MHAL Parents:
A few things for you to know as the season winds down and playoffs are ramping up:
1.
Coaches Feedback Survey ready
2.
$4 gate fee required at all Play-off games
3.
Executive Positions available for next season
4. Who can
go on the ice?
5. City of London -
RZONE Policy
For complete details, please...
Coaches Feedback: Please take time to complete this years coaching survey. Your feedback is important is considered by the coaching committee when selecting coaches for the next season. This years survey can be completed by clicking on this
Coaching Survey link (also available on MHAL website main screen).
Gate Fees: Please note that the parent passes were for regular season games only. Each parent is required to pay the $4 gate fee for playoff games.
Executive Positions: Being a member of the Minor Hockey Association of Lambeth Executive is a challenging and rewarding experience. This year a number of our members will have finished their second year (or more) in their positions and are looking forward to passing on their responsibilities to new members. The President, Vice President, Treasurer, Ice Convenor, Girls Convenor have all fulfilled their two year terms and look forward to transitioning volunteers into these and other positions on the executive that may come available. New for 2016-2017 MHAL is looking for a someone to take on the roll of Development Coordinator – this person will work closely with convenors to coordinate and schedule additional development opportunities for players and goalies.
WHO CAN GO ON THE ICE: Just a reminder that only MHAL team members (rostered) and MHAL coaches (certified trainers, coaches and mangers) are allowed on the ice during their own practices. Parents please let your coaches know as far in advance as possible if your child will be missing an ice time (game or practice). Coaches please inform our ice convenor ASAP if you have ice scheduled that you cannot use so that it can be reassigned.
City of London Rzone:
The City of London has asked us to pass on this reminder.
It is that time of year where teams are starting to enter the playoffs and the hockey season is starting to come to an end. With the playoffs comes the added level of excitement and pressure on all those involved from players, coaches, officials, spectators and especially parents. I think it is therefore a good time to remind everyone that it is the City of London’s expectation that everyone who enters our facilities will treat it with respect and act appropriately while in the facility. The Rzone policy is in affect and I there is an FAQ that you can review below. If you want more information or to submit an Rzone incident report you can go to www.london.ca/rzone.
What is Rzone?
- Rzone is, first and foremost, a proactive education and awareness strategy to promote respectful and responsible behaviour at recreation facilities
- Originating in Oakville, the Rzone brand signifies “Respect and Responsibility” as personal qualities expected of visitors to Rzone designated facilities and locations.
- Rzone means that inappropriate behaviours such as bullying, belligerence, racism, discrimination, vandalism, violence, etc are prohibited and that offenders will be subject to consequences up to and including denying access to recreation facilities.
- A City of London Rzone by-law and policy now applies in all City of London recreation facilities and parks.
- Rzone has been adopted by 6 other Ontario municipalities and 1 U.S. municipality
What is the objective of Rzone?
The City of London wishes to promote the safety and security of attendees (including patrons, guests, clients, visitors, spectators, coaches, officials, players, members, parents, volunteers, invitees, participants and users) and staff at City recreation facilities (including recreation centres, seniors and community centres, parks, sports fields, sports parks, pools, golf courses and arenas). The City wishes to foster an environment in which there is respect for others and in which individuals and organizations take responsibility for their actions.
Why do we need Rzone in London?
- Incidents of bullying, violence, intimidation, vandalism, threats, discriminatory behaviour have unfortunately risen over the past number of years in London.
- Prior to Rzone, no City by-law or policy existed that provided staff with clear direction and authority to deal with issues that were not clearly criminal behaviours requiring police involvement.
- Municipalities who have adopted Rzone report a decrease in inappropriate behaviours (following a brief increase immediately after the policy is implemented – likely related to enhanced willingness of citizens to report violations and statement of behaviours expected being posted.)
What behaviours are considered inappropriate under Rzone?
For the purpose of London’s Rzone Policy, prohibited inappropriate behaviours include:
A) Violence or harassment, including:
· the exercise of physical force by a person against another person that causes or could cause physical injury to the other person;
· an attempt to exercise physical force against another person that could cause physical injury to the other person;
· a statement or behaviour that is reasonable for a person to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the person that could cause physical injury to the person;
· the use of profane or abusive language and racial or ethnic slurs;
· threats and/or attempts to intimidate;
· throwing of articles or objects in a deliberate or aggressive manner that endangers or causes injury or damage to any person or property;
· attempts to goad or incite violence;
· bullying, mistreatment, or teasing which intimidates, humiliates or demeans another person;
B) Vandalism, including vandalism to buildings, contents or personal property;
C) Possession of weapons or firearms prohibited under the Criminal Code;
D) Possession or consumption of illegal drugs, or of alcohol except as authorized by law;
E) Any contravention of other Federal or Provincial laws, Regulations, City By-laws or policies that constitute inappropriate behaviour;
F) Refusal to follow the rules established by the City for use of its facilities.
How can I help implement Rzone as a citizen or recreation facility user?
· report inappropriate behaviours you observe these while at a game, program, or using a recreation facility, to a City of London staff, providing as much information as you can about the incident.
· Tell others about Rzone: e.g. make sure that sport and recreation associations and groups you belong to are aware of Rzone; explain Rzone to your family and friends; pass on information about Rzone to visiting teams or recreation facility users.
What will happen if I violate Rzone?
· Upon observing prohibited behaviour or receiving a report of prohibited behaviour, City staff will follow up with you to discuss and/or investigate the incident.
· Where a finding has been made of a violation of the Rzone Policy, possible penalties may include the following: letter of warning, short term ban, long term ban or a written trespass notice. In addition, charges may be laid under the Trespass to Property Act. Where applicable, the City may seek compensation for the cost of damages, including materials, labour and an administrative charge.
· Groups who contract to use City of London Recreation Facilities must take steps to ensure their group members (and others invited to the contracted event) comply with Rzone as a condition of the rental contract.
How does Rzone affect the responsibilities of referees and officials on the field of play?
· Games are still regulated by the rules of the sport and these rules are administered by the designated officials while the game/match is in play.
· Rzone will not impact players participating in the game context. Rzone will apply to spectators observing games and will also apply to teams at tournaments who are not playing at the time of an incident.