What is the age range for rotary hockey?
Players must be between the ages of 4 and 18, as of December 31 of the year the season begins. (Beginning in 2010-2011, Rotary Hockey has taken over the house league hockey age groups previously run by Stratford Minor Hockey.)

How do I register my child?

Registration forms can be downloaded off this website and mailed to the P.O. Box shown on the form, along with a cheque. Registration forms are also available on Final Day weekend in April for the following season, and at two public registrations in June.

You can find the Registration HERE.

Why does Rotary Hockey charge a late fee in June?

The late surcharge encourages parents to register on time so that we can plan appropriately for the next season.The city's ice user groups meet in the summer to submit requests for the hours of ice time they will need each week in the upcoming season. Late registrations can cause problems. For example, Rotary Hockey may get enough ice to have four teams in a certain age group and then late registrations make it possible for a division of six teams. However, there is no room to expand and teams become larger and/or players have to be moved to other age divisions.

When and where are games and practices?

In the age groups from 4-13 (tyke through minor bantam) all games will be played on Saturdays, either at Dufferin Arena or at one of the two pads in the Rotary Recreation Complex. Practices can be on any weeknight, mostly at 4, 5, 6 or 7 p.m. Some older age groups may have 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. practices. Divisions are assigned practice nights in September. Teams go on the ice for the first time in October. The bantam-midget and midget-juvenile divisions play two games each week, either Wednesday night and Saturday night, or Thursday night and Sunday morning.

What if my child wants to be a goalie?

Rotary Hockey will not guarantee that a player in any division will be a full-time goaltender, even if you have purchased his/her own equipment and do not have equipment for playing 'out'. Tyke (4-5) does not use goalie equipment and places different players near the net throughout the game. In the younger age groups (mite through minor atom), every player on the team is encouraged to take a turn in net. Those who enjoy the position will get multiple opportunities. Older age groups usually have one full-time goalie, or two goalies sharing the duties.

Can girls play Rotary Hockey?

Rotary Hockey is coed and many girls play in all of our age divisions. Where possible, girls are placed on teams in groups of two or more. Special dressing room arrangements are available at every rink.

Are there any special rules in rotary hockey?

The primary rule in the 4-13 age groups is equal playing time regardless of ability. In the tyke (4-5) through minor peewee (11) age groups, a buzzer indicates a shift change to ensure equal ice time. Major peewee (12) and minor bantam (13) teams shift on the fly, but coaches must also divide the ice time as equally as possible. Often it is difficult to give exactly the same ice time to every player in each game, but any inequity should be made up in the next game. Younger age groups play with fewer whistles and faceoffs to give players a chance to be more active and simply enjoy the game.

Is there body contact?

There is no body contact in any division of Rotary Hockey. There are rules and penalties in place to deter players from body contact.

How can I be a Rotary Hockey volunteer?

Rotary Hockey is always in need of volunteers for its executive. Several people on the executive have been performing more than one job for many years, and no longer have children participating in the program. Call any executive member, or come to a regular meeting on the third Tuesday of each month. We meet at the Rotary Complex in the Mansbridge Room, 7 p.m. Just a few hours a month can make a big difference.

Volunteer coaches are also needed. Please fill in the box at the top of the registration form, even if its just to help tie up skates, open the door to the bench, and encouraging the kids each Saturday. You'll be surprised how much fun you'll have.

More questions and answers to come.