COMPETITIONS POLICY

Purpose

1. The purpose of this Policy is to:
   1. Govern each competition operated by Ringette Canada (individually referred to as a “Competition”) in accordance with the terms and conditions in this Competitions Policy; and
   2. Establish the guidelines governing the participation of Ringette Canada in Other Competitions.
2. The Competitions are valuable developmental opportunities for our athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers. This Policy is to provide guidance to help ensure that the Competitions provide developmental value to all participants, in keeping with Ringette Canada’s Long-Term Athlete Development model.

Application of this Policy

3. This Policy applies to all Ringette Canada Members and Participants.
4. This Policy applies to all Competitions and Other Competitions.
5. This Policy does not alter Ringette Canada’s role in multi-sport games (such as the Canada Games) as is laid out by the Multi Sport Organization that operates any such competition.

Definitions

6. The following terms have these meanings in this Policy:
   “Competitions” – Events/tournaments operated by Ringette Canada.

   “Other Competitions” – Events/tournaments in which a team or teams are authorized by Ringette Canada to participate, and which are governed by the policies and procedures of the organization recognized by Ringette Canada as being responsible for the competition/event.

   “Good Standing” – Is not currently suspended or expelled from membership, or had other restrictions or sanctions imposed and/or is not subject to a disciplinary investigation or if subject to disciplinary action previously, has fulfilled all terms and conditions of such disciplinary action to the satisfaction of the Board;

   “Team” – A team is a group comprised of players and staff duly registered with a Ringette Member as per the Registration Policy.

   “Team Default” – A team will be considered in default where that team

   1. commits to attend the Canadian Ringette Championships (“the Event”) on or before the Intent to Enter deadline for that Event; and
   2. is allocated a position at the Event by the Provincial Sport Organization; and
   3. withdraws from the Event after the Intent to Enter deadline for that Event. A team will be considered in default under these conditions regardless of whether another team is available to take the Defaulting team’s position at the Event.

   “Team Staff” – Non-playing participants affiliated with the team, being such as a coach, assistant coach, manager, or trainer.

Types of Competitions

7. The Competitions offered by Ringette Canada or in which Ringette Canada participates, shall be in one or more of the following formats, which may be held concurrently:
   1. Canadian Ringette Championships (CRC):
      1. Competitions at which a national champion is declared in aparticular age division for teams categorized as AA as per the Ringette Canada Registration Policy:
         1. Female U19;
         2. Female U16;
         3. Male U20;
         4. Male U17;
         5. Co-Ed U19;
         6. Co-Ed U16; and
         7. Co-Ed Open
            for which a minimum of two (2) teams are required to constitute an age category for competition at the Event.
   2. National Ringette League Championship (NRLC):
      1. A Competition at which a national champion is declared from teams within the National Ringette League; and
      2. Governed by the policies established for the operation of the National Ringette League.
   3. Other Competitions:
      1. World Ringette Championships;
      2. Canada Winter Games; and
      3. Any Other Competition as approved by the Board of Ringette Canada.

Categories

8. Competition age categories shall be in keeping with the Registration Eligibility Policy, unless specifically noted in the Competition or Other Competition’s Technical Package.

Team Eligibility

9. All athletes and staff participating in a Competition or Other Competition shall be duly registered and in Good Standing with a Ringette Canada Member and Ringette Canada.

Technical Staff

10. Director of Officials
    1. The Officials Development Workgroup shall make a recommendation to the Ringette Canada Technical Director to appoint a Director of Officials for all Competitions no later than three (3) months prior to the Competition or Other Competition (if requested to do so); and
    2. The Director of Officials shall be an individual in good standing with a Ringette Canada Member and Ringette Canada.

Conduct

11. All Participants in a Competition or Other Competition will abide by Ringette Canada’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

Uniforms

12. All Team walk-out and competition uniforms will conform to Ringette Canada’s Technical Package for the Event.

COMPETITIONS - CANADIAN RINGETTE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Team Eligibility

13. Teams competing in the CRC shall be duly registered and in Good Standing in their respective Provincial Ringette association (PSO) in the category of play for that Competition and in Good Standing with Ringette Canada.

