New 2020/21 Registration Guidelines

ANNOUNCEMENT!!

Here it is folks, the news we've all been patiently waiting for!!

This year is going to look a little different than previous years. Red Deer Pond Hockey (RDPH) will be changing its format and team size in order to accommodate AHS Covid-19 regulations.

***PLEASE NOTE***
There are MANY changes and requirements to be met for this season to happen so we encourage you to please thoroughly read through all of the below information prior to deciding to register for the 2020-2021 season.

REGISTRATION WILL OPEN
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2020; 12:00AM
AND WILL CLOSE ON
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2020; MIDNIGHT (NO EXCEPTIONS)

Registration numbers will be capped to satisfy the AHS cohort requirements for the number of participants per division. The maximum number of people allowed per cohort is 50 which means our intention is to form cohorts of 4 teams of 10 players and 2 coaches per team. Our hope is to have 2 cohorts per division, which is why we urge you to register as soon as possible so you ensure you are able to get into the cohorts before they fill and there are no more spots available. We will re-evaluate registration numbers midway through the registration window to determine how many cohorts can be formed per division.

Registration is on a first come-first served basis. Depending on how many registrations are received per division, you may be placed on a waiting list. If there are enough additional players, additional cohorts may be formed, and additional spots may be opened, however this is NOT GUARANTEED!
No fees will be collected if you are placed on a wait list. Fees will only be due if additional cohorts are created.

PLEASE NOTE - YOU CANNOT PLAY RED DEER POND HOCKEY IF YOU ARE PLAYING ANY OTHER TEAM SPORTS DURING THE HOCKEY SEASON. THIS IS AN AHS GUIDELINE DUE TO COHORT GUIDELINES.

WE MUST FORM COHORTS, as per stage Two of AHS and Hockey Alberta Guidelines. This means we will cohort players into 4 teams of 10 with 2 coaches per team. These 4 teams will play against each other in rotation fashion up until the Christmas break. We MAY be able to make additional cohorts, depending on registration numbers and ice time availability.
Under no circumstances will players be permitted to participate in more than ONE cohort.

Registration fee increase & volunteer bond information
There will be an increase in fees of $50 per participant this year. In past years, both corporate sponsorships and the Skate-A-Rama fundraiser helped defray a significant portion of the cost of running the league. Due to an anticipated decrease in available sponsorship dollars, and the likelihood that Skate-A-Rama will not be held in the same way, we need to ensure that our registration fees adequately cover our anticipated expenses for the season. In addition to the fee increase, we will be charging a $10 jersey fee and players will keep their jersey at the end of the season. There will be NO volunteer bond collected this season due to COVID-19 restrictions on activities and events.
Division 1&2 - $175 (jerseys generously provided by Tim Hortons)
Division 3&4 - $200 + $10 Jersey Fee
Division 5&6 - $225 + $10 Jersey Fee

Requests and Exemptions
There will be NO player, friend, team or coach and assistant coach requests.
There will be NO age exemption requests -participants must play in the division for their age group.
Due to the compressed schedule for this season, Division Coordinators will have a very limited time frame to build teams and eliminating requests for this year will allow us to get on the ice sooner.

Coaching and Referees
Coaches must be able to commit to attending a minimum of 90% of the games. If we do not have a sufficient number of coaches, the season will not proceed. Due to cohorting requirements there will be no swapping out of coaches, and no last-minute coaching/assisting changes can be made. Without consistent coaching staff, we will be unable to adhere to the AHS guidelines.

On-Ice Officials
There will be no assigned referees for Divisions 1, 2, and 3.
We must also have a sufficient number of committed referees for Divisions 4, 5, and 6 or the Division 4, 5, 6 season will not proceed. Limitations on referees being involved in other sports cohorts may have a significant impact on the number of officials that are available for RDPH games.

Requirements and style of play
Players must arrive already dressed in full gear (except for helmet and skates). They will have 15 minutes in the change rooms prior to game time and 15 minutes after. We will be limiting the number of parents in the change rooms and masks MUST be worn.

All Covid-19 health and safety protocols must be adhered to. If your player is sick or unwell, DO NOT bring them to the arena. Temperatures must be checked, and proper sanitization guidelines will be followed. Any participant who shows signs of COVID-19 symptoms will be IMMEDIATELY removed from the activity and must follow AHS guidelines for self-isolation.

This season may not be played with the typical 5-on-5 play; game format may be modified to either 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 as determined by the RDPH board.
For divisions 4 to 6, one goalie will be assigned per team (numbers permitting). Please ensure your goalie is able to commit to playing that position for the entire season as other goalies cannot be brought in from other cohorts under any circumstances. Younger divisions (1-3) will continue to implement rotating goalies by sharing equipment if they feel comfortable doing so. If not Shooter tutors may be used.

