FORT MCMURRAY MINOR HOCKEY 2013-14 REGISTRATION PACKAGE Contents: 1. The Association 4. Fundraising Policy Procedure 2. Hockey Operations 5. Registration 3. Fee Structure 6. Summer Camps 1. The Association The Fort McMurray Minor Hockey Association (FMMHA) is a not-for profit society governed by a set of by-laws. The FMMHA establishes and enforces policies, procedures and rules governing the operations of all Minor Hockey in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. All participants, including those playing on Rep teams, must be registered and are members of the Fort McMurray Minor Hockey Association. The Association is affiliated with the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association (Hockey Alberta) and the Canadian Hockey Association (Hockey Canada). Two others not-for profit societies also support Minor Hockey in Fort McMurray, the Wood Buffalo Competitive Hockey Development Society focuses its activities on the development of coaches and players and the Wood Buffalo Ice Hockey Athletic Club supports the operations of Rep Teams playing in leagues outside of Fort McMurray. Membership in the FMMHA include parents and guardians of all registered minor hockey players, coaches and other team officials and any members of the community that are 18 years old or older interested in participating in the work of the association. The Association is governed by executive officers elected annually by the membership at the general meeting. The executive committee also appoints Directors to the Board to help in the operation and administration of the Association. The list of current officers and directors and the by-laws of the Association are available from the Minor Hockey Association web site at www.fmmha.com 2. Hockey Operations The Association is continuing to build from its past successes such as the Wood Buffalo Hockey League (WBHL) that provides most of our participants an exciting and competitive venue to play hockey at minimal cost. Our program has been very successful and was recognized by Hockey Alberta in 2009 as Minor Hockey Association of the Year for being a model supporting national initiatives such as the development of Grass Root Hockey and mentoring programs. Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 1
Changes for 2013/14 At the Annual General Meeting held in May 2013, members were presented with some of the program improvements being put in place for next season. Wood Buffalo Hockey League: Vice President (Operations) Kevin Scoble has been appointed as Past President as well as the new League Governor. We will be building on successes from the past season including spreading games out more evenly during the season and continued significant improvements realized in ice allocation and increasing ice time for all players. This year s focus will be on maximizing development opportunities through more efficient assignment of practices and development opportunities. Three year division and team sponsorships, starting in January 2012, were secured for all Division and Team sponsors. Respect in Sports: Hockey Alberta made Respect in Sports mandatory for all coaches during the 2011-2012 seasons. Hockey Alberta has also made Respect in Sports mandatory for all parents by December 1, 2012. To administer this on behalf of Hockey Alberta, FMMHA will not accept registrations without proof of completion of Respect in Sports (i.e. certification numbers for all parents/guardians associated with a player). The link to Respect in Sports is available on both the FMMHA website (www.fmmha.com) and Hockey Alberta website (www.hockeyalberta.ca). Pee Wee, Bantam & Midget AA teams: Our three rep teams will continue to play in their existing leagues. The Pee Wee AA plays in the Pee Wee AA Northern Hockey League with its home rink out of Bruderheim. Our Bantam AA team will play in the Edmonton Rural Bantam AA Hockey League (www.erbhl.ca) comprising 31 teams and our Midget AA team will continue to play in the Northern Alberta Midget AA League (www.namhl.ca) comprising 25 teams. Other Provincial Teams: the Association will continue to support other Provincial teams (not playing in out of town leagues) to ensure that players have the opportunity to further their skills to the best of their abilities. Try-outs will take place in early September for the following Provincial teams: Atom AA Atom Female Peewee Female Bantam Female Midget U16 Midget Female Player Development: Last year s player development sessions will continue, but may be on other days of the week than just Saturdays. This season, the program will be run by Paul Strand, coach of the Keyano Huskies Mens Hockey Team. The dates and times for the sessions are under review to make the program more accessible and convenient. Additionally, Paul and the Huskies Hockey Team will be supporting both coach and player development by attending WBHL practices throughout the season. FMMHA will also continue with a goalie development program this season and various female player development opportunities are being considered. Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 2
Volunteer Fee Deposit: like most other minor sports organizations, the FMMHA depends on the assistance of all its members to ensure the delivery of our programs, especially special events such as Minor Hockey Week and banquets. All members must pay a volunteer fee of $150 per family that will be carried forward once their volunteer commitment has been completed. This is implemented to ensure fairness to all of our members and make the program as successful as it can be for all of our players. Jersey Deposit: a $75 jersey deposit was implemented in 2010 to assist in care and return of jerseys by members. The deposit has been very successful and has resulted in much higher jersey returns in better condition. Player Registration Hockey Alberta governs competition in amateur hockey in various divisions. Every player competing in sanctioned games must be a member of a Hockey Team registered with Hockey Alberta and shall prior to their first league game be duly registered in the Hockey Canada Registry. All players residing in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo must register with the Fort McMurray Minor Hockey Association unless they are in the elite stream (Bantam AAA, Midget AAA or Junior). All players will register in their respective division based on their birth year and will participate in their respective Divisional try-outs/evaluations starting in early September (dates and locations will be published at www.fmmha.com in mid-august). For Players with Division birth date in Initiation 2007, 2008 Novice 2005, 2006 Atom 2003, 2004 Peewee 2001, 2002 Bantam 1999, 2000 Midget 1996, 1997, 1998 Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 3
Wood Buffalo Hockey League WBHL Tier 1 The tier 1 of the WBHL provides the highest level of local competition. Placement of players in the Tier 1 Division is based on skills demonstrated in the divisional try-outs. The ranking for each division will be made by an evaluation committee comprised of the Division Director, coaches of the Division and at least one independent league official or representative. Participation in Tier 1 level hockey requires a higher level of commitment such as participation in all practices, games and other team activities. WBHL Tier 2 The tier 2 division of the WBHL is equally important to the Minor Hockey Program. Greater emphasis is put on the development of individual skills and the recreational aspect of the game. Tier 2 hockey is for those players that still need to improve their basic skills or just want to play hockey in a less competitive environment. Through affiliation with Tier 1 teams, many players will have an opportunity to further enhance their development and play at a higher level. WBHL Tier 3 Subject to registration numbers, particularly in the younger age group divisions, FMMHA may have Tier 3 in some divisions this year. If registration numbers permit 3 tiers, this will smooth out the range of ability within a division and provide a more enjoyable experience to players of all skill levels. Midget Division For the Midget Division (15, 16 & 17 year old), it is expected that we will have sufficient players and coaches to support 4-6 teams in the Midget Division of the WBHL. FMMHA is evaluating whether to have a Midget A non-provincial team comprised of the most skilled 15 and 16 year olds or whether to continue with a Midget U16 Development Team for 15 years olds born in 1998. The Midget A team, subject to acceptance in a league such as the Sturgeon-Pembina or 1660 leagues, acceptance by the affected members (i.e. commitment to travel regularly possibly for all league games including home games) and out-of-town ice availability, may also be entered as a Provincial Team in Midget A, subject to final Hockey Alberta categorization (if Fort McMurray becomes a Midget AA Major categorization, this team would not be Provincial as it would have to compete at the Midget AA Minor level). This option provides more competitive and enjoyable opportunities for all midget players, whether playing on the Midget A team or in the WBHL. If FMMHA continues with the existing Midget U16 Development Team, players born in 1998 are eligible to try out for it. The team may continue to have its players playing on WBHL Midget teams but will practice weekly and play exhibition and tournament games during the season. Alternatively, the team may become a full member in the REM. However, this status is dictated by voting of REM membership and FMMHA does not decide whether it is a full time team (FMMHA is not currently a voting member of REM). In either case, neither FMMHA nor the team will pay for visiting teams travel costs to Fort McMurray. Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 4
Rules, Regulations and Procedures Code of Conduct Greater emphasis will be made on the code of conduct for players, team officials and parents/spectators. National and provincial programs will continue to be promoted locally to ensure that the sport of hockey remains fun for all. Through education programs and, where necessary, enforcements that could lead to suspension, the FMMHA will ensure better compliance with the code of conducts that are agreed upon by registering for Minor Hockey. Handling of Complaints Policies and procedures have been developed to respond and/or investigate complaints made by members. A formal process is in place to resolve and close issues in a timely and efficient manner. Communication with team officials We will continue to work on improving communication with team officials (coaches, assistant coaches and managers) with improvement to our web site and the scheduling of compulsory meetings with all Association Coaches before and during the season. Team Placement and Evaluation Tournament Based on the ranking of the Divisional try-outs in early September, coaches and division directors will make an initial placement of players on Tier 1 and 2 teams. This will be followed by practices and exhibition games in late