PLAYER Skill Level
BEGINNER: The First Part
1 = This is your very first time playing hockey. You have no game experience, never been on skates before and wondering if you should use a right or left handed stick.
2 = You have no organized hockey experience, but do have basic skating skills, you are able to skate forward and do a basic stop. You have little or no stick-handling abilities.
3 = You have taken a few classes or clinics, but have never played on a team. You have basic skating skills and stick-handling abilities.
NOVICE: A Person New To A Field Or Activity
4 = You have played on a team and you are currently learning rules of play, positioning, and beginning to learn incorporation of stick handling with skating skills.
5 = You have mastered basic skating skills, and are undertaking intermediate skating skills (crossovers, forward/backward transitions), progressing with basic puck handling, passing and shooting, have a basic understanding of rules of play.
INTERMEDIATE: Occurring Between Two Extremes
6 = You are comfortable with basic stick handling and passing, you focus on mastering intermediate skating skills, improving passing and shooting. You are learning strategic concepts such as breakouts, face offs, power plays and penalty killing.
7 = You are confident with intermediate skating skills, solid passing, and are developing your shot. You are learning to execute strategic concepts and structured plays, developing the ability to apply advanced concepts in game situations.
8 = You are confident with intermediate skating skills and have a few basic stick-handling moves developed. You are comfortable playing either defense and forward.
INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED: Somewhere Up There
9 = You have mastered intermediate skating skills, are confident in your stick handling abilities. You have a thorough understanding of the game, and have the ability to execute plays.
10 = You have excellent skating and puck handling abilities, consistently execute plays, and finally have a few moves.
ADVANCED: At a Higher Level Than Others
11 = You've mastered advanced skating skills and your mitts are silky smooth. You can nearly always put the puck where you want it. You know the game inside and out.
12 = You have mastered all of the above, and have played junior/college/university/pro hockey within the last 5 years.
GOALIE SKILL LEVEL:
BEGINNER: The first part. You are brand new to organized hockey.
1 = This is your very first time playing hockey. You have no game experience, never been on skates before and are learning to put on the gear. Maybe a little afraid getting hit with hard shots.
2 = You have no ice hockey experience, but have played goalie in ball hockey/road hockey before. Skating is fairly new to you.
3 = You have no organized hockey experience, but do have basic skating skills, you are able to skate forward and do a basic stop. You have no formal goaltending training or technical play.
NOVICE: A Person New To A Field Or Activity
4 = You have played forward or defence and are confident on player skates, but goaltending is a new position for you. You are working on goalie skating and technical skills (T-push, shuffle, stance, angles, challenging the shooter, c-cut forward and backwards)
5= You have played goalie for a few seasons, but never had any goalie specific training or practice. Your style is not technical, you just stop pucks. Slap shots may still be kind of scary.
6= You have played on a team as a goalie, and you are beginning to learn some goalie skating and technical skills (T-push, shuffle, stance, challenging the shooter, c-cut forward and backwards). You may need to lean on your leg to get up from a butterfly.