What does the age division name change mean for next season?
Changing the names and the age division to fit the LTAD model will be made official at the 2009 Ringette Canada AGM this coming June.
This means moving from Bunny, Novice, Petite, Tween, Junior, etc... to U7, U9, U10, U12, U14 etc...
This has brought up many questions as to the impact this will have on local associations and how they go about things.
In a nutshell – not much will be changing from a registration perspective. We have not eliminated any of the age divisions. We have simply switched to a more user friendly name.
We have also allowed for overlap in age at the younger and the older level. This was done to encourage the athletes to participate in the age division that is appropriate for their level of development.
The bigger changes will come in terms of programming and competition events (ie tournaments)
At the younger age divisions, be prepared to see more practice opportunities and more skill development. Tournaments will transition to festival type events where the focus will be on skill development rather than winning.
The impact will not be as a result of the changing of the names... but rather as a result of changing the way we do things to be in line with optimal athlete development.
Feb 26, 2009
Feb 25, 2009
Running time... good or bad?
I was involved in a tournament over the weekend, thus giving me the opportunity to see and live ringette at the early stages of development for the first time this year.
Given my inability to turn off the LTAD switch a lot of things jumped out at me. There were a lot of great things, and then a few situations that got me thinking.
Allow me to share the one that stood out the most:
Running time.
In most tournaments there is a rule which states a game will go into running time once a 7 goal differential is reached. Prior to my LTAD transformation, I had never thought twice about this concept.
It allows for a tournament to catch up on lost time during the day and avoids a long and “embarrassing” game for the young players. The 7 goal rule is also there as a sportsmanship thing.
I now ask myself, does this make sense?Should we be shortening these young athletes’ opportunity to take part in the game? Are these not key learning moments in their development? What is more important catching up on lost time in a tournament or an athlete’s fair participation in the sport?
Before I wrap this up, allow me to share this story. In the Novice group at this tournament, I officiated one game where the goal differential was extremely high... above and beyond the 7 goals. The same team that won the game by a landslide played in the final game. I didn’t notice much of a difference in these athletes from one game to the other. They still played the same way, had a smile on their faces and enjoyed being out there. The coaching staff on the other hand was very vocal, stressed and nervous during the final game.
Who is impacted the most by these lopsided games?Kids are there to have fun. Let them play.... better yet figure out a way to avoid these one way games. Clearly running time is beneficial to no one.
Given my inability to turn off the LTAD switch a lot of things jumped out at me. There were a lot of great things, and then a few situations that got me thinking.
Allow me to share the one that stood out the most:
Running time.
In most tournaments there is a rule which states a game will go into running time once a 7 goal differential is reached. Prior to my LTAD transformation, I had never thought twice about this concept.
It allows for a tournament to catch up on lost time during the day and avoids a long and “embarrassing” game for the young players. The 7 goal rule is also there as a sportsmanship thing.
I now ask myself, does this make sense?Should we be shortening these young athletes’ opportunity to take part in the game? Are these not key learning moments in their development? What is more important catching up on lost time in a tournament or an athlete’s fair participation in the sport?
Before I wrap this up, allow me to share this story. In the Novice group at this tournament, I officiated one game where the goal differential was extremely high... above and beyond the 7 goals. The same team that won the game by a landslide played in the final game. I didn’t notice much of a difference in these athletes from one game to the other. They still played the same way, had a smile on their faces and enjoyed being out there. The coaching staff on the other hand was very vocal, stressed and nervous during the final game.
Who is impacted the most by these lopsided games?Kids are there to have fun. Let them play.... better yet figure out a way to avoid these one way games. Clearly running time is beneficial to no one.
Feb 17, 2009
Changer l'âge de particiaption des Jeux du Canada??
En décembre 2006 Ringuette Canada a entreprit le travail de la restructuration du sport en vue du développement à long-terme de l’athlète. Sport Canada travail depuis quelques années à faire la recherche afin de bâtir un system sportif idéal canadien.
Ceci veux donc dire que nous avons du regarder à la structure de notre sport , tous comme les autres sport au Canada, afin de s’assurer que nous offrons un produit optimal pour le développement de l’athlète qui participe.
