Games and Tournament Report

September 20,2007


Welcome back to another exciting season of Ringette in Western Region.


Required Reading:

G&T section of the ORA Operating Manual

Provincial Section of the ORA website

Western Region Coaches Handbook

Appropriate League rules, policies


Seeding:

Teams must register as B, C, Provincial Petite, A or AA. On-ice performance will be monitored throughout the season and teams performing above their declared competitive level will be advised that they are being considered for reseeding. Teams will be informed by mid-December. Teams will be given an opportunity to respond to the recommendation. B and C teams are the responsibility of the region and Provincial Petite, A and AA teams fall under the mandate of the Provincial G&T Committee.


2-team agreements:

Only between a B or C team and a Provincial Petite, AA or A team. Players cannot be registered on 2 regional level or provincial level teams (AAA players do not fall under the 2-team agreement). A player that has been denied a release may not enter into a 2-team agreement in an effort to circumvent the release ruling.


Game Reporting:

All teams will continue to report online within 48 hours. ORA team numbers MUST be used when reporting scores. All Fully Served Penalties need to be reported. Player Name should be included. Any game sheet that has Referee comments is to be faxed immediately to me using the White Copy (the number is on the website– 519-352-7233). Concerns that need to be addressed by individual leagues must be sent/copied to the appropriate League Executive.


Tournaments:

Sanctioning package will provide approved scheduling formats. Any variations from the formats MUST receive prior approval from G&T.

The updated package will be web accessible. Last season’s CD did not reach all the appropriate contacts.

Applications for next season’s tournament can be submitted at any time; it has been suggested that you include it with this year’s post Tournament package (separate cheque).

There is to be no reference to Petite A or AA, all teams are classified as Provincial Petite. The Provincial G&T Committee can provide assistance with divisions/pools.

This year all tournament applications were approved as submitted. This means that a number of tournaments are attempting to host the same divisions on the same weekends. If your tournament is holding divisions that are also being offered by another tournament please work with the other Host so that both tournaments can be run successfully. The rationale behind this decision was to allow associations to expand their tournaments as their programs expand, to allow more choices for teams and also to push hosts into holding the best tournament possible (teams will be looking for the best experience). Feedback from associations by December 1st is requested.

Hosts should be considering the use of shot clocks in their B and C divisions.


Regionals:

Guelph and Elora-Fergus March 28-30, 2008

Shot Clocks will be used in all divisions Petite and above. We will look at Novice B.

League Champions need to be determined no later than March 2, 2008. This will allow the schedule to be distributed at the March region meeting.

Intent to Proceed to Prelims, Provincials and Wild Card are to be submitted no later than November 15th.


Prelims:

AA- the Region Executive will determine the appropriate format and make the decision known by November 15th.

A- we have been approached with a couple of venue choices and a decision will be announced by October 1st.


Provincial Selection:

Teams MUST attend at least two (2) tournaments at their appropriate level one (1) of which MUST be out of region. The region is responsible for deciding the selection process that will be used to determine the region representatives. In Western region teams are expected to qualify through Prelims. In order to be eligible for Prelims a team MUST participate in the Western Region A/AA League. Teams that do not qualify as a Regional Representative may be selected as a Wild Card.

Wild Card:

Only teams that participate in their region’s Provincial Representative selection process can be considered for a Wild Card (a team may not opt out of Prelims simply because they consider themselves to be assured of a Wild Card spot).

The revised formula can be found on the ORA website in the Provincials section. The deadline for Wild Card selection has been moved to two (2) weeks prior to the event that a team will be attending.

Provincials:

A maximum of 10 teams in all divisions Tween and above will be attending the AA Championship in Whitby. Two (2) divisions of Provincial Petites will also be invited to participate in the Whitby event.

A maximum of 10 teams in all divisions Tween and above will be invited to attend the A Championship in Oshawa. One (1) division of 10 Provincial Petite teams will be invited to participate in Oshawa.


Provincial Petite Divisions:


Open AA covered in the Regional Director’s Report.