Female Division

Revised Proposal for Female Hockey on Vancouver Island

Female Midget AAA team:

• BC Hockey supports one team on Vancouver Island
• Host association required by April 15
• Regular weekday practice ice and game slots required
• VIAHA and local associations support is required

Female A Hockey - Recommendations:

• Four zones within district that would work cooperatively together:
• Zone 1 – (north) – Tri-Port, Campbell River, Gold River, Powell River, Comox
• Zone 2 – (mid) – Oceanside, Nanaimo, Port Alberni
• Zone 3 – (mid) – Cow Valley, Lake Cowichan, Kerry Park
• Zone 4 – (south) – Peninsula, Saanich, Victoria, JDF, Sooke,  Racquet Club
• VIAHA to support these  co-op zones
• Each zone will draw up a co-op agreement setting out the terms of the program
• The Female Rep Co-Op Committee for each of the respective zones would be comprised of:  the President of each association within that zone;  the Vice President of each zone;  the VIAHA Female Development Coordinator
• In each zone each participating association would appoint  1 representative  who would be responsible for organization and management of the rep programs and teams, including, team tryouts, coach selection, ice allocation, finances, program plan, player development;  a budget will be put in place by the Zone  Committee and an account will be opened to manage the program funds*
• Female A teams would go by the name “Vancouver Island “insert name agreed upon by zone”**
• Jerseys for programs will gradually be purchased**
• Associations will work on a pre-arranged written rotation with respect to the ‘carding’ of teams
• Cost of programs in each zone will remain consistent, with possible slight variation depending on team division -  similar to association recreational programs*
• Each association participating in co-op teams will contribute equitable ice, based on number of players or similar rationale; associations to ‘commit’ to providing reasonable contribution of ice for practices and/or games; practice ice will rotate on a fair and equitable rotation
• If a particular zone is capable of fielding more than 1 team within any division and can be supported within the zone, this may be a further option for increased development

*Some details to be ironed out in these areas.    
**Different options could be discussed regarding team names and jerseys.

Rationale for Zone Teams:

• Having VIAHA Executive and all association Presidents support this program will ensure the continuity of the program.  When a program is parent/player driven you run the risk of the program ending when that parent/player interest group moves on, which we have experienced in the past.
• Hosting co-operative teams in each zone will promote development and progression in the female program within ALL associations
• Hosting co-operative zone teams will ensure the continuity of the A programs from year to year; there are very few associations that have ‘enough’ female players on their own to host a female A team.
• Having co-operative zone teams will assist in putting together A teams with fully committed players without the challenge of trying to fill teams with less committed players
• Having co-operative zone teams will keep female players from returning to integrated hockey when there is no team available for them to play on from one year to the next
• Hosting co-operative zone teams will take the burden off individual associations to provide all the ice for an A program, including costs associated with hosting an A team
• Having co-operative zone teams provides the opportunity to co-op and share players amongst adjoining associations without going to the time and expense of trying to create and implement an all female association.  
• Having co-operative zone teams will promote the attitude of cooperation amongst our associations for the greater good of our female program, from the grassroots up.

Rationale for Structure of Zone Teams:

• Having a committee in each zone with the President from each association representing their interest ensures that:
• all associations have a voice in decisions
• all players will be treated equally and have the same opportunities
• budgets can be designed and implemented that will move forward as the program evolves and will not have to be dealt with new every year with unknown costs
• Having co-operative teams rotate practice/game ice on an equitable rotation, rather than always at one location will encourage participation by more players
• Having the teams agree on a name that starts with Vancouver Island  will alleviate any disputes between associations and will promote the goodwill and progression of our Vancouver Island female rep program
• Having the associations participating in the co-op teams, rotate for carding purposes is a fair and equitable system

Benefits of having structure for zone teams set in place by VIAHA:

• Associations will know in advance what options are available for female players
• Associations will know what their ice commitment will be based on their co-op agreement and commitment to the program; this will be established and will not need to be revisited year after year after year
• Female players will know that they will have a team to play on from one year to the next, it will not be dependent on a single association making the decision, or not
• Recreational teams will be strengthened  by implementing zone teams rather than every other association having a rep team that is not truly rep level
• If there are zone teams available for players to play on, instead of having a mix of players with varying strengths and skills on recreational teams, these teams will become more competitive amongst each other rather than unbalanced as we have seen in the past
• Costs will be consistent for players from year to year and will not be dependent on which association is having a team in any particular year
• The governance of these committees under VIAHA will ensure a fair equitable opportunity for all girls from each of your associations
• When associations female programs drop in registration, they will have the continued support of both VIAHA and the zone teams

Female C Hockey (recreational):

• Associations will continue to promote and development their local female programs.
• Associations with no team in category will have the option to transfer their female players to an adjoining association
• Adjoining associations will be encouraged to co-op C teams where appropriate rather than apply for underage and overage exemptions, which results in the creation of unbalanced female leagues.
• Recommendations for female leagues:
• Female teams will be ‘scheduled’ for some pre-season exhibition games against teams of like ability (not necessarily like division) to determine skill level and ability (similar to island league tiering round).  This will ensure that all teams are evaluated properly in order to place them into the most appropriate league.
• Female teams will be split into leagues based on both division as well as skill and ability; location will also be considered and may include a crossover addition to their schedule
• Female Development Coordinators will be asked for their input regarding travel and game schedules
• Female development will be encouraged and supported throughout the district

Responsibilities:

• It is our responsibility to promote the development and advancement of our female players to the highest level possible.   The concept of keeping the same group of girls together year after year does not allow for the growth of female hockey nor does it support player development.    If this means that an association loses players to a higher level, we should be encouraged by this because it speaks well for our individual programs.   The only way that our programs will continue to develop and see growth is to fill the spots with other players and continue to bring in new players at all levels to fill our recreational teams.   It may take a few years for all of our programs to gain strength but if we have a consistent progression of players moving up through our female programs they will continue to strengthen.
• As volunteers, representatives and ambassadors of female hockey, it is our obligation to promote the growth and development of female hockey on the island.   We have a responsibility not only to the existing female players but to the future female players on the island.   We need to put programs in place that will not only satisfy the needs of our existing female players today but will also guarantee the existence of our female programs well into the future.  
• We have come a long way with female hockey on the island and it is good to see many female players entering the game at younger ages, but we still have a way to go to guarantee enough players for all female teams at all associations; realistically this may never happen.     Many recreational teams often must recruit new players to fill up their female teams at all ages.   If we do not provide an opportunity for our female players who are greater skilled and have the desire to play at a higher level teams to play on, then we will be closing the door on opportunities for females to join hockey at any age and then female hockey becomes an elitist sport.  We must remember that hockey is a sport for life and within our female structure there is no reason why players of any age cannot join recreational teams.   It is short-sighted to think that it is ‘ever  too late’ for a player to join hockey, female or male.