FGNHA

Ages 7-8 House League & 8A Parents Information and Evaluation Policy and Procedure

Welcome

To all those who are returning and a warm welcome to the world of hockey for those joining us for the first time this year. We are pleased that you have chosen to register your child in hockey for the upcoming winter season. The objectives of the Fort Garry North Hockey Association at the 7/8 House League and 8A level are threefold;

first we strive to ensure each child has fun throughout the season,
second we continue to develop fundamental skills of hockey and
third, the concept of team play is introduced.

Expectations

Each 7/8 House league team should expect one game per weekend (usually Saturday or Sunday mornings) and one practice per week (again on the weekends, or early weekday evenings i.e. 6 pm). When outdoor ice is available each team will also be allocated one hour from 7pm to 8pm at one of the area rinks. The aim is to have 12 players on each team to provide for maximum opportunity to play. FGNHA also runs two tournaments for 7/8's during the year in December and March. The coaches of each team will be required to have team meetings following team formation to discuss the season, additional costs, additional practices/tournaments and of course answer any questions you may have. The 8A1 teams can expect to practice more and will also enter a number of tournaments throughout the year. Please also refer to info at Hockey Manitoba.

Evaluations

The primary goal of the evaluations is to maintain an equitable process for assessing player abilities and skills. The purpose of the evaluations is to ensure parity exists between teams and to promote individual skill development. Every effort is made to ensure the evaluations are stress-free and each player experiences success. This year we are attempting to follow a standard evaluation format developed for all age groups. The intention is to have a combination of skills assessment and game play assessment over 3 or 4 evaluation sessions.

Starting at 8 years old, players have an opportunity to try out for an 8A team which will play at a higher level than the regular house league. Evaluation skates for 8A are mandatory for all 8-year-olds (Novice) who register for the mixed (male & female) program. When answering the list of questions during online registration, you do not need to select a box to select an 8A tryout.

NEW INFO***

"Novice Hockey - All 7 and 8 years olds will be evaluated at the beginning of the season before the house league and novice teams are formed. The first half of the year will see the Novice League play games 5 on 5 with goalies on approximately ¾-ice surface. The remaining ice area will be used for 2 on 2 or 3 on 3 small area games. This format is city wide with the hope that players will have a better chance to develop their skill level. In the second half of the season, league play will return to its customary full ice format." Excerpt from the President's Message FGNHA August 2017

AGE 7-8 HOUSE LEAGUE & 8A

General

Information

All games at the 7/8 house league and 8A are played on a 3/4 sheet of ice for the first half of the season, with the 8A team returning to a full sheet for the second half of the season. There are referees who will call offsides and penalties. Please remember that the referees are learning the game too and all parents and players should be respectful of their calls regardless of whether or not we may agree with their decisions. Hockey Canada has mandated that the new rules be enforced. This will likely result in more penalties being called than what otherwise might be the case. Please also see the following info at Hockey Manitoba.

While we will do our best to teach your child what off-sides are, please take some time to help them understand this new rule. Sometimes understanding a new concept is enhanced by hearing it from a different source than just the coach.

The score will be kept this year. While this is exciting for the players to see if they are winning, at times it can be disappointing if they are losing. Good sportsmanship is very important if all children are to have fun. While teams will always encourage the players to play their hardest, they will do their best to avoid running up the score on other teams if they find themselves in a situation where the other team is outmatched by. All teams will follow the FGNHA Fair Play policy.

Equipment

Equipment needs to be changed as your child grows and develops. As injuries can happen at any age, every player must wear protective equipment that fits properly. Please do not buy equipment that is too large with the idea that it will last for several seasons. If the equipment doesn't fit properly, it will not provide the proper level of protection that it was designed for.

Standard Equipment List:

Helmet and Face Mask (must bear CSA label)
Shoulder Pads
Elbow Pads
Hockey Pants
Shin Pads
Gloves
Skates
Jock/Jill Protector
Hockey Bag

Outside of the standard equipment, all players must wear both a Mouth Guard and a Throat Protector.

In addition to providing protection from damaged teeth, cut lips, etc. mouth guards cushion blows to the face and neck.

Neck Guards or Throat protectors are mandatory in minor hockey and must bear the BNQ insignia. Neck guards that cover the upper part of the chest are recommended. When putting the guard on, adjust the strap at the back so that the neck is fully protected.

Last but not least, when buying a hockey stick for your child, please make sure that it is a junior stick. The shaft size is smaller to fit the hand's grip properly. It also flexes properly to allow him or her to learn to shoot the puck.

When choosing a stick, the entire bottom portion of the blade should be on the ice when the player assumes a ready position. Proper stick length should be determined by placing the front, bottom edge of the stick (toe) on the ice between the skates. The top of the shaft should touch the player's face between the chin and the tip of the nose. It should touch closer to the nose if the player is wearing shoes, not skates.

Safety for All