September and during the first few weeks of October to assess the strength of teams and placement of players. Player movement will then take place to ensure that the teams are as balanced as possible. Players may also be moved from one tier to another based on their performance during the evaluation tournament. Team rosters will be finalized in October and the WBHL regular season will begin. There will be no player movement after the final rosters are submitted unless warranted by special circumstances. Such movement will require the approval of the League Governor. Female Hockey In the Initiation to Novice Divisions, Female players play on mixed gender teams. For older players, try-outs will be held for the Female Atom team and the continuing Peewee, Bantam and Midget Teams. The female teams will play in the WBHL. Special consideration will be made to allow the teams to play as many exhibition and tournament games against other female teams in the Province as possible. Female teams are provincial teams and will play in the Hockey Alberta Provincials Tournament, commencing with Zone 2 play-downs in February Rep Program Players may also try-out for the three Fort McMurray Rep Teams playing in out of town leagues. The three (3) Rep Teams are the Peewee AA (1660 League - Pee Wee AA Division), the Bantam AA (Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League AA Division) and the Midget AA (Rural Alberta Midget Hockey League). Try-outs for these teams normally start in late August. Details will be posted at www.fmmha.com by mid-summer. Parents of players that are selected for these teams must understand and accept that they will be required to participate in fundraising activities and pay additional fees to cover the additional costs associated with these teams. Playing on a Rep team is a Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 5
great experience, but also requires a much higher level of commitment from players and their parents. Underage players Initiation The FMMHA accepts registrations for underage players (born in 2009) in the Initiation Division. The following conditions apply: the child must participate in the normal activities of the team without disruption; no special consideration will be provided because of the age of the player; the underage agreement is only valid for one year. It is expected the child will play one additional year (i.e. a total of three years) in the Initiation Division. The player will not move up to Novice after two years due to the fact that he/she has started as an underage player in Initiation; A written agreement must be signed by the parents agreeing to these conditions. Underage Players Novice to Midget Players are expected to play in the Division corresponding to their respective age group. Research conducted by Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta clearly demonstrates that it is better for the long-term development of players, and that pushing players to a higher level to soon can be harmful to their development. It is also important to consider that under-age players take away legitimate spots on teams for players trying out in their own age group. The FMMHA only allows underage players from Initiation to Bantam to be registered for a team in an older Division if the following conditions are met: Participate in the Divisional Try-outs of the higher division and is ranked in the top 25%; Given similar skills, preference will always be given to an athlete playing in his/her own age group; The player possesses the physical, psychological, social and education maturity which matches his/her superior hockey skills; A request is made in writing by the parents to place the player in the higher level division. Affiliation The Hockey Alberta affiliation rules will be used to the maximum extent to allow for as much development opportunities as possible for players. Players are only permitted to be affiliated to one team. It is important to understand that the affiliation process cannot negatively impact the team on which the player is registered. The affiliation procedures will be discussed with the coaches and Division Directors before the start of the season. When used appropriately, the affiliation process is a useful tool for coaches to reward players that are trying hard to improve their skills and for players to gain an opportunity to measure their progress and gain more development and ice time. It is important to understand that being affiliated to a team does not guarantee any ice time with the higher level team. Most affiliated players will never be called up or practice with the higher level team as the preference for ice time will also be given to the regular player of the team. Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 6
