FAQ
1. Registration
Registration usually opens in January each year. Check the website for exact dates. Register early to avoid disappointment. The program typically fills shortly after registration opens.
REGISTRATION is online only through our website with payment by credit card and Interac (cheques are not accepted).
To obtain a refund, you must submit a request by e-mail at withrowballhockey@gmail.com. Please specify:
• your name and the name of your child
• the division in which your child is registered (U6 co-ed; U8 Girls, U8 Co-ed; U10 Girls, U10 Co-ed, etc.)
• your child’s team (if he or she has already been assgned to a team)
• your phone number and email address
• your reason for requesting a refund
Please allow 2 to 4 weeks for refund processing.
| Prior to first game of season | Up to and including second week of season | After second week of season |
|---|---|---|
| Full entry fee | Entry fee minus $30 admin fee | No refund available after this period. Refund request will not be accepted. |
Withrow Park Ball Hockey League strives for competitive balance within each age division because we believe roster parity helps foster a positive experience for all players. As such, friend requests made for players in the youngest age groups — U6 and U8 — will be considered, while all others will be granted only in extraordinary circumstances, and at the discretion of the specific age group convenor.
2. Season Dates, Times, Rainouts
The season generally begins in early April. The season ends the last weekend before the primary school year ends. We do not offer a minors program in the fall.
Coaches will email players and parents once team rosters are posted in TeamSnap, which is usually in late March. Coaches will hand out team jerseys at the first game and check equipment.
| While this is subject to change the are the usual dates:
U6 (Girls and Co-ed) U8 (Girls and Co-ed) |
Saturdays and Sundays Saturdays and Sundays |
Mornings Mornings |
| U10 (Girls and Co-ed) | Saturdays and Sundays | Mornings |
| U12 (Girls) | Saturday and Sundays | Afternoons |
| U14 (Girls) | Saturdays and Sundays | Evenings |
| U16/18 (Girls) | TBD | Evenings |
| U12 Co-ed | Fridays, Saturdays/Sundays, Mondays | Evenings |
| U14 Co-ed | Fridays, Saturdays/Sundays and one other weeknight | Evenings |
| U16 Co-ed | TBD | Evenings |
| U19 Co-ed | TBD | Evenings |
| Young Adults (Women and Men) | Monday | Evenings |
| Women | Wednesday | Evenings |
| Men | Tuesday | Evenings |
When rain is in the forecast our rink staff will post the status of games and rink conditions on our Twitter feed, which is embedded on our main page. You can follow our Twitter feed here.
3. Rink locations
Some All-Star games and practices will be held at Greenwood Park arena.
4. Experience
Yes! Our program is designed to suit children at all levels of experience and skill. A fair number (especially in U6 and U8) of WPBHL players are children with limited or no ice hockey or ball hockey experience.
5. Equipment
We provide each registered player with a team jersey. We also provide goalie equipment, permitting each child to try their hand at goaltending (if they so wish). Goaltenders must wear their own regular CSA-approved helmet (not provided) or their own CSA-approved goalie mask (not provided).
MANDATORY EQUIPMENT
For players:
- Hockey helmet with full facial protection (cage)
Note: both facemask and helmet must have CSA sticker. - Goaltenders can either wear player helmet/facemask (as above) or a goalie mask
Note: goalie mask must have CSA sticker. –
** Street hockey goalie masks ARE NOT PERMITTED *** - Hockey gloves
Note: any type of gloves not designed for ice hockey use (e.g., lacrosse) are not permitted. - Hockey stick
Note: both wood or composite are accepted. Push-on plastic blades are not permitted. - Running shoes
- Soccer style shin guards
Note: It is mandatory for shin guards to be completely covered by socks.
Note: Ice hockey shin guards are not permitted.
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
- Mouth guard
- Atletic support (jock or jill)
- Knee pads (soft)
- Soft elbow pads
Note: Hard ice hockey elbow pads are not permitted. Elbow pads must be covered by jersey
THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT IS PROHIBITED:
- Shoulder pads
- Hockey-style hard elbow pads
- Hockey-style shin guards
- Any type of gloves that are not ice hockey gloves, (e.g. lacrosse gloves)
Wooden or composite hockey sticks only. Plastic bladed sticks where the blade is pushed on to the shaft are not allowed.
6. All-Star Program
Withrow Park’s All Star program is for players who want to play in a more competitive environment. We have a long and storied past playing at the provincial level. Every year, the League sends all-star teams to the Ontario Ball Hockey Association’s provincial tournaments, which are held over one weekend in July. We have also had teams compete nationally and internationally, and had representatives play at the Ontario Summer Games. Tryouts typically take place beginning in late April/early May, followed by team selection and dedicated all-star practices.
For more details check out our All-Star page at this link: All-Stars
7. Volunteering/Working with the WPBHL
As part of the registration process, please indicate when prompted if you are interested in coaching or assistant coaching your child(ren).
Please visit the OBHF website for qualification details. If interested in refereeing please send us an email at withrowballhockey@gmail.com.
Contact any one of the WPBHL Board Members who can guide you to the appropriate contact. List of current Board members can be found here.
8. Equalization
While every effort is made to ensure that the teams selected are of relatively equal strength, the League appreciates that this is a difficult process and all games will always have a team that wins and a team that does not win. The goal is to promote close competition, which is proven to encourage great effort and even better fun. Ideally, we would like all games in every division to be close. We would like every team to have a realistic chance of beating the other teams in its division.
Prior to the season commencing, each Division Convenor assigns registered players to the teams in that division. After the season starts, he/she keeps tabs on the games and scores. If after the fourth game it is apparent that there is an imbalance that needs to be corrected, the Convenor will consult with the coaches to determine a plan of action. After an agreed plan of action is settled (i.e., which children will be moved) the parents of the players involved are contacted. The convenors, coaches and the members of the Board are all parents with children in the League, and we fully appreciate that moving kids around can be a difficult and sensitive issue.
As noted above, equalization typically takes place after the second weekend of the season (i.e., after each team in the division in question has played 4 games).
We continue to take steps to try to minimize equalization. Coaches are asked each year to complete player evaluations, with the coaches required to grade each of their players, and those evaluations are used by the convenors putting together the teams in the subsequent year. We also ask for information on the skills of new players so that we have a sense of what we’re dealing with.
The league appreciates that moving children between teams can be uncomfortable and we will rely on parents, care givers and coaches to help ensure this process highlights the value of creating a competitive league.
By registering with the Withrow Ball Hockey League all players are agreeing 100% to the team balancing process.
About the WPBHL
The WPBHL is not-for-profit organization with a constitution and an elected volunteer board of directors. The WPBHL is a proud member of the Ontario Ball Hockey Federation, the governing body for the sport of ball hockey in Ontario.
