Policies

Concussions

As you are aware  "concussions" account for a significant % of sport injuries for both professional and amateur athletes. TORL would like to remind all our Coaches, Managers and Trainers to be extra vigilant when players have encountered any type of blow to the head. The attached "Guidelines" from the BC Brain Injury Association is a useful tool and we ask that you provide copies to all bench staff in your respective Associations. Please note the phone # given should you want further information on this subject.

Jewelry

Please inform your officials of the following:

1. The rules governing the wearing of Jewelry will be enforced rigidly by TORL’s Officiating Staff.
2. The wearing of Jewelry is covered under sections 3.4, 11.2.d, 12.2.a and 13.5.a of the Ringette Canada Official Rules. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF PLAYER AND OFFICIAL SAFETY and for that reason players must be informed of the serious nature of this violation.
3. It is recommended that all coaches and bench staff take the time before each game to emphasise the importance of removing Jewelry prior to entering the ice.
4. It is not the job of the Referee to complete body searches of the players on or off the ice. This is the responsibility of the Player and Bench Staff.
5. The Referee will call what she/he observes on the ice. I.e. If a player is observed wearing Jewelry the player will be informed of the violation and asked to leave the ice in order to rectify the situation. If the player returns to the ice and is still in violation of the rules then a minor penalty will be called.

Net Pegs

PLEASE INFORM YOUR REFEREES OF THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL REGARDING “NET PEGS”;

1. Tween and Under: Nets are not stabilized with magnets or other devices as per the official Ringette Rules.
2. Junior and Above: Nets may be stabilized in accordance with the official Ringette Rules.

NOTE: IN THE CASE OF A GAME INVOLVING A TEAM NOT REQUIRING NETS TO BE STABILIZED AND A TEAM THAT DOES, e.g. Tween vrs. Junior, YOU ALWAYS PLAY TO THE RULES OF THE LESSER TEAM. IT IS IMPORTANT THIS RULE IS FOLLOWED AS IT IS AN ISSUE OF LIABILITY AND INSURANCE COVERAGE.

Running up the Score:

Regarding the disparity among various teams and the resultant score differential TORL would like to leave you with the following thoughts to consider: 

BCRA Mission Statement: The purpose of the BCRA is to provide opportunities for all players to participate in Ringette in an environment that encourages fun, friendship, sportsmanship and competition at their desired level of play.

TORL’s “Philosophy and Goals” states amongst its “Aims and Objectives”

1. To foster the highest standards of sportsmanship and friendliness.
2. To encourage participants to strive for excellence in teamwork, team spirit and team discipline

TORL recommends that each Association emphasise the above mentioned points with their respective coaches, bench staff and parents. We respectively ask that each coach be creative in keeping the games fun for both teams involved. There have been many good suggestions on how to accomplish this including but not limited to:

1. Playing short-handed.
2. Emphasising passing by setting  the “number of passes before shooting”
3. Only shooting from set vantage points
4. Player exchanges
5. Etc.

House/All Star Policy regarding Precedence

TORL Constitution (Article 2.10) states: Purpose: To encourage both recreational House League and All-Star competition.

TORL policy  (Article 9.01) states:
Local Association participation is to take precedence over All-Star teams for players playing on both Association and All-Star teams. TORL and the All-Star teams will make every attempt to provide scheduling of games, practices and tournaments in order avoid conflict with league games and practices. The All-Star program will be permitted to apply to the League for exempt dates when preparing teams for Playdowns or Tournaments.

The following “Flow Chart” will be used as a guide to Precedence:

Order of Declining Precedence
PLAYDOWNS
PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
TOURNAMENT
SCHEDULED LEAGUE GAME
EXHIBITION GAME
SCHEDULED PRACTICE
UNSCHEDULED PRACTICE
MEETING
 
This still leaves the possibility for conflict with both the House and All-Star tem scheduled for the same level of event, e.g. practices. The only solution to this situation is to identify the conflict with as much advance notice as possible and then reach a compromise through dialogue.

It is understood that the commitment level with the All-Star program may be much more intense than that of the House League. Recognition of this fact should be considered when conflicts do arise.