Ontario Ringette Skills Matrix

What Is The Skills Matrix?

The Skills Matrix is a set of evaluations that allows coaches and associations to identify areas of strength and skill development for individual athletes, teams, and associations for age divisions U12 (Provincial and Regional), U10, U9, and U8.

Why Do We Need To Do This?

The Skills Matrix Evaluations allow:

  • Athletes to be appropriately placed on teams where they can develop collaboratively under the direction of coaches
  • Coaches to target areas of skill development in order to increase the proficiency of their athletes
  • Associations to develop on-ice programming to address widespread areas of improvement (e.g., power-skating, passing and/or shooting clinics, etc.)
  • Regions and Leagues to ensure the appropriate placement of athletes on teams and teams in loops or tournament groups

What Does Each Association Need To Do?

Ensure that every player in the U12, U10, U9, and U8 age groups in Ontario are evaluated using the Skills Matrix below.  The results of these evaluations are then used to help with Team formation, balancing of teams and are required on all TRF forms.

Fall Skills Matrix evaluations are to be completed by October 20th and submitted to your Regional Sport Development Coordinator by October 31st.

Spring Skills Matrix evaluations are to be completed by March 31st and submitted to your Regional Sport Development Coordinator by March 31st.

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 Skills Matrix uses a grading system numbered 1 to 4:

  1. Initiation– First contact with the skill
  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.
  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.
  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.

In the event an association is going to ice two or more teams in an age group, the Skills Matrix scores for each player should be used to help balance the 2 teams (the exception being U12P which will follow the horizontal team selection process).

Skills Matrix Video

The ORA has put together videos of the Skills being evaluated by the Skills Matrices to assist associations when preparing their evaluators.  Please refer your volunteers to the Ontario Ringette YouTube page to access the Skills Matrix Videos.

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWGddPSY6p6_X8wQqe1csPw

Skills Matrix Templates

  • Skills Matrix – U8 & U9
  • Skills Matrix – U10 & U12

How To Run Skills Matrix Evaluations 

  • U8-U9 Skills Matrix Drill Outline
  • U10-U12 Skills Matrix Drill Outline
  • U8-U9 Drill Diagram
  • U10-U12 Drill Diagram
  • Skills Matrix Evaluation Tip Sheet