Un changement spécifique que nous avons identifier est la brèche qui existe entre les Jeux du Canada et notre Équipe Nationale.
Les Jeux du Canada on comme but d’être un événement pour la relève des équipes nationales de tous les sport. En plus les Jeux du Canada sont le point d’entré au stade de développement de Haut Performance pour un athlète.
C’est deux points étant dit nous avons identifié que l’âge que nous identifions présentement n’était pas approprié pour se stade de développement d’un athlète.
Au cours de la saison 2007-2008, ces informations ont été communiqué au associations provinciales avec la suggestion que l’âge serait changé pour les prochains Jeux du Canada en 2011. À la réunion annuelle de Ringuette Canada qui a eu lieu en juin 2008 la proposition officiel fut apporté au membre afin d’accepter certain changements en vue du DLTA. La décision officiel de faire le changement fut prise lors de la réunion du conseil d’administration de Ringuette Canada an Novembre 2008.
Nous somme au courant que pour ces prochains Jeux une deuxième chance de participer au Jeux pour certaines sera possible de plus certaines athlètes vont manque leur chance en vue de ce changement.
Nous travaillons a faire en sorte que le développement optimal de tous les athlètes soit une priorité et que tous aient l’opportunité d’attendre leur plein potentiel.
Ceci veux donc dire que nous avons du regarder à la structure de notre sport , tous comme les autres sport au Canada, afin de s’assurer que nous offrons un produit optimal pour le développement de l’athlète qui participe.
Un changement spécifique que nous avons identifier est la brèche qui existe entre les Jeux du Canada et notre Équipe Nationale.
Les Jeux du Canada on comme but d’être un événement pour la relève des équipes nationales de tous les sport. En plus les Jeux du Canada sont le point d’entré au stade de développement de Haut Performance pour un athlète.
C’est deux points étant dit nous avons identifié que l’âge que nous identifions présentement n’était pas approprié pour se stade de développement d’un athlète.
Au cours de la saison 2007-2008, ces informations ont été communiqué au associations provinciales avec la suggestion que l’âge serait changé pour les prochains Jeux du Canada en 2011. À la réunion annuelle de Ringuette Canada qui a eu lieu en juin 2008 la proposition officiel fut apporté au membre afin d’accepter certain changements en vue du DLTA. La décision officiel de faire le changement fut prise lors de la réunion du conseil d’administration de Ringuette Canada an Novembre 2008.
Nous somme au courant que pour ces prochains Jeux une deuxième chance de participer au Jeux pour certaines sera possible de plus certaines athlètes vont manque leur chance en vue de ce changement.
Nous travaillons a faire en sorte que le développement optimal de tous les athlètes soit une priorité et que tous aient l’opportunité d’attendre leur plein potentiel.
Jan 14, 2009
You do the math...
10 000 hours or ten years?....
One of the staff members here at the office was talking about the book ‘Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell’ earlier today. She was specifically referring to the 10 000 hours or ten years theory brought up in the book; a theory that is also front in center in all LTAD literature. (click here for for LTAD site info)
If it take that long to become a master of a skill, does it make that we expect our Tween AA players to perform at such an elite level... let’s say an interprovincial semi national year end event.
If you do the math quickly if they started at age 6 and they are currently 11 or 12... then that’s 6 years or less. No way they’ve acquire the skills yet to perform at such a level.
But I did says 10 years or 10 000 hours... so let’s see; 10 000 hours in 6 years would mean:
1666.66 hours of ringette per year = 138.88 hours per month = 34.7 hours per week = 4.9 hours per day.
So yes it could be possible to get 10 000hours into 6 years... however I’m pretty sure ringette 24/7 for six years at age 11 could be borderline crazy (or something else).
Using the same logic... you do the math... when would it be fair of us to put such high expectation on our athletes???
(Hint: We’ve just established that it’s after Tween, so no need to try and make a case for any of the earlier age groups)
Giving our athletes the opportunity to progress through the sport acquire the proper skills and more importantly ensure that they are enjoying what they do is what LTAD is all about.
Expecting an 11 year old to perform at a competitive level with high expectations doesn’t make much sense.
Provide them with an opportunity to learn, make friends, and have fun and do the best that they can... you’d be surprised at the results you get down the line.
