Cochrane Minor Basketball Association (CoMBA) Kodiaks is a grassroots basketball program that believes players develop best when placed on teams compatible with their current skill level. CoMBA conducts evaluations—not tryouts. Every player whose registration has been accepted will receive a place on a team.
Where registration numbers require more than one team in an age group, CoMBA Kodiaks will conduct evaluations to determine player placement. The goal is to create competitive teams composed of players at similar stages of skill and development.
Teams will be identified as Team 1, Team 2 and continuing as required. Team 1 will generally contain the most advanced players at the time of evaluation, Team 2 the next group of players, and so on. Team numbers are used for team organization and CMBA division placement. They should not be viewed as a permanent ranking or a judgment of an athlete’s value, effort or long-term potential.
The Platinum program may use the Kodiaks evaluation results to determine whether there are enough athletes who meet the requirements for a competitively focused Platinum team. If those requirements are met, selected athletes may be invited to attend an additional Platinum evaluation.
Participation in the Platinum program is optional. Invited athletes may decline the opportunity and continue playing with the Kodiaks program. Athletes who are selected and choose to participate in Platinum will be required to pay an additional program fee.
Further information is available under the Programs Tab and Platinum Tab on the CoMBA website.
Once the formal evaluation weekends are complete, the Administrator will notify coaches, parents and players of their initial team placements.
Initial team placements are provisional and are not considered final immediately following the formal evaluations.
The formal evaluation weekends provide the foundation for team placement. However, CoMBA will continue evaluating players during the first few weeks of practices, scrimmages and play. This extended process allows CoMBA to observe athletes in a more complete basketball environment and better determine where each player will develop and participate most successfully.
During this provisional period, CoMBA will move players between teams when continued evaluation shows that a different placement is more appropriate. Decisions may consider:
CoMBA recognizes that roster movement can be difficult, particularly when players have already connected with friends, teammates or coaches. A move is not a punishment, promotion or demotion, and it should not be presented as a judgment of the player’s value. Its purpose is to place the athlete in the environment that best supports their confidence, development, enjoyment and team success.
Friendship and coach requests cannot take priority over appropriate player placement or overall team balance. Families should not assume that an initial teammate, coach or team assignment will remain unchanged during the provisional period.
Rosters will become final when CMBA reaches its official roster-lock date for that season.
Each season, the Evaluation Committee will nominate one or more Facilitators to conduct player evaluations. The Evaluation Committee will also appoint an Evaluation Team to assess players during the evaluation process.
The Evaluation Team will be an independent third-party organization whenever possible, such as the University of Calgary Dinos pending availability. The Evaluation Team and the Board will use the formal evaluation results to determine initial player placements and recommend appropriate CMBA division placement for each team.
During the provisional placement period, the Committee may also consider observations from designated CoMBA representatives and team coaches. Coaches may provide relevant observations but cannot promise or guarantee a player’s placement. Final placement decisions remain at the discretion of the Evaluation Team and the CoMBA Board. Coach feedback will be followed by independent evaluation again.
Player evaluations will be conducted over two weekends in Late August/September. Families must review the published evaluation schedule carefully.
Each player will receive at least one 60-120 minute group evaluation. Players may be called back for up to two additional evaluation sessions lasting between 60 and 120 minutes. Emails will be sent when a player is required to attend a callback session.
During each session, the Facilitator will provide instructions while the evaluators observe and assess players using predetermined criteria. Members of the Evaluation Team will be present for each age category.
Players are expected to follow the Facilitator’s instructions and will not be coached during the evaluation. The objective is to assess each player’s current abilities as accurately and consistently as possible.
Evaluation sessions are closed to parents and team coaches without exception.
There will not be any scheduled make-up evaluation sessions.
The Board may consider extenuating circumstances when it is notified of a known scheduling conflict by August 1 of the applicable playing year.
If a player is injured or becomes unable to attend before an evaluation session, notice must be provided by telephone or email before the session begins. When proper notice is provided, the Committee will use the information reasonably available to determine an initial placement and may rely more heavily on observations made during the provisional placement period.
When no notice is provided, CoMBA may have insufficient information to make an accurate initial placement. The player will be placed at the Board’s discretion and may be moved after being observed during the provisional period.
If a player or parent strongly disagrees with the player’s placement, they may raise the concern through the CoMBA Complaint Procedure. Parents may only request a review of their own child’s placement and will not be provided with another athlete’s evaluation results, scores or ranking.
Coaches who identify a placement concern must bring it directly to the designated CoMBA representative, committee or Board. Coaches must not make roster changes independently.
A placement review will consider the player’s complete evaluation information and observations from the provisional period. Final placement decisions remain with the committee and CoMBA Board.
If a player registers after the formal evaluations and initial team selections, the player must be evaluated by at least two Committee members or other evaluators designated by the Board.
The player will be assessed using criteria consistent with the regularly scheduled evaluations. Placement will be made after consultation with the affected coach and approval from at least three Board members.
A late registrant’s initial placement will remain provisional until the applicable CMBA roster-lock date. Late registrations will not be accepted when all teams in the applicable age group have reached their maximum roster size or when CMBA rules no longer permit the player to be added.