This morning, the Alberta Government announced changes to the restrictions affecting team sports. We are working on getting clarification on these changes before we move forward.
 

Ringette Alberta has now stated that they are meeting with local associations on Monday to discuss, and until told differently, the current ban remains in effect.

Thank you for your patience,

Jenn Tosto
Vice President
St. Albert Ringette Association 

SARA Families,

We are still awaiting communication from Ringette Alberta regarding the remainder of the season. As soon as we hear anything, we will communicate that information to you.
The SARA Board meeting is tomorrow night (Wednesday February 3rd) at 7pm. We will be discussing the government update and the implications for the remainder of the season. 
 

Community Outdoor Rink Information

As one of our valued community sport partners with a special interest in outdoor boarded rinks and social ice surfaces, I want to share some of the latest information that we would like you to share with your membership.

The City of St. Albert's outdoor boarded rinks are open to be enjoyed by individuals or by groups of 10 or fewer people skating together. The boarded rinks and social ice surfaces have maximum capacities of total people allowed to skate at each location. Please encourage your members to follow all posted capacity limits while enjoying the ice surfaces this winter.

Due to the compliance we have seen over the past few days, the City will be returning the nets to the outdoor boarded rinks. There are to be used only by individuals shooting pucks into the nets.

Remember, due to provincial public health measures, games of hockey, ringette or shinny or any other activity that brings users into close contact (less than two metres) on outdoor boarded rinks or social ice surfaces are not permitted.

If these provincial public health measures aren't followed, the users will be asked to leave. If they refuse to leave, the users will be fined.

Lacombe Lake Park social ice surface is not yet ready for use and residents should stay off the ice until it is safe and open for skating. It is expected to open over the holidays and signage will be posted onsite when it is ready for use. There is no ice fishing allowed on Lacombe Lake for the safety of skaters.

Reminder: The Sturgeon River is both beautiful and dangerous this time of year. It is tempting to venture out on the ice, but it could result is severe injury or death. Do not skate, snowshoe, cross country ski or walk on the ice. Given the dangers of foot traffic, it is equally important not to take snowmobiles, side by sides (UTVs), quads (ATVs) or other vehicles on the ice. Stay off and stay safe. More info: https://stalbert.ca/rec/facilities/sports/icesafety/

Please share this information with your users so they know the rules and can follow them so the rinks remain available and open for all community users to enjoy.

The latest information about the outdoor skating and ice conditions is available online

Stay Safe and Happy Holidays

Following Jason Kenney's public health announcement Tuesday December 8th, it is clear that we will not be back on ice together until, hopefully, sometime in January of 2021.

I know that this will come as another disappointment for many of you in a time where we are all looking for something to help ease the stress of these uncertain times.

The SARA board continues to work in conjunction with Ringette Alberta to ensure we are getting our members information on restrictions and return to play in a timely manner.

We have seen and heard many stories of how our teams are staying connected virtually over the past few weeks. I want to applaud our coaches for your dedication to your players mental and physical health. From scavenger hunts, to zoom dryland, from gingerbread house decorating parties, to movie nights in your p.j's, your inventiveness in the virtual platform has been heartwarming to see.

We encourage all players to remain active during this break and share your stories and photos with our communications director at vicepresident@stalbertringette.com so that she can share them with our SARA community. 

In regards to any potential fee reduction for this season, the SARA board reviewed this topic at our December 7th board meeting, however, as we do not know what the extent of the shut-down will be, fee reductions will be determined at the end of the ringette season.

In closing, I would like to wish you all a safe and happy holiday season. I know this Christmas will be a very different one for us all, if you or someone you know is struggling helpful resources can be found on Albert Health Services Website

Be kind to one another,

Kristen Bodnarchuk

 President,
 St. Albert Ringette
 stalbertringette.com

Today, the Premier announced a number of time-limited, targeted restrictions designed to “bend the (COVID-19) curve”; this includes restrictions that impact ringette. 

You can read about these restrictions here.

