The Hills Hawks Soccer Club aims to offer an appropriately competitive environment where players can develop their skills, test themselves against their peers and build friendships.

Playing with and against players of similar abilities increases participation in games, builds confidence and helps develop the values that are vital in any team sport.

As players improve from one year to the next, new players join the Club and some age groups experience an increase or decrease in numbers, it is Club policy to grade players at the start of each season in order to place them in teams that best match their abilities.

This policy applies to all players who participate in GHFA competition. (It is also an obligation of GHFA membership.)

For non-competitive age groups (currently Under 6s to Under 9s), the Club will endeavour to group players based on their friendships and school allegiances, subject to availability. Please see separate section on MINI SOCCER.

For all competitive age groups, players will be graded on the basis of (i) their Coach’s Report from the previous season, and (ii) their performance at pre-season Grading Days, as determined by the Club’s Grading Committee.

If deemed necessary by the Grading Committee, players may also be assessed on their performances at pre-season Trial Games.

Please note that grading is subject to division allocations made by the GHFA and the numbers of players registered in each age group at the Club.

If there is only one Hills Hawks’ team in a particular age group, grading will only be required if there are sufficient new registrations to warrant the formation of a second team.

Members who cannot attend Grading Days will be assessed solely on their Coach’s Reports, provided they played for the Club in the previous season.

All new members will be assessed solely on their performance on Grading Days.

To be graded, a player must have registered with the Club by the due date and have paid the membership fee in full.

Grading Days (one or two sessions as determined by the Club prior to each season) will assess each player’s individual abilities in relation to specific skills (control, passing, etc) and general athleticism (speed, stamina, etc).

Assessments will be correlated to the previous season’s Coach’s Report with regards to how the player applies these skills and abilities within a team and in a competitive environment.

The Grading Committee will be made up of the Vice President Competition, Club Coach, Registrar and selected Committee members as nominated by the President. Parents are not allowed to directly assess their own children.

All players will be notified of their team allocation prior to commencement of the season proper.

Queries on team allocations should be made in writing to the Vice President Competition prior to Trial Games, but please note that the decisions of the Grading Committee are final.

It is the responsibility of the Grading Committee to promote the betterment of the Club as a whole. While individual disappointment may result from the grading process, please be assured that the Club’s decisions are made with the best of intentions for all of its members.