In the pre-season circular it says ........

TEAM SELECTION

RESULTS LAST SEASON WERE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. ONE REASON FOR THIS WAS THAT, FOR A NUMBER OF PERFECTLY VALID REASONS, SOME KEY PLAYERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR SELECTION EVERY WEEK.

YOUR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE REVIEWS OUR SELECTION POLICY AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SEASON.  AT THE LAST MEETING IT WAS AGREED THAT THE CLUB TEAM SELECTION FOR 1^st and 2^nd LEAGUE MATCHES WOULD, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, AIM TO DEVELOP A SQUAD OF PLAYERS WHO WOULD BE REGULARLY AVAILABLE EVERY WEEK.

THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ARE AWARE THAT THERE ARE SOME PLAYERS WHOSE SKILLS ARE APPROPRIATE TO FIRST TEAM LEAGUE HOCKEY BUT WHOSE WORK COMMITMENTS MAKE REGULAR AVAILABILITY DIFFICULT.  WE KNOW THESE PLAYERS WILL UNDERSTAND IF THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAIN FIRST TEAM POOL AND THUS COULD FIND THEMSELVES TURNING OUT FOR OTHER CLUB SIDES ON SOME OCCASIONS.

SELECTION POLICY 2005/2006

General background.

The selection and disposition of club sides will be the responsibility of the selection committee.

It is not desirable or practicable to set a policy in stone.  This document is designed to be a clear guide.  It is essential to know what we are trying to achieve.

The primary function of any selection policy is to create a situation for ALL our members to enjoy their hockey on a Saturday afternoon. 

Selection should always take the aspirations of individual members into account.  This does not mean any member should dominate the thinking of the committee or skippers to the detriment of the club or an individual team.  Imponderables such as availabilities, a late cry-off, transport etc. will affect selection.  In the event of a cry-off and other unforeseen problems the Hon Team Secretary, where possible in conjunction with the skippers, will make any decisions necessary.

Selection policy must reflect the aspirations of the club.  It therefore follows that clear aims must be set for season 2005/2006.

Aims and objectives for season 2005/2006

 (a)        General.

             (i)  To make the playing of hockey an enjoyable experience for all our members and encourage an esprit de corps in all our teams.

             (ii)  The 1st XI must take priority. The club is judged on the performance of the 1^st X1.  The first team results and moral set the standard for the whole club. 

             (iii)  As our main recruitment is at youth level our selection must reflect this fact.

             (iv)  Our more mature players must be encouraged to remain active playing members of the club.  They are essential for the development of our youth policy and should be encouraged to help as they themselves were once helped.

 (b)        Specific

             (i)  1st XI must aim to maintain its position.  This is also a season where some rebuilding should take place.  THE 1st X1, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, SHOULD AIM TO DEVELOP A SQUAD OF PLAYERS WHO WILL BE REGULARLY AVAILABLE EVERY WEEK.

             (ii)  2nd XI to consolidate a position in West Midlands Division 2. Young players where appropriate should be introduced thus assisting our youth development policy. THE 2^nd X1, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, SHOULD AIM TO DEVELOP A SQUAD OF PLAYERS WHO WILL BE REGULARLY AVAILABLE EVERY WEEK.

            (iii)  3rd XI to enjoy their hockey and to take the opportunity to introduce young players.  

Revised September 2005

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 SELECTION POLICY 2005/2006

1st XI

The 1st XI will normally in the opinion of the selection committee be the best XI available having regard to the seasons aims and objectives.  The 1st XI will normally have priority, within the league rules, for league games.   One exception will be the 2nd XI skipper who should only be selected at 1st XI level if in the opinion of the committee the result of a particular game is of vital importance.  The best eleven does not necessarily imply the eleven most skilful players.  The team should be a unit and play as such under the skipper.

The 1st XI may take a substitute, availability and the needs of the rest of the club permitting.

2nd. XI

The 2nd. XI will normally in the opinion of the selection committee be the second best eleven available having regard to the seasons aims and objectives.  Selection should take into account cover for the first XI.  The team should be a unit and play as such under the skipper.

 Skippers through the selection committee will be responsible for:

The selection, disposition, tactics, morale, and discipline of their sides.

The encouragement of well turned out sides.

The hospitality for umpires and opposition.

The encouraging of players to attend training.

The collection of match levies.

Act as a link for club administration.

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Revised September 2005