With the exception of locations not subject to the restrictions (see above), the following is in effect from November 13 to 27:

All ringette activities that cannot be undertaken outdoors or virtually, in their entirety, including socialization before and after the formal activity, are prohibited.

Ringette activities include, but are not limited to:

• Games
• Practices
• Team dryland training
• Team building activities
• Team meetings
• Team social gatherings

Outdoor activities may include practice and training and may include inter-squad (same team divided into two squads) scrimmages. 

All health measures described in this document apply indoors and outdoors:   

Participants may not travel to areas not subject to restrictions for the purpose of indoor participation.

For logistical reasons, league and exhibition games are not permitted during this time.

Lastly, please funnel all questions through your Association Safety Officer so that we can streamline communication and ensure accurate responses.

Note: This memorandum is being circulated now to alleviate many understandable questions, however we have not received detailed information from the Sport, Recreation and Physical Activity (SPAR) department of the Government of Alberta yet.  Should subsequent information from the SPAR department warrant further communication from Ringette Alberta to you, it will be provided ASAP.

Please see the following link to Black Gold League session 2 update

The St. Albert Ringette Board is looking to update our current bylaws, which were last revised in 2015.  We are seeking between 3-5 members of the St. Albert Ringette Association (parents, players 18+, coaches) to participate in a working group to assist in reviewing and updating the bylaws before presentation to the membership and vote at the 2021 AGM.

The group will work with a representative from the City of St. Albert to ensure compliance with the province of Alberta standards.

Interested parties should expect to meet at least once a month, over Zoom, and more frequently as the AGM draws closer.  
This process will give SARA members a chance at input into the future of our association.  No previous board experience is needed.

Please send an email with your name, players name and reason for interest to President@stalbertringette.com by November 10th to be included.  (in the event of overwhelming response, committee leaders will choose participants by a vote) 

Current Bylaws can be found here: Bylaws and Policies

Did you know that any member of the St. Albert Ringette Association can attend a SARA board meeting?

Currently all board meetings are being hosted via Zoom.  If you wish to attend please email president@stalbertringette.com to be provided with the link.

Next meeting is Tuesday November 3rd.
 

Let’s Address The Not-So-Little Elephant In The Room: 
Quarantine. It sucks.

Some of you may have already experienced it, so let’s reduce the stigma.

From the CDC: Stigma is associated with a lack of knowledge about how COVID-19 spreads, a need to blame someone, fears about disease and death, and gossip that spreads rumors and myths. While we can’t eliminate it completely, we want to help reduce it, and can only do so with your help!

-Words Matter

• DO - speak accurately about the risk from COVID-19, based on scientific data and latest official health advice.
• Don’t - repeat or share unconfirmed rumours, and avoid using hyperbolic language designed to generate fear like “plague”, “apocalypse” etc.
• DO - talk about people “acquiring” or “contracting” COVID-19
• Don’t - talk about people “transmitting COVID-19” “infecting others” or “spreading the virus” as it implies intentional transmission and assigns blame.

-Stay Connected

• Pick up the phone. Call, text, and face time loved ones, friends, and teammates
• Use technology to connect! Have zoom calls with your teammates and coaches, incorporate zoom challenges, like karaoke, trivia night, or even dryland. Maybe even throw in a dance party or two!

-Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

• Sign up for the AHS free virtual stress management workshops: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/news/Page15660.aspx
• Find Support:
  https://myhealth.alberta.ca/pages/emergency-phone-numbers.aspx

Our Safety Officer, Craig Wing (safety@stalbertringette.com) and President, Kristen Bodnarchuk (president@stalbertringette.com) have been working together with RAB and BGL in handling  anything related to COVID-19  protocols within SARA. If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 and SARA policies and handling procedures, please reach out to them directly.

We are all in this together. It is normal to feel as though you are on an emotional rollercoaster, with the constant influx of information, and continually changing personal circumstances and daily routines. COVID-19 impacts everyone differently, so please continue to be supportive and understanding of each other. As we keep moving forward, remember to always choose kind.

