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RingNation - Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and Canadian Sport For Life (CS4L)

You may have heard rumours about the LTAD (or CS4L as it is now being referred to) that is going to change our game as we know it. Are we getting rid of tiering? Is the name of our game changing? What's happening with the age divisions? Will we be playing with a pink ring with feathers on it (this is a joke)? This page is designed to clear up some rumours and keep you up to date with the latest and greatest changes.

Be sure to check out the other LTAD pages (under the Development menu at the top of the site) for more info.  

Presentations from the 2009 BCRA AGM: Ringette Canada and 2010LegaciesNow

Download the LTAD Framework Document:

LTAD Changes for the 2009/2010 Ringette Season

BCRA appreciates all of the associations who have been working hard to educate their members and have requested BCRA present LTAD at their Association AGM. Unfortunately we do not have the capacity do attend every AGM, but we did focus on the LTAD at the BCRA AGM in May. We will provide each association with the tools and resources to educate their membership, and any slides or presentation materials that are provided will be made available to the associations.
 
Age Divisions
 
The following outlines the age changes to the divisions for the 2009/2010 Season.The names of the age divisions are changing from the current terminology (Petite, Tween, Junior, etc.) to the "U" Classification. The following outlines the age changes to the divisions for the 2009/2010 Season. Please note the clarification that, for example, U9 refers to "under 9" so ages 8 and under. It does not mean 9 and under.
U7 = Active Start (refers to rec programs and learn to skate, not a "ringette" age division)
U9 (Bunny) = born 2001 or later
U10 (Novice) = born 2000, 2001
U12 (Petite) = born 1998, 1999
U14 (Tween) = born 1996, 1997
U16 (Junior) = born 1994, 1995
U19 (Belle) = born 1991, 1992, 1993
+18 (Belle/Open) = born 1991 or earlier
To clarify the U9 and U10 age divisions, if someone is registering to be a Bunny for the 2009/2010 season they should register as a U9. If someone is supposed to be Novice for the 2009/2010 season they should register as U10. This does not mean that Novice/U10 is a 1-year division, but that someone who is 8 could register for either Bunny or Novice depending on their experience and ability (example: a new player with little skating/playing experience will likely register U9 while someone who has been on the ice for a few years and has played the game can register for U10).
 
In the old system this would translate to a Bunny who started when they were 5 and had already played for two years AND were proficient at skating and the ringette basics, to play Novice at the age of 8. This would have also allowed for the 8 year old new to ringette to play in the Bunny division for their first year.
 
The other noticable overlap occurs in the U19 and 18+ ages, where an athlete born in 1991 can register for either division. This allows the flexibilty for someone to play a third year of U19 (Belle), or go to 18+ (Open). An example of where this may occur is for a player who has played two year's of U19 and wants to stay with her friends on the U19 team still she can register for a third year in this division. On the other hand if someone moves here from another Province for University and wishes to play they may choose to play 18+ (Open) rather than join the U19 team as a third year player.
 
Tween AA
 
Tween AA will no longer attend the Western Canadian Ringette Championships (WCRC's). They will still attend the Provincial AA Championships.

As you are aware, at the 2009 BCRA AGM a committee was formed to address the issue of U14 (Tween) AA and determine how to create teams for the upcoming season. The goal was to increase participation at U14 with a focus on athlete development, specifically at the AA level, by increasing the number of teams in each league. The independent U14 AA Committee that was formed has advised BCRA of their recommendations. This consensus has been reached by a provincial committee representing all leagues in BC and across a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

The Committee has recommended that the U14 division be divided by zones as determined by each league.  The LMRL will divide East (TBA) and West (TBA) , TORL will divide North (Salmon Arm, Enderby/Armstrong, Vernon) and South (Kelowna, Westside, Penticton), and the NORTH will divide based on BCWG zones. The leagues will be providing BCRA with their zone boundaries shortly, which we will post on the website. It was also recommended that all U14 teams have the same training program within a league and increase focus on playing inter-province tournaments, with less focus on out of province tournaments, to come in line with Canadian Sport For Life. Please see attached for the committee recommendation.

Petite Division
  • There will be no Petite AA teams. BCRA will not be sanctioning “AA” team formation or any form of "select" or "all-star" teams in this division.
  • Tiering will be permitted for league play and sanctioned tournaments in the A, B, and C calibers. Associations wishing to create equal non-tiered petite teams are encouraged to do so
  • Petite in all three calibers will not attend the Provincial Championships, but will attend a year-end competition event just for the Petite division.
BC Winter Games (BCWG) Ages: The ages for BC Winter Games have changed. Eligible athletes are those born in 1996 and 1995. This translates to our current age divisions as second year Tween and first year Junior for the 2009/2010 season.
 
Canada Winter Games (CWG) Ages: The ages for Canada Winter Games have changed to U20. Eligible athletes are those 19 years of age or under as of December 31, 2010 (born on or after January 1, 1991).
 
Check out the new LTAD 3-Fold Brochure and the LTAD Ad from Ringette Canada!
 
What is LTAD?
  • LTAD is a training, competition, and recovery framework for individuals at all stages of life.
  • LTAD offers equal opportunity for participation and recreation.
  • LTAD is athlete centered, coach driven, officials, administrators, parents, sport medicine & sport sciences and sponsors supported.
  • LTAD focuses on the general framework of athlete development with special reference to growth, maturation, and development.
  • LTAD is a framework for full sport system alignment in Canada, integrating health and education with sport and physical activity.
Guiding Principals for Ringette in Canada
  • - Fun, participation, learning.
  • - Inclusive, respect for varying skill levels.
  • - Respect the sport and all involved. 
  • - Include on-ice and off-ice activities.
  • - Safety.
Why Your Child Plays Sports
 
Children have their own reasons for participating in sports and physical activities but coaches and parents are not always in harmony with their motives.
 
Children commonly play sports:
  • To have fun.
  • To Experience thrills.
  • To be with friends or make new friends.
  • To do something they are good at.
  • To feel good about themselves.
  • To feel accepted.
  • To improve and learn new skills.
Before you sign up or involve your child in a sport or activity, take time to talk to your child about his or her interests. Children are far more likely to continue in the activity if they are satisfying their own motives and have the support of their parents. They are also more likely to want to achieve excellence in competition for the same reasons.
 
Why Parent's Encourage Sports
 
Parents often have their own reasons for seeing their children in sports, and problems arise when their motives conflict with those of their son or daughter. The result can be a very negative sporting experience for the child. Some of the most common problems arise when parents:
  • Place too much emphasis on winning.
  • Push their children to specialize in one sport too early.
  • Live their own dreams through their children.

The ideal situation occurs when your child finds intrinsic rewards in participating in the activity – otherwise known as FUN!

Links and Information 

LTAD from Ringette Canada:

  • The LTAD presentation from the Ringette Canada Travelling RoadShow that was presented at the BCRA AGM in 2008.
  • Keep up to date with LTAD development's and progress on the RingNation Blog.
  • Discussion paper about LTAD Change Leadership that was distributed at the Ringette Canada AGM in June.
  • Check out the LTAD Tournament Ad - to be included in all tournament programs in all of Canada!
  • Ringette Canada's LTAD Brochure that is begin handed out across the country.

LTAD from Sport Canada:

Interesting links about LTAD and Sport:

© 2007 BC Ringette Association

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