Orientation for New Parents (What's Ringette all About?)

General Orientation                     What is Ringette?

This information page is addressed to the parents of all players but especially to the parents of first time players. We believe our programs for children new to the sport are excellent. We continually strive to make them better. One of the many values of our sport is that Ringette players learn valuable life skills in the social aspects of a team sport, and in joining Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette, your child will become a member of a team and have the opportunity to make new friends!  The following information is provided to help orient you to our programs. Our Phone Number, email address and links are provided below to assist you in learning about what the Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette Association is all about and what it has to offer.

Does my Child have to Know How to Skate?

When Does It Start?

For the rest of our players, the season starts in September and lasts until late March. Practice and Game Schedules will be posted here. Your daughter will be on a team with girls of the same age and skill. Skill levels range from Recreational to Competitive AA. Age Groups for players playing on a team in a League start at Novice (9 and under), then Petite (11 and under),  and so on.

Bunny School is purely a learn to skate program till Christmas. It is geared mainly for children with little or no skating skills at all. While there are kids as young as 4 in the program, the vast majority are 5, and 6 year olds. There are some 4 year olds that will turn 5 and some 6 year olds that will turn 7 before the season is over.

After Christmas they start to add a few ring handling skills to the mix and by the end of the season they will play some games (cross ice games with one to three games going on at once on the big ice surface) finished off by playing demonstration games in the Gloucester-Cumberland Tournament in February.

The Novice Age Division (9 and under), is the first age group of formal teams that play in a league. In Gloucester-Cumberland this is one of our most populated age groups and as a result last year our Novice players were split into six teams in the the National Capital Regional Ringette League (NCRRL) Novice Division, where our teams play. We anticipate much the same thing this season. The NCRRL is split into four Skill Level Categories: Novice B, C1, C2 and Recreational. Gloucester-Cumberland fielded two Novice Rec teams, two Novice C2 teams and one each at C1 and B.

The Novice Rec is for beginners and has many players who have never played or skated before. They are mostly 7 and 8 year olds with a few 6 year olds that parents felt that the Learn to Skate Program might be boring for them, such as players that already or been in Bunny School for a few years and parents and coaches agree they are ready to advance. The instructors at the Bunny School and the coaches in the Novice Program are very honest and straightforward about the skating skill level of the girls and earnestly try to place them in the program they think will do them the most good. The Novice C2 Division is also an entry level for new 8 and 9 year olds and some 7 year olds. Novice C1 and B are mostly 9 year olds and exceptionally good 7 and 8 year olds.

The Petite Age Division in the NCRRL is split into six different skill levels, Petite AA, A, B1, B2, C1, and C2. Using the same concepts as with the Novices, our 4 Petite teams fit very nicely into their skill level niche.

Team Placement

Team placement is decided by a group of evaluators and the selection process is governed by a set of criteria. During the first few ice sessions, the coaches and evaluators will be looking at players with a view to assigning them to teams. It is important that the girls attend all of these initial ice practices so they can be evaluated and placed on the team that best suits their experience and playing ability. For competitive teams there is a tryout process. Being on a competitive team requires more ice time, more money and, particularly, more commitment from the players and parents. These sessions are critical so please ensure your daughter attends all of them. Here is a sample of how tryout times and team placement sessions are arranged. (This may be last year's schedule. if you are reading this in the summer)  This year's Tryouts and Team Placement Ice Times will also be available here and on the Front Page of our Website.

What Equipment Do They Need?

The Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette Association Website hosts an online Swap Shop to assist parents in keeping costs down by purchasing or selling used equipment.

How Much Does It Cost to Register?
(Please Check the Registration Form for Current Prices)

* Cost: Cost changes each season.
   See Registration Form for links to this season's fee.

What does my Registration Fee Pay For?

The registration fees pay for regular ice time for games and practices, referees, insurance, team equipment and sweaters, training for coaches, managers and referees, fees to Regional and Provincial Ringette Associations and other administrative costs such as postage, printing, advertising and phone bills.

How and When Do I Register?

Notices will be posted in local newspapers, here on this page, and on the Front Page of the GRA Website.

Can I Register After Formal Registration is over, or after the Season Starts?

Yes, provided space is still available on established teams. Contact the Phone Number below or the email address for immediate answers.  If there isn't space on one of our established teams at your daughter's age group or level, we will assist you in finding a place for her to play. It's almost never too late! And it's certainly NEVER too late to ask. . .

Additional Information for New Parents

The Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette Association (GRA) is operated entirely by volunteers. Our GRA volunteers act as coaches, team managers, executives, fund raisers, scorekeepers and tournament organizers. Our executive and volunteer contact list is provided here for your information.

Policies and Procedures

Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette has a well established set of Policies and Procedures for how to deal with things that come up year after year such as Coaching Selection, Ice Allocation, Out of Area or Underage Players and Financial Administration.

For example, each year issues arise with regard to players being asked to play up in an older age group. Another example is with regard to players from neighbouring Associations playing on our teams.

We believe that if it is in the best interest of the players that if the circumstances justify it, players should be given the opportunity to be moved during the course of the year to a team at a higher level. This usually occurs when a player clearly demonstrates that she is of a caliber that justifies such a move. As well, in some situations, there are insufficient numbers to field a team at a particular level. In those circumstances we will look to neighboring Associations for players. On occasion, neighboring Associations are unable to field a team and request that we attempt to accommodate players from their jurisdiction who cannot be placed on a team at their level of play. In those circumstances, we will accept such players who demonstrate the necessary skills and if there are not enough Gloucester-Cumberland players of a similar caliber trying out for the team.

As well, there are policies to deal with, Discipline, Harassment, and Appeals should they ever become necessary.

Parent Involvement in Coaching Philosophy and Team Administrative Matters

Once the teams are selected, the coaches will meet with the parents to discuss the coaching philosophy for the team and administrative matters such as tournaments to be entered during the season, fund raising for tournaments and extra ice time and other issues of team concern. Parents are encouraged to ask questions and communicate their suggestions to the coaches.

Volunteers

Every year GRA hosts a tournament. This event is a major fund raiser for the Association and requires help from every member prior to and during the tournament.

We would like to hear from parents who are interested in helping as volunteers as assistant coaches, team managers, scorekeepers, etc. Please communicate your interests in this regard to the coaches. Parents' cooperation is essential to a successful season. During the season we'll ask every parent to volunteer time throughout the year to help the team and the Association.

The Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette Association Website

You've already found our website so perhaps this paragraph is redundant, however in case you haven't explored it yet I'll give you a little tour. The site is extensive in terms of covering what is going on in Gloucester-Cumberland Ringette, and in fact covers most of the known Ringette World. We have a History of Gloucester Ringette Page. and History of Cumberland Ringette Page. We have Links to Many More Ringette Sites, League Schedules, Bunny Schedule, Practice Ice Times, and Standings, Maps to Arenas your daughter will play in and Newsletters from GRA from as far back as January, 1988. Scholarships, Sponsors and Summer Program activities to help make your daughter a better player and citizen are all covered in detail. We invite you to come back to surf and explore at your leisure. Please feel free to Phone or Email with questions or comments. This Orientation page for Newcomers is a result of just such an email.    It Works!    Come back often.