Operational Committees
Overview
Hockey Alberta uses Operational Committees to administer, service and support the game of hockey. Volunteers provide service to member Minor Hockey Associations (MHAs), Leagues, and customers (players/ parents) through the interpretation of regulations and completion of administrative tasks (such as registration, scheduling, and discipline). Our volunteers play an integral role in ensuring that members, leagues, and participants receive the support they need, and experience high quality and efficient programming and services.
The listing of Operational Committees, and an outline of their responsibilities, goals and objectives is included here for your reference.
The Role of Operational Committees
Under the direction and leadership of Hockey Alberta’s Management, Operational Committees are charged with providing service to member MHAs, Leagues, and customers (players/ parents). Each Operational Committee has a Terms of Reference that outlines its key responsibilities, goals and objectives.
In addition to their day-to-day duties, Operational Committees are tasked with reviewing processes and procedures and recommending changes to enhance the structure and system of amateur hockey. From time to time, committees will be charged with responding to proposed changes, objectives and/ or actions that have been identified by Hockey Alberta’s Management. In completing their work, each committee will work in accordance with all Hockey Alberta Bylaws, Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
Committees are tasked with engaging and communicating regularly with the stakeholders the committee serves. Committees must understand the overall hockey landscape, how it applies to stakeholders, and how potential changes impact the stakeholders.
Volunteer Applications and Appointments
Each Operational Committee’s Terms of Reference outlines positions included in the committee, as well as the length of terms everyone serves in a specific position. Volunteers are appointed to committees by Hockey Alberta’s Management. Annually, Hockey Alberta completes a volunteer renewal process, as well as accepts applications from new individuals that are interested in serving on an Operational Committee.
To apply to be considered for a volunteer position with Hockey Alberta, use the Volunteer Application Form link:
Screening and Conduct
All Hockey Alberta volunteers must complete a background check through MyBackcheck.com and a Conflict-of-Interest declaration. All Hockey Alberta volunteers must act in accordance with the Vision, Mission and Core Values of Hockey Alberta. Hockey Alberta’s Core Values are:
- Integrity – do the right thing for the right reasons.
- Community – make a difference for all Albertans.
- Collaboration – work together to win together.
- Innovation – be curious, courageous, and creative.
- Passion – fuels our why, drives our what.
Volunteer Recognition and Development
Hockey Alberta is committed to the development of our volunteers, both as a person and in their volunteer roles. Hockey Alberta dedicates specific time for the training, education and development of volunteers through seminars and meetings each year. Hockey Alberta appreciates and recognizes volunteers with gifting, service awards, and social activities.
- Officiating Committee
- Minor Discipline Committee
- Minor Administration Committee
- MHA Liaison Committee
- U11 AA Committee
- Minor Leagues Committee
- Player Safety Committee
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee
- Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame Committee
- Elite Hockey Committee
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Deliver the Hockey Canada Officiating Program (HCOP), training officials;
- Establish, and activate on, a recruitment plan to engage new people as officials;
- Establish, and activate on, an official’s development plan to support, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate officials;
- Provide service to leagues, member organizations and other stakeholders regarding the training, development, and supervision of officials;
- Establish standards, an officials’ code of conduct, and conduct management processes, and investigate and adjudicate on discipline for officials;
- Lead and guide the regional sub-committees to ensure they are properly resourced and functioning effectively;
- Supervise and classify officials for upgrades within the HCOP levels;
- Select and appoint officials for provincial, regional and national championship games/events, as requested;
- Track the accomplishments of Hockey Alberta officials and report to Management;
- Ensure communication and consultation with other HA committees in developing and determining recommendations for improving the game.
Officiating – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Provide service to members, clients and stakeholders through the interpretation of Regulations;
- Establish regular communication with MHA’s and Leagues and provide support on discipline processes;
- Communicate with League governors to solicit information and/ or receive reports of issues or concerns;
- Complete indefinite suspension processes, as outlined in the Minor Discipline Coordinator job description;
- Monitor, approve and track exhibition game, tournament and travel sanctioning requests;
- Monitor, administer and track disciplinary action for violations of playing rules and regulations;
- Receive and liaise with Staff Lead to review Carry Over Suspension and Suspension Deferral requests;
- Annually evaluate the discipline processes and recommend changes, as needed.
Minor Discipline – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Provide service to members, clients and stakeholders through the interpretation of Regulations;
- Establish regular communication with MHA’s and provide support on registration processes;
- Communicate with MHA registrars to solicit information and/ or receive reports of issues or concerns;
- Monitor and approve Player and Team Official transfers and registration in the HCR;
- Monitor and complete Affiliations and Team Approvals in the HCR;
- Receive and liaise with Staff Lead to review Overage Player and Oversize Team requests;
- Annually evaluate the registration processes and recommend changes, as needed.
Minor Administration – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Provide mentorship and guidance to MHA Executive Members;
- Guide MHAs to ensure compliance with the requirements of being a Hockey Alberta Member MHA;
- Guide MHAs to ensure compliance with the requirements of being a registered non-profit society;
- Guide MHA’s on Bylaw, Regulation and Policy development and amendment;
- Guide MHAs to ensure compliance with Hockey Alberta Member Standards;
- Guide MHA’s on meeting structure and effective / efficient meeting etiquette;
- Educate MHA’s about best practices, and other tools and resources available to them;
- Communicate regularly with MHA’s to share information and gather feedback.
Terms of Reference
MHA Liaison – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Provide service to members, clients and stakeholders through the interpretation of Regulations;
- Encourage development opportunities for Players, Coaches, Teams and MHA’s;
- Establish regular communication with Teams and MHA’s and provide support related to operating standards;
- Establish a communications protocol for Teams and MHA’s to solicit information and/ or report issues or concerns;
- Establish a conflict resolution process that fairly and effectively engages necessary committee members with Teams or MHA’s to work through issues for the betterment of the players within the league;
- Set and operate Regular Season League schedules based on the League Policies and Procedures;
- Implement rules and procedures for how the league operates day to day (i.e. - game times, tie-breaking procedures, etc.);
- Administer Discipline in accordance with Hockey Alberta Regulations for conduct and playing rule violations;
- Coordinate Playoffs to determine Regional and/ or Provincial Champions for the defined Divisions and Categories;
- Review submissions from Members and/ or recommend the reduction or addition of Teams, as well as the structure of any Draw Zone or Recruitment Areas;
- Host League meetings to engage the members to discuss the game and provide feedback on recommendations for change;
- Annually evaluate the U11 AA hockey model and recommend changes (as needed).
U11 AA – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Provide service to members , clients and stakeholders through the interpretation of Regulations;
- Establish an implement standardized operating directives, regulations and/ or policies across all tiered Minor Hockey Leagues;
- Set and operate Regular Season League schedules based on the Alberta ONE directives, policies and procedures;
- Implement rules and procedures for how the league operates day to day (i.e. - game times, tie-breaking procedures, etc.);
- Administer Discipline in accordance with Hockey Alberta Regulations for conduct and playing rule violations;
- Coordinate Playoffs to determine Provincial Champions for the defined Divisions and Categories;
- Host League meetings to engage the members to discuss the game and provide feedback on recommendations for change;
- Communicate with MHAs to solicit information and/ or receive reports of issues or concerns;
- Annually evaluate the tiered Minor Hockey structure and recommend changes, as needed.
Minor Leagues – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Promote a culture of player safety while balancing the spirit of the game.
- Review current health, wellness, and safety trends and their possible relationship to amateur hockey.
- Establish protocols to ensure the experience around hockey is safe and fun (player, parent, coaches).
- Review screening processes related to safety, health and wellness.
- Establish, promote, and support best practices in injury prevention and return to play protocols.
- Establish, promote, and support an implementation plan to educate and inform associations, teams, coaches and parents.
Player Safety – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Promote a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion while balancing the spirit of the game.
- Review current environmental and societal trends and their possible relationship to amateur hockey, and advise on potential solutions and next steps to help mitigate or support the trends.
- dentify best practices to ensure the experience within hockey is equitable, inclusive, safe and fun.
- Review, understand and highlight the experiences of players related to inclusion including factors that contribute to negative experience, prejudices, and feelings of exclusion (i.e.; discrimination, racism, harassment, bullying etc.).
- Establish an implementation plan to educate and inform associations, teams, coaches and parents about concepts, processes and best practices related to equity, diversity and inclusion.
EDI – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Proactively seek out nominations for the Alberta Hockey Hall of Fame for consideration on an annual basis;
- Review and suggest changes to the AHHF nomination, selection and induction policy on a regular basis;
- Identify, recruit, review and select candidates from the Nominations received for AHHF Induction as per established policy;
- Provide advice and guidance on the AHHF Induction event and support the event through attendance and promotion to potential sponsors and supporters;
- Provide advice and guidance on the AHHF Gallery plan;
- Provide advice and guidance on any projects or initiatives related to the celebration of Alberta’s Hockey History;
- To establish sub-committees with defined purposes and ensure they are properly functioning and resourced.
AHHF – Volunteer Job Descriptions
Key Responsibilities, Goals and Objectives:
- Provide service to members, clients and stakeholders through the interpretation of Regulations;
- Encourage development opportunities for Players, Coaches, Teams and MHA’s;
- Establish regular communication with Teams and MHA’s and provide support related to operating standards;
- Establish a communications protocol for Teams and MHA’s to solicit information and/ or report issues or concerns;
- Establish a conflict resolution process that fairly and effectively engages necessary committee members with Teams or MHA’s to work through issues for the betterment of the players within the league;
- Set and operate Regular Season League schedules based on the League Policies and Procedures;
- Implement rules and procedures for how the league operates day to day (i.e. - game times, tie-breaking procedures, etc.);
- Administer Discipline in accordance with Hockey Alberta Regulations for conduct and playing rule violations;
- Coordinate Playoffs to determine Provincial Champions for the defined Divisions and Categories;
- Review submissions from Members and/ or recommend the reduction or addition of Teams, as well as the structure of any Draw Zone or Recruitment Areas;
- Host League meetings to engage the members to discuss the game and provide feedback on recommendations for change;
- Annually evaluate the AA and AAA hockey models and recommend changes (as needed).
Elite Hockey Committee – Volunteer Job Descriptions
