2021-2022 TEAM TRYOUT INSTRUCTIONS & PROGRAMS
APPLICABLE TO ALL U10 (2011-2012), U12(2009-2010), U14(2007-2008),
U16 (2005-2006), JV AND VARSITY (2003-2006) TEAMS
Not Applicable to the U8/ADM AND GIRLS programs. (See specific program descriptions)
The Cincinnati Swords is pleased to kick off our 2021-2022 hockey season with our team tryouts and formation of our 2021-2022 teams.
General Information: Teams begin practicing in early September but some may start in August. Games may start in September for some or all teams with the season concluding in late February or early March. Each team will present a team prospectus to the parents which will include information on practices, league/non-league games and anticipated tournaments.
Coaches: We anticipate announcing our 2021-2022 coaches in the next couple of weeks. We will announce under separate email and posted to the website. Coaching prospectuses which detail the coach’s background and team plans will be posted online prior to the tryouts.
Team Formation: We anticipate having U10 teams, U12 teams, U14 teams, U16 team, and a High School Program (JV and Varsity teams). The number of teams is dependent on the number of players that register, the number of available coaches and the skill set of the registrants.
U16 Team: This team will compete as a U16AA team with travel consisting of trips to Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland / Columbus, Indy and Nashville for tournaments or as part of our independent game schedule. We are looking to have an ultimate goal of this team of making a run at the national tournament for the next two years building on the foundation of the U14AA teams recent run at the state championship, making it to the championship game. We are anticipating starting practices the first of August 2021 with games scheduled from start of September 2021 through the end of March 2022. If the border opens up there might be a trip up to play teams in Canada at the start of the season. We are looking to fill the team to the max. 20 roster spots including two goalies. There will be a separate registration for those players who are interested in trying out for this team.
League Play: Each year we strive to have our teams playing at the highest level possible. Again, this year we anticipate teams playing in Little Caesars, Buckeye Travel Hockey League, Cincinnati High School Club League and Independent.
Tryout Schedule: All tryout sessions are being held at Sports Plus, 10765 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241. There will be at least three evaluation sessions for each skater and goalie. The first session will be a skills assessment by USA Hockey age group for ALL skaters and goalies. The second session will be a battle drills session again by USA Hockey age group for ALL skaters and goalies. The last session(s) will be our team scrimmages. Team scrimmages are invite-only and skaters and goalies may be invited to multiple sessions. The tryout schedule will be posted on the website at www.swordshockey.com. As a reminder, the tryout schedule is subject to change based on registration numbers. We will communicate updates through the website.
Goalie Evaluation Schedule: In addition to the three evaluation sessions with the skaters, there is an additional assessment for our goalies on Friday May 7th.
Registration: Registration will open on Thursday April 1, 2021. You must have a 2021-22 USA Hockey number to register on our website. The registration fee will be $150 if paid by Friday, April 23rd. After April 23, the registration fee increases to $175. Once offered a spot on a team, all families must process a non refundable initial deposit of $500 no later than 48 hours after the team selections are posted on the Swords website, which will hold your player’s team spot.
Note: The Tri-State Spartans are affiliated with the Swords. If a Swords player is selected to a Spartans team during the tryout period and the player accepts, the Swords will transfer the $500 deposit to the Spartans.
Excused Absence: It is expected that all players trying out for any team attend the tryouts. However, if a player is injured or unable to attend a tryout, the player must contact the office at
for an excused absence. The Swords will work to provide an opportunity for an evaluation within a reasonable timeframe. The tryout fee is collected for approved excused absences.
Checking Clinic: All players birth year 2008 and older must have already attended a checking clinic OR attend one of the checking clinics held on April 5. Information about the clinic will be included in the online registrations for our U14/Bantam and U18/Midget/High School age registrations. Only spring participants and those players registered for our 2021-22 try out will be allowed to participate in the checking clinic.
Playing Up an Age Level: If a player would like to be considered for a team out of their USA Hockey age group, they must 1) register and pay for the tryout in their current age bracket and 2) send an email to
to obtain a Player Movement Waiver from the Swords office. The waiver must be completed and submitted before the player can take the ice with the older age group. Please note, for a player to be offered a position on an older team, the independent evaluators in conjunction with the coaching committee must evaluate the player to play up. The decision of the coaching committee is final. All Mid-Am play up guidelines will be followed including the constraint that no roster can include more than 25% of players “playing up”.
Jersey/Equipment Order: Due to our time constraints with ordering and receiving custom jerseys, we ask all families to have their player(s) sized for jerseys, socks and team warm ups during tryouts. Each team will be assigned an individual time for sizing of uniform pieces, the dates will be communicated once teams are selected. You will not need to place an order until after you have been notified about your player’s team placement. Team equipment requirements will be set by the coach and communicated to the parents immediately after we receive your initial deposit. All purchases will be made through an online store on the website. Our order deadline this year will be Friday May 21.
Next year is the end of our contract and will be reviewing our uniform package for the 22-23 season. Please keep that in mind when ordering uniforms and warmups.
Team Fees: Fees vary based on both the number of team participants and the coaches’ program. In addition, we are not able to determine ice allocation until after the conclusion of our tryouts. Therefore, we will not have final team costs until early fall. Team fees are set by coaches and generally range from $1,500 to $3,500. Please review the coaching prospectuses for specific details and plans for individual teams.
Fundraising: The Swords offers fundraisers though Kroger and Charity Mania to help offset costs. In addition, teams are also permitted to hold team fund raisers.
Team Financial Information: As stated above, we need all families to process an initial deposit of $500 no later than 48 hours after the team selection is posted to the Swords website, which will hold a player’s team spot. With all teams being announced in the same timeframe, it is critical that players do not delay confirming their intentions so we can make any appropriate roster adjustments. No refunds (or transfers) will be given for the initial team payment which signifies a player’s acceptance of a spot on the team. Additionally, all Swords teams will have a monthly payment due on or before the first of each month (July through November). The Refund Policy is included in your initial registration and also posted on the Swords website at www.swordshockey.com for your review.
We are very excited about the upcoming 2021-22 season. If you have any questions, please contact the Paul Benkner, hockey commissioner or Jennie Tiemeyer at office@swordshockey.com.
