Here are some commonly asked questions about our Youth Ball Hockey Programs.

How do I register my child for ball hockey?

A. Visit our Youth page for registration information. 
 

A. We are located in the former curling building at the Guelph Golf Club - 133 Woodlawn Road East, Guelph. Our facility was built for ball hockey and features 8-foot seamless glass and a sport tile floor which makes the impact of running easier on the joints.
 

How long is the ball hockey season and how often do kids play?

A. Our seasons are primarily 12 weeks long and run 3x a year (Spring, Fall and Winter). There is 1 game per week with a 5-10 minute warm-up at the start of each game. Games are approximately 50 minutes.
 

What equipment does my child need to play?

A. The beauty of ball hockey is that the player requires less equipment than is needed for ice hockey. Making it a much more affordable sport. Shorts or windpants are perfect! Please also bring indoor shoes to keep our floor dry and clean.
Players are required to have the following:

• a CSA-approved helmet with face protection

• gloves (hockey or lacrosse type)

• a stick that does not have a wooden blade. ABS/composite sticks are preferred and wooden-based sticks with plastic runners are also acceptable (no floor hockey or floorball sticks please). Sticks should be cut to about eyebrow height (you can always add an extension to it as they grow). 
  Please tape the butt end of the stick for safety and for easier pick-up. Please no tape on the bottom of the blade of the stick. Not only do you not need it for ball handling, but it also gums up our floor. Here's a quick video on how to tape a stick properly.

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The following equipment is optional for kids, although recommended:

• ball hockey shin and knee pads (soccer and volleyball style is recommended for easier running, please no ice hockey knee pads, players can't run in them)

• Jock/Jill straps

• mouthguard
   

How do I prepare my child's stick for hockey?

A. First off, let's talk length. Your child's stick should be cut to about the bridge of their nose. You can always purchase stick extensions when they grow.

Then, you need to tape the "butt end" of the stick. This is very important as it will give them an area to properly grip. We like to recommend using white tape as opposed to black or colours as it won't discolour gloves. Here is a link to a quick video showing you how to tape the "butt end" of the stick. Please no tape on the blade of the stick as it will mark up our floor and is not needed for ball hockey.

How young can a child start playing ball hockey?

A. Our Learn to Play division was created for kids ages 4 and 5. This program teaches them the skills of stick handling, ball control, shooting and general game confidence. Being in a large rink area is sometimes scary for the younger ones in the group, so we allow parents to come out at the start of the season with their child if necessary. We have been asked many times if a child can play at the age of 3 and we really feel that although they might be great in the basement or driveway, sometimes when they get into the large rink area it can be a bit scary for them. Starting them at age 4 will give them a better chance at enjoying the experience and easier on you week to week to get them there.

Does my child need experience to play?

A. Not a all! We have all levels of experience playing together in our leagues. That's the great part. Kids that have no experience get to learn the game and grow with it and kids that have a higher level of experience, get to just have fun and fitness in a game they love playing. Great for the off-season for kids in rep ice hockey. Great for kids who don't have the ability to skate. Great as an entry point into the game. Great for all!

What is your refund policy?

A.  A $25 Withdrawal Fee will be applied for any withdrawal requests made once the registration is completed. No refunds on withdrawn programs once a program has started. If a participant is unable to participate in the program due to medical reasons, they will receive a credit (with a medical note) towards their next Royal City Ball Hockey program. No refunds, credits or make-up classes for absences missed by the participant. Royal City Ball Hockey reserves the right to change the date and or the time of the program to reflect registration numbers. In the event of date or time changes, participