LW POLICY MANUAL
Mission Statement
The mission of the Lincoln-Way District Hockey Club (LWDHC) is to provide Lincoln Way High School District 210 students with the opportunity to play competitive ice hockey in a manner that is consistent with other school sanctioned sports. The philosophy of the LWDHC is that success will come naturally from expert instruction in the fundamentals of the sport and the development of advanced hockey skills while placing a priority on good sportsmanship, having fun and academic achievement. The focus of the LWDHC is development in the sport of hockey with the plan on moving its players to their next level of play while promoting team and club unity.
Club Structure
Board of Directors: A Board of Directors (hereinafter “the Board”), elected by the membership, governs the affairs of the Lincoln-Way District Hockey Club (hereinafter “the Club”). The Club, the Board, and its members are governed by the Lincoln-Way District Hockey Club By-Laws. The Club By-Laws provide the rules, regulations, and procedures for running the Club, including the structure of the Board. A copy of the By-Laws can be found on the Club website. (www.lwhockey.com)
Board Meetings: Meetings of the Board are held as necessary to conduct the business of the Club. Typically, the Board meets monthly throughout the year. Dates, times, and location will be posted on the Club’s website. All Club members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Annual Membership Meeting: The Board will hold an Annual Membership Meeting for the purpose of electing officers to the Board for the next season. This meeting is typically held in January. Information regarding the date, time, and location will be given to members by team managers as well as be posted on the Club website.
Commitment
Double Rostering: Due to the substantial time commitment required to fully participate on a LWDHC team, the LWDHC does not permit players rostered on any of its teams to play for another hockey team. Double rostering may be considered only under the following circumstances:
- If the Club does not have the number of players required to field a viable roster based on AHAI’s current roster guidelines, double rostering may be permitted. The Board will only allow that number of skaters to double roster needed to get to the minimum required amount.
- If the Club has less than 3 goalies registered by the first day of tryouts, double rostering of goalies will be considered by the Board. The Board will only allow the number of goalies to double roster needed to get to the minimum of 3 goalies.
- If any team in the Club rosters 3 goalies onto one team, the goalies on that team may be allowed to double roster.
If the circumstance requirements above are met and a player or players (skater or goalie) are needed to fill the minimum roster requirement, double rostering will only be allowed if (1) the player obtains Board approval; (2) the player prioritizes his or her Lincoln Way team over their other team; and (3) the player pays for the season in full prior to his or her first practice or game with Lincoln Way.
Financial Commitment: The Board determines the season fees prior to the start of each season taking into account the cost of practice ice, coach salaries, tournament fees, and league fees. There are no Board Member discounts or multi-player discounts. Payment can be paid in one lump sum or in five separate installments as provided by By-Laws. The first payment includes the fee for tryouts and is due in August prior to the start of tryouts. The remaining due dates are as follows: September 15th, October 15th, November 15th, and January 15th. All payments are due on or before the due date. Payment may be made through the club website, by credit card or e-check. All current sitting Board Members must make payments electronically through the club website. A player’s account will automatically be considered in default when a scheduled payment is more than 7 days late. If this occurs, the financially responsible parent will receive a notice that the account is in default from the Board Treasurer. If, after seven (7) days from the date of notice of default, the player’s account is still in default, and no alternative payment has been arranged with the Board, the player will be immediately suspended from all LWDHC activities. The Board understands that unanticipated life events may arise that affect a club member’s ability to meet their financial obligations in a timely manner. In order to avoid default and the player’s ability to participate in LWDHC activities, it is the club member’s responsibility to approach a Board Member so that alternative arrangements can be made.
Coaches
Qualifications: The coaching staff is hired by the Board. Each member of the coaching staff must be accredited through the USA Hockey. Every member of the coaching staff must sign a contract. All coaches will adhere to Club policies and Code of Conduct.
