Placements Update

Dear AHA Families,

I am writing to you with an update on our plans for AHA team placements for the 2020-21 season and some financial accommodations we are offering to members in light of the impact of COVID-19.  

Unfortunately, we will be unable to hold our traditional on-ice evaluation sessions this spring. Therefore, the placements committee and board of directors has made the difficult decision to form travel team rosters (Mites Travel through Bantams and Girls U-10 through U-14) based on coaches’ rankings, with input from age directors and our coaching director. The committee considered attempting to hold on-ice evaluations in the fall, but determined it would be best to move forward now so that the summer could be utilized for planning what we hope will be a traditional start to the season in September.  

Please note there are a few age groups where it will be necessary to hold an on-ice evaluation, and we will provide information to those impacted players shortly. Also, information concerning placements for high school half season will be coming shortly.

While this approach is not ideal, we are confident that the process will lead to results very similar to our normal combination of coaches’ rankings and on-ice evaluations. This decision was the product of research and consultation with experts in the youth sports coaching community and will be utilized in other youth sports such as soccer which traditionally hold spring tryouts before a fall season.

I would like to thank the age directors and placements committee for the hours spent analyzing the information and facilitating discussions with coaches. You will receive a notification when teams are finalized and posted, which we hope to do shortly.

In addition, we at AHA are very sensitive to the difficult time many in our community are having with this pandemic, including potentially caring for sick family members, business disruptions and job difficulties. Building on our mission as a not-for-profit, community-based organization, we would like to announce the following policies for next season:

1. The $200 fee paid by members who registered for placements will be applied 100% to next year’s tuition.

2. We will delay the first tuition payment due date by two months (from May 1 to July 1).

3. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please reach out treasurer@andoverhockey.org. We would be happy to discuss with you alternative arrangements on an individual and confidential basis.

Thanks again for your support of the AHA. We hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe during these challenging times. We look forward to being on the ice next season and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the AHA. Please free to reach out to me directly with any questions.

Sincerely,

Matt McLaughlin

AHA President