Got a Ringette related comment or question for the FGRA Council, send us an email. If it is one we feel our answer will benefit others, you might just see it appear on this page.
What are the ages for the various Ringette levels?
Bunny (U9): typically ages 5 to 7 but 8 year olds in their first Ringette year may opt to play at the Bunny level.
Novice (U10): ages 8 and 9
Petite (U12): ages 10 and 11
Tween (U14): ages 12 and 13
Junior (U16): ages 14 and 15
Belle (U19): ages 16 through 18
I realize the practice ice is above and beyond the FGRA registration fees but as I am a new Team Manager how much should I budget for practice ice over the year.
The practice ice assigned by APFG will be billed back to each APFG team at a rate of: $167/hr for full ice and $84/hr for a shared session. Over the entire season, you should be scheduled for approximately 10 to 12 hours of full ice for practices. While this is not a guarantee on the number of hours each team will be scheduled, the Ice Scheduler and Convenors do their very best to make sure the ice is distributed as fairly and as efficiently as possible.
Hi, I stumbled onto your site and having never heard about or seen Ringette played before, can you help me out?
You bet! Click on the play button below, sit back, and enjoy. By the way, thanks for stopping by.
Child Tax Credit Questions
What is the Children's Fitness Tax Credit?
The Children's Fitness Tax Credit is claimed on your income tax return for tax year 2010. Receipts are issued to parents whose players were under 16 years of age at any time during 2010 (players born in 1994 or later).
My Ringette player didn't play with FGRA last year.
In this case, the tax receipt we issue you will only reflect the registration fees you paid to FGRA in September 2010. The club your daughter played for last year is responsible for issuing you a receipt for any practice ice you paid for back in January/February 2010.
How Much Can I Claim on my Tax Return?
Last year, the maximum claim was $500 per child, which at a typical tax rate resulted in a reduction of about $77.50. Your child's tax credit receipt will include ringette registration fees paid in September 2010, and also, if they played ringette with Fort Garry last year too, any practice ice costs incurred back in January/February 2010.
Why Aren't Tournament, Playoff and Tryout Ice Fees Eligible?
The CRA states that the tax credit is only for registration and ice fees which pertain to an ongoing physical fitness activity; tournaments, playoffs and tryouts aren't considered "ongoing". Also ineligible are travel, food, beverage, and accommodation costs.
How Are These Receipts Issued to Parents?
In March 2010, we will issue a separate, personalized receipt for each player, via email, to the person who paid the registration fees.
Do I Need to Send the Receipt with my Income Tax Return?
CRA states you do not need to send the receipt(s) in with your tax return, but should keep them on file for six years.
I have just registered my child for Ringette. What equipment do I need to buy and where can I get it?
I have attached an equipment list to try and help. As for your question on where to purchase. I am not endorsing one business over another but rather giving you a number of places where many of our other Ringette parents shop. If nothing else, my list should save you some time as not every sports store stocks Ringette gear.
Hi, I have no idea what Ringette is about. I consider myself more of a Hockey Dad as I have watched and played it for years. Do you have a Ringette overview you can share with me?
You bet! And thanks for trying to understand the basic rules. After you read the attached paper maybe you can help us help your child learn the game. Ringette is a fast game focussed on skating, passing, and finesse. As they say, "If it was easy, they would call it hockey.". Welcome abroad.
I have paid my registration fees and now my manager is asking for more money. What do my registration fees cover and what is this additional money used for?
The Fort Garry Ringette Association registration fees cover the cost of game ice, officials, time keepers (Bunny do not have official time keepers), Shot Clock operators, MRA fees, WRL fees and local association fees. With what is remaining, FGRA purchases rings, jerseys, coaching certifications, improving the quality of our program, and other operating expenses. The additional money your manager is requesting is to cover the practice ice your team will be using in both the first and second half of the season along with any additional tournaments your player's team may be entering or for your windup. As there is no way for the Council to estimate these additional costs at time of registration these are considered to be team expenses. Hope that helps.
Hi, a situation has come up where I need to confidentially bring it to the attention of the FGRA Council. I have looked at the communication strategy and while I would normally follow it, in this case I can't. How do I contact the FGRA Council?
While general inquiries should be addressed by the Coaches and/or Manager, the FGRA Council understands that the Communication strategy in place will not meet the needs of every situation. In these special cases, it is best to contact the Age Level Convenor of your player using the appropriate email address on the Contact FGRA Page. The situation will be CONFIDENTIALLY discussed at the next Council meeting and whatever actions are required, the Council will work with yourself to resolve the matter. I would also like to mention that all emails sent by or to the FGRA Council are stored on a secure email server to protect our membership from potential identify theft, spam, etc...
On the topic of email, what should I do if I receive a note from FGRA asking for personal information?
There are times when email is used to send information to the MRA and WRL office and between the FGRA Council and our membership. This is the main reason FGRA has purchased the services of a secure reputable Internet Service Provider instead of using one of the many "FREE" Internet offerings. FGRA will not ask you to provide details related to finances or personal information via email. There may be a situation where we do request a copy of your players proof of birth date which you can either send to us by email or pass on to us through your coach/manager. This is your decision based on your confort level. In cases where you believe the email may be suspect, simply record the sender's name and make a Council member aware providng the subject line of the email in question. Do not open it until you have heard back from us. If you have opened it, do not launch any attachments until we have confirmed it is from FGRA. Also, DO NOT forward us the suspect email for our review. If it is spam, malware, spyware, or a virus, we run the risk of corrutping our email service. If the email is legitimate all Council members will be aware of the broadcast email transmission. If FGRA confirms we did not send it then Delete it!
Hi its me again, you know...Hockey Dad... remember me?. Still a little confused. I have now watched several Ringette practice sessions and the video above just noticing that your goalie crease is larger, you don't have face offs, and what's with the extra lines?
Hey, Hockey Dad! Not trying to be mean but did you happen take but too many pucks to the melon when you were young? As a positive, I think it is great that you finally noticed those things as it is an important part of our game? But... did you happen to read the paper in the previous question answering "How Ringette is Played". It should help but if that is not enough here is a picture of the ice layout to go along with it.
How much of Winnipeg does the Fort Garry Ringette Association catchment area include?
The Fort Garry Ringette Association consists of Ringette players representing many of the Fort Garry area community clubs. Because the area is really quite large, perhaps a picture is best.
Yo! IT'S ME, HOCKEY DAD!! I gotta say, this page is great and I have learned so much about Ringette just by reading. So, here is my latest question. How many years will it take before I stop calling the "Ring" a "Puck"?
Hey, Hockey Dad, what's with the YELLING!
This one is interesting and I have actually researched it. Apparently medical experiments have been performed on a remote ice covered island in northern Canada on a large sample of young and old Hockey Dads. The tests involved scientifically calibarated and mechnically delivered slap shots to the melon until the subject finally stopped calling it a puck. However, this was done before the use of helmuts was mandatory and the treatment timeframe was really short. Now with the helmuts, there are "secret" clinics where this therapy is still practiced but it is much more expensive as it takes longer to cure the patient. If you are concerned, the RING/puck confusion persists, you are continually embarrassing your child in front of her/his Ringette friends, and you feel an appointment to get it cured is necessary, let me know. If you are looking for a cheaper option, we could always use a target for a Junior or Belle practice and there are a few FGRA Ringette players who could fire a RING at you as you try your skills at goalie. They like shooting RINGs at Hockey Dads, the RINGs do hurt when you get hit, and these girls will have you saying puck (darn it) RING in no time! Gotta go, my appointment starts soon.
