Armstrong Arrows Tryout Information

The Armstrong Arrows tryouts will take place at The Belmont Complex in Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

AAHL will adhere to all policies of USA Hockey, Mid-Am And PAHL in regards to tryout dates.

 ***TRYOUTS ARE CLOSED TO SPECTATORS***

Tryouts are closed to all spectators at all age levels except 8U/Mite. A parent or guardian is permitted to assist their player with equipment at the 10U and 12U age group but must leave the Belmont Complex prior to their player’s tryout beginning.

WHAT IS THE TRYOUT REGISTRATION PROCESS?

Our registration system is provided by AAHL Website/Crossbar Platform. You must have an ID (email address) and password to access our registration system. If you are a returning player, you will need to retrieve your ID and password from last year. If you are new to the Arrows, you may need to create a new ID and password.

In order to be eligible to participate in AAHL tryouts, a player must complete an ONLINE registration form that provides general family information, player information, USA hockey registration number, history of playing, team(s) trying out for, etc. Each application must be accompanied by an online non-refundable payment for the Registration / Tryout Fee. No cash or check payments will be accepted. All players will pay by credit card or ACH (bank account) withdrawal for tryouts. All players must register via the website – all payments must be made prior to taking the ice on the first night of tryouts.

Obtain a 2024-2025 USA Hockey number after April 1st at: www.usahockeyregistration.com. With your USAH number, go to https://www.armstrongarrows.com/  and click on the Program Tab along the top of the menu bar and select the program that you are registering for, then follow the instructions for registration.

If a player attends tryouts for a National Bound Team and is not offered a position, he/she can attend the Non-National Bound Team tryout for $5 registration fee.

• Every player must have current medical insurance to participate. Player parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible in making sure that this item is covered prior to tryouts and/or any team participation. 
• Any earned credits from the previous season cannot be used for the tryout fee or commitment fee. Once teams are established any credits will be applied to the remaining season fee balance.  

REGISTRATION / TRYOUT FEES:

All prior Season balances must be paid in full before a player may be permitted to tryout

10U-18U & Girls: EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT $100.00 Prior to March 15th. Tryout Fee after March 15th: $150.00

Goaltender (All Teams) Tryout Fee: $5.00

8U Registration Fee: $25.00

Li'l Arrows In-House Program Registration Fee: $25.00

IS THERE A COMMITMENT FEE? HOW MUCH IS IT? WHEN WILL IT HAVE TO BE PAID?

Commitment Fee will be automatically charged to your account via credit card or bank account (ACH) once tryouts are complete and you have accepted a position on the team.  If the player declines his placement within the posted timeframe, there will be no further financial obligation to AAHL. When a player accepts a position on a team by not declining in the timeframe outlined at time of team posting, you are obligated to pay the Commitment Fee, which will be applied towards your season fees. All payments are non-refundable.

Commitment Fees: 

National Bound & Non-National Bound Teams - $400.00

8U/Mite - $100.00

Li'l Arrows In-House Program - $100.00

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO TRYOUTS?

Players should arrive at the rink 60 minutes prior to each session and check in at the registration table - please bring: 

• TWO jerseys to every session - one Dark and one White. These jerseys should be unmarked. No names and no emblems of PAHL, PIHL, or AAA teams are permitted at tryouts. Please also remove identifying pants shells and socks for tryouts.
• Full USA Hockey equipment including neck guard and mouthpiece. 

WHAT IF A SESSION IS MISSED FOR ANY REASON (I.E ILLNESS, INJURY, ETC)?

You should plan on attending all tryout sessions for your level. The more time a player is evaluated, the more accurate that player will be placed. However, it is understood that problems can arise, and if you find yourself in that position, please contact the AAHL Hockey Director as soon as possible so we are aware of your absence. The selection will be based on whatever information is available from any sessions that were completed and evaluated.

If a player is going to miss all or part of tryouts, due to injury or illness, the player must still register and pay the tryout fee. The tryout committee will make every effort to place the player on a team with like skilled players.