Expectations: The Hockey Director (if applicable) and the Board shall be responsible for setting clear expectations and team rules to the Head and Assistant Coaches and all players at the beginning of the hockey season. Head Coaches are expected to have two individual player conferences with each player during the hockey season. The first player conference should be an informal discussion held at the beginning of the season to set player goals for the season. The second conference should be more detailed and should occur towards the end of the season. This conference should include a written evaluation over a broad range of skills designed so the player can determine to what extent their goals were met and what is needed to work on for the next season.
Communication: Coaches should always foster an environment where a player can come to any member of the coaching staff with questions or concerns. Coaches have a right to enforce the 24 Hour Rule with respect to parent communication.
Player Expectations
Player Conduct: Players are expected to adhere, at all times, to the LWDHC Code of Conduct as well as the AHAI Code of Conduct.
Equipment: All players must have equipment that fits properly and is in good condition. All helmets must be certified. Neck guards are required. All players must be in full equipment for any practice or game. All players must purchase home and away jerseys through the Club. Players may use the same jerseys year to year, unless the Club issues a new logo or style, so long as the jerseys continue to fit properly. When replacing equipment, particularly helmets, gloves and pants, the Club urges you to purchase BLACK for uniformity.
Number selection: Jersey numbers must be from 1-99. All players are allowed to choose their own jersey numbers so long as the number isn’t taken by a current LWDHC player. Numbers for new players are given on a first come first served basis at registration for spring and fall.
Practices: In order to effectively teach hockey skills and team play, attendance at and participation in twice weekly on-ice practices is mandatory. If a player cannot make it to a practice for any reason, it is the player’s responsibility to inform his or her coach. Full hockey gear is required at all practices (practice jersey, neck guard, mouth guard, etc.)
Game Attire: Players are expected to arrive to games one hour prior to the start of the game. As players are representing Lincoln Way District 210 at all times, it is expected that players will arrive to games in appropriate attire. All players are expected to arrive to games dressed in dress pants or khaki pants, a collared shirt, and Lincoln Way warm up jacket or the dress code of their individual team.
Uniforms: Players are required to bring both black and white jerseys to each game. It is expected that jerseys will be cleaned before each game. Players must have and wear the proper LW hockey socks, matching the jersey worn.
Physicals and waivers: All players are required to submit physical forms, signed by a physician, at the time of registration for the fall season. Physical forms can be downloaded from the Club website. All players must have a signed waiver on file prior to participating in any LWDHC on-ice activity. The waiver can be downloaded from the Club website. A new and separate waiver must be signed by each player/parent before each season (Fall and Spring).
Safe Sport: USA Hockey has mandated that all players during 17 years old on or before December 31 of the current fall season, must complete Safe Sport Training. A player must complete Safe Sport Training prior to August 15 of the current fall season in order to be placed on a LWDHC. More information regarding Safe Sport Training can be found on the Club website.
Parent Expectations
Parent Conduct: Parents and family members are expected to be supportive of all players and coaches, both on and off the ice and refrain from negative or derogatory comments about players, coaches, and officials. The Club reserves the right to bar a parent or spectator temporarily or permanently from LWDHC games or other Club activities if the behavior of that parent or spectator is detrimental to the best interests and goals of the Club. All such cases will be reviewed by the Club’s Rules and Ethics Committee. If an official removes a parent from a game, it is expected that the parent will immediately leave the building without argument. If a parent is removed from an Illinois West game, the Illinois West League may fine the Club $250 per incident. Any parent whose ejection from a game leads to a Club fine will be responsible for payment of said fine.
24-Hour Rule: It is expected that parents will observe the 24 hour rule. The 24-hour rule states that a parent shall wait, at least, 24 hours before contacting a member of the coaching staff with an issue of concern and only after the player has approached the coach first. If, after speaking with the coach, the issue of concern is not resolved, the parent should contact the Hockey Director (if applicable). If the parent does not feel the issue has been satisfactorily resolved, or if there is no Hockey Director, then the parent should contact a Board member.
