Community (Club) and Competitive (Zone) Ringette
Club Community-Based Teams
NWVRA supports co-ed community-based “Club” teams starting at FUNdamentals (ages 4-8) through to U19 (ages 16-18), that are built around skill development, friendships and age groups. Competition is primarily regional (lower mainland) with optional tournament travel outside of the lower mainland.
Club team competition includes league games and any tournaments that teams choose to attend. Team fees will be collected by Club teams in September to cover the cost of club activities, tournaments, etc. Club team fees can range from as little as $80 - $250 per player (over and above registration fees), depending on the plans of the team and participation level of the player in tournaments.
Club teams in the U14, U16, U19 and 18+ divisions have the option to participate in Provincial Championships as a wind-up to their playing season. Teams in U12 can choose to participate in a Provincial Championship-style or Jamboree-style Year-End Event.
The Community Pathway is focused on sport for life, long-term athlete development, and long-term participant development. It is intended to be inclusive and fun for all participants.
More information is available from Ringette BC.
Zone Competitive-Division Teams
“Zone” teams offer interested players the opportunity to play on a competitive regional or Zone team at the U14, U16 or U19 levels. Zone teams effectively replace the previous A/AA levels of ringette in BC.
Zone teams are created from competitive players from multiple ringette associations. NWVRA partners with the Burnaby New Westminster Ringette Association as Zone 3, one of four Zones in the Lower Mainland and one of 9 in the province. These teams train and practice within our Zone, to help limit travel and increase access to facilities. The goal of Zone teams is to provide high-performance opportunities for motivated players from our associations.
Participation in a Zone team is through a tryout/selection process. Information sessions will be held annually for interested players and their families. Players not selected to the team roster may still be selected as "affiliates" of the Zone team; however, their primary team will become a Community/Club team from which they can be called up to play Zone. Players not selected to the Zone team roster or as affiliates will be moved to Club team rosters in their appropriate division.
Participation in a Competitive Zone Team requires a commitment to practice time, games and tournaments such as:
- Up to 2 practices per week, to be held within the Zone
- Periodic off-ice training sessions
- 1-2 Lower Mainland games per weekend (more on tournament/finals weekends)
- Mandatory travel to other parts of BC to compete against Zone teams in other leagues (Northern BC, Thompson/Okanagan, and Vancouver Island), plus attendance at Provincial Championships.
- Out-of-province travel, should the team qualify for Western Canadian Championships
Players interested in Zone teams must register with their home association and pay the home association's registration fee. Players must also pay team fees, which will be collected in September to cover the cost of team activities, tournaments, additional player development, extra ice, etc. Costs will be communicated at the applicable team's information sessions.
More information is available from Ringette BC.