Coach Selection Process

A Coaching Application Registration will be posted on the Zone M Aces website. Each candidate, Head and Assistant Coach, is required to complete an application online or in writing format. Once the Coaching Application Registration is closed the Zone M Aces Executive will review and discuss each applicant, Head and Assistant Coach, and consider his or her qualifications before the selections begin.

Guiding Principles

Applicant…

• Has the necessary experience and background to effectively coach and positively mentor for the young players they have applied to coach.
• Will contribute to the development of the kids both on and off the ice.
• Is a strong ambassador for the Zone M Ace’s program and the overall goals of the association.
• Will not use coaching as a platform to emphasize their child’s development and enjoyment.
• Has the ability to communicate effectively.
• Is at the appropriate Coaching Level or has the ability to complete the required level.
• Is able to make the time commitment.
• Is willing to accept feedback from the Zone M Ace’s members or other coaches.

If said applicant has previously coached for Zone M Ace’s, his or her previous Coach Survey results will be reviewed and considered.

Any Zone M Ace’s executive member that is being considered for a Head Coaching position will not participate in the voting of the applicants within their applied level.

If there are no Head Coach Applicants for a team, Assistant Coach Applicants will be considered for the position and will be communicated with about the change before announcing to the members. If a suitable Head Coach candidate is not found, the Zone M Ace’s Executive will search for a qualified volunteer.

When there are more than two applicants seeking the same Head Coach position a coaching interview will take place unless a majority vote is made during coach selection meetings. 

Please Note: A Head Coach applicant will not be considered when his/her player is evaluated within a draft bubble (See Saskatoon Aces Draft Policy) unless all other coaching applicants are exhausted and/or the player falls to the lower Division in which case the Coaching selection process will be reinitiated. Additionally, applicants will not be notified of their players draft standing until such time as they are eligible to become a Head Coach of his/her team. This stipulation is undertaken in order to preserve the integrity of the team selection process.

Once voting is completed, coaching selections are considered final.

If, after being selected, a selected Head Coach resigns, then the person receiving the next highest number of votes will be determined to be selected. In the event of a tie the Zone M Ace’s Executive will select from those with the tied vote. In the event that the runner up is not available to fill the head coaching position then next person with the higher votes will be selected.

Head Coach Notification

Selected Head Coaches will be notified verbally by an Executive Member of the Zone M Ace’s at the end of tryouts for the level their child is competing in.

Once the selected Head Coach accepts the position, the Zone M Ace’s Executive will share the player evaluations from the tryout sessions in order for the new Head Coach to be able to help select their roster per the team selection process.

Head Coaches selection and Team selections will be posted on the Zone M Ace’s website after finalization of the selection process. Members will be notified via e-mail and social media, if applicable.

Assistant Coach Selection

The Head Coach will be responsible for selecting Assistant Coaches.

All Assistant Coach applicants are subject to Head Coach and Saskatoon Zone Ace's approval and the criteria listed under the Head Coach selection process.