HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-04-24, Page 18Second Section - April 24,1996
Brief look at minor sports for children in Exeter
By Chris Skalkos
T -A Reporter
EXETER - Exeter is blessed with a variety of
recreational activities for children.
Among them, minor team sports is a major
attraction for area youngsters and currently, there are
four organizations based in Exeter geared specifically
for children and teenagers.
Hockey, ringette, baseball and soccer have been
providing children in the community with the
opportunity to play minor sports for years.
The benefits of participating in team sports are
obvious, but, deciding on what sport to play often is a
shared responsibility between parents and their
children.
The following article provides a brief synopsis of
these four organizations and where they may be going
in the future.
Exeter Minor Hockey Association
Don Richardson, past president of The Exeter
Minor Hockey Association (EMHA), has stepped
down this year as president of minor hockey knowing
he has accomplished his major objective.
"Every kid who played minor hockey was treated
the same," said Richardson adding the organization
strives to give all levels of hockey the same amount of
ice -time.
This year EMHA hosted two home tournaments to
ensure every team a chance to see tournament action
locally. They were also a source of revenue for the
organization which has relied on ambitious
fundraising drives to keep the system financially
sound.
Approximately 240 youngsters•were registered in
minor hockey this past season. Richardson said that is
down slightly from last year when they had enough
players to fill two midget teams. This year they only
had enough for one, however, Richardson said a slight
fluctuation in numbers is normal fl+otq year to year.
Registration fees for minor by is the highest
among all four sports. Except for t11arkes and and
Pre -tykes levels which cost $50 to register, $230 is the
fee for playing minor hockey in Exeter.
Richar+dsbn explain} the high regitgation fees
were necessary to offset the cost of+ies4l*t eestimating
it costs EMHA $80,000 to supply ice for one season.
If you add that to the cost of hockey equipment
(which costs an average of $375 to dress a player from
head to toe), paying for a child's initial year in minor
hockey could cost over $500.
"1 know it can be costly but the kids are getting
their money's worth," said Richardson adding the sport
instills a sense of teamwork and self-discipline in
young players. He also points out that hockey in Exeter
is part of our heritage as many of today's players come
from a hockey legacy.
"Many of the parents and coaches who have kids in
minor hockey played themselves at one point. I can't
ever see Exeter go without hockey. This sport is part of
our community as it has been from generation to
generation."
With the lure of Triple "A" hockey recently
introduced to Huron County and with the Exeter
Hawks winning the O.H.A Junior "D" championship
recently, the prospects to play for successful
competitive teams after minor hockey will keep
attracting young players,
In the future, Richardson said the EMHA executive
body will strive to keep; 'registration fees down while
providing more ice -time ttnd he hinted the organization
may consider mergins with ringette.
Exeter and District Ringette Association
With registration fees at $130 and the price of
equipment costing almost the exact same as a hockey
player's, ringette weighs in as the second most
expensive team sport in Exeter. However, that didn't
stop girls from playing as 112 registered in the Exeter
and District Ringette Association. According to
president, Julie Ritchie, there were 38 more girls
playing ringette this year.
She feels the growth in the sport is a result of
creative initiatives from
the organization such as
their pre -season "free
promotion days" program
which offers girls an
opportunity to try ringette
before their parents invest
in equipment.
The quality of
coaching is also a main
attraction for both players
and parents.
"All our coaches are
certified to coach at their
levels and they are also
qualified in sport specific
first aid," said Ritchie.
She said coaches are
important to the
organization because they
often determine if a child
wants to return next year.
"You can't just have
somebody out there who
wants to win. they have to
be able to boost their confidence and having fun
always comes first.".
Despite that pitilosoph}, Exeter Ringette has
enjoyed a successful season with four teams earning -'e
medals at the Western Ontario Regional ringette
tournament and and many teams also picked up a gold
medal in the Huron -Perth Championships.
"We had a lot of strong teams, almost all of them
were successful, but most of the players who return
come back because of the fun they had. Team sports
provides a great social opportunity for the kids," said
Ritchie.
With ice -time costing the organization
approximately $30,000 a season, Exeter Ringette
depends upon their fundraisers and sponsors to keep
them afloat. The Exeter Optimist club has been their
major sponsor since the organization's beginning 14
years ago and Ritchie said without them ringette would
cease to exist.
The biggest challenge ringette is facing right now is
finding enough "A", "B" and "C" teams in other
systems so Exeter can be matched up with teams of an
equal calibre. She hopes to accomplish this by working
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
500
400
300
200
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With the executives of other organizations.
~ "I would eventually like to see two teams playing at
every level," she said.