Jenn Tosto
Vice President
St. Albert Ringette Association
​​​​​​vicepresident@stalbertringette.com

Friday October 9th, 2020

St. Albert Ringette would like to encourage all our members to click the link below to view  Ringette Alberta's recent meeting with League leaders. This short video explains  and discusses managing games in light of the limited number of officials we have available this season, how games are to be defined as league, exhibition and scrimmage / shinny and the critical importance of only individuals with proper training acting as officials.

This is important information for all participants in ringette this season and applies to all teams in the province whether they are participating in one of the main leagues or not.

You can watch the meeting recording here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/Q9Id1KyL52FD5ZC-acPIhLSYvrggjK27Z3ryazO4vjDm-gLDktv418it_CLEMNNUkM3wLNw6McC71aoa.OHK7sH6FXzGjiSFd

Tuesday September 29, 2020

Return to Ringette: Cohort Update

As the COVID-19 situation is ever evolving, the SARA Board has made the decision to adjust our policies regarding sport cohorts to reflect those set forth by Ringette Alberta.

RAB and SARA are very aware of and understand the challenges you are facing, including but not limited to: 

• sport cohort pressures 
• concerns related to availability of qualified officials
• coach certification requirements

While Ringette Alberta still recommends that individuals limit their sport cohort participation, effective immediately,  Ringette Alberta will permit the combinations indicated in Table 1 to participate in a maximum of two ringette cohorts.

Those wishing to participate in more than one sport cohort outside of ringette, MUST inform Ringette Alberta. This information will in turn be collected and kept as part of RAB's risk mitigation measures, and will only be disclosed as part of any future legal proceedings, should those occur.

The SARA Board would like to remind all members, whether they are players, coaches, officials, or family members, that the safety of our players and membership is a shared responsibility.
Everyone has a role to play to keep themselves and their association healthy and safe.

Thank you to all the players, coaches, officials and volunteers who have returned to ringette this season.

We recognize that, over the past 6-8 weeks, everyone has been working towards a moving target as health orders change as does our understanding of how to apply them in the real world of our sport organizations while mitigating risk.

To offer some context, we strongly encourage you to take time to listen to this pre-recorded webinar hosted by Ringette Canada on insurance and legal matters, with emphasis on COVID-19. Some of the information will definitely be an eye opener for most.

Ringette Canada has modified coach certification requirements for the 2020/21 season:

TEAMS 

• Must have at least one coach who has completed the typical coaching requirements for that division (listed here).
• Female coaches are recommended but not required.

 Other coaches who do not meet those requirements:

• Must complete either the Coaching Association of Canada's Safe Sport module or Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders module
• Must complete the Coach Initiation in Sport eModule

REMINDER, as always, coaches:

• Must adhere to the Rule of Two at all times
• Must follow their provincial/local association screening policy (including criminal record check)

Coaching clinics will be available no sooner than October 15th and will be offered exclusively online. Registration and dates will be announced on basecamp to coaching directors and on social media.

While the changes to cohort restrictions, as described above, will partially address an extreme shortage of officials this season, it will not address it entirely. 

To ensure player safety and mitigate risk for Ringette Canada, Ringette Alberta, Local Ringette Associations and especially individuals, a simplified, self-directed, on-line training course has been developed to equip coaches with the information they need to officiate games and safeguard them from potential liability.  The emphasis of the course is on player safety and basic rules. 

This course is mandatory for only those coaches who will be performing the officiating role. Under no circumstances are coaches to take on the role of officiating without this training.

Ringette Alberta will provide local associations further detail in follow up communication.

September 24, 2020

Thank you to all of the coaches and managers that attended the coach and manager meetings this week. I look forward to working with you all this season, and would like to express on behalf of the entire board, our appreciation and thanks to you for your time and commitment to the athletes and association. 

Link to agenda:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WTQLYcb1UPi88aGWrk7_h4Bi1BXhygDeEokPvzJfXng/view

Michael Tosto
Development Director
St. Albert RIngette Association

That's A (Tryout) Wrap!

Thank you so much to our hard working and dedicated board members and division coordinators for their tireless work and efforts over the last couple of months. The amount of hours that everyone has put in to make this season a fantastic one is greatly appreciated.

