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Sept 20th Update
Hello GCRA Families,
As a follow up to the last email sent September 4, we’d like to update you on the following:
Return to Ringette Submission
The package was sent to ringette Ontario on September 14th and was approved on September 16th, 2020. Although we are closer to getting back on the ice there are still a few more things that your Covid Safety Committee is working on. That being said, we are happy to announce that U12-U19 will be getting back on the ice as of September 26th. Novice bubble groups (U8-U10) will be getting on the ice in a few weeks and more information will come soon.
Bubble Groups
An email will be sent to all bubble leaders early this week. The bubble leaders will then communicate with the players in their bubbles and provide next steps and answer any questions.
Bunnies (Learn To Skate)
As per the previous email, we are still working on this program. More information will follow once we have an update.
Fees for the 1st Session (Fall)
The Fees for the 1st Session (Fall) will be $435. Your deposit of $150 will be automatically applied, and the remaining balance of registration fees are due by November 1st, 2020 in the amount of $285.00. These fees include our extra costs such as purchasing protective equipment, purchasing extra ice time to respect distancing rules and the annual overhead cost of the association. We anticipate that the registration fees for the 2nd Session (Winter) of the season will be lower. We will communicate the amount to you by early December.
Documents
There will be important documents that parents will need to read and sign prior to getting back on the ice and your bubble leaders will provide these to you. No one will be allowed on the ice until they are signed and remitted. Your bubble group leaders will provide the documents as we are still finalizing them. We apologize for the tight turnaround.
Thank you all for your continued patience.
Hello GCRA families,
I am writing you today to provide an update of where we are at in the return to ringette process.
Ringette Ontario’s Return to Ringette Package
Work on the package continues to progress. We are working collaboratively with both RO and Eastern Region Ringette Association (ERRA), as well as other associations across Ontario. City facility audits and inspections, along with use policies, are key to the completed package. The city scheduled our first visit this week.
Bubble Groups
The bubble group formation process was outlined during the town hall a couple of weeks ago and currently we are at Step three of the process; bubble groups are being reviewed by the Return to Ice Team and practice plans are being developed.
Bubble Leaders.
Currently, we are seeking volunteers for bubble group leaders. As with the bubble groups themselves, a bubble group leader can only belong to one bubble group. If you are interested, please send an email to kelly.searle@sympatico.ca and the name of your child and age group.
Bunnies Program
The bunny program will run again this year and we are reviewing the program now. In previous years, the program has started after Thanksgiving and this year we anticipate it starting in mid-November. We will provide more information at a later date.
Finally, we I would like to take this opportunity to mention that some of our sister associations in Ottawa may have different dates for returning to the ice and this is because of a variety of reasons including that they play at different arenas and are at different stages of the approval process.
Please note that the entire executive team is working very hard to get GCRA players back on the ice. Thank you for your patience and support as we manoeuvre through this. We will aim to provide another update by September 16th.
If you have any questions, please email president@gcra-ringette.ca
Town Hall
AUGUST 8th 2020 Update
Hello GCRA families,
We’d like to share some information as we prepare for the upcoming season. As mentioned in our July 29th email, Ringette Ontario (RO) approved, in principle, associations who wish to conduct ringette activities may do so providing they can demonstrate their capability to comply with RO’s Return to Ringette Guidelines. In order to comply with these guidelines, two groups have been established within the GCRA executive.
The first group will manage the Health and Safety aspect for the return to ringette. This group will ensure that all direction from Ringette Ontario, Eastern Region Ringette Association, Provincial Health Authorities (Ontario) and Ottawa Public Health regarding COVID measures are followed and adhered to. RO requires that each association submit a plan for the return to ringette and if the plan is approved the association may proceed. This group will be submitting the return to ringette plan for the GCRA. The health of our players and volunteers are paramount.
The second group will manage the return to the ice aspect of returning to ringette. Although at this time we cannot promise league games or tournaments (we are hoping that some games will begin in January), GCRA is committed to giving each player skill development at their skill level during this season. This will help improve their game as well as prepare them for sort outs and try outs. Once registration is complete on August 16th, this group will meet to establish “bubble” groups for all registrants. The process used to create the bubble group will be shared in writing with the Membership. Each bubble group will have at least one bubble leader. Once players are assigned to a bubble group, there will be no contact with players from other bubble groups. More than one bubble may be on the ice at one time.
The following is a brief outline of what we envision the next couple of months looking like:
Prior to September 1
- Bubble groups are assigned.
- Schedules are sent out to all players and bubble group leaders
- On and Off Ice Training
- Skill Development / Power Skating
- Try Outs and Sort outs (Team Formation)
- Team formation practices
- Return to regular ringette play
In order to be compliant with RO and Ottawa Public Health and the necessary creation of bubble groups GCRA can not extend the registration deadline beyond August 16th. Once GCRA is in a position to form teams, only players who registered and participated in bubble groups will be included. There will be no additional registration opportunity for the 2020/21 playing year.
GCRA will be hosting a virtual Town Hall on August 13 th at 7pm where more information will be shared, and parents can ask questions prior to the registration deadline of August 16th. We ask that parents please send their questions to comms@gcra-ringette.ca prior to the Town Hall. We thank you all for your patience as we navigate this novel situation.