Ravens LTPD Programming Changes for 2023-24 Season: U9 and lower, News (Waterloo Ravens Girls Minor Hockey Association )

The WGMHA is updating their programming for the 2023-24 season. There are changes at Rookie Ravens Plus, U8, U9 and U9 Rep. U7 is a new offering. The following is a quick summary of the changes and following that is a detailed description which is what you will see during Registration that will be opened in May.

Summary of the Programming Changes:

Learn To Skate – Unchanged. Ages 4,5,6 from October to March

Rookie Ravens – Unchanged. Ages 5,6,7 from October to March

Rookie Ravens Plus – Replaced with U7 Program.

U7 Program new – New program. Ages 5,6. October - April. A 16-week program with 2 practices per week. This is the replacement for the Rookie Ravens Plus program. The program is unchanged except for the following additions:
> 6 half-ice league games January - March
> Participate in year-end HL Waterloo Cup (1 game first Sunday of April). The Waterloo Cup is a year-end event for all Ravens HL players.

U8 and U9 HL – Modified. Ages 7,8. September - April Programs will now be run as a unit and no longer separate. U8+U9 players will practice together during the season. Teams will be formed in October to prepare for games that can start Nov 1^st. Teams will be U8 only, U9 only, or, if needed to balance numbers, U8-9 combined. U8 teams will play half-ice games in the KGLL U8 league. Combined and U9 teams will play half-ice in the KGLL U9 league and move to full-ice after January 15^th. Essentially the only changes are:
> Combining U8 and U9 practices.
> Allowing U8 ages players on U9 teams to balance numbers.

U9 Rep – Modified. Ages 7,8. September - April. This will be a competitive team, selected at tryouts in September. U8 and U9 aged players can attend tryouts but U8 aged players must meet certain skill levels to make the team. There will be the required 4 Pre-tryout skates offered to all WGMHA Registered U9 players. All U9s are encouraged to attend these pre-skates as they are the first 4 practices of the season, regardless of intent to try out for U9 Rep. Tryouts fees are required for all WGMHA Registered players and any non-WGHA players wishing to tryout. Non-WGMHA players need to have Permission-to-Tryout form to attend the tryouts and they cannot attend WGHA pre-skates. There will be additional rep fees associated with this team.

A note about half-ice hockey: U9 and lower are mandated to play half-ice hockey with U9 only permitted to move to full-ice after Jan 15^th. These are HC and OWHA rules. This is proven to maximize LTPD. Long-Term Player Development is key to building the basic skills required to play hockey. The following link will provide additional details, but half-ice games maximize puck-touches. Everything about station-based practices and half-ice games is about maximizing skill development and increasing FUN!

Program Descriptions for 2023-24: These  are the descriptions that will release when Registration opens up in May. 

Learn to Skate FUNdamentals Program: ages 4-5-6

The Learn to Skate program is a 14-week program designed to teach girls how to skate in order to play hockey. The Learn to Skate program includes hockey equipment (not skates) as well as a stick and bag! This program is offered to girls 4 to 6 years of age. Numbers are limited so register early. The program is open to all eligible players however priority may be given to City of Waterloo residents.

Please register early as space is limited and may be capped depending on registration numbers.

WGMHA endeavors to run this program on the same day of the week for the entire season, however schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Sunday mornings, 8:30am, AMCC. October to March. 

 

Rookie Ravens FUNdamentals Program: ages 5-6-7

The Ravens Rookie Program is a 16-week program designed to teach players the fundamentals of the game. The program is non-competitive, and the emphasis is on FUN! This program is offered to girls 5 to 7 years of age looking for a more affordable, less involvement alternative to our U7, U8 and U9 programs. The program is open to all eligible players however priority may be given to City of Waterloo residents.

Please register early as space is limited and may be capped depending on registration numbers.

WGMHA endeavors to run this program on the same day of the week for the entire season, however schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Sunday mornings, 9:30am, AMCC. October to March.

