Universal Athlete Assessment

UAA testing is ONLY intended to improve team match ups in the first half of the season. Other factors such as quality of coaching, quality of program, appropriate ice time, an appropriate balance of training to competition and things as simple as individual effort will all affect how well teams do over the course of the season. No comparison between start of season UAA results and end of season competitive equity should be made.

In the past, teams were tiered based on a formula that assumed associations would have a predictable number of teams at various levels every season. This has not always been the most reliable way to assign teams to levels (tiers) and therefore match teams for competitive equity.

There were far too many lopsided games between teams that were supposed to be at the same level. There is no developmental benefit for having these meaningless, lopsided games and they were certainly not helping our sport keep players in the game.

U10, U12 and U14

In the earlier years, (U10, U12, and U14) the largest factor differentiating players from one another is how far along each is in skating development. While skating ability will always be the primary foundation for success in ringette, as the differences in skating ability become narrower in later years, other factors increase in significance making, we assume, the UAA results less reliable.

This is an assumption however as we haven’t tested this. Perhaps with some experience with the younger groups for a few years, we’ll do some research into how UAA may be used for the older groups.

The existing tiering policy remains in effect. What was done in previous seasons will continue.

 

• U10s complete 4 tests. U12s and U14s complete 5 tests.
  • Speed test forward with stabbing the ring
  • Speed test backward no ring
  • Stop and Start no ring
  • Agility Weave with ring
  • Butterfly (U12 and U14 only) no ring
• The time it takes to compete each test is recorded. There are multiple trials for each drill / test.
• The times for the tests are recorded for each player
• The local association creates teams, see question “If an association has multiple teams at a particular division, e.g., U12, how does it know how many teams at each level to form?”
• The results for the entire association are submitted to Ringette Alberta
• For each division (U10, U12 and U14), Ringette Alberta examines the total average score for every team. Teams with higher overall average scores will be tiered higher than teams with lower overall average scores.

Ringette Alberta has produced a video that includes seven tests. At the time the video was produced, there were passing and shooting tests included. These are no longer used as part of UAA testing so you can ignore them. The remaining tests are unchanged.

 

 

The video produced by Ringette Alberta gives clear directions on:

 

• how to set up each test
• how to run each test properly
• how to perform each test correctly

The video also provides key points for each test explains what happens when players fall, have false starts, etc.

These tests are all hand-timed. Hand timing has proven to be sufficiently reliable to address the competitive equity goal of UAA. Hand timing has a higher error rate than electronic timing systems, however, analysis of the data from the pilot project showed hand timing had no adverse effect on the reliability of the results.

Hand timing was chosen for its simplicity and cost compared to electronic timing systems.

The information is collected by your local ringette association throughout its test schedule. All the data is then submitted by your association to Ringette Alberta. No individual results are shared by Ringette Alberta. Only overall team average is shared with member associations.

Yes and No. No one will force your child to participate in the testing however there are consequences (see question 27) for not completing the testing that you should be aware of.

Firstly, you should consider this testing to be as important as any other assessment/evaluation sessions your association may offer. Every effort should be made to have your child attend.

The tests are universal meaning they are the exact same drills for all applicable age groups in every association in Alberta. This means that, in rare circumstances and only with prior alternative arrangements made with your association, your child may attend a different test session within your association or even in a different association if absolutely necessary.

Failing to attend may affect which team your child is placed on (if your association uses UAA results in whole or in part for placing individual players on teams) and depending on how many players miss testing these absences will have significant consequences. Please take attendance seriously.

It may. Check with your association.

The athlete needs to be quick but in control. If an athlete falls during a test, they must get up quickly and continue. The time will be recorded as is; there is no “do-over”. The trial is to be completed and the time recorded.

It is important to note that every test includes multiple trials so that a slow time, based on a fall, will be mitigated. If an athlete falls multiple times, this is an indicator of her level of awareness of the appropriate trade-off between control and speed.

Every U10, U12, and U14 team must have 80% of its players tested.

If the team falls below this target, the team will automatically be placed in the next highest level within their division. For example, if a team that does not meet the 80% threshold has a team average that would make that team a B team, the team will be required to start the season at A.

If an association does not submit its testing data by the required timeline ALL teams in that association will be prohibited from attending sanctioned tournaments (U10s) or playdowns and provincials (U12, U14, U16, U19, Open)

The members of Ringette Alberta (the local associations) are overwhelmingly in favour of this method to improve competitive equity. For this method to work, all associations must get on board and that means ensuring the testing is done. If enough associations don’t bother to meet the requirements and timelines, leagues and tournaments cannot proceed with any scheduling.

Please note: testing IS NOT a team responsibility. Ensuring the testing is complete and submitted as required is the responsibility of those at the highest level of management within each association. This means your local association’s Board is responsible for ensuring these requirements are met for the benefit of all of its players.

Analysis of the data from the pilot project, showed there IS a strong correlation between how individual athletes tested and what teams they were placed on however, most associations preferred not to use the UAA testing as the only measure.

Additionally, when Ringette Canada’s Athlete Development Matrix is complete, it will provide us a more comprehensive guide on what benchmarks are appropriate to use to place athletes in training groups. Until that time, Ringette Alberta has no requirement that any standardized tests are used for placing individuals on teams.

Check with your association to determine if / how UAA results impact placing individuals on teams.

This depends on your association. You should check with them directly to understand how / if UAA is a factor in team formation.

• Some may use it as their only measure to form teams.
• Others will use it in addition to other data to form teams.
• Still others may not use it at all and rely solely on other measures.