RECREATION HOCKEY

Recreation or House Hockey is the type of hockey played by the majority of CRMHA Players. It’s fun hockey intended for fitness, fun and friendship!

The objections of the recreation program are to:

FIT THE NEEDS OF THE PARTICIPANTS AND PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE TYPES OF HOCKEY
PROMOTE ENJOYABLE PARTICIPATION FOR THE FUN ASPECT
GIVE PLAYERS EQUAL ICE TIME
ASSIST IN AN INDIVIDUAL’S PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
CREATE A SOCIABLE ENVIRONMENT
ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL TO PARTICIPATE FREELY IN OTHER SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
DE-EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING
EMPHASIZE SPORTSMANSHIP, FAIR PLAY AND RESPECT FOR FELLOW PLAYERS, COACHESAND OFFICIALS.

Recreation Hockey is central to the entire amateur hockey structure, many players coming out of the initiation (U7 and U9) program will go into the recreation program. Most representative players spend time as recreational players, both before and after their competitive days.

Recreational Teams are allotted approximately 25 hours of Practice Ice Time per season. CRMHA recognizes the vast majority of Player skill development is gained at Practice. To maximize Player involvement and utilize the limited Ice Time, CRMHA strongly urges that all Practices be well planned and executed. Practice planning shall follow the Player Development Criteria for each Division as outlined in APPENDIX II of the CRMHA Policy and Procedures Manual. CRMHA requires the use of multiple rotating ‘Skill Stations’ that utilize the breakdown of the practice group into 2 to 5 smaller groups.

UNDER-7 (U7)

Program Coaches must use the Skill Development Program provided by CRMHA. Coaches will incorporate the skill development criteria provided by CRMHA into their practice programs. Games shall be played as per BC Hockey guidelines. 2-minute buzzer shall be used for all games. No score will be kept. All players shall have the opportunity to play all positions including goal on a rotational basis.

U7 Players will typically have two half ice practices (or games) a week.

UNDER-9 (U9)

Program Coaches must use the Skill Development Program provided by CRMHA. Coaches will incorporate the skill development criteria provided by CRMHA into their practice programs. Games shall be played as per BC Hockey guidelines 2-minute buzzer shall be used for all games. No score will be kept. All players shall have the opportunity to play all positions including goal on a rotational basis. After Christmas Coaches may use these players keen on playing goal on a rotational basis.

U9 Players will typically have two half ice practices (or games) a week.

UNDER-11 (U11)

Program Coaches must use the Skill Development Program provided by CRMHA. Coaches will incorporate the skill development criteria provided by CRMHA into their practice programs. There will be no streaming (tiering) as per Hockey Canada recommendations. Practices are full-ice group sessions, typically one hour in duration, and ideally once per week. Games are typically 1 hour 15 minutes in duration.

U11 Players will typically have two ice sessions a week (one practice and one game)

UNDER-13 (U13)

Program Coaches must use the Skill Development Program provided by CRMHA. Coaches will incorporate the skill development criteria provided by CRMHA into their practice programs. There will be no streaming (tiering) as per Hockey Canada recommendations. Practices are full-ice group sessions, typically one hour in duration, and ideally once per week. Games are typically 1 hour 15 minutes in duration.

U13 Players will typically have two ice sessions a week (one practice and one game)

UNDER-15 (U15)

Program Coaches must use the Skill Development Program provided by CRMHA. Coaches will incorporate the skill development criteria provided by CRMHA into their practice programs. U15 Recreation hockey is non body checking. If a team decides to go to body-checking exhibition games or tournaments, players are not obliged to attend. Prior to attending body-checking exhibition games or tournaments, players must attend a checking clinic. Practices are full-ice group sessions, typically one hour in duration, and ideally once per week Games are typically 1 hour 15 minutes in duration.

U15 Players will typically have two ice sessions a week (one practice and one game)

UNDER-18 (U18) /UNDER-21 (U21)

To encourage participation, this division provides games as soon as teams are selected. Practices are not held for this division. If practices are scheduled, coaches will use the U18 BC Hockey Skills Development Program manual. Through the U18 Division Manager, U18 level players may apply to practice with the U15 practice groups. To encourage participation, this division will provide brand new players access to a development program, as decided on by the Executive. For safety reasons, the program will need to be completed and signed off by the Development Coordinator and the Recreation Head Coach before a new player participates in league games. Games are typically 1 hour 15 minutes in duration, and ideally twice a week.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

Players will be able to play at equal skill and ability levels regardless of age. Unless the player has exceptional ability, beyond his/her age group, it is in the best interest of the player’s social, psychological and emotional development to play in his/her age category. No player in CRMHA may play or practice with any division other than his/her own without prior permission from one of the following: Division Managers, CRMHA Recreation Head Coach, Executive or the President. Any parent wishing their child moved to another division must write a letter of application to the President, stating all the reasons why the child should be moved. Once a player has moved to a different division, further movement up or down must be approved by the President and CRMHA Recreation Head Coach. BC HOCKEY does not permit player movement between teams in the same division. Recreation teams may only pick-up players according to BC HOCKEY requirements. The Division Manager must approve the final roster.

AFFILIATE PLAYERS:

House player affiliation and movement will take place as follows:

Players can only be moved to the higher division/level of play
Players can only affiliate with one other team
Rep Affiliate Players are not permitted to move to a higher house division. However, U11 Development players are not typically affiliated with a U13 Rep team and are permitted to affiliate with teams in the U13 house division.
Division Manager must explain the Affiliate Program to the parents, obtain permission from the parents for the player to be an Affiliate, and then talk to the player to obtain their permission.
The Division Manager and Head Coach are to supply a list of qualified second year players to the Division Manager and Head Coach in the division above them. From that list the Head Coaches will place the AP’s on rosters in a fair and equal way to play for the season.
Coaches and Managers will make sure to rotate through the AP’s on their roster.
No player can AP for more than 3 games consecutively or more than 10 total in a season. Any AP abusing these rules will become ineligible.
Affiliated players must be identified on game sheets by placing an “AP” beside their name

If you have any questions at all about the CRMHA Recreation Program, please contact the CRMHA Association Manager at alana.caldwell@crmha.ca