Welcome to the Adult Development Program

The following information is a brief outline for the Adult Development Program associations/teams to assist in providing guidance in registration, sanctioned events and the Adult Development Program in general. Each registered association will have a copy of the Ontario Ringette Association Operating Manual. The manual is also available online on the ORA website. It contains information on Sport Administration, Planning, Constitution, Contact Listings, and Events and Activities. More importantly there are complete sections for each of the program areas within Ontario Ringette. These include Adult Development, Coaching Development, Games and Tournaments, Membership Services, Officiating Development and Athlete Development. All sections of the Operating Manual apply to Adults with the exceptions noted in the Adult Development Section. In case of conflicts with content between the Handbook and the Operating Manual, Operating Manual contents will apply.

In addition, many resources are available through the office. These include the Provincials Host Guide, Rule Books and Case Books, skills development material, forms, additional copies of the ADP Handbook, etc. Please contact the ORA office directly.

Every Region has an Adult Development Co-ordinator who is available to assist with any questions or concerns about the program. Participation in the program and communication affect the way the program is administered within the Province.

The sport of Ringette has been played in Canada for 40 years having been introduced in North Bay in 1963. Ringette is not only fun but it is great for fitness, socialization and learning. The benefits are many: from participating in group activities, from the experience of developing skills, and from being physically active. Women and men should have access to the benefits that participation in sport and physical activity brings. The Adult Development Program was established to provide the continuation of the sport of Ringette for the following age divisions within the Province of Ontario.

Open - 19 and up (no ceiling)

Masters - 30 and up (no ceiling)

Representing participants in the sport of Ringette at the adult level, the Committee recognizes the specific needs and requirements, many of which are very different from those of youth. The Provincial Standing Committee would like to emphasize that the organization and development of adult programs and activities have been geared to meet these needs. In these times of change, teams should maintain a degree of flexibility that will provide each adult player a place to play at her (his) appropriate skill level.

Increased participation by women in sports warrants special attention because of the significant differences that still exist in male and female dominate sports. However, ADP encourages both females and males to play ringette.

Within the Adult Development Program, the following programs and activities are offered:

• Outreach Assistance
• Instructional Player Skills Sessions
• Coaches Clinics/Officiating Clinics
• Resource Materials
• Regional/Provincial and InterProvincial Tournaments
• Adult Ringette Camp
• Volunteer Recognition Awards Program
• Seeding and Player Evaluation Information

Contact the Regional ADP Co-ordinator for more information.

Registration fees for ORA include Ringette Canada membership and insurance as well as a portion that is used for program development and administration. All adult participants register in accordance with ORA guidelines. All registration forms are available through the ORA office. (These include Team Registration Forms (TRFs), TRF Adjustment Forms and Information Change Forms). For more information please refer to the Membership Services section of the Operating Manual. Registrations received more than 15 days after their due date shall be levied a 10 % late fee.

Players who wish to play out of their age category must get the proper authorizations and releases. Note that underage players must obtain a release from their home association before playing on an intermediate team. Underage players playing on masters teams will not be allowed to play in Sanctioned Play. Exceptions will be made on an individual basis for Open players playing below their age level. Player Release Forms are available through the ORA office.

Registration designations at the provincial level ares deemed to be playing levels for sanctioned play only. Local associations can decide on competitive structures for league play.

Composite teams must register with ORA by the November 15^th deadline. A duly completed TRF marked clearly "COMPOSITE" must be sent to the office with every player's originating team indicated. Any non-compliance will result in the Composite team being disallowed acceptance in sanctioned play.

There are five (5) different levels of ORA Sanctioned Events. They are:

1. Invitational Tournaments

2. Regional Tournaments

3. Regional Preliminary Championships/Qualifiers

4. Provincial Championships/Qualifiers

5. For ORA disciplinary purposes, any game between two (2) registered ORA teams or between any other Province’s teams with an ORA registered team.

A listing of all Sanctioned Tournament Events is available through your Association President or on the ORA website. This list offers opportunities for all teams to experience tournament play at their competitive level throughout the Province. The "ORA Invitational Ringette Tournament Sanctioned Event Host Guidelines" is available as a resource for hosting these events. Sanctioned Event Applications, Fee Remittance Forms, Tournament Sanction Fee Forms, etc. are available in the Operating Manual or through the ORA office.

Substitution rules for all sanctioned events are established by Games and Tournaments and the Adult Development Program. Please refer to the Operating Manual and, if in doubt, contact the Regional ADP Co-ordinator. Tie breaking rules are published in the Operating Manual and in most tournament programs. For out of Province play, complete form GT-F-08 and see Games and Tournaments Section of the Operating Manual, Page 31 for more information.

