Important Notices:

Information bulletins from Hockey Manitoba
Helmets
Referee in Chief application

H1N1 information:
 There is presently much speculation as to the impact that the H1N1 virus will have on Canadians over the next few months. Organizations have been urged to stress to their members steps that should be taken to prevent the spread of the virus, and to have plans in place to alleviate any hardships that may come of the spread of H1N1.

Hockey Canada and Hockey Manitoba have for many years had specific steps in place to reduce the spread of any infection in the hockey environment and we urge you to remind your teams of the following.

Team staff need to emphasize to players and parents the need for total cooperation in all aspects concerning hygiene, but specifically to the prevention of the transmission of the H1N1 virus. The following are recommended steps within the team environment:

1. Players should be urged to report all illnesses to their parents and the Safety Person/Trainer. Parents are urged to keep their children away from the hockey environment if they are showing any signs of infectious disease or virus. Sick players are encouraged to see their physician if showing signs or symptoms of the H1N1 virus, and to be fully recovered prior to returning to play.

2. Players should be encouraged to wash hands routinely and always after handling hockey equipment. Frequent hand washing with soap and water is one of the best preventions we can recommend. Teams are encouraged to carry extra hand soap or hand sanitizer as not all arenas have this readily available.

3. Talk to your players about covering their mouths and nose when coughing or sneezing using their arm as opposed to their hands.

4. Advise players to try and not touch their own mouths or nose when in the hockey environment to reduce the chance of them passing an infection on to themselves.

5. Ensure all players and staff has their own water bottles labeled with names and players numbers. Sport drink bottles should be avoided as direct lip contact is possible when drinking.

6. Officials and coaches should avoid drinking from other players water bottles and have water readily available to them on their perspective benches.

7. Towels should be removed from all benches. Players should not share towels, clothing, bar soap or other personal items such as razors.

8. Assist athletes in protecting their immune system by stressing they get sufficient sleep, that they do not over train and that they get proper nutrition.

9. Numerous enquiries with respect to hand shaking following hockey games and the spread of the H1N1 virus have been posed. Although the spread of germs can be done in many forms, and simply keeping hockey gloves on or not shaking hands doesn't in itself eliminate the spread, it is entirely up to your associations, leagues or teams as to what you dictate around post-game hand shakes. If your organization decides to identify other options to replace handshaking we would recommend asking players to keep gloves on when shaking hands, to line up on the blue lines and salute each other, or to have players simply skate by and nod to each other in the line. Keep in mind we still stress that promoting preventative guidelines is the most important.

Additional information regarding the H1N1 virus can be found on the Health Canada website www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php or Province of Manitoba website www.gov.mb.ca/flu/index.html.

Thank you for your cooperation.

SHARED RESPECT
WMHA RINK BEHAVIOR POLICY

The intent of the "Rink Behavior Policy" is to ensure the environment in which minor hockey activities take place is as positive as possible for all participants. The "Rink Behavior Policy" follows the Hockey Canada philosophy that "it is a privilege to play minor hockey, not a right."


OBJECTIVES:
The basic objectives of the program are:

  1. To foster and enhance mutual respect, understanding and the principles of good sportsmanship and FAIR PLAY amongst all participants during minor hockey events.
  2. To promote safety and respect, ensure fun, enjoyment and good competition at any minor hockey event.
  3. The elimination of behaviors and actions which detract from a positive environment in which minor hockey games should take place.
  4. Zero tolerance of any forms of abuse and/or harassment during minor hockey events from any participants.

Expectations:

Coaches:

  • Respect all facilities and their staff
  • Respect all officials and their decisions
  • Respect opposing team players, coaches and other participants.
  • Take responsibility for the actions and behaviors of their teams on and off the ice.

Officials:

  • Respect all participants in the game.
  • Maintain open and positive communications with players and coaches.
  • Promote the rules of the game to all team participants.
  • Keep the integrity in all games.
  • Maintain professionalism on and off the ice.

Spectators:

  • Remember that players are not participating in the game to entertain the parents.
  • Spectators should not judge players by professional standards.
  • Spectators should maintain their self-control at all times.
  • Spectators should demonstrate respect for all officials and their decisions.
  • Spectators should encourage sportsmanship, effort and positive attitudes of all participants.

Players:

  • Players should respect all facilities and their staff.
  • Players should the officials and their decisions.
  • Players should respect the opposing team players, coaches and other participants.
  • Players should take responsibility for their own actions and behaviors on and off the ice.
  • Players should respect their own team mates.
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