Moving to Keeping Ontario Open and Safe - Category Red - Control
Submitted By WGMHA on Friday, November 20, 2020
Dear Raven Families,
Premier Ford announced today that, as of Monday, November 23rd at 12:01 am, Waterloo Region will be moving into the Red - Control category. We do not know how long we will be in this category, however we expect it to be at least 28 days (2 COVID-19 cycles of 14 days). Toward the end of the 28 day period, we will reassess what’s possible and what families are interested in given that we will be very close to Christmas.
This category does bring changes to how we are able to provide our programs. The key changes are:
* Limit of 10 people on the ice (this number includes coaches and players)
* No scrimmages or games
We have been working with the City of Waterloo to develop our plans for keeping Ravens on the ice as safely and as much as possible. Programming scheduled for this weekend will continue as indicated on the Ravens website calendar.
Effective Monday, November 23rd 2020, the following programming will be put in place:
Fundamentals – Learn to Skate, Rookie Ravens, Rookie Ravens Plus
Unfortunately, we are not able to safely run this program during the Red-Control period. We have decided it best to postpone the program until the new year. Details of the start date in January will be communicated as soon as we are able.
House League
o U8 will have practices with 8 players and 2 coaches on the ice with 1 trainer off to the side in the ice area. No scrimmages or games permitted.
- Up to one parent/guardian per player
- Coaches will notify you of the 8,8,4 (20) rotation of players
o U9 will have practices with 9 players and 1 coach on the ice with 1 trainer off to the side in the ice area. No scrimmages or games permitted.
- Up to one parent/guardian per player
- Playing Groups will be used as each is 9 players; Yellow, Black, LL.
o U11 will have practices with 9 players and 1 coach on the ice with 1 trainer off to the side in the ice area. No scrimmages or games permitted.
- Up to one parent/guardian per player
- We are working on how the player rotation will work for the 30 players.
o U13 and U15 - Week 1 of Red home game ice time will revert to a practice with up to 9 players and 1 coach on the ice for a total of 10. 1 trainer off to the side in the ice area. No scrimmages or games permitted.
- Up to one parent/guardian per player.
- Coaches will let players know who will attend each practice.
o U13 and U15 - Weeks 2 – 4 of Red age specific EX Programs focusing on skills and drills (no games or scrimmages) will be offered. We will aim to provide 1 ice time per week for each player who registers for the EX programs.
- The EX Programs will be limited to 9 players and 1 coach on the ice. 1 trainer off to the side in the ice area per ice time.
- Up to one parent/guardian per player.
- Registration and a fee* will be required for the “EX Program”; more details will be provided next week.
o U18 and U22 during Red will have no activities as games/scrimmages are not permitted. The season will be paused and this program will resume once we are able to play games/scrimmages.
o *EX fees and your base registration: Your registration fee is ‘paused’ during Red to allow each player/family to make the personal decision whether to participate in hockey. If you are wanting to still practice you can participate in the EX program. If you would rather wait until we return to games/scrimmages this gives you that choice.
Rep (all age groups – U11, U13, U15, U18 and U22)
o all ice times become practices with up to 9 players and 1 coach on the ice for a total of 10. 1 trainer off to the side in the ice area. No scrimmages or games permitted
- up to one parent/guardian per player
Resumption of Modified Game Play
For both House League and Rep, we plan to resume modified game play as soon as we are able to do so. Optimistically, this could be just before the December holiday break.
Fees and Refunds
As we have communicated previously, adjustments to fees, if required, will be made as we develop the fee structure for the second half of the season. Therefore, at this time there will be no refunds. We have also indicated that the fees for the second half of the season will be communicated by mid-December. We are still on track to do this.
Should the Red - Control designation continue longer than 28 days or if Waterloo Region move to Lockdown further communication on the season, refunds (if any) and fee structures will be communicated as soon as we are able.
Second Part of 2020-21 Season
With respect to the second half of the 2020-21 season, we are planning for a start the week of January 4, 2021. This coincides with the start of school after the holiday break. As much as possible, we are planning to keep ice allocations for practices and modified games similar to what Playing Groups had in session 1.
We know how difficult 2020 has been for everyone. It has required changes to many things in our everyday lives. As Ravens, we have done remarkably well. This is in large part to the leadership and creativity of your coaches who have done their best to keep you learning and having fun and to you, as players and families, for complying with Public Health guidelines, Ravens Protocols and the ever changing opportunities for being on the ice. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Please continue to wear your mask, wash your hands frequently, keep 3 metres apart and keep to your bubbles! Remember there is no “I” in “Team” - together, as Ravens, we can do our part to control the spread of COVID-19.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Be Kind, Be Safe, Stay Healthy,
Sandra
Sandra Hanmer
President, WGMHA
For the Kids! For the Game! For the Fun of it!
519-574-0061
[email protected]