WHAT IF A PLAYER WANTS TO TRYOUT AT A DIFFERENT AGE LEVEL?

The AAHL philosophy of player development is that it is usually best for all players to play within their respective age group. However, in special circumstances a player may benefit from participating in a higher age group. Requests to play “up” must be in writing to the AAHL Board of Directors before tryouts of the upcoming season. Players are only permitted to tryout one (1) birth year higher (example – a 2nd year squirt could tryout for peewee, but a 1st year squirt is ineligible to tryout for peewee). A player that wishes to move upward in age classification, must score in the top 1/3 of all player’s tryout evaluation scores at the higher age classification to be moved up. 8U/Mite players are not eligible to play “up” by PAHL & Mid-Am rules. They must play at the 8U level.

The AAHL Board of directors may, at its discretion, move players upward in age classification in order to achieve a balanced team population. Such Board decisions will be made in conjunction with and on the recommendation of coaches, with parent’s approval.

WHO WILL BE PRESENT DURING TRYOUTS AND TEAM SELECTIONS?

The evaluators for that age level and the tryout committee. Any evaluator or tryout committee member that has a player that is trying out for the Armstrong Arrows will not be permitted to participate in the tryouts and team selection of any age level that their player is trying out for.

HOW WILL TEAM SELECTIONS BE DETERMINED?

After the final session of each level, the evaluator's scores will be totaled. Player selection is determined by the players overall scores throughout the course of tryouts. The evaluator's scores from ALL nights are used to determine a player’s placement on a team. 

8U EVALUATIONS ONLY

8U/Mite players will attend registration skates in March and April. During the fall, team assignments are made after approximately 4 weeks of practice based on the players skill levels. During the season, players will continue to be evaluated and be moved up or down as appropriate to promote growth of the player. The Armstrong Arrows will field Red, White and Blue Teams.

WHO WILL HAVE THE PLAYER'S SCORES AND WILL THEY BE MADE PUBLIC?

The Tryout Committee will retain all scores and notes. The scores will not be made public.

WHEN WILL THE SELECTION RESULTS BE AVAILABLE/ WHERE CAN WE SEE THEM?

Tryout numbers of the players that made a team will be posted on the AAHL Website. Offers are typically made within 48 hours after your final tryout date. The tryout committee does reserves the right to withhold team selection until a future date based on factors such as more time needed to evaluate the data or low participant turnout for a particular team tryout.

HOW DO I ACCEPT OR DECLINE A TEAM POSITION?

Once the offer has been made, you will have 24 hours to accept or decline the offer.

If a position is offered and you choose to decline the position before the established deadline, there will be no further financial obligation to AAHL.

If you do not respond within the established deadline, your player is deemed as accepting a position on the team. The non-refundable commitment fee will be charged, which will be applied toward your player’s season fees. 

An offer email will be provided to set up payment options for the season. You will be able to pay in full or use our monthly payment plan for the season via credit card or bank deposit (ACH). Monthly payment plan will begin on June 1^st. 

WHAT IS AN ALTERNATE PLAYER AND HOW WILL THEY BE PLACED?

A skater is considered an “Alternate" when their tryout score results place them as the last player to a higher team or first player on the next team down at the same age level. The alternate player will be listed on the higher team as an alternate and as a player on the lower team. The offer is made for the player on the lower team. If the player accepts that position, he/she could be moved to the higher team if a spot becomes available.

SUPPLEMENTAL TRYOUTS

AAHL reserves the right to hold supplemental tryouts to fill any & all open roster positions post open tryouts.

PLEASE NOTE

Numerous volunteers spend many hours organizing tryouts. We conduct the best and fairest tryouts, evaluations and placements we can. Please remember that no process is perfect. If you have any concerns regarding the process, we encourage you to bring them to the attention of the Tryout Coordinators as soon as possible.

Once again, thank you for participating in the Armstrong Arrows tryouts. We look forward to your continued support and participation through tryouts and the upcoming hockey season.