selection of ‘squad’ players in instances of crucial league decision games, and will have the support of fellow Captains and Coaches

Players are expected to continue to be available to play when selected for a team other than their regular team or position when required to, assuming adequate notice has been given.

Failure to do so will be taken as the player making themselves unavailable for any team both that week and the following week

Please note that selection principles apply equally to both field players and goalkeepers. In saying this, where goalkeepers are concerned sometimes common sense will need to prevail depending on availability for the weekend’s matches. For example, a goalkeeper may be required to move up more than one team due to lack of availability one week will then go back to their regular team the next week

Consideration must also be given to applicable league rules.

Lichfield Hockey Club – Developmental Selection Policy

This policy demonstrates Lichfield Hockey Club’s commitment to the development of young players as they are the future of our club and of hockey in general and that the club will always act in the best interests of the individual.

The policy’s aim is to ensure that our young members are given every opportunity to reach their full potential whatever level that may be (international, regional, county, social or otherwise).

This policy states:

The club will take a long term view of the development of all its young players in line with the principles of Long Term Athlete Development adopted within England Hockey’s Single System.
The club will enforce that no young person under the age of 13 (on 1st September of the season being played) is to play in adult only competition.
The club will enforce the EHL regulation stating that a player must have reached the age of 15 to be eligible to be registered to play in the EHL.
Young players will not be called upon to play in adult only competition until it is in the best interest of the young player. If an adult team is short of players and the only option is a young player who is not ready either physically, mentally or socially, then the adult team will play short.
The club will abide by England Hockey recommendations regarding player eligibility and competition rules.
The club will abide by the England Hockey centralised calendar and the priority this provides to ensure that young players at each stage of their development are given the opportunity to play and train at the right level for them without being overplayed.
For young players eligible to be involved in adult teams, careful consideration will be given to ensure that the distance travelled is proportional to the likely pitch time for the young player. As a guide, it is suggested that players who will play less than half a game should not travel for longer than 60 minutes.
All selection will be made in line with the principles outlined in the EH Equity Policy and EH Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Hockey Policy adopted by this club.
As much as practically possible, peer group teams will ensure that each member of the squad is given as equal as possible an amount of pitch time per match or per event to ensure every individual has the opportunity to develop. Winning is important but is a short term gain.
There should be an attempt that young players in teams should have equal time on the pitch in matches and or events.
There should be no discrimination by age or sex.
Young players should not participate in matches in more than one age group.