CHIA is please to announce that Nexed (division of V-Formation) has become title sponsor of our FUN First Program. This new program initiative is targeted directly at the house league players and teams. We would like to thank Tammy Webster, from the Kitchener-Waterloo Inline Program who suggested a team rating system to help promote good sportsmanship, respect, and participation.
Discussions with Andy Rymsha, Eastern VP of Nexed and former Team Canada National Inline player and part of the World Championship 1998 team, provided CHIA with positive feedback on the initial draft proposal. The final program was presented to Nexed CEO Rich Stelnick, who approved the program on the spot.
Nexed has committed substantial product to be allocated across Canada to participating leagues of the FUN First Program. It is important our member leagues help promote the concept of the FUN First program. Helmet stickers, rink banners, posters and promotional brochures will be provided as part of the overall program.
Introduction to FUN First Program!
A Players first experience with inline hockey (like any sport) is crucial to his development as a player and more importantly as a person. The long-term success of a program or league relies on the positive experience of this player, so he continues to participate at the appropriate level.
If a beginner has fun and develops some basic skills and builds self-confidence, there is a good chance that this player will enjoy the game of inline hockey for many years if not a life- time. Look at the success of Adult Recreational hockey today in North America, where adults of all ages are still enjoying the game of hockey!
The goal of the Canadian Hockey Inline Association (CHIA), is to offer every youngster who wants to enjoy the game of inline hockey (regardless of his skill level), the opportunity to participate through support of his community leagues.
"What Children Learn First, They Learn Best"
Objectives of FUN First Program:
Provide opportunity for players to participate in a safe, sportsmanlike environment without any emphasis on the score or stats.
Continue to promote the FUN First Program to all CHIA member leagues.
Introduce parents, media and community leaders to the FUN First Program.
To ensure that parents and family have an enjoyable experience at their local inline arena.
To Have FUN!
Inline Hockey…. Just another Form of Hockey!
In many cases across Canada today, inline skating is a child's first skating experience, because most kids will inline skate before ice-skate.
Learning to inline skate is much easier than learning to ice-skate. Inline skating can be practiced at school yards, parking lots, driveways and streets under an environment that is not structured nor intimidating.
Hockey comes in all different forms:
Boys minor hockey
Girls minor hockey
Junior hockey
International hockey
NHL
European hockey
INLINE HOCKEY
The basic skills are the same no matter what form of hockey you play, but it is the "personality" or "culture" of the game that distinguishes each of these forms apart from one another.
It is the Inline Hockey "Personality & Culture" that we at CHIA want our member leagues to promote and embrace for our players, coaches and parents.
The Pond Hockey Parallel with Inline Hockey
Whenever you hear the many NHL "superstars" talk about their beginnings in hockey, it is rarely about all the travel hockey, tournaments, stats, and wins/losses.
The common denominator with all of these players is the fun of learning to play and enjoy the game of hockey on an outdoor pond.
It was a pond where you played with your school friends and neighborhood friends of all different ages and skill levels. Where creativity was practiced and encouraged and scoring stats were never recorded!
The winners were determined by the last goal before heading home for lunch or supper.
These pond days have almost disappeared across Canada, due to climate changes, development of other minor sports and increased number of extra-curricular opportunities for kids and other societal dynamics. Pond Hockey has now been replaced by organized, structured "play" for our children, with more rules, regulations, by-laws and restrictions than we could have ever imagined.
These rules, regulations and by-laws now restrict our children from playing with friends and schoolmates more often than not. Politics now dictate every community with a rink and contributes to diminishing enrolment for minor sports!
Inline Hockey is the new millennium's answer to pond hockey. The game provides opportunity for creativity and skill development, without intimidation and aggression.
CHIA has the basic "Principle" that we will promote and encourage to all our member leagues …… "operate with common sense management". Do not prohibit players from playing with friends, just because they have different skill levels.
CHIA will encourage leagues to operate without emphasis on scoring stats.
CHIA through the FUN First Program, will encourage and promote a game that players and teams are rewarded for positive life skills being practiced during participation of inline hockey, such as … sportsmanship, respect, compassion, loyalty, and a sense of community spirit.
"Lessons Will be Remembered Long After Scores are Forgotten"
Dynamics of the FUN First Program
FUN First Program is a Team Award program.
Teams must be members of CHIA through a sanctioned inline hockey league.
The FUN First Program is a partnership with players, coaches, officials, league convenors, title sponsor and CHIA.
Teams are awarded points after each game or competition by coaches, referees and league convenors.
The FUN First Program is only available for House League Teams.
CHIA and the title sponsor will provide information brochure for parents and players.
INTEGRITY. FAIRNESS . RESPECT . PARTICIPATION
Five Principles:
Respect the rules of inline hockey.
Respect the officials and their decisions
Respect your opponent
Ensure equal opportunity for everyone to participate
Maintain self-control at all times
Who awards Fair Play Points?
Four ratings should occur after each game.
coaches will rate their opponent
coaches will rate each official
officials will rate each team
convenors will rate each team, official, and coach
Total Points collected will be averaged to determine weekly score.
How will Fair Play Points be used?
(within your home center the following are some options that you may want to consider)
If a team has negative fair play points before playoffs, that team may be removed from the league and further play.
Fair Play points will be used as a tiebreaker in the playoff standings. A team with higher fair play points will receive a higher ranking than a team with lower fair play points.
Guidelines for Awarding FUN First Points
+4 Excellent
Excellent team sportsmanship
Maintains outstanding attitude towards opponents and officials
Entire team exhibits self control at all times
Entire team shakes hands at the end of game
No major penalties
1 or less minor penalty
No more than two players absent for game
+2 Good
Good team sportsmanship
Maintains good attitude towards opponents and officials
Entire team exhibits self control most of the time
Part team shakes hands at the end of the game
No major penalties
2 or less minor penalties
No more than 3 players absent for game
0 Average
Average team sportsmanship
Negative attitude is limited to individuals
Lack of self control is limited to individuals
no major penalty
3-4 minor penalties
No more than 4 players absent for game
-2 Poor
Poor team sportsmanship such as arguing with officials
Lack of respect shown towards opponents
Use of vulgar or profane language
Half of team shows lack of self control
1 major penalty
5-6 minor penalties
No more than 5 players absent for game
-4 Terrible
Terrible team sportsmanship
Repeated arguing with officials
Lack of respect by team shown to opponents
Continued use of vulgar and profane language
Entire team shows lack of self control
Entire team does not shake hands at end of game
2 or more major penalties
7 or more minor penalties
Less than half the team is absent for game
CHIA will keep our members updated on the FUN First Program and how you can become involved and seize the opportunity to adopt this program for your own league.
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