Body checking Hockey Canada forbids any body checking in games with Initiation, Novice, Atom, Peewee or any Female teams. In order to promote the development of basic hockey skills in a safe and fun environment, the Tier 2 level for Bantam will also play without body checking. Fighting The Fort McMurray Minor Hockey Association believes that fighting is not appropriate in Minor Hockey. The WBHL has rules that will impose severe and lengthy suspensions for fighting. Instigator penalties will carry even longer suspensions. Referees The Fort McMurray Referee Association will conduct their first clinic in September. All parents and hockey players that are 12 years or age of older are encouraged to attend the clinic and become officials. The FMMHA and the WBHL will not tolerate any abuse of officials from players, coaches or parents. All infractions will be reported to the league Governor who will initiate an investigation of each complaint and may impose severe sanctions including suspensions for players or coaches and where the offender is a parent, controlled or limited access to hockey games and removal of spectators from FMMHA activites. Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers and Directors Please consider volunteering as a coach, assistant coach, manager or as a Division Director. Coaching clinics will be held throughout the season. All clinics are provided free of charge to our members. All coaches will be required to obtain certification for the Respect-in-Sports Course. All on ice-personal at the initiation level must obtain their Canadian Hockey Initiation Program certification (CHIP) and Coach Level. All Rep also requires the completion of the Development 1 by November 15. All teams in the WBHL will also appoint a team manager. The coach will select their manager once the team rosters are finalized in late October. The team manager reports to the coach. All team officials must agree to complete a RCMP Volunteer Security Check. The forms are available at www.fmmha.com or from the minor hockey office. All coaches will be required to sign a contract with the FMMHA outlining their roles and responsibilities. This will include mandatory attendance to clinics and hockey camps that will be offered by the Association. Goaltenders The FMMHA supplies goaltender equipment for the Initiation andnovice. There are no designated goalies in the Initiation and Novice Division and it is expected that every player will be given an opportunity to play in that position during the season, if they so desire. Most teams will have two goaltenders on their roster (depending on registration). Goalies normally prefer to alternate in the position and play full games and play out as a Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 7
regular player on the other. You are encouraged to retain a set of regular equipment to allow for this to occur, especially in the younger divisions. Goaltenders at the Atom level and lower do not require top of the line equipment. A regular hockey helmet with a face guard is sufficient and normally provides better vision at that age group than expensive goalie masks. In addition, they can wear it when they play out. More expensive equipment is designed to protect goaltenders against hard shots that normally only start occurring at the Peewee and Bantam levels. 3. Fee Structure Participation in Minor Hockey is still relatively affordable taking in consideration the length of the season and the amount of ice time provided. The fee structure varies for each division and is based on the number of ice times provided in each age group. Included in the basic registration fee is the affiliation cost to Hockey Alberta that must be paid for each player that includes insurance coverage through Hockey Canada. The Fort McMurray Minor Hockey registration fees are amongst the lowest in Alberta. Federal Fitness Tax Credit Registration fees paid to the FMMHA are eligible for the fitness tax credit of $ 500. The credit is provided for enrolling children under 16 in recreational activities in organized sports to promote healthy lifestyles in today's youth. Please retain your receipt of payment to claim this credit. 2013/14 Fee Plans The fee structure provides parents with two basic registration options and access to several discounts: Plan A: Participation in Almonds Fundraising: You pay $60 and will be provided with a case of 30 boxes of almonds to sell at $2.00 per box. You recover your fundraising fee of $30 from your sales. Plan B: No Almonds Fundraising You do not sell almonds and pay your almonds fundraising fee of $30 directly as part of your basic registration. To qualify for this plan, you must register before July 30 th, 2013 as this is the date we place our order.. The reason for the two options is that some members do not want to sell chocolate almonds while others appreciate this opportunity to recover a portion of their fundraising fee. Discounts available: Early Registration: $ 30: For registrations received or postmarked and paid on or before July 15th, 2013; Family: a discount of $ 50 per child for a family registering 3 siblings or more is provided. The chocolate almond fundraiser is also waived for the 3rd child or more. The gaming/fundraising commitment is also limited to one per family. Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 8
Plan A With Almond Fundraising 2013/14 Registration Fee Chart Division Basic Fee Almond Fundraiser Regular Registration Cost Early Registration Discount - on or Before July 15th Lowest Cost with all Discounts Volunteer Fee Deposit Where applicable Total Jersey Deposit Total Fee Payable Initiation $420 $60 $480 -$30 $450 $150 $600 $75 $675 Novice $465 $60 $525 -$30 $495 $150 $645 $75 $720 Atom $515 $60 $575 -$30 $545 $150 $695 $75 $770 Peewee $515 $60 $575 -$30 $545 $150 $695 $75 $770 Bantam $575 $60 $635 -$30 $605 $150 $755 $75 $830 Midget $575 $60 $635 -$30 $605 $150 $755 $75 $830 Plan B Without Almond Fundraising Division Basic Fee Almond Fundraiser Regular Registration Cost Early Registration Discount - on or Before July 15th Lowest Cost with all Discounts Volunteer Fee Deposit Where applicable Total Jersey Deposit Total Fee Payable Initiation $420 $30 $450 -$30 $420 $150 $570 $75 $645 Novice $465 $30 $495 -$30 $465 $150 $615 $75 $690 Atom $515 $30 $545 -$30 $515 $150 $665 $75 $740 Peewee $515 $30 $545 -$30 $515 $150 $665 $75 $740 Bantam $575 $30 $605 -$30 $575 $150 $725 $75 $800 Midget $575 $30 $605 -$30 $575 $150 $725 $75 $800 Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 9
