Incoming YCMHA president Ian White says it is a difficult balance to keep hockey affordable with rising costs.
Registration fees have been posted on the minor hockey association’s website. The recoverable fundraiser portion of the fees has increased from $100 to $180. (Players who register receive tickets they can sell on a raffle to recoup this portion of their registration fee.)
A minor hockey association media release says last year the association lost nearly $21,000. Higher ice rental fees, insurance and other administrative costs coupled with fewer player registrations, low registration fees and some unpaid registrations resulted in the loss.
“We had the lowest registration fees in the province over the past few years, but ice rental fees, insurance and other fees rise every year, jerseys deteriorate and need replacing, pucks and cones need to be bought and our registration numbers are dropping,” he says.
The registration fees for the 2015-2016 season are as follows:
• Initiation (Timbits) $240 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $420 total
• Novice $280 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $460 total
• Atom $280 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $460 total
• Peewee $290 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $470 total
• Bantam $300 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $480 total
• Midget $310 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $490 total
• Family rate (3 or more players) $840 + $270 recoverable fundraiser for $1,110 total
The Yarmouth minor hockey association says its registration fees are now on par with neighbouring associations such as Shelburne County, Digby County and Western Valley Minor Hockey Association, and are lower than Acadia Minor Hockey Association and South Shore Minor Hockey Association.
“It’s important to remember that we are all volunteers and many of us have kids in hockey and have to pay the same dues and fees as everyone else,” White says. “We know it hurts.”
“It was debated on how best to go about covering our costs, and we decided to increase the recoverable fundraising portion to enable those families that are struggling to find a way to keep their kids playing hockey,” White explains.
“We’ve had super-volunteer Terri Deveau out in the community gathering donations from area businesses to enhance the prizes available through the recoverable fundraiser tickets to make them an easier sell. The top prize is still $1,000, but there are more prizes available to be won including some amazing gift baskets with all kinds of gifts cards and other items.”
The association is in line for some financial support through the World Junior Challenge Legacy Fund, but that money has yet to be distributed.
“We are still waiting for that funding,” says White; “but it is dedicated funds for everything from player and coach development to equipment.”
The amount coming to minor hockey from the legacy fund was previously announced to be $25,000.
White became president in May. He says the association needs to attract more volunteers and create viable, annual fundraisers to offset costs. With that in mind, YCMHA will be holding a ball hockey tournament on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Marines Centre in conjunction with an equipment swap and sale and registration for C level players.
“Things are being set up for the tournament as we speak,” he says.
Players interested in trying out for rep teams must have registered with the association by Sept. 2. Registration opens on Aug. 17 at Yarmouth Recreation, and there will be a registration evening from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the Mariners Centre
Incoming YCMHA president Ian White says it is a difficult balance to keep hockey affordable with rising costs.
Registration fees have been posted on the minor hockey association’s website. The recoverable fundraiser portion of the fees has increased from $100 to $180. (Players who register receive tickets they can sell on a raffle to recoup this portion of their registration fee.)
A minor hockey association media release says last year the association lost nearly $21,000. Higher ice rental fees, insurance and other administrative costs coupled with fewer player registrations, low registration fees and some unpaid registrations resulted in the loss.
“We had the lowest registration fees in the province over the past few years, but ice rental fees, insurance and other fees rise every year, jerseys deteriorate and need replacing, pucks and cones need to be bought and our registration numbers are dropping,” he says.
The registration fees for the 2015-2016 season are as follows:
• Initiation (Timbits) $240 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $420 total
• Novice $280 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $460 total
• Atom $280 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $460 total
• Peewee $290 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $470 total
• Bantam $300 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $480 total
• Midget $310 + $180 recoverable fundraiser for $490 total
• Family rate (3 or more players) $840 + $270 recoverable fundraiser for $1,110 total
The Yarmouth minor hockey association says its registration fees are now on par with neighbouring associations such as Shelburne County, Digby County and Western Valley Minor Hockey Association, and are lower than Acadia Minor Hockey Association and South Shore Minor Hockey Association.
“It’s important to remember that we are all volunteers and many of us have kids in hockey and have to pay the same dues and fees as everyone else,” White says. “We know it hurts.”
“It was debated on how best to go about covering our costs, and we decided to increase the recoverable fundraising portion to enable those families that are struggling to find a way to keep their kids playing hockey,” White explains.
“We’ve had super-volunteer Terri Deveau out in the community gathering donations from area businesses to enhance the prizes available through the recoverable fundraiser tickets to make them an easier sell. The top prize is still $1,000, but there are more prizes available to be won including some amazing gift baskets with all kinds of gifts cards and other items.”
The association is in line for some financial support through the World Junior Challenge Legacy Fund, but that money has yet to be distributed.
“We are still waiting for that funding,” says White; “but it is dedicated funds for everything from player and coach development to equipment.”
The amount coming to minor hockey from the legacy fund was previously announced to be $25,000.
White became president in May. He says the association needs to attract more volunteers and create viable, annual fundraisers to offset costs. With that in mind, YCMHA will be holding a ball hockey tournament on Sunday, Sept. 20 at the Marines Centre in conjunction with an equipment swap and sale and registration for C level players.
“Things are being set up for the tournament as we speak,” he says.
Players interested in trying out for rep teams must have registered with the association by Sept. 2. Registration opens on Aug. 17 at Yarmouth Recreation, and there will be a registration evening from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the Mariners Centre
