Evaluations Overview

Purpose of Evaluations

North SEERA's evaluation process is designed to ensure players are placed at the appropriate skill level for their development, enjoyment, and overall team balance.

How the Evaluation Process Works

Our evaluation process is designed to gradually introduce players to the drills and assessments they will complete.

1. Alpha Skates

  • Players are grouped alphabetically by last name.
  • Coaches run players through evaluation drills in a relaxed setting.
  • This session helps players feel comfortable before formal evaluations begin.

2. Skills Evaluation Skates

  • Players complete drills assessing skating, puck handling, passing, shooting, and fundamentals.
  • Sports Evaluations provides third-party evaluators who score and grade players from the stands.

3. Game Play Evaluations

  • Players participate in scrimmages to assess in-game performance.
  • Evaluators assess positioning, decision-making, hockey sense, and competitiveness.
  • Groupings may be adjusted to ensure fair placement.
  • Movement between groups is possible throughout the process.

Skills Evaluation Criteria

During the Skills Evaluation Skates, players are assessed by Sports Evaluations in the following areas:

  • Skating: Speed, edge work, acceleration, balance, agility, and stopping.
  • Puck Control: Ability to handle the puck while stationary and at speed.
  • Passing: Accuracy, strength, and ability to receive passes.
  • Shooting: Shot power, accuracy, release speed, and technique.

Game Play Evaluation Criteria

During Game Play Evaluations, evaluators and coaches assess how players perform in a game setting.

  • Positioning & Awareness: Understanding of offensive and defensive positioning.
  • Decision-Making: Ability to read plays, react quickly, and make decisions under pressure.
  • Compete Level: Effort, engagement, and willingness to battle for pucks.
  • Team Play: Passing, communication, and ability to contribute to overall play.

Evaluators use a standardized scoring system to ensure consistency and fairness throughout the process.

Player Placement

Our evaluation process is designed to ensure players are placed in the most appropriate group for their development and enjoyment. Player placements are determined based on performance in Skills and Game Play Evaluations, with opportunities for movement throughout the process.

Initial Group Placement

  • After Skills Evaluation Skates, players are placed into a group based on evaluation scores.
  • These groups are used during Game Play Evaluations to assess performance in a team setting.

Movement Between Groups

  • Players may move between groups throughout Game Play Evaluations.
  • Players demonstrating stronger performance may be moved up.
  • Players needing additional support may be moved to a different group.
  • Decisions are made using input from Sports Evaluations and North SEERA Hockey Directors.

By the end of evaluations, each player will be placed in the group that best aligns with their skills, giving them the best opportunity to develop and succeed.

Goaltender Evaluation Details

Goaltenders will attend a dedicated goalie skills evaluation session prior to game play evaluations. This session is used to assess position-specific skills and helps determine initial group placement for the evaluation games.

Following the skills session, goalies will participate in three game-play evaluation skates, where they will be assessed in realistic game scenarios.

If your child intends to be a full-time goaltender this season, please confirm their attendance by emailing:

Kyle Morrill
goaliedev@northseera.ca

Please copy your division director:

Full-time goaltenders do not need to attend player technical skates, as those sessions are designed for evaluating skaters only.

Trying Out for AA or Tier 1?

Players attending U11 AA, U13 AA, or U13 AAA tryouts must complete those processes before participating in North SEERA evaluations.

For convenience, you can find more information on club websites: