Skills Matrix
The goal of the Sport Development Committee is to ensure that every player in the U8, U9, and U10 age groups in Ontario are evaluated using the attached Skills Matrix. There are four stages and progressions of skill development. Understanding the stages of skill development is necessary for coaches and parents to ensure an athlete acquires skills in the proper order. The following terms used in the Skills Matrix explain the stages of skill development that a Ringette player will progress through when learning technical skills.
The Skills Matrix uses a grading system numbered 1 to 4.
1 |
Initiation |
-First contact with the skill
Training Emphasis: Basic stances and positions. Getting the idea of what the movements are about and look like. |
2 |
Acquisition |
-The athlete can coordinate and execute key components in the correct order.
-Timing of the skill lacks synchronism, rhythm, and flow.
-The athlete needs to think about what they are doing during the execution of the skill.
Training Emphasis: Global Execution and general form of movement. |
3 |
Consolidation |
-Performance is inconsistent but movement is starting to show coordination.
-Skill is performed with rhythm under stable conditions.
-Some elements of performance are maintained (when the athlete is under pressure, conditions change or demands increase).
Training Emphasis: Maintaining the form and movements and some performance consistency under a variety of conditions under stress. |
4 |
Refinement |
-Performance is very consistent and precision is high in demanding conditions.
-Movements are automated with only minor fine-tuning necessary.
-Critical reflection and correction is possible by the athlete.
Training Emphasis: Creating conditions that stress the specific elements that need adjustments. |
Each association with teams participating in the above age groups will be required to conduct an evaluation for each player using the skills matrix. The evaluations will then be used in the formation of teams.
In the event an association is going to ice two or more teams in the U9/U10 division, the players must first be divided by age to determine if there are a sufficient number of players registered to meet the Viable Team Guidelines, as set out in the ORA Operating Manual.
If there is an insufficient number of players in one age group, the player evaluations must be used to form a combined team based on the following ranking formula, regardless of the age.
Skills Matrix Templates
