Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

New to ringette or have questions about the upcoming season? You’re in the right place!

We’ve gathered answers to some of the questions families ask most often about SGRA, including age divisions, U10 programming, where and when we play, volunteer commitments, additional season costs, equipment, team requests, and more. Spruce Grove Ringette Association

Take a look through the FAQs below, and if you still have questions, we’re always happy to help point you in the right direction.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q:  How do the age levels work?

A:   All children register according to their age:

Q:  What is U10?

A:   The U10 Division will potentially consist of four (4) steps.  All U10 players may be participating on ice for standardized assessments.  The initial assessment groups will be made using the years of ringette or skating experience a player has.  

This forming of developmental appropriate groupings is extremely successful in the growth of young Ringette players. It looks at the player as a whole and does not necessarily categorize them according to chronological age.  Players will be placed in “like-ability” teams. This will encourage participation and development within all skill levels of our players.  The standardized programming for all U10 players will facilitate the placement of players to their appropriate group.  

All groupings/steps/teams will receive equal ice time and player development opportunity.  The beginner staged grouping may possibly not be participating in league game play (more focus on Active Start and early FUNdamentals, skill development, and learning the game), while the later staged U10 groups/steps/teams (more experienced & skilled) will be a part of the Black Gold Ringette League. While the beginner staged grouping is not within a league, equal ice sessions will allow more opportunity to set and play exhibition games.

The above concept was developed in relation to Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) and is supported by Ringette Alberta.

Q:  What are the residential boundaries of the SGRA?  I do not live in the city of Spruce Grove and want to be certain my home address allows my family to play for SGRA.

A:   The answer here depends on where your primary family home is located, and what ringette association (if any) you were registered with previously.  If you have questions please contact the Registrar at registrar@sprucegroveringette.com

Q:  When and where do we play?

A:   The answer here varies depending upon Division level and ice availability.

Game schedules are published twice a year (September & January) by the Zone 5 Ringette Association-Black Gold League (SGRA is part of this league). They will be distributed via your Team Managers, as well see BGL’s website at www.blackgoldleague.com

Regular season games can be anywhere throughout the Zone 5 Member Associations i.e. Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Beaumont, Leduc, Edmonton, Lacombe, Hinton, Ft. Saskatchewan, Drayton Valley and Red Deer.

There has been in past years a pre-determined day for practices. As the association membership continues to grow, we may not guarantee that this will continue. We will do our best to provide a good level of consistency.  The schedule for practice times will not be provided prior to the season starting. We may determine this once we have all registration numbers accounted for and teams determined (approximately 3rd to 4th week of September). Practices may be held in Spruce Grove at the Stu Barnes or Tri-Leisure Arenas. Occasionally practices may be held in outside communities such as Calahoo, Riviere Qui Barre, etc.  Be prepared for occasional early morning ice times on weekends.

Q:  What are my Volunteer obligations?

A:   You are required to do the following:

Association Requirements:

Volunteer duty for the Sweetheart Tournament - if you do not fulfill this you will be charged an amount as set out annually - be sure to SIGN IN for your duty during the tournament.

Bingo Shift: 1 per family excluding Head Coaches, Managers and SGRA Board Members. 

Team Requirements:

In addition to the coaches and trainers, there are certain team roles critical to the smooth and enjoyable running of the season. Parents are asked to STEP FORWARD to fill these roles that first day of practice after teams are formed.

Time Keeper; Score Clock; Penalty Box - All parents will be required to take turns for home games, away games, and tournament games as score keeper, timekeeper, penalty box and/or shot clock (for U12 and up). Don’t worry newcomer parents, these tasks are easy and it’s fun to watch the game from ice level!

Team Manager - Responsible for the overall communication and organization of the Ringette team.

Treasurer - Responsible for the overall finances of the team.

Tournament Coordinator - Responsible for assisting with finding and entering their own team into tournaments.

Sweetheart Tournament Representatives - 2 per team.  Responsible for team representation for SGRA Sweet Heart Tournament organization.

Social Planner - some teams have someone to coordinate any extra events for the teams.

Fundraising - Responsible to discuss with parents any interest in fundraising opportunities.

SGRA Event Representative - Serves as team representative for the planning and coordination of the SGRA Special Events.

Jersey Parent - Responsible to bring both home & away jerseys to games; and collection of jerseys after all games.  Responsible to wash/care for home & away jerseys.

Q:  If I have more than 2 children registered do I get a break on anything?