Technical Staff

14. Technical Delegate
    1. The Ringette Canada Executive Director will appoint a Technical Delegate, if required, at any time to assist in the operation of the Competition.

Team Staff Eligibility

15. Individuals who have met the minimum requirements as set out in the Technical Package are eligible to participate as a Team Staff.
    1. Each team will have only the number of staff on the bench as permitted in the Technical Package.
    2. All Team Staff must be registered with Ringette Canada by the registration deadline for the Competition, without exception.

Team Rosters and Entry Fees

16. Failure to submit team rosters by the deadline date for submitting rosters, or alternative date as arranged with Ringette Canada, will result in disqualification.
    1. Entry fees will be determined by Ringette Canada at its sole discretion and must be paid to Ringette Canada by the designated payment deadline date as determined by Ringette Canada.

Host Venue Selection

17. Ringette Canada shall select a host venue as outlined in the Event Bids Selection Policy.

Host Committee

18. The organization selected to host the CRC will form a Host Committee.
19. The Host Committee will:
    1. Report to the Executive Director of Ringette Canada or designate;
    2. Deliver the event and activities to be approved by the Ringette Canada designate;
    3. Report regularly to the Ringette Canada designate with regard to progress of the planning of the CRC;
    4. Reserve all required facilities (tournament site, hotels, etc.);
    5. Conduct committee meetings at their discretion and submit minutes of such meetings to the Ringette Canada Designate;
    6. Prepare a time schedule for the implementation of all planning requirements for the Competition, a copy of which will be provided to the Ringette Canada designate not less than eighteen (18) months prior to the Competition;
    7. Prepare a budget and submit to Ringette Canada for approval;
    8. Seek financial assistance (e.g. sponsorship, municipal and provincial government funding (not federal government) in consultation and with approval of Ringette Canada;
    9. Invite all Member representatives and local dignitaries to the event; and
    10. Plan, coordinate and implement the opening and closing ceremonies in conjunction with the Ringette Canada designate.

Event Logo

20. Any logo developed to promote the CRC will be provided by Ringette Canada and incorporate symbolism appropriate to the hosting community/province.
21. Any logo utilized for the Competition will only be used for that Competition; and upon completion of the Competition, the logo will remain the property of Ringette Canada.
22. All materials produced in connection with the Competition will bear Ringette Canada identification as determined by Ringette Canada.

Ringette Canada

23. Ringette Canada will provide services in support of the CRC to the Members and Host Committee in accordance with the regulations set out in the Ringette Canada Hosting Guidelines and Hosting Agreement.

Schedule

24. Competition schedules will be created by Ringette Canada.

Discipline, Protests and Grievances

25. Competition discipline, protests and grievances are the responsibility of the Discipline, Protest and Grievance Committee (DPG Committee).
26. The DPG Committee will consist of the following:
    1. Ringette Canada designate;
    2. The Chair of the Host Committee (or designate);
    3. The Director of Officials (or designate); and
    4. The Executive Director of Ringette Canada as an ex-officio member.
27. The DPG Committee will consider all appeals, protests, grievances and disciplinary matters arising during Competitions. The DPG Committee will not hear matters related to an official’s judgment.
28. The DPG will follow the process as outlined in the Technical Package.

Competition Rules

29. If a discrepancy exists between the Ringette Canada Policy and the current Competition Technical Package, the rules outlined in the Technical Package will take precedence as the governing rules of the Competition.

Selection of Teams

30. In order to be eligible to enter (a) team(s) in the CRC, a Member must:
    1. Apply for entry in this Competition no later than December 15th or the following Monday, of the Competition year (“Entry Date”), and must submit at that time:
       1. A written commitment to pay the full entry fee (the “Entry Fee”) for each team entered in that Competition; and
       2. Verification that all information included in the registration package is verified at the time of registration; and
    2. Entry applications from Members must include:
       1. Verification that each team being entered is a member in Good Standing;
       2. Verification that each team is a registered team at the “AA” level in that Province;
       3. The following team information for each team:
          1. Home city or region of team;
          2. Home and Away (if applicable) jersey colours for the team;
          3. Home local association of team;
          4. Name of head coach; and
          5. Bench staff certification as verified by the PSO.
31. Upon submission of an Entry Application, Ringette Canada shall:
    1. Allocate one (1) spot in the tournament for the provincial champion (as declared by the Member) of each province that entered at least one team, and one spot for the host team, if one is entered by the hosting Member;
    2. Allocate a second spot to each Member that has submitted at least two(2) Entry Applications;
    3. Perform a draw to allocate remaining competition spots in the Competition to Members:
       1. Each Member will be allocated an entry into the draw for each Entry Application (less the one or two automatic entries noted above); and
       2. Upon completion of the draw, each Member will be able to assign its spots in this Competition based on their own criteria.
32. Ringette Canada shall inform Members of their entry status (“in the competition” or “on the waiting list”) no later than the day following the Entry Date of the Competition year, which day will constitute the Wild Card Draw, should such a draw be necessary.
33. Should a Member remove itself, or a Member team, from the Competition their spot(s) will be considered “vacated” and the team Entry Fee shall not be refunded.
34. Teams on the Waiting List will be given seven (7) days to re-apply for the vacated spot:
    1. Entry Application details for the competition (such as team name/location) shall not be amended from the first version submitted by the Entry Date;
    2. Should more than one team apply, a random draw of the teams that did apply shall be used to select the successful applicant; and
    3. Should there not be a team on the Waiting List; an open call shall be made and remain open for seven (7) days during which teams may apply for a vacated spot.

Competition Rosters

35. Team rosters must be created in keeping with the registration guidelines in the teams’ province.
36. Unless otherwise stated in this policy, team rosters may not be changed after the registration deadline in the teams’ province, or after January 31st of the competition year, whichever is earlier.
37. Team rosters for which an Entry Application has been received by Ringette Canada on or before the Entry Date must be submitted to the Ringette Canada office no later than January 31st of the Competition year.
38. Ringette Canada may require verification that they have not changed in the time between the provincial registration deadline and the date of submission.
39. Alterations to the team roster after the roster deadline shall be made only in the case of injury (with medical documentation indicating that the athlete is not medically fit to participate) and players may only be added to the roster if another has been removed due to medical reasons.
40. Requested alterations to the team roster specific to Team Staff can be made in writing by the Provincial Sport Organization with valid rational 7 days prior to the coaches’ meeting. Final decision will be at the discretion of Ringette Canada. Requests submitted after this date may or may not be considered by Ringette Canada.
41. Players added to the roster after the deadline may not have appeared on the roster of another team selected to attend the CRC as of January 31st.

CRC Default Sanctions

42. In the event of a Team Default, the following sanctions will apply:
    1. The team in Default will automatically forfeit their Entry Fee and will also receive a fine of $2000.00 payable by their Provincial Sport Organization to Ringette Canada, which fine will be split evenly between the Host Society and Ringette Canada; and
    2. A Discipline Panel may impose additional sanctions upon the team in Default, depending on the circumstances, which could range from a minimum payment of three (3) times the amount of the Entry Fee when applying to a following Canadian Ringette Championships, to a maximum of being deemed Not in Good Standing for a period of time as determined by the Discipline Panel.

National Ringette League Championship (NRLC)

43. Activities and technical elements in relation to the NRLC are governed by the NRL Handbook and the NRLC Technical Package, while ensuring that teams registered to participate are in Good Standing with Ringette Canada and the Provincial Association that the teams are located in.
44. Ringette Canada will provide services in support of the NRLC to the Participants and Host Committee in accordance with the regulations set out in the Ringette Canada Hosting Guidelines.
45. Competition schedules will be created by Ringette Canada.

Other Competitions

46. Activities and technical elements in relation to Other Competitions are governed by the terms and conditions for participation in the Other Competition, as well as the technical manuals set out by the governing body for the event. All participants and officials must be duly registered and in Good Standing with a Ringette Canada Member and Ringette Canada for these Other Competitions.

This Policy is subject to review at least once every three years

Date of last review: March 2020

The publication of Ringette Canada policies will be in the English and French languages. In the case of conflicting interpretations, the English version will prevail.