As the COVID-19 situation is ever changing, please check back regularly for updates and possible changes to our return to ringette directive. We are doing our best to keep our membership informed, and appreciate your patience as we navigate these unprecedented times. All future updates will be posted here.

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, they are in close contact and are considered a sport cohort. 

• 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

Ringette Alberta believes that every player at every level should have the best possible ringette experience. Ringette Alberta is in the process of meeting with the Board members of all local ringette associations to get their feedback on proposed changes. Once their feedback has been incorporated, Ringette Alberta will be sharing the details and hosting a series of meetings with players, coaches, and all others involved.  SARA and Ringette Alberta will be better able to answer all your questions at that time.  Only after those meetings will the plans be finalized.

-SARA Board