Frequently Asked
Questions
Why does it take so long to get the
scores posted and the standings updated?
How are ties broken in the
standings?
Registration
is done, and the draft is complete. What's next?
How long
is the ball hockey season?
When are
games played?
When
are practices scheduled?
Are
the parents required to do any volunteer time?
What equipment does my child need?
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
Is this a highly competitive league?
Do we have to travel to any
other sites to play?
How much travel will
we have to do?
My child wants to play goal, do we need
to provide goalie equipment?
Can my child use his “street hockey” goalie
mask?
Can my child play on the same team as his best
friend?
How are teams selected?
How many players are there in this league?
What do I do if I have a
question that is not answered here?
Easy! Go to the contacts page here, or send
an email.
Why does it take
so long to get the scores posted and the standings updated?
The statistician for the VBHA is a volunteer position, like all
the others. That person depends on the coaches or their score keepers
to submit scores via email so that they can be compiled and added to
the website. In the early part of the season, scores and standings are
posted weekly, usually on Monday night. As the regular season draws to
a close, the updates get more frequent as the standings are required
for placing teams in the playoffs. Things get pretty hectic at the
end, but we always try to ensure the right teams make it to the right
playoff spots. Top
How are ties
broken in the standings?
Navigate over to the
Standings page for more details.
Top
Registration
is done, and the draft is complete. What's next?
Our season will not
start until early to mid April. We will advise all coaches to contact
the players that they have chosen as early as possible.
Top
How
long is the ball hockey season?
The season starts in early April. Each team will get to play between
14 and 16 regular season games in about 8 weeks. After that, each team
plays between 3 and 5 playoff games (everyone makes the playoffs). If
your team is on of the top two teams, there is the wind-up, one game
final. This usually finishes by mid June. If you continue to win, your
team will represent Valley at the Provincials. Provincial playoffs are
held in the lower mainland. If your team happens to go to the
Provincial playoffs, you will be playing until early/mid July
(approximately). Top
When are games played?
Each division is a little different. The league makes every effort to
schedule games at times that are suited to their age group.
Games are held during the week, and the week ends (Saturdays and
Sundays). There are usually two games per week, but there may be more
scheduled on some weeks.
Top
When are practices scheduled?
Practice time is a matter of preference for the coach’s. The league
encourages the coaches for the younger age groups to limit practice
time to a minimum, or even not practice at all.
Floor time is in very limited supply for practices. There are only a
few outdoor practice floors available, and indoor time is also very
difficult to obtain, and there is a cost involved for indoor time.
However, many coaches will try to practice once per week.
Top
Are the parents required to do any
volunteer time?
Some coaches may ask parents to help out in the time keepers box.
Every home team is responsible to supply the time keeper in the
penalty box. This person (or persons) is responsible to run the time
clock and to fill out the game sheet.
Top
What equipment does my child need?
The complete list of equipment is on your registration form.
Click
here for full descriptions and photos
of equipment required.
Each player must have:
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
You can approach your team coach if you have questions.
If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the coach, please feel free
to contact any member of the VBHA executive. You can find e-mail
addresses for the executive here.
Top
Is this a highly competitive league?
No.
Valley Ball Hockey has always been about sportsmanship, fun, and fair
play for all players regardless of ability.
Top
Do we have to travel to any other sites to play?
Yes.
Games are played mainly at Civic Center, Aldergrove Arena, and
Sportsplex, but our league does interlock play with Maple Ridge,
Surrey, Richmond, Burnaby, and Delta.
Top
How much travel will we have to do?
It varies, but in general, you can count on three to five travel games
in the season.
Top
My child wants to play goal, do we
need to provide goalie equipment?
No.
The league provides goalie equipment.
Note: Once
the players get to the older age groups, the goalies often have their
own equipment, but the league does have equipment if required. Top
Can my child use his “street hockey” goalie
mask?
No.
Due to insurance reasons, all players must use CSA approved helmets
and or masks.
Top
Can my child play on the same team as his best
friend?
Our league policy is such that we cannot “place” children with
specific teams or coaches. Requests will be considered on a case by
case basis, but there are no guarantees that requests can be
accommodated. Top
How are teams selected?
We are very proud of our draft process. All players who have played in
the league, are rated by their coach’s. This rating helps us determine
each players skill levels. All of these players are grouped into their
birth year, and are sorted by their skill ratings. Teams are then
drafted using this information. It is the league’s belief that this
method is the best way to establish teams with a reasonably equal
skill level.
All players who
are “new to ball hockey” are grouped in their own group for the draft.
Each “new” player is asked to provide some additional information
about any, previous sporting experiences they may have had. This
information is recorded on their registration form to be used in the
draft.
Top
How many players are there in this
league?
This year we expect to have upwards of 1000 players registered for ball
hockey. Top