Exeter Minor Baseball Association
Tt%e Exeter Minor Baseball Association (EMBA) will
have 172 kids playing ball on 14 different teams this
slptson. Registration prices vary from $40 for Tykes to
$90 for the Junior level but prices have not risen this year.
Unlike, hockey and ringette, the only extra cost
incurred by kids playing minor baseball is the cost of a
leather glove and perhaps a pair of cleats.
Over two years ago, Exeter Minor Baseball had a
thriving system with each level boasting two teams.
Today, only the Mosquito and Bantam levels had enough
players for two teams. The Rookie Junior level has three
teams combined with the house league in Mitchell and
the Tykes are booming with four teams, while the rest
have one team each.
At the beginning of
the season, EMBA faced
a unique situation where
they didn't have enough
players registered to fill
the Peewee, (age 12-13),
and Midget, (16-17)
levels. They extended
registration deadlines
and saved the Midgets
from folding, however,
the Peewee program was
scrapped because of a
shortage of players.
Gary Hartman, Minor
Baseball Coordinator,
said cancelling the
Peewee program will
have a ripple effect
which will be felt in the
higher levels for years to
follow.
"Our biggest
challenge right now is
rirlop
Registration fees per child
Hockey Ringette Baseball
Soccer
Number of children playing
1
Hockey
Ringette Baseball
Enlarge family or team photos to 8-1/2x11 or even 11 x 17 instantly
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filling the gap that will be coming up through the ranks,
tvt there's not a lot we can do about it," said Hartman.
believes -good coaching -is the secret to
attracting and keeping players in the organization so
EMBA took a bold new initiative this year with it's
coaching policy. Starting this season, EMBA is offering to
pay for volunteer's level one coaching certificate.
"We are going to have better quality coaching this year
and that's important to the success of any team," said
Hartman emphasizing positive relationships between
coach and parent is just as important as building
relationships between coaches and players.
Minor baseball is focussed on providing a recreational
activity for children making it as fun as possible,
however, Hartman said talented players will have the
opportunity to be recognized.
"We have all-star games we can get talented players
into so scouts can have look at them. But that's not our
main focus. If we notice talent we make sure the right
people see it, otherwise we just want the kids to have
fun."
With a successful senior baseball team based in Exeter,
Soccer
(the Express), Hartman said the children who excel at
the sport will have something to strive for when they
are older.
"If their interested in pursuing hardball, the kids will
eventually have a place to play once they get out of the
minor system."
Exeter Minor Soccer
With 400 kids registered in Exeter Minor Soccer this
season, the organization had to add four more teams to
accommodate growth in the boys under 15 age group,
girls under 13 age group and co-ed under nine age
group. A new boys under 17 group, which did not exist
last year, was also created.
"We have an under 17 team this year because the
younger ranks have moved up; but as a result, we now
field teams in all age categories," said president, Peter
Hakvoort.
At $45 per person, the low registration fee makes
soccer an attractive sport. Especially for parents who
have more than one child participating.
Soccer shoes and shin pads are the only equipment
needed and both can be purchased for around $50.
"We're able to keep costs down because of the
amount of parents and executives who volunteer their
time," Hakvoort said. "Most volunteers that our
involved in minor soccer have a real love for the sport
and they want to help keep costs down so more kids
have the opportunity to play."
Another factor enabling them to keep costs down is
the support Minor Soccer receives from all three of
Exeter's service clubs and area businesses. Hakvoort
said this year, 11 business have sponsored uniforms for
the organization at a cost of approximately $400 per
team.
"We try to stay away from fundraising because
there's a lot of that being done. The businesses in town
have always supported us and'we've managed to get by
without fundraising."
Because minor soccer holds practice and games on
weekdays, Hakvoort feels it makes it convenient for
families to adhere to a season schedule.
"Parents like the fact soccer is only on weekdays and
their weekends are not tied up, otherwise we wouldn't
hay, p to 1ptttsw bbrra naw," be said.
i'�t ,ort►e
challenges for the orgenizadon.'hfey can only grow as
much as area soccer fieldri can accommodate.
"We're at full capacity right now and if we are to
grow any further we would need to access more fields
or start scheduling soccer on the weekends," said
Hakvoort.
It has also challenged their ability to find enough
coaches and matching their coaching skill to the
appropriate level. Hakvoort considers coaching to be
their biggest asset and he said the organization is
constantly seeking to improve the quality of their
volunteer coaches. Teaching a four year-old basic ball
control skills while teaching them the concept of
teamwork is one thing. Keeping their interest is another
story.
"A lot of kids come back and ask for the coach they
had last year. When they do that you know they're
having fun."
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