EASTERN REGION RINGETTE ASSOCIATION

Hi Everyone!

Following is a brief summary of what to expect for each of the committees as we move forward to the 2011/2012 ringette season.

A highlight early in the season will be the AAA Challenge Cup that is being hosted by Eastern Region on Thanksgiving Weekend. Games will take place in Arnprior, at Nepean Sportsplex, Peplinski, Ray Friel and Kanata Rec Centre. Check the ERRA website as the date approaches and be sure to come out to see some amazing ringette and support our local athletes participating on both the Eastern Region AAA team and the United AAA team.

Within the next few weeks there will be a new logo for the Region that will tie in with the uniforms for the AAA team.

Also returning this year will be the ringette night at the 67's game, so watch for updates on that.

COACHING

We are relieved to announce that the ORA has removed the requirement that was scheduled to be in place for this coming playing season that would have required every team from U10 to U19 to have a qualified female coach or assistant coach on its bench. All teams will still be required to have an adult female on the bench, but, as is currently the case, this female can be a manager, trainer or coach. The requirement to have a fully qualified female coach or assistant coach on the bench still applies to 'AA' and 'AAA' teams, as it has for a number of years now.

In order to bring our Ontario coaches in line with National Coaching Certification and Ringette Canada guidelines, all coaches will be required to become MED (Make Ethical Decisions) Certified. Becoming MED Certified involved completing (and passing) a short on-line evaluation available through the Coaching Association of Canada's website. Coaches who are already CSI or CI Trained will have until January 8, 2012 to complete this on-line evaluation. Going forward, a coach who takes the CSI or CI clinic will have until January 8th of the following playing season to complete the relevant on-line evaluation. Note that this one playing season extension does not apply to 'AA' coaches who must complete the CI MED on-line evaluation as part of their CI Certification. More detailed instructions regarding completing the MED on-line evaluation will be posted shortly on the ERRA website.

For those requiring coach training for the coming playing season, we anticipate offering four Community Sport Initiation (CSI) clinics and two Competition Introduction (CI) clinics this fall. Dates, locations and the ability to register for these clinics on-line will be available on the ERRA website, under 'Coach Development' in late August.

The ORA Coaching Development Committee is working on developing other tools and resources for coaches to supplement what is learned in the clinics and assist the coaches in teaching specific skills. Stay tuned for more information.

In the meantime, if you have any coaching related questions, don't hesitate to contact the Eastern Region Coaching Coordinator, Kathy McCaw, at kathymccaw@rogers.com.


ELITE

The past year has been a very busy year ( since I returned in Feb ) We had to select a coach for the triple a team ( Dave Mainwood was chosen ) We then held tryouts at the end of April and after 3 intense days a team was selected, congratulations to the successful players. This team will be playing against 5 other regional team in Ontario in the spring of 2012 in Collingwood at the Ontario winter games. There will be 3 Challenge Cups with Eastern region hosting the first one on Thanksgiving weekend and St Mary's and Ajax hosting the other 2.The team will have a new look this year with the purchasing of new jersey's. We have designed a new team logo and we have redesigned the pants as well. In closing a new ringette year awits us all so ..enjoy the summer months ahead ...relax,refresh and reload for the fall schedule.

See you all in the rinks
Steve Welch Eastern Region Elite.


GAMES & TOURNAMENTS

Please remember that there is a mandatory meeting for tournament coordinators on Monday, Oct. 3 in the Variety West Room at Walter Baker at 7:00 p.m. and for competitive coaches on Wednesday, Oct. 5 in the Food Court at Walter Baker. It is vital that all tournaments and teams be represented at these meetings.

Almost everything else is very well stated in the Ringette Flash that is attached with this letter.

Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me after August 15 at noxon6@sympatico.ca or 613-489-2653

Kathy


MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

Please note when registering players for Bunnies - players may register to play in any association they choose. But please note that once you have graduated from the Bunny program you must register to play ringette in the area where you reside.