A:   For families with 3 or more children (from same primary family/residence), there is a 10% discount on registration fees.  The online registration system does not allow for this discount to be applied at the time of registration.  Once you have registered all your children the Registrar will apply a credit to your account once they have verified the registrations.  If you paid in full at the time of registration a refund for the 10% credit per player will be issued to your credit card.  You MUST contact the Registrar to request your discount.

Q:  What are additional costs I can expect?

A:   In addition to registration and equipment costs, consider the following:

Photos - Team and individual photos will be taken in the fall. You will receive one team/individual player photo from the association.  Additional purchasing is optional, but package prices range from $15 and up. Lots of extras are available from bag tags to calendars to posters.

Away tournaments (not the Sweetheart Tournament) - Your team may choose to enter tournaments, most do. These costs vary, in the range of $30/player per tournament plus any travel costs.

Team contribution for the prize table at the Sweetheart Tournament - Each team is responsible for contributing a prize item with a value of $20 per rostered player. This may be done through a cash collection or corporate donation(s), as determined annually by the Sweetheart Tournament Committee.

Optional team events - these may include kick off get-togethers, Christmas and season windup parties.  Costs might be for swimming, bowling, pot-lucks etc. (Optionally, small contributions for season-end coaches gifts are common).

Aside from photos, some teams elect to pitch in a certain amount estimated to cover everything at the beginning of the year for the tournaments and parties so families are not “nickel & dimed” throughout the year. This is the seed money referred to earlier in this document.

Q:  Can I request for my child to be on a team with their friend?

A:   We try to form the teams for age range and ability, so requests cannot be guaranteed, although they may be considered.  As per SGRA’s Team Formation Policy, new or first time U10 players (and younger) are able to submit requests to be placed on the same team as a friend or family member. These requests are limited to one per player and can only be made by new/first time players in the U10 Division (and younger).  Please keep in mind that the players will be assessed and placed in groupings according to development needs, so requests cannot be guaranteed.

Please refer to SGRA Player Request Form and guidelines for use (posted on SGRA website). Forms must be submitted prior to the athlete assessments/evaluations. The SGRA Player Request Form is a process/policy that is determined annually by the Executive Board as per set guidelines from the BGL and Ringette Alberta on team formation.

Q:  What Equipment do I need?

A:   The following equipment is mandatory:

• CSA approved hockey helmet with ringette face mask - the kind with the triangular openings

• Approved neck protector

• Shoulder pads

• Elbow pads

• Protective (ie hockey) gloves

• Girdle (hip/tailbone/genital protector)

• Jill strap if girdle is other than a ringette girdle

• Shin guards

• Hockey/ringette skates (no picks)

• Ringette stick

• Practice jersey (2 game jerseys are provided by SGRA

• Ringette pants. For divisions U10 and higher playing in the Black Gold League - Spruce Grove Ringette Association Custom Ordered Pants are mandatory.  Please note: For U10 players, this will apply only to those who are playing in the BGL U10 Division.  Please refer to the Ringette Pants section found earlier on this webpage.

• The following equipment is optional: Mouth Guard - available at sports stores or through your dentist

Ringette equipment can be purchased at businesses such as, but not limited to:

• Source For Sports, #10 - 580 St. Albert Road, St. Albert

• United Cycle, 7620 Gateway Boulevard, Edmonton

• Totem Outfitters, 7430 99 St NW Edmonton

• Economic hockey starter kits are available at Walmart and Canadian Tire for younger children.  Be sure to purchase a ringette mask, ringette stick and Jill strap.

Q:  I don't seem to be receiving emails from the SGRA.  Could you let me know why this is happening and how I can fix it?

A: You may have either clicked the message at the bottom of a previous email asking if you do not want receive SGRA emails, or you have checked the box in the your Ramp Registration account that asks if you would like to receive emails.

You may have also checked or clicked this on another association (sport or otherwise) that uses Ramp.  All emails go through the Ramp server, so if you decline for example swimming, hockey, baseball, etc then ringette will get blocked 
As well. If you would like to correct this you will need to log into your Ramp Registration Account and click MAILING LIST found on the left hand side, then uncheck the box stating Remove me from any/all emails from RAMP Registrations.

The other option is that have you registered with other associations using that association's Ramp Registrations site.  For example baseball, swimming and hockey all use Ramp too.  You will need to go to your Ramp Registration account within these individual sites to check if that box unsubscribing was checked marked.  Because all associations that use Ramp send email off of one main server, if you have unsubscribed your email address with any other Ramp using association, it essentially becomes effective to all associations using Ramp.  Sometimes we get emails from other associations that we do not want and click the message at the bottom of their email stating:

To be removed from our mailing list, go to:
https://www.rampinteractive.com/registration/v3/removeemail.aspx?c=b36db1505e49