Yours in Ringette,
-FL
Dec 17, 2008
Did I hear that right?
I had the privilege to take in a Junior B Exhibition game this past weekend.
I must admit that I have been reluctant over the past little while to go to the rink as a spectator given my inability to turn off my ‘LTAD focussed brain’ - The things one hears in the ‘fan’ environment of any youth sport is more often than none contrary to the LTAD way of thinking…
But last Sunday afternoon, I found myself at the rink.
I was glad to be there. It was great to see the players coming in, their bag in one hand, stick in the other and a smile on their face. You could see they were excited to play the game, eager to learn. I was reminded of the reasons why this game is so great. Ringette truly is a sport you play, love and live.
I quietly made my way to a seat in the stands. The action began. There were a few really good plays throughout the game… the kind that make you go ‘wow!’. Before I knew it, the final buzzer went and the game was over.
As the teams were shaking hands I thought to myself “This has been really great. I didn’t hear one comment that was of the ‘anti-LTAD’ variety. Maybe I don’t give enough credit to our ringette parents .”
I stood up and made my way to the lobby area. As I was walking down the stairs I could overhear two parents chatting away behind me. Still happy about my experience and rather ashamed by the fact that my generalization about parents in our sport had kept me away from the ‘fan view’ this season I simply continued to make my way towards the lobby.
But I couldn’t help but hear the loud father’s comment.
“Wow, our team was horrible. Our players aren’t very good at all.”
EXCUSE ME? Did I really just hear that?
I’m pretty sure I paused for a second in the stairwell and thought to myself “Is this father not aware of the level of play he was just watching? This is not the Pros… there is no bonus at the end of the season… Oh yeah and this was an EXHIBITION GAME!!!”Upset by what I had just heard, I was tempted to say something to this man. But then I opted against it. I’m pretty sure my comment back to him would have been just as irrational as his comment given my current frustration.
As I waited in the lobby for the players and coaching staff to walk out, I couldn’t help but watch this man.
By then he was surrounded by half a dozen other parents. Clearly all waiting for their daughters to come out of the dressing room…. And clearly all equipped to analyse the game they had just watched (I’m pretty sure they could all be analysts on TSN!)
I could have written off the comment I heard in the stairwell, but as I sat there and listened to this group discuss, my level of frustration escalated.
“Our girls can’t do anything right”, “There were maybe only 2 good plays in the whole game”, “The only nice plays we saw, were clearly done by accident.”… these are some of the many comments I could hear.
Again I thought to myself… am I really hearing this?
I’m not sure what was the worst part about this whole thing, the fact that the man continued with his demoralizing comments about the players and the game OR the fact that the group around him encouraged him (their laughter filled the lobby).
Just something to think about…
What was the purpose of this game?
I’m pretty sure this was organised as a means to get a little bit extra practice time before the Holiday season… and probably also to have FUN before the break.
“In a Jr B Exhibition game in December does it matter who wins?”
-FL
I must admit that I have been reluctant over the past little while to go to the rink as a spectator given my inability to turn off my ‘LTAD focussed brain’ - The things one hears in the ‘fan’ environment of any youth sport is more often than none contrary to the LTAD way of thinking…
But last Sunday afternoon, I found myself at the rink.
I was glad to be there. It was great to see the players coming in, their bag in one hand, stick in the other and a smile on their face. You could see they were excited to play the game, eager to learn. I was reminded of the reasons why this game is so great. Ringette truly is a sport you play, love and live.
I quietly made my way to a seat in the stands. The action began. There were a few really good plays throughout the game… the kind that make you go ‘wow!’. Before I knew it, the final buzzer went and the game was over.
As the teams were shaking hands I thought to myself “This has been really great. I didn’t hear one comment that was of the ‘anti-LTAD’ variety. Maybe I don’t give enough credit to our ringette parents .”
I stood up and made my way to the lobby area. As I was walking down the stairs I could overhear two parents chatting away behind me. Still happy about my experience and rather ashamed by the fact that my generalization about parents in our sport had kept me away from the ‘fan view’ this season I simply continued to make my way towards the lobby.
But I couldn’t help but hear the loud father’s comment.
