Parents Guide - 2008/2009
>>> Tips for the New "Hockey Mom" and "Hockey Dad"
Jackrabbits Web Site
Visit www.rpjackrabbits.ca for all the Jackrabbits information you need, including this document (if you lose it), cancellation notices or scheduling changes, hockey and equipment tips, even the weather conditions, and much more.
Ice Times
Jackrabbits will be held on Saturdays from 2:30-4:30 at the Roblin Park Community Centre, 640 Pepperloaf Crescent. The program will run from December 6th to March 21st (assuming outdoor ice conditions prevail).
Inclement Weather
Jackrabbits is very rarely cancelled. During very cold weather more frequent warm-up breaks will be taken. In odd situations, Jackrabbits may be re-scheduled. For instance, if the weather forecast calls for melting temperatures in the afternoon, Jackrabbits may be moved to a morning ice time.
Not sure if Jackrabbits is on? Check the web site on Saturday mornings. Do not phone the Community Centre as no one there will know if Jackrabbits is on. Sometimes the rinks are closed to the public but Jackrabbits is still a go, so don't rely on driving by the Community Centre to check the rinks. If it froze over night, our ice makers will likely have the ice ready.
Dressing Room Area
Please use the yellow building between rinks #1 and #2 to get dressed. The main building where the canteen is located is for skaters using the shinny rink.
Your Fees
The fee of $70 includes a $30 Roblin Park user fee. A $20 sweater deposit is also required, which is returned at the end of the year. Each family is also required to perform one shift of canteen/carnival duty and post a $75 commitment bond, which is refunded after duty is performed.
Refund Policy
Refunds are accepted up until December 31st. The $30 Roblin Park user fee is non-refundable. The jersey must be washed and returned.
Equipment
All participants must have skates, a hockey helmet with full cage and a hockey stick. Please label your child's hockey stick in large letters as the children often do skating-only activities and then have to find their stick in a pile of 80 others. All other equipment is optional, however, elbow pads, shin pads and hockey gloves or strong mitts are recommended. This equipment provides safety for the child and cushions the blow of falling to the ice. A Roblin Park hockey jersey will be provided. It must be washed and returned at the end of the season.
What to Expect at Jackrabbits
Each week we begin with 15 minutes of free time, then we gather for the team cheer and opening announcements. Next we do some full ice drills with the whole group. Then, we divide the ice into three and break into small groups based on age/ability. Please re-direct your child to the correct small group if you feel they are in the wrong group. The last half of Jackrabbits is spent playing "shinny" hockey in the small groups. Score is not kept. In the early weeks, we will spend more time in the games - gradually increasing the time in drills as the weeks go on.
The program for the younger kids tends to wind down after about 30-45 minutes. This depends somewhat on the weather. The older kids and die hards play right til 4:30, sometimes even 5:00.
Role of Parents
Each child is required to have a parent or guardian who will be responsible for them on site at all times. Children may often leave the ice surface, and need a parent or guardian to warm cold feet, tighten a skate, adjust equipment or wipe a nose. The coaches are busy and are not able to attend to the children off the ice surface.
On-ice parent participation is encouraged. Coaches will ask parents for assistance with running drills and setting up pylons - so please help. Children love to hear their name called, so cheer on your child and all of the children.
Email and Privacy Policy
If you did not put your email address on the registration form, please send us an email to be added to our email contact list. Email saves us enormous time in phone calls. Thank you. Your email address will not be given to any other parties or exposed in any email broadcast messages we send.
Your contact information which you provide at registration may be used by the Roblin Park Community Club for the purposes of soliciting volunteer support for Club activities. This information is not shared with any other parties.
Occasionally, photographs are taken which may appear on the Jackrabbits web site. If you do not wish your child's photo to appear on the web site, please let us know.
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