AA Program FAQs

AA Evaluation Schedule - August 10, 2023

Why is SGRA rebranding the AA program and what is different from the SGRA AA teams in the past?

SGRA’s focus and goal is to provide a long-lasting program and to build teams at all levels with AA being one of these levels. The main difference from the teams we have fielded in the past and the program we are looking to build is - the AA program going forward will be focused on structure and consistency from year to year and team to team.

SGRA is rebranding the current AA program to ensure the athletes that represent SGRA at the AA level are given all the proper tools required to compete with the AA programs throughout Alberta and Canada. SGRA has decided, in partnership with Black Gold Ringette Club, to go with a more structured program than years past to help the athletes develop these tools.

Why should my child consider trying out for AA ringette?

Each athlete, and family, chooses to play a sport for a wide range of reasons. The following are a few reasons that you and your athlete should consider while determining if the AA level is the right fit. Your child will have the opportunity to:

Play amongst like minded athletes looking to participate at the highest level available for their age group.
Teams at the AA level should have an expectation of time and commitment above other levels in the following areas:
- Additional ice time to work on individual and team skills and tactics.
- Additional Power Skating lead by qualified instructors
- Individual skill development sessions focusing on shooting/passing/stick handling/goaltender development.
- Off ice training by qualified instructors: mental health, mobility, agility, stability, and strength, etc.
Nutritional education provided by professionals tailored to the athlete’s needs.
Have the challenge, and experience, of playing against other top ringette athletes in Alberta and Canada. Potential to go abroad if decided by team.
Receive experienced coaching and instruction.
To learn valuable, transferable life skills, such as responsibility, dependability, and time management

What is the time commitment?

Like the financial commitment, the time commitment can vary from team to team and between age levels. A good guideline is as follows:

2-3 on-ice practices per week (1-3 provided by SGRA depending on time of year, the other will be sourced by team) of 60 to 75 minutes (may vary at different times of the season);
one dryland session per week of 60 to 75 minutes;
approximately 20 to 25 league and exhibition games;
15-20 games through participation in tournaments, up to the tournament maximums outlined in SGRA’s tournament policies (by age division).
5-10 games if team is successful in Provincials and Western Finals
Coaches are required to follow Ringette Canada’s Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) principles with respect to practice and playing time.

What is the financial commitment?

Each SGRA player pays an SGRA registration fee set out in the registration information. These fees pay for regular ice, membership fees, referees, insurance, etc.

An additional financial commitment for AA will vary amongst the AA teams and age level. There are some basic costs such as additional practice ice, regular dryland training and mandatory team apparel (e.g. game jerseys (which they will keep), practice jerseys, hoodies, dryland gear, equipment bag, backpack, team jacket, black helmet).

Other costs will be coach and team decisions, decided at the beginning of each season. Variables that affect cost include:

Number of tournaments, both home and away, that a team decides to participate in (including any post-provincial play). Teams previously participated in tournaments such as:
- U14: Combined 5 Alberta based and out of province tournaments plus the possibility of Provincial Championship and Western Canadian Championship
- U16: Combined 5 Alberta based and out of province tournaments plus the possibility of Provincial Championship and National Championship
- U19: Combined 5 or 6 Alberta based and out of province tournaments plus the possibility of Provincial Championship and National Championship
additional training added to their own program (goalie instruction, power skating,3^rd party skill development, instructor led fitness);
additional team bonding functions or additional team apparel.
Additional costs may apply for expected non-parent coaches (e.g., apparel, travel, accommodations).

In addition to the SGRA registration fees, the estimated team “seed money” for the season will be:

U14AA - Estimated $2,000 per athlete (in 2-3 installments). If the team qualifies for Western Canadian Ringette Championships (WCRC), there will be additional costs, depending on location of event.
U16AA - Estimated $2,500 per athlete (in 2-3 installments). If the team qualifies for Canadian Ringette Championships (CRC), there will be additional costs, depending on location of event.
U19AA - Estimated $3,000 per athlete (in 2-3 installments). If the team qualifies for Canadian Ringette Championships (CRC), there will be additional costs, depending on location of event.

These costs have increased from previous years based partially on inflation but also on what is being offered in this program and are in line with many other AA programs.

These costs can be significantly reduced through team fundraising and sponsorship, and we encourage all parents to be a part of this.

Will an athlete that is rostered to an U14, U16, or U19 AA team in a previous season be automatically placed on an AA team every season following?

No, all athletes who wish to try out for the AA program will undergo the SGRA evaluation process which adheres to the Evaluation Guide and Team Selection policy. The group of athletes evaluating changes season by season, therefore the outcome will be different.

Can a player try out for a position or are they all evaluated as one group and then assigned positions when they are placed on a team?