General Policies
Skaters/Goalies: At no time may any skater/goalie skate with LWDHC for any reason without a signed waiver. Coaches may not allow a non-rostered, non-alumni skaters/goalie to participate in a LWDHC practice, or skate on LWDHC-purchased ice without approval of the Board.
Team Placement/Player Evaluations: Players will be placed on a team appropriate to their skill level based on the Hockey Director (if applicable) and Coaches’ evaluation. Players, especially those who are new to the Club, are strongly encouraged to participate in the Conditioning Sessions leading up to the two evaluation/tryout sessions. All returning players must participate in a minimum of one evaluation/tryout session to be placed on a team. All new skaters/goalies must attend all assigned evaluation sessions in order to be rostered onto a team, unless that skater/goalie has received prior written approval from the Board. An exception will be made for returning LWDHC players that have an injury prohibiting them from taking the ice. In that situation, the coaches will use the player’s performance from the previous LWDHC play for evaluation and team placement.
Teams: The Club’s goal is to field four teams: 1 Varsity and 3 JV (Blue, Red, and Orange) teams so long as numbers permit. The Club may add more teams as necessary and as numbers permit. Varsity and JV Blue participate in the Illinois West Hockey League. JV Red and Orange participate in the North Central Hockey League. Any additional teams will be placed at the level and in the league depending on the skill level of the additional teams. The Board and coaches work diligently to schedule practices and games, where permitted, at reasonable times and at rink locations as near as possible to Lincoln Way High School communities. All information regarding games, practices, and tournaments is posted on the website as soon as the information becomes available.
Team Managers: Each team will have a team manager. The team manager will be responsible for communicating information to the team from the Board and Head Coach. In addition, the team manager will take care of the administrative needs of the team including reporting scores to the league, lining up parent volunteers for the time clock, score sheet, and security, and planning team functions.
Tournaments: Each team typically participates in three (3) tournaments over the course of a season, the cost of which is included in the yearly fees. Costs for gas, hotel, and food are not included in any tournament fees. The coaches will determine and register for which specific tournaments teams will attend. The Board Treasurer is responsible for sending payment for all tournaments in a timely manner. Team managers are responsible for gathering any information needed to complete registration and room assignments for their team. If any team wishes to participate in a tournament above the three (3) Club sanctioned tournaments, the team will be solely responsible for providing prior notification to the Board, registering for the tournament, paying the tournament fee, and securing hotel rooms in accordance with tournament rules.
Fundraisers (updated v1.2): The Board does its best to provide a limited number of sponsored events to its members in order to help reduce overall program cost for the regular season. The Club makes no guarantee as to the number of club-sponsored fundraising events. Participation in fundraising activities is strictly voluntary except for our Hockey Mania cards (For more info: https://www.charitymania.com/hockeymania/).
Each player is responsible for selling (5) $20 Hockey Mania cards and 70% of the sale for these cards goes directly to the club. The club may choose to build the cost of these cards directly into the players hockey fees and would be disclosed during regular season registration. Team managers will be responsible for dispersing the cards to their team along with collecting the stub with name, address, phone, and email written on them to identify winners. The cards are commonly distributed in early December and the first week starts usually right after Christmas.
Annual Banquet: At the end of the fall season, the Board will host an Annual Awards Banquet. This is a special occasion where the players and parents are honored for their participation. Additionally, team representatives and other volunteers are recognized for their efforts. We hope everyone will attend this most enjoyable event. Respective costs for the banquet and any details will be communicated to Club members in advance.
Spring Hockey for Graduating Seniors: As a gift from Lincoln-Way Hockey, all graduating seniors that played in the past regular season and are looking to further their hockey career in college, juniors, or adult leagues, can come out and skate for free with LW Hockey Spring Practice Sessions. No signup necessary. Players must be paid in full for the past season in order to be eligible and will be graduating from a LW High School in the spring.