SCRA Universal Athletic Assessment (UAA) Guideline Revision 1: 20-Jul-16

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1 SCRA Universal Athletic Assessment (UAA) Guideline Revision 1: 20-Jul-16 A. Introduction: For the upcoming season, South Calgary Ringette Association (SCRA) is facilitating Universal Athlete Assessment (UAA) testing as required by Ringette Alberta (RAB). The intent of UAA is as follows: Become the first step in the SCRA U10 U14 evaluation process. To provide an unbiased quantitative measure baseline of the athletes skill for future development purposes. UAA will be used to establish appropriate start of season tiering levels for U10, U12 and U14 for the season and replace the current tiering formulas for U12 U14 and be used alongside the current U10 guideline to assist in team formation. B. Background: UAA is a series of standard, timed tests of an individual s technical skill (primarily skating) which, when used to create team average test results, will help improve competitive equity between teams across Alberta at the start the season. UAA is part of the RAB Skills Testing Protocol (STP) and is based on the Ringette Technical Skills Matrix for the Learn to Train and Train to Train stages in the Ringette Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Framework. Directly from the RAB website The protocol can be easily applied by any association in a timely fashion to objectively and consistently assess athlete s core ringette skills. There are no evaluators required. All measurement is conducted objectively by either measuring how fast? or how many? therefore those running the testing sessions are not evaluating skill but rather simply recording results. There is less experience required of those running the test session and little room for real or perceived bias. The UAA program was first introduced in the 2013/14 ringette season and officially piloted in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons. From Ringette Alberta (RAB), the program was conceived to accomplish the following objectives: Primary: 1. To help associations group athletes by stage. 2. To replace the team tiering formula for age groups U10, U12 and U14. Secondary: 3. To reduce the ice time required to complete the start of the season assessment in order to allow for more practice before games commence. 4. To eliminate the need for and cost of external evaluators since they would not be necessary in an entirely objective assessment protocol. 5. To reduce or eliminate real or perceived bias in athlete assessment to subsequently reduce or eliminate assorted drama and impactor on valuable volunteers. 1

2 Results of the two pilot seasons were presented at the 2016 RAB AGM. A report summarizing the results of the pilot testing, and UAA results applicability to tiering is available on the RAB website. C. Use in Evaluations: For the upcoming season, the UAA testing will be completed as the first step in the U10 U14 evaluation process. Past seasons used the first ice time of every evaluation to assess the athlete s base skills (skating, shooting and passing), ahead of any game play evaluations. This was often fraught with challenges due to non-standard drill set, large numbers of athletes on ice at once and limited drill participation by athletes, all subjecting evaluators with the potential for significant bias. With UAA focused upon four sterilized timed stations, these challenges are removed and a true skill based (quantitative) evaluation for each athlete can be completed. This way a true apples to apples comparison can occur. The results of the UAA will be used to seed athletes for further evaluations (game play). UAA also has the potential use in evaluation process by helping to: balance team formation if there are multiple teams in a division level. assist in the selection process of bubble players. Refer to the evaluations policy for more information on the use of UAA in the evaluations process. D. Testing Stations: Four UAA timed stations are utilized in the testing. They are as follows: Station 1: Forward & Backward Speed Skate Station 2: Agility Weave with a Ring Station 3: Parallel Start & Stop Station 4: Butterfly Transitional Skate Details of these tests can be found on the RAB website: For the upcoming season, UAA testing for the following stations has been mandated by RAB: AS1 & AS2: No UAA testing required. U10 (Step Program): All timed events Stations 1, 2 & 3 (exclusive of the Station 4: Butterfly Transitional Skate) U12 U14 (and U14AA): All timed events Stations 1-4 > U14: No UAA testing required. 2

3 E. Scheduling: The evaluations coordinator will facilitate the scheduling of UAA sessions to accommodate the mandated RA timelines. F. Ice Requirements: The estimated ice needs for each UAA testing session is based upon the target group size, as follows: Target group size is based upon a 1 (one) hour ice session; - Group sizes can be increased by 30% for a 1.25 hour session - Ice session includes a 10 minute athlete warm-up G. Materials & Equipment Required: The following equipment is needed for each UAA session. Stopwatches 6 Whistle - 1 Clipboards - 7 Pens - 24 Spray Paint or Bingo Markers 6 cans / markers Measuring Tape (100 ) - 3 Rope 100 Small Cones - 12 Warm-up cones - 10 Rings - 10 Athlete Score Sheet 1 per station/ + extras Station information package 1 per station / 2 extras Marshal information package 1 per Marshal / 1 extra UAA coordinator package 1 / 1 extra Whiteboard (for station layout) 1 large 3

4 H. Volunteer Needs: To ensure proper safety and quality control of UAA testing, dedicated volunteer positions are recommended to support the required testing stations: These positions: will fulfill volunteer credits. will replace the need for evaluators previously needed for the initial skills focused ice session. 4

5 I. Athlete Testing: Testing requires a controlled and coordinated effort by supervisors and the parent volunteers. Coordination of the sessions ensures the safety of all participants and ensures the data collected is of the highest potential integrity. Each on ice session will be facilitated by a UAA coordinator. The coordinator will be responsible for the following; - Volunteer orientation, incl: o Safety, Ice layout o Key execution points o Creating a positive experience for the athletes o Distribution of the station info packages and record sheets o Distribution of the station marshal packages - Introduction to the athletes, warm-up and allocating athletes to stations - Time keeping and maintenance of schedule - Collection of record sheets Station Marshals are tasked with the following; - Aid and check the quality of station layout - Answer technical execution questions from stations - Ensure that data is collected / measured in the required manner. - Ensure that data is recorded in the required manner. Volunteers will be assigned to stations following the orientation. Each station will be provided with a station information package, required supplies and a station record sheet. Volunteers will be asked to set up the station while the athlete warm-up is taking place. Full information on the testing protocol and requirements can be found on the RA website. J. Data Handling & Communication: UAA data is required by multiple recipients both within and outside of the SCRA. 1. In September, immediate needs for UAA data are from the Evaluation Coordinator to progress into game based evaluations. The UAA Coordinator (or delegate) will collect, compile and submit a copy of UAA information to age group coordinators as soon as possible after each ice session is completed. 2. On or before September 23 the compiled UAA data needs to be submitted to Ringette Alberta in the required format. The UAA Coordinator (or delegate) will be responsible for this submission. K. Contact: If there are any questions relating to this guideline, please contact the SCRA UAA Coordinator at uaa@southcalgaryringette.com. 5