The implementation process is underway to restructure the operational model for female hockey in British Columbia and the Yukon, with the release of the BC Hockey Female Hockey Report. Aligning with the strategic growth plans of BC Hockey and Hockey Canada, and the Government of Canada’s 2017 “Women and Girls in Sport” report, the Female Hockey Report focuses on two (2) key items to grow the female game:
- Implement an Organizational Structure for Female Hockey Programming
By creating new positions responsible for the oversight of female hockey programming across BC and the Yukon, individuals assigned to these duties will create and ensure that all programming guidelines are clearly communicated to, and delivered at, the local level.
- Creation of Female Hockey Associations
Female-focused Associations have been identified as being necessary to ensure the growth of female hockey programming. Experience over the past 15 years has shown that FHAs facilitate stronger recruitment initiatives, coaching education and playing opportunities for female players. The formation of FHAs also facilitates increased options for females (especially those in rural areas) to play with other females.
| FEMALE HOCKEY REPORT |
“Our new Female Hockey Model aims to help facilitators of female hockey grow the game in their community. We are confident that the recommendations contained in the report will help female players participate and stay in the game at increased rates,” said BC Hockey Chief Executive Officer, Barry Petrachenko. “Our dedication to improving female hockey in BC and the Yukon is real, and we view this report as a positive step for the future of the game.”
There are several ways members can learn more about this initiative and its goals:
- This plan will be reviewed during upcoming Engagement meetings in each District. To find the date and location of the meeting in your District, CLICK HERE.
- A female hockey webpage, resource documents and volunteer job postings for the Female Coordinator and Female Lead positions are in the process of being created. These will be available on the BC Hockey website in the Spring of 2019 following the Member Engagement meetings.
- Female hockey will be a focal point at the 2019 BC Hockey Annual Congress, June 7 – 8, 2019 in Sun Peaks, BC. District Associations and MHAs are encouraged to identify and send female hockey representatives to this workshop as it will focus on training and implementation of this plan into the Districts.
Under the plan, players wishing to participate in female hockey will register through a ‘central registry’ early in the summer. The registry will help improve the administration of the female game in BC and the Yukon. More details regarding registration are on page iii of the Female Hockey Report, and an information session will be set up with MHAs in the Spring.
Within each district, there are female hockey players in each age division but the residency-based divisions between Associations makes it difficult to form female teams. The Female Lead will work directly with the District Association and the MHAs to combine athletes to create zone-based teams that are not restricted to traditional MHA boundaries. This will allow more female teams to form during a transitionary period until registration is sufficient to support the creation of an FHA in the zone.
The model was created based on interviews with 27 MHAs throughout BC and the Yukon, as well as discussions with Hockey Canada and other provincial members. Hockey Nova Scotia has implemented a similar model with success. Extensive research and analysis was conducted to develop the new Female Hockey Model.
Throughout the interview and survey process the following common challenges were identified within female hockey:
- Lack of local teams to play
- Drop-off in participation at the Pee Wee and Bantam levels
- Lack of ice time compared to integrated teams
- Lack of competitive playing options locally
This Female Hockey Report addresses these challenges and outlines how BC Hockey and Minor Hockey Associations can work to improve and grow female hockey within our membership.