 

Ravens U7 Program: ages 5-6 (replaces Rookie Ravens Plus)

The Ravens U7 Program is a 16-week program for those players wanting more ice time and games when compared to the Rookie Ravens Program (approximately twice as many practice ice times plus 6 half-ice games). It is designed to teach players the fundamentals of the game, gain additional skills, then put those new skills into action with half-ice hockey games. The program is non-competitive, and the emphasis is on development and FUN! The program is offered to girls aged 5 and 6 years of age and no prior experience is required! The program is open to all eligible players however priority may be given to City of Waterloo residents.

Please register early as space is limited and may be capped depending on registration numbers.

WGMHA endeavors to run this program on the same days of the week for the entire season, however schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Game scheduling is not predetermined and may occur on different days and times. Games will not start until January as that is when the league starts U7 games. The first half will be all skill-focused practices. The second half of the season continues on with the practices but adds in games. Practices each week: Sunday mornings, Wednesdays after school. Games TBD Jan-Mar of season; various days. October to early April.

Ravens U8-U9 HL Program: ages 7-8

The Ravens U8 and U9 House League Program runs from Sept to early April. Twice a week, station-based practices are based on Hockey Canada recommendations, designed to work on fundamental skills. These group practices are run with all U8 and U9 participants; depending on registration numbers there may be separate/multiple session groups. In mid-October, the coaching staff will create the U8 and U9 teams. These teams will then play in the Kitchener Girls Local League, which runs both a U8 and U9 division. Games are not permitted to begin until November 1^st and the season runs until March. U8 games are half-ice all season. U9 games are half-ice until January 15^th when, by rule, they may move to full-ice.

The emphasis of the U8-U9 program is on LTPD (Long-term Player Development). Half-ice promotes more puck touches, more development, and helps learn basic skills for long-term success in hockey. This is in-line with Hockey Canada and OWHA guidelines. 

The program is offered to girls aged 7 and 8 years of age and no prior experience is required! The program is open to all eligible players including non-Waterloo residents (additional fee required). Please register early as space may limited and capped depending on registration numbers.

WGMHA endeavors to run this program on the same days of the week for the entire season, however schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Game scheduling cannot be predetermined and will occur on different days and times. Games will not start until November as that is when U8 and U9 games are permitted to start by OWHA rule. Some practice slots will be used to schedule games, but many games will fall on any day of the week.

U8 Schedule: Practices Saturday 8:30am & Thursdays 5pm. Game schedule varies.* Late Sept to early April.U8 practices will start late Sept. 

U9 Schedule: Practices Saturday 8:30am & Thursdays 5pm. Game schedule varies.* Sept to early April. U9 season starts with the U9 preskates after the first week of school. This is open to all U9 registrants.

*Practices are U8-9 combined until registration exceeds 36 skaters. Once this happens additional times are required, and additional practice groups will be created.

**Teams of 18 max are made at U8 and U9 but some U8 players may need to play U9 in order to make a team viable. U8s will not be on U9 teams unless needed to form a viable team. September to early April. 

 

Ravens U9 Rep Program: ages 7*-8

The Ravens U9 Representative Program runs from Sept to early April. The program is offered to girls aged 7* and 8 years of age. Tryouts are held to form the teams and U8 aged players need to meet certain skill levels to be permitted to play U9 Rep. Tryouts for 2023-24 are being held in the fall and registration for tryouts is required. 4 Pre-skates will be offered early September to all WGHA registered U9 players and WGMHA U8 players that have registered for tryouts. U9 aged players may attend the 4 pre-skates before deciding to attend tryouts. Pre-skates are essentially practices preparing for tryouts. No evaluations are done during the pre-skates.

The U9 Rep team(s) will have additional fees based on the team budget which will be approved after team selection.

The U9 Rep program is open to all eligible players that are successful and selected in tryouts. Non-City of Waterloo residents will need to pay an additional Out-of-town fee. Any non-WGMHA players must have a PTT (Permission-to-Tryout) form to attend tryouts and must register for the tryouts. *U8 aged players may tryout but need to meet certain skill levels to be permitted to play on rep team. Please register for tryouts and it is recommended to register for the U9 Program as well at the same time. Only those registered to the WGHA U9 Program are eligible for the pre-skates.

WGMHA endeavors to run this program on the same days of the week for the entire season, however schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Game scheduling is not predetermined and may occur on different days and times. The team will play in the U9 A or B OWHA league. Games will fall on any day of the week. Practice schedules for this team are TBD.