Frequently Asked Questions

Which ringette association am I zoned for?

Consult this link to see which association you are zoned for (based on your address).  Our association (City of Ottawa Ringette Association) is the area shown in purple and GCRA is in green.  The other association names show up when you click on the area.  Thanks to GCRA, a sister association, for this cool map!

My daughter does not skate/is a weak skater, should she play FUN1 or FUN2?

While there can be valid reasons to seek to have a player play down, either by the association or the parents, as much as possible, we encourage parents to place their daughter in the age appropriate group. The focus is on fun in FUN2 and there is no issue with this being their introduction to ringette, or even to skating. They are very unlikely to be the only beginners. Your daughter will also catch up quickest by joining her peer group.

When are the practices and games?

At FUN2 and U10/FUN3, the majority of practices and games will be on weekends.  The league sets the game schedules, so if they play on Saturday, they will practice on Sunday, and vice-versa.  There may be the extremely rare Wednesday 6 PM practice, this tends to happen near the end of the season when our ice scheduler if trying to work around March Break and Easter.  There are no practices/games on holidays or school breaks.

At U12, the practices and games continue to be on weekends but more midweek 6 PM practices will sneak into your schedule.  There are no practices/games on holidays or school breaks.

Is there a power skating program?

Yes, there is an optional power skating program.  For U10 (FUN3) players, it takes place on alternating Weddays commencing in early October and ending in February. For U12 & U14/U16 recreational players, it takes place most Wednesdays.

How many tournaments are there?  Where?

At FUN2, there are typically 2 local tournaments (e.g. Nepean, West Ottawa, GCRA).  It is rare to have an away tournament at this age but some coaches in agreement with the parents may chose to do one nearby (e.g. Kingston).

At U10/FUN3, there are typically 1 or 2 local tournaments (e.g. Nepean, West Ottawa, GCRA) and perhaps one away tournament.  The away tournament is up to the group and a decision is usually made at the parents’ meeting in late September, most coaches will come to the meeting with their preferred tournaments to be discussed and voted on.

At U12, there are typically 2 local tournaments (e.g. Nepean, West Ottawa, GCRA) and perhaps 1 or 2 away tournaments.  Again, the away tournaments are up to the group and a decision is usually made at the parents’ meeting in late September, most coaches will come to the meeting with their preferred tournaments to be discussed and voted on.

Beyond U12 there are typically 1-2 local tournaments and 1-2 away tournaments. Again, the away tournaments are up to the group and a decision is usually made at the parents’ meeting in late September, most coaches will come to the meeting with their preferred tournaments to be discussed and voted on.

Are there any additional fees?

Yes, there are team fees.  These are determined based on the # of tournaments, social event budget, and any other planned expenditures.  A team budget is presented at the parents’ meeting in late September, it is then discussed and voted on.

What type of social events are there?

At FUN2 & U10/FUN3, there are usually around 3 social events over the course of the season.  Shortly after the team is formed, there is often a team-building type event or potluck.  Teams usually have a party around Christmas time as well. Attending a National Ringette or 67s game is also common. Lastly, there is and End of Season party.   Again, the final decision on these things is up to the individual teams. These social events are really great for team-building and the girls love them of course.

Can my daughter participate in other weekend activities?

Absolutely, but there may be occasional conflicts. We hope that players will be able to participate in most games and practices but it’s understood that they are unlikely to be able to attend 100%.

Do families carpool?

Absolutely, there is significant carpooling in our association. Everyone is busy and has competing priorities. Again, this is something that can be worked out soon after the teams are set. In making teams we do our very best to accommodate friend requests. Carpooling is something to consider in this context.  Global warming bad - car pooling good!