Payment of fees The following options are available for payment of fees: By cheque: for registrations made at the Office Make cheques payable to the FMMHA. Payments may be made in two equal instalments with have being paid at registration and the remainder due by September 15 th. By credit card: for registrations made on-line or at the Office. Payments may be made in two equal instalments. The first payment will be at the date of registration with a second payment to be made on September15th. A small administration fee is added for instalment payments to cover the additional transaction fees incurred by the Association. Financial Support The FMMHA believes all children should be able to participate in youth organized sports. Parents that cannot pay the registration cost may contact the FMMHA in writing requesting that special consideration be given for their registration cost. A payment plan may be put in place or additional fundraising opportunities may be provided to help offset some of the registration costs. 4. Jersey and Equipment Fee Players will be provided with a team jersey at the beginning of the season. Players and their parents agree that they are responsible for the proper maintenance of their jersey and to return it in good condition at the end of the season. Each team manager will maintain an inventory of their equipment including the jersey number provided to each player. Failure to return a team jersey to a team official or the FMMHA at any time during or at the end of the season will result in A forfeiture of your $75 deposit which will have to be paid again at the beginning of the next season. 5. Volunteer Policy - Deposit All members are expected to assist their association during the season and volunteer their time for a minimum of four (4) hours. Volunteers are essential to the success of the FMMHA especially during large events such Minor Hockey Week, evaluations, sorting and issuing jerseys and equipment and year end banquets. Members should identify on their registration the type of activity they want to participate. If no preference is listed, it will be assumed you are available for any type of activity. Members will be charged a $150 volunteer fee deposit at the time of registration. The deposit will be carried forward to the next season upon confirmation that the volunteer commitment has been completed. Members may also elect to be placed on the do not call list, meaning they want to pay the fee in lieu. You will not be called to volunteer for any activities during the season. Coaches, Assistant Coaches and team managers will be credited for their volunteer commitment once they are confirmed in their position. Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 10
6. Registration Procedures - FMMHA Two options are available to members for completing their registration for the 2013/14 season: On-line registration We are continuing with on-line registration for the 2013/14 season through the Hockey Canada On-Line Registration System. Online registration is the preferred method of registration for the FMMHA, as it is a fast and convenient way for you to register your children for hockey. It also allows a direct interface and data entry in the Hockey Canada Registration System. This service is available through a link provided on our website at http://www.fmmha.com The FMMHA will contact on-line registrants if additional information is required such as birth certificate for first time registrants or releases from other Associations for new members. At the Minor Hockey Office Registrations will be accepted at the minor hockey office during regular working hours. Please complete the registration package prior to going at the office to minimize the waiting time for everyone. De-Registration If you register early and your child suffers an injury or illness that prevents him/her from playing or simply decide they do not want to play hockey, a full refund will be provided if the de-registration occurs before October 31, 2013. The FMMHA de-registration policy will be in effect for those received after that date. Birth Certificate In accordance with Hockey Alberta rules and regulation, any new registrants must provide a proof of age in the form of a birth certificate. This will be kept on file at the Minor Hockey Office. Permission to try-out Minor Hockey players participating in Elite Camps must obtain a Permission to Try-out form from the Association for evaluation camps and a Conditioning Camp form for spring conditioning camps. Please contact the office to obtain your permission to try-out. As well any players trying out for an Elite Team (Bantam AAA, Midget AAA & Midget Minor AAA) must complete a Notification to Try Out form and have it signed by the President before attending the try-out. A player may not register in another Local Minor Hockey Association (LMHA) that is of the same Category or of a lower category than the local minor hockey association in which the player resides. Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 11
7. Summer Camps Please check the FMMHA Web site for information on the many summer hockey camps being offered in Fort McMurray this summer. For additional information on Fort McMurray Minor Hockey, please visit www.fmmha.com Or email the office at fmmha@telus.net Ft McMurray Minor Hockey 2013 Registration Page 12