A huge thank you also needs to go out to our board members' and directors' families. Thank you so much for sharing your moms and dads, and husbands and wives with us, sometimes seemingly at all hours of the day and night.

We understand that putting this season together has been time consuming and sometimes stressful, and has definitely come with sacrifice and missed moments. Thank you for your patience and encouragement, it means the world to us all!

There is still much work to be done, and every day brings a new challenge! We are all doing the best we can to make this season one filled with fun, memories, development, and successes-big and small!

Wishing the best season for our athletes, coaches, officials, and families!

Jenn Tosto
Vice President
St. Albert Ringette Association

As the COVID-19 situation is ever changing, please check back regularly for updates and possible changes to our return to ringette directive. All future updates will be posted here.

Players, coaches and referees who are part of SARA must belong to only one sport cohort. A sport cohort is defined as a small group of the same people who can interact regularly without staying 2 metres apart. In choosing to coach/play/officiate within your ringette cohort, you are not able to elect to any other sport/performance cohorts while in phase two of Alberta’s relaunch plan. If members do not respect these rules, registration will be revoked.

September 8, 2020

Volunteers Needed! Chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate
We need your help, SARA families! We need volunteers for our Conditioning Skates and Tryouts. As DIBS are not a feasible option this season, we have decided to change things up a bit! For every shift you volunteer for up until October 1st, you will earn one entry into the draw to win a $100 St. Albert Source For Sports gift certificate! Please check back regularly for new shifts!
Volunteer Shifts can be found here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FA9A622A4FAC43-sara

Reminder of our Tryouts Protocol:

Prior to arriving at Arena, please ensure you complete the Daily COVID-19 Attestation & Agreement form. Participants will not be able to proceed past the check-in desk until this form is complete. We ask that only one parent accompanies each player to the arena and to follow arena/recreation guidelines of patrons in the viewing areas. Seating is limited. 

*walking skate guards are strongly recommended, as your player may be assigned to the Reliance Room as their change room/skate room for their skate.

Evaluation and Guidelines:

Any ice at Servus Place Arena please use the appropriate access.

• South doors – Sunday through Friday

• West doors – Saturday Registration – Table will be located outside building

• Arrive 30 min before your scheduled ice time, no sooner. Please check with SARA personnel out side the appropriate door before going inside.

• All required forms must be complete (Waiver & Attestation and Agreement). All players, coaches and on ice helpers must submit an Attestation and Agreement before each session.

• Players are asked come dressed; skates, helmets and gloves can be put on in the dressing room. Goalies may dress in the allocated dressing room only.

• No dressing in arena lobbies. • No equipment bags in dressing rooms, aside from goalies 

• Players will be given an evaluation jersey, pinnie or player identification number to place on their practice jersey. Players who are given a jersey or pinnie will keep it for all evaluation skates, and must return it at the end of their final on ice session.

• Players will be assigned a dressing room or designated area to finish preparing. Dressing rooms have restricted capacity due to facility guidelines.

• Parents are not allowed beyond the arena entrance doors. Exceptions will be made for younger players who are unable to tie skates.

• No warming up in dressing room, this must be done prior to coming to evaluation skates.

• Players are asked to keep masks on while in dressing room. Once the player is ready to put on their helmet, their mask can be removed.

• Bring water bottles filled from home.

• Players are not to leave the dressing room until advised they can go on the ice.

• After the skate players have 15min to exit the arena.

• Showers are not available for use.

September 4, 2020

Please review the attached tryouts protocol.
Your Division Coordinator will be sending out more information regarding the Daily COVID-19 Attestation & Agreement form, please check your email. Participants will not be able to proceed past the check-in desk until this form is complete.
We ask that only one parent accompanies each player to the arena and to follow arena/recreation guidelines of patrons in the viewing areas. Seating is limited.

Tryout Information is found here: 
https://www.stalbertringette.com/tryouts
From there, please click the appropriate tryouts sub heading related to your division.

Tryout information or updates will not be emailed out.