In Eastern Region we have the following ringette associations - Upper Ottawa Valley, Arnprior-McNabb, West Ottawa, Nepean, Metcalfe, City of Ottawa, Gloucester and Clarence Rockland as well as an adult ringette league GAARA. The boundaries for these associations follow the "former or old" city boundaries. You must register to play ringette in the region where you reside. In our region there is a grey area in which players can choose which association they wish to play in. But please be advised once you have chosen an association that becomes your home association and you must be released from this association (following ORA release rules) to play anywhere else. Players from the grey areas not included in any association boundaries should keep this in mind. If you are unsure which association boundary you live within, please contact myself at kelly.sitland@rogers.com or the registrar of the association you are interested in joining to confirm where you should be registered.

This year there will be a new relocation form for use within the Ontario Ringette Association teams. It can be found on the ORA website under the MS forms and appendix. This is the form that a player fills out if they move their primary residence to another association or move for post secondary education.

We have a comprehensive awards program within the ORA and Eastern Region. There are awards given out both by the ORA and within our Region. Throughout the season please keep in mind anyone you think deserving of player, coach or volunteer awards. Details of criteria can be found on the ORA website under the Membership Services Section.

Registrars will submit their annual paperwork on Monday, November 7 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the Variety West Room at Walter Baker.

Kelly Sitland


OFFICIATING

This will be a rule change season so all teams must send one bench staff member to a rule change clinic. Every referee must also attend an officials' rule change clinic. These costs should be factored into your budgets this season and every other season thereafter. There are some notable rule changes coming this year as well as a tightening up of some calls that we have been lenient on in the past. I believe that all of this will result in a better and safer game at all levels and I am looking forward to seeing the changes implemented.

As per information sent out to all association presidents and treasurers in April, game fees for officials will not change this season but travel fees have increased. This should not result in significant increases for any one association.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact your referee-in-chief or myself. I am particularly interested in any feedback you may have pertaining to the new rule changes and the tightening up of the on-ice calls. Enjoy the summer and the feeling of having warm toes while you can!

Marie Shinmoto
Eastern Region Officiating Coordinator


SPORT DEVELOPMENT

ORA LTAD Strategic Plan

The ORA Sport Development Committee participated in a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis in support of a Strategic Plan for the implementation of LTAD. Through this analysis a Strategic Plan was prepared which will be made available on-line. The process of developing the Strategic Plan was facilitated by André Lachance who is an LTAD subject matter expert (SME). André is employed by Baseball Canada and is the head coach of the Canadian Women's Baseball team. During our AGM this Spring André gave a presentation on LTAD which was well received by those in attendance. In addition to answering questions André also provided examples of how Baseball Canada made modifications to improve the experience of sport for younger participants. Once the Strategic Plan is made available I encourage you to review it. You will note that the plan focuses on the following fundamental pillars:

     
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    		• Athlete Development
     
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    		• Coaching
     
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    		• Competition
     
  •  
    		• Leadership and Organization
     
  •  
    		• Facilities

    Further information concerning LTAD can be found at the following links:

    http://www.canadiansportforlife.ca/parents
    http://www.canadiansportforlife.ca/coaches


    2011-2012 Initiative(s)

    This season Eastern Region will be introducing an evaluation model for players within age divisions U10, 9 and 8. But for this evaluation model, few changes are being implemented this year. The model involves carrying out assessments of players using a defined skills matrix which is being used province wide. This is a tool which will assist associations in creating teams, preparing progress reports for players, and allocating resources for skills development. ERRA Executive members Kathy Noxon and Chuck Robineau have been meeting with association Presidents and other stakeholders to present the model and answer questions. Resource material will be provided to associations well in advance of implementation.

    Did You Know?

    The ORA Sport Development Committee is responsible for the role out of LTAD initiatives province wide. The committee is comprised of a Chair and Sport Development Coordinators from regions within ORA. The committee meets several times throughout the year to discuss issues and propose/forward motions affecting Ringette in the Province of Ontario. Should you wish to forward an idea to the committee please contact Chuck Robineau via email at Charles.robineau@gmail.com.

    Also attached is a letter that was sent out by the Sport Development Committee regarding the implementation for the 2011/12 season. Chuck will be distributing the skills matrix within the next week.

    Presidents - please remember that there is an ERRA meeting for all presidents on Monday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. in the Variety West Room at Walter Baker.

    Have a wonderful rest of the summer and I look forward to seeing you in the fall.

    Kathy Noxon
    Chair
    Eastern Region Ringette Association