A player can put their position preference on the registration form (and is encouraged to). Coaches have the discretion to have a player tryout at a different position than indicated. In the end, the coaches will have final say in what position they feel the player would be best suited.

Does SGRA allow players to try out who do not reside within the boundaries (import Players)?

Yes, SGRA allows import players. This is done to balance the development of SGRA athletes and creating viable teams with the ability to compete with other AA programs across the province.

SGRA also recognizes not all associations have a AA program so it has chosen to take a 2 prong approach to where an athlete needs to place in evaluations to be considered for the team: either protected or in select zone.

For those import players trying out for AA teams, acceptance on a team roster will be based on the following criteria:

For U19AA Playing Division’s - will accept all import players so long the number does not exceed 30% of overall team size.
For the U16AA Playing Division’s - Any import player trying out for the Spruce Grove Ringette Association who does nothave a “suitable” team on which to play within their home association must rank in the top 75% of all players evaluating in the final evaluation skate for If an import player who does have a “suitable” team in which to play within their home association, the player must rank in the top 50% of all players evaluating in the final evaluation skate for their respective player division. Max 3 import players at U16AA (not including goalies)
For the U14AA Playing Division- Any import player trying out for the Spruce Grove Ringette Association who does not have a “suitable” team on which to play within their home association, the player must rank in the top 50% of all players evaluating in the final evaluation skate for If an import player who does have a “suitable” team in which to play within their home association, the player must rank in the top 25% of all players evaluating in the final evaluation skate for their respective player division. Will not accept more than 2 import players at U14AA (not including goalies)
Import goalies for U14, U16, and U19 Divisions will be considered on a case by case basis.
Final decision and acceptance of import players will be made by the Evaluation Oversight Committee in consultation with the respective head coach.
Any selected ‘import player” will be subject to Ringette Alberta Policies with regards to player releases and all applicable principles outlined within those policies.
The SGRA supports the growth and offering of a competitive stream of ringette and equally wants to see every athlete registered with the Spruce Grove Ringette Association have the opportunity to play at the appropriate level. As such, we will take all necessary precautions and consider all available facts to ensure the best decision is made for both the Spruce Grove Ringette Association and the athlete trying out.

SGRA will follow the import guidelines set out in the Evaluation Guide.

The Spruce Grove Ringette Association will accept all athletes interested in trying out for AA teams at each Division offering a AA team this year as long as they have been registered prior to the cut off for AA tryout registration posted on the SGRA webpage.

All import players interested in trying out with an SGRA team need to be registered with their home association prior to evaluations with any other association. This is to ensure there is proper insurance coverage for applicable athletes. If a player is selected by a SGRA team, a formal request of release from the respective home association must be made.

Please contact the applicable Division Director or Director of Player Development & Assessment for more details.

How will coaches be selected?

Coaches who are interested in coaching AA are to submit their interest via the registration process (if their child is playing within SGRA) or via email to the Director of Coaching Assessment and Development (if their child does not play within SGRA) by the deadline specified on the SGRA website.

https://www.sprucegroveringette.com/content/coaching

Interested coaches will then complete a coaching application by the deadline indicated on the SGRA website. Prospective coaches will then be selected in the same way as the SGRA’s policies and procedures states.

How will teams be selected?

Team selection will follow our Evaluation Guide:

U14 - 30% coach pick
U16 and U19 - 40% coach pick

An Oversight committee, consisting of the Director of Player Development & Assessment, Coordinator of Evaluations and appropriate Division Director or Director of Coaching Development & Assessment, will review all scores submitted for each of the athletes for each team.

Once the Oversight committee has reviewed each list, final selection will commence with the selected Head Coach or designated Assistant Coach if the Head Coach is not available. Coaches’ children are not automatically accepted on the team. The Oversight committee will need to provide reasonable justification for any import players.

Players not selected to an AA team will go through the remainder of the evaluation process within their division with no consideration of scores taken from AA tryouts.

How many AA teams are there?

SGRA may host a single team in U14AA, U16AA, and an U19AA age divisions based on the evaluation scores from the current tryout period, review of past season’s teams, win/loss records, UAA scores (U14 only), current evaluation scores, and other association date including a comparison to local associations within the league.

All potential teams will play in their own respective age divisions within the Black Gold League.

Who do I contact for more information about AA ringette?

It is our intention to have an open house to roll out our new AA program. Our goal is to host this prior to the end of July. Check the appropriate division page on the SGRA website for more information.

SGRA U14 Director - U14dir@sprucegroveringette.com

SGRA U16 Director - U16dir@sprucegroveringette.com

SGRA U19 Director - U19dir@sprucegroveringette.com