Adult Provincials -

Procedures and Guidelines for Hosting

1. Choose date and venue for Provincials - need approx 100 hours of ice to accommodate approximately 10 A teams and 10 B teams. Number of teams will vary.

2. Intent to apply letter along with $200.00 good faith cheque sent to ORA office for approval of Board of Directors by JULY 31st.

3. Once approved, need to obtain from office, a Host Guide containing a Contract that you will sign. Contract must be returned within two (2 ) weeks of receipt.

4. Form Committees that are listed in the Host Guide.

5. Have regular meetings. ADP Chairperson and ADP Co-ordinator should be in attendance. Send minutes to office, Committee Members, ADP Chairperson, and ADP Regional Co-ordinator.

6. Budget completed by Host, ADP and Officiating and send to office for approval of Board of Directors by JANUARY 1st. Include budget for dignitaries, ADP Chair and Co-ordinators, Board of Director member, medals, awards/plaques, officiating meals, mileage and accommodations. (Template available through the ORA office.)

7. Fees will be set based on budget and approval from the Board of Directors.

8. Prepare Team Kit - lists dates, location, map of area and arena’s, hotel chosen - any other details - send to office to send out. To be sent one month prior to event.

9. You will receive first sum of money from office by MARCH 15^th, providing contract has been signed and returned to the ORA office.

10. You may want to contact previous Host Chair if assistance is needed.

11. To increase attendance at Opening Ceremonies, you may want to have them at the host hotel.

12. Please refer to Provincial Host Guide for other details.

The rules implemented by Ringette Canada and Ontario Ringette have been established for your safety and for the further development of the sport. The rules pertaining to equipment include:

• Coaching staff and/or volunteers who are participating on-ice must wear a CSA approved helmet. This includes practice times.

• Equipment standards are published in the Ringette Canada Rules Book and must be adhered to. Periodic changes are made and notices are sent to Association Presidents who will inform you of new requirements.

• Stick checks and equipment checks will be made throughout the season by on-ice officials to determine legality. Though a warning may be issued, immediate compliance is required.

Mandatory Equipment: CSA Approved Helmet and Face Mask, BNQ Approved Neck Protector, Elbow Pads, Protective Gloves, Hip/Tailbone/Genital Protection, Knee Pads (with plastic shell), Hockey/Ringette Skates, Uniform Jersey, Track Pants or "Cooperalls", Ringette Stick

Goalie Equipment: (Extras or Different) Goal Pads, Chest Protector, Goal Stick

Optional Equipment: Shoulder Pads, Mouth Guard, Shin Guards

Optional Equipment (Goalie): Goalie Skates, Blocker, Trapper, Arm Pads, Goalie Mask, Plastic Throat Protector

A list of Approved Helmets and Face Masks is available through your ADP Co-ordinator.

Recommended inclusions are:

Condensed First Aid Manual Cell phone or quarters for emergency calls

Plastic bags for ice 4" and 6" elastic bandages

4 sterile gauze pads, 3" square 12 adhesive dressings, ¾" x 3"

2 field dressings 4" square or two 4" sterile bandage compresses

2 rolls gauze bandage, 2" wide Roll of adhesive tape, 2" x 5 yards long

2 triangular bandages Q-tips

2 pairs disposable gloves Antiseptic wipes

Clean towel Safety pins

2 packages of sugar Notepad and pencil

Scissors, tweezers and a penlight

Non-qualified Bench Staff shall not be allowed to participate in ORA Sanctioned Events after JANUARY 8th. Should a member of an association bench staff violate this rule, it shall result in a team disqualification and/or fines levied. There shall be no exceptions and/or appeals to this rule. Please consult the Coaching Development Section of the Operating Manual for further details or contact the Regional Coaching Co-ordinator.

Bench Staff Code of Conduct Agreements, Risk Management and Safety Incident/Accident Forms, Insurance Claim Forms, Facility Audit Forms, etc. are available through the ORA office.

Coaching Requirements

Open/Masters Teams are required to meet the guidelines set out in the Coaching Development Section of the Operating Manual.

1. Teams are required to have a Head Coach.

2. Teams are required to have a non-playing member of their coaching staff on the bench.

A team can substitute a qualified and registered member of bench staff from another team to meet the non-player bench staff requirement. The substitute bench staff must satisfy coaching qualifications for that level, be registered with ORA at the position he/she is assuming and be eligible to fill that position.