A friendly reminder to our SARA families that all updates are posted to our website. 
It is your responsibility to check for updates.
Please ensure you are checking our home page, tryouts page, and your division page regularly for important information and updates.

September 2, 2020

Due to Cohort Restraints:
All Skate Groups Are Assigned. AA players may only attend the AA skates, and all other players may only attend the other skate.
 Players cut from SARA AA evaluations are able to skate in the A/B/C tryouts thereafter.

Volunteers Needed! Chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate
We need your help, SARA families! We need volunteers for our Conditioning Skates and Tryouts. As DIBS are not a feasible option this season, we have decided to change things up a bit! For every shift you volunteer for up until October 1st, you will earn one entry into the draw to win a $100 St. Albert Source For Sports gift certificate! Please check back regularly for new shifts!
Volunteer Shifts can be found here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FA9A622A4FAC43-sara
 

SARA Pant Sale!
As in previous years, we will be selling used game pants that players may use as practice pants. The cost is $30 (cash only), exact change is appreciated. Pant sales will be set up at the registration table at the Conditioning Skates and Tryouts, until sold out.

Open Registration Important Information:
Open Registration will close on September 15th. SARA will be hosting 3 Open A teams, and 2 Open B teams.
All teams have availability, and are looking for player registrations.
If you have any questions, please email Scott at open@stalbertringette.com

August 31, 2020

Conditioning Skates have been scheduled. Please be aware that these are free and optional warm up skates taking place prior to the tryouts. They are not being evaluated. Details for each division can be found on the Tryout Pages. Please RSVP to our Evaluation Directors  at evaluations@stalbertringette.com

Volunteers Needed! We will require volunteers for the upcoming tryouts. Please watch here and our Social channels for a SignUp Genius link. WIthout your help, we cannot hold tryouts.
Sign Up link arriving shortly!

Coaches! Get your applications in! Deadline is September 8th. Application can be found here:
www.stalbertringette.com/becomeacoach

August 27, 2020

SARA will be hosting 2 physically distanced goalie warm up  skates. These are not evaluations, these are a chance for goalies to get their gear back on and work out any kinks before the tryouts start.

If any goalies are in need of equipment, please reach out to Jim at equipment@stalbertringette.com 

Goalie Warm Up Skates:

• Monday September 7: 4:00pm-6:30pm at Go Auto Arena
  *please check back regularly for updates or changes

Goalie Tryouts (Technical Evaluations)

• Tuesday September 8: 5:15pm-6:15pm and 7:15pm-8:15pm
  *More details will be released shortly

August 25, 2020

Coaching Information:

• Coaching Applications are now being accepted! Deadline to apply is September 8th. Email all completed applications to: development@stalbertringette.com
   
• Link to coaching application and information: 
  https://www.stalbertringette.com/becomeacoach

August 24, 2020

Tryout Information:

• Tryout dates and times have now been posted. Please check the 2020 Tryouts page regularly as dates and times are subject to change.

Registration Information:

• Active Start and Open divisions are still accepting registrations.
• U10-U19 registration closes on August 31st.

Ringette Alberta Consequences and Safety Measures:

• https://ringettealberta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Consequences-and-Safety-Measures.pdf

Ringette Alberta Non-Cohort Team Staff:

• https://ringettealberta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Non-Cohort-Team-Staff.pdf

Ringette Alberta Informed Consent and Assumption of Risk Agreement (for Minors):

• https://ringettealberta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID19-Assumption-of-Risk-Minor.pdf

Ringette Alberta Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, and Indemnity Agreement (for 18+):

• https://ringettealberta.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID19-Waiver-Adult.pdf

August 17, 2020

Evaluation Information (U10-U19, including AA):

• In listening to our member's feedback, we have decided not to hold any evaluations prior to September 8, 2020. We wanted to ensure that our members have enough time between ending their summer sport cohorts, and starting in with their ringette cohorts. We also feel it is important that families have a chance to enjoy their last long weekend of the summer, and allow them to settle into their first week of back to school without the added stress of evaluations. Remember, you should be free from a sport cohort for 14 days prior to joining a new sport cohort.  The safety of our players and membership is a shared responsibility. Everyone has a role to play to keep themselves and their association healthy and safe.