Government or City of Red Deer Cancellation
If the Government of Alberta changes the stage of opening to a higher level which would allow larger cohorts, we will NOT be changing our type of play. We will continue to play the same format for the ENTIRE season, as long as we are not ordered back to stage one.
If the season is cancelled by the government of Alberta, AHS or the City of Red Deer, any refunds due will be issued at a pro rated amount.
If a cohort is ordered to isolate or go for testing due to Covid infections and games are missed, they WILL NOT be made up at a later date and there will be NO refunds for these missed games.

We appreciate all of your support, patience, and understanding while we planned for the 2020-2021 season. We all know that the world is a much different place and we hope for things to go back to “normal”, however that is not our current reality, which required some substantial changes. There have been many changes from the City and Hockey Alberta, and we must comply with the new guidelines put in place. We know this season may not look the way we all hoped it would look, however we have done our best to ensure that we have some form of play that is still in keeping with the spirit of what pond hockey is meant to be. We know that our players are anxious to get back on the ice and burn off all their extra energy, and we are happy to be able to give most of them a place to do it.
We will be hosting our AGM on October 1^st, so please stay tuned to your email for more details and registration to attend the AGM to follow very shortly.

We wish all the best to you and your families;
Your Red Deer Pond Hockey Board

DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE - COVID-19 WARNING!
ALL INDIVIDUALS ENTERING THE FACILITY AND/OR PARTICIPATING IN SANCTIONED ACTIVITIES MUST COMPLY WITH THIS DECLARATION
Red Deer Pond Hockey, require the disclosure of exposure or illness is in order to safeguard the health and safety of all participants and limit the further outbreak of COVID-19. This Declaration of Compliance will be kept safely, and personal information will not be disclosed unless as required by law or with your consent. An individual (or the individual’s parent/guardian, if the individual is younger than the age of majority) who is unable to agree to the terms outlined in this document is not permitted to enter the Organization’s facilities or participate in the Organization’s activities, programs, or services. I, the undersigned being the individual named above and the individual’s parent/guardian (if the individual is younger than the age of majority), hereby acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this document:
1) The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization and COVID-19 is extremely contagious. The Organization has put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and requires all individuals (or their parent/guardian, when applicable) to adhere to the compliance standards described in this document.
2) The individual has not been diagnosed with COVID-19; OR If the individual was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual was cleared as noncontagious by provincial or local public health authorities more than 14 days prior to the date this Declaration of Compliance was signed.
3) The individual has not been exposed to a person with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19; OR If the individual was exposed to a person with a confirmed case of COVID-19, the date of exposure was more than 14 days prior to the date this Declaration of Compliance was signed. APPENDIX #2 Declaration of Compliance - Covid-19
4) The individual is attending or participating voluntarily and understands the risks associated with COVID-19. The individual (or the individual’s parent/guardian, on behalf of the individual (when applicable)) agrees to assume those risks, including but not limited to exposure and being infected.
5) The individual has not, nor has anyone in the individual’s household, experienced any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 in the last 14 days (including fever, new or worsening cough, fatigue, chills and body aches, respiratory illness, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, pink eye, or loss of taste or smell).
6) If the individual experiences, or if anyone in the individual’s household experiences, any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 after submitting this Declaration of Compliance, the individual will immediately isolate, notify the Organization, and not attend any of the Organization’s facilities, activities, programs or services until at least 14 days have passed since those symptoms were last experienced.
7) The individual has not, nor has any member of the individual’s household, travelled to, or had a lay-over in any country outside Canada, or in any province outside of Alberta in the past 14 days. If the individual travels, or if anyone in the individual’s household travels, outside Alberta after submitting this Declaration of Compliance, the individual will not attend any of the Organization’s facilities, activities, programs or services until at least 14 days have passed since the date of return.
8) The individual is following recommended guidelines, including but not limited to, practicing physical distancing, trying to maintain separation of six feet from others, adhering to recognized hygiene best practices, and otherwise limiting exposure to COVID-19.
9) The individual will follow the safety, physical distancing, and hygiene protocols of the Organization.
10) This document will remain in effect until the Organization, per the direction of the provincial government and provincial health officials, determines that the acknowledgements in this Declaration of Compliance are no longer required.
11) The Organization may remove the individual from the facility or from participation in the activities, programs or services of the Organization at any time and for any reason if the Organization believes, in its sole discretion, that the individual is no longer in compliance with any of the standards described in this document.