“Wow, our team was horrible. Our players aren’t very good at all.”
EXCUSE ME? Did I really just hear that?
I’m pretty sure I paused for a second in the stairwell and thought to myself “Is this father not aware of the level of play he was just watching? This is not the Pros… there is no bonus at the end of the season… Oh yeah and this was an EXHIBITION GAME!!!”Upset by what I had just heard, I was tempted to say something to this man. But then I opted against it. I’m pretty sure my comment back to him would have been just as irrational as his comment given my current frustration.
As I waited in the lobby for the players and coaching staff to walk out, I couldn’t help but watch this man.
By then he was surrounded by half a dozen other parents. Clearly all waiting for their daughters to come out of the dressing room…. And clearly all equipped to analyse the game they had just watched (I’m pretty sure they could all be analysts on TSN!)
I could have written off the comment I heard in the stairwell, but as I sat there and listened to this group discuss, my level of frustration escalated.
“Our girls can’t do anything right”, “There were maybe only 2 good plays in the whole game”, “The only nice plays we saw, were clearly done by accident.”… these are some of the many comments I could hear.
Again I thought to myself… am I really hearing this?
I’m not sure what was the worst part about this whole thing, the fact that the man continued with his demoralizing comments about the players and the game OR the fact that the group around him encouraged him (their laughter filled the lobby).
Just something to think about…
What was the purpose of this game?
I’m pretty sure this was organised as a means to get a little bit extra practice time before the Holiday season… and probably also to have FUN before the break.
“In a Jr B Exhibition game in December does it matter who wins?”
-FL
Dec 16, 2008
It’s been a while....
Hey Hey!
So it’s been quite a while since I’ve last been online ... I took a break post-Roadshow and then got caught up in the start of the season. My appologies!
However, a recent experience at the rink has prompted me to get back and to share my thoughts with you all…
Stay tuned for details on that experience and many other thoughts!
Play it. Love it. Live it.
-FL
Jul 9, 2008
What have you committed to for the 2008 -2009 season?
At the 2008 AGM, Provincial Ringette Associations were asked to make 5 LTAD Commitments.
Click here for the full list of commitments.
Many provinces went above and beyond and committed to more than 5 items. WELL DONE!
Click on your province below to see what’s in store for you this coming season:
BC
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Québec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
PEI
Quels seront vos engagements pour la saison de 2008-2009?
À l’AGA de Ringuette Canada qui a eu lieu au début juin, chaque province a répondue au défi d’entreprendre 5 engagements face au DLTA.
Pour la liste complète des engagements veuillez appuyer ici.
Plusieurs provinces ont entrepris plus que 5 engagements. BRAVO à vous!
Veuillez consulter la liste pour les engagements de ta province.
Colombie Britannique
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Québec
Nouveau Brunswick
Nouvelle Écosse
Île du Prince Édouard
Jul 2, 2008
RC AGM presentations
All powerpoint presentations from this years AGM are availble on the RC website.
Click HERE to view them.
Click HERE to view them.
Let it be resolved…
Hey all you LTAD enthusiasts…
First of all my apologies… a post AGM vacation followed by a computer crash has resulted in my tardiness of posting on this site.
I must say that the Ringette Canada AGM went very well. From the initial presentation to the group sessions on the Saturday and the business meeting on the Sunday the LTAD theme was well received.
The general assembly on at the Sunday business meeting approved the following motion:
"That it be resolved that the general assembly is dedicated the principles of LTAD and therefore adopts the LTAD model developed by the LTAD steering committee, and hereby commits to work within all Canadian jurisdictions towards the implementation of the model."
More specifics to follow shortly…
-FL
First of all my apologies… a post AGM vacation followed by a computer crash has resulted in my tardiness of posting on this site.
I must say that the Ringette Canada AGM went very well. From the initial presentation to the group sessions on the Saturday and the business meeting on the Sunday the LTAD theme was well received.
The general assembly on at the Sunday business meeting approved the following motion:
"That it be resolved that the general assembly is dedicated the principles of LTAD and therefore adopts the LTAD model developed by the LTAD steering committee, and hereby commits to work within all Canadian jurisdictions towards the implementation of the model."
More specifics to follow shortly…
-FL
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