Registration Information:

• Registration for the U10-U19 divisions will close on August 31.

• Active Start and Open divisions are open for registration.

AA Information:

• August 20th is the last day to register for AA tryouts.
  
  Register Here:
  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfANBFpMAsDfCgSUOMPiNmORU0sKs8CaJwT8hI-4yC5spNTfQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

• Details regarding the AA Information meeting will be released soon. Please watch the website and social channels for updates.

August 11, 2020

AA Tryout Information:

• At this point in time, we have tentatively scheduled AA tryouts for sometime between August 30 and September 7th. More information will be available shortly. Please continue to check back for updates.

• Registration for the AA tryouts will open on August 11th via this link to a Google Form: AA Tryout Form

• Deadline to register for AA tryouts is August 20th. Any questions regarding registration for AA tryouts can be directed to Colleen Caldwell at registrar@stalbertringette.com

• The AA on ice tryouts is considered to be a cohort. You should be free from other cohorts for a period of 14 days before joining a new cohort. Please keep this in mind when registering for the AA tryouts. A cohort is defined as a group of people that cannot maintain physical distancing.

Cohort Information, as per RAB and AHS:

• School teams do count as a sports cohort. You should be free from other cohorts for a period of 14 days before joining a new cohort.

• Sports Academies may count as a sport cohort. If for example, the athletes are playing lacrosse, and they are in close contact, they are considered a sport cohort. If physical distancing can be maintained, it is not classified as a cohort, and will not interfere with the one sport cohort rule.

• The coaches of school sports and academies are advised to connect with their school boards to determine if physical distancing is possible when coaching or teaching in the school academies and sports settings. IF, using lacrosse as an example again, the  teacher/coach is able to physically distance and wear a mask while coaching lacrosse during the day, they could then go in the evenings to coach ringette as part of their ringette cohort. IF physical distancing cannot be maintained, people should only be part of one cohort with the safety of themselves and other participants in mind.

• Coaches: Head Coach vs Supplemental Coach: Coaches are allowed to be in one cohort and a "guest" or "supplemental" coach in another. However, when they are the "guest", they must maintain a distance of 3m from all participants, including other coaches, at all times and it is recommended they wear a mask or face covering.

Further Season Information (Subject to Change):

• Coaching Applications for the 2020-21 Season will be available soon. Check back here for updates.

• A SARA Return to Ringette plan will not be announced until after the BGL meeting on August 18th. Watch the website and social media channels for updates and information.

• The upcoming season will have games, however, there will be mini-leagues forming a cohort of up to a maximum 50 people, including players, coaches, and referees. 

• The idea is that there will be a mini-league for a session, then a 14-day break during which our team can practice together but not have games and then a new session would begin with a different cohort.  How we plan the season and how the teams are formed, will depend on registration numbers and further discussions with other associations and BGL. 

• Under the current restrictions, there will not be any tournaments, provincials, Westerns or Nationals, however, it is possible these restrictions are lifted during the season. To make up for these absences, the number of league games is being reviewed by the BGL.

• RAB's Return to Ringette guidelines indicate that each individual should only participate in one sport cohort at a time. The guidelines also indicate that Ringette Alberta may permit participating in a program outside a person's Health Zone. The application form will be available on August 15, 2020.  More information and considerations on this are under Participant Movement on the RAB website under RAB's Return to Ringette, Other Resources.

• THe BGL proposal at this point is to split the season into 5 sessions, with sessions tentatively running as follows:

Session 1:October 16- November 7

Session 2: November 22-December 18

Session 3: January 3-January 30

Session 4: February 14- Early March

Session 5/Windup: Mid-Late March

• The Edmonton Zone includes Beaumont, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Riviere Qui Barre, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, and Spruce Grove.

• Please read RAB's Return to Ringette guidelines.

Thank you,

Jenn Tosto

Vice President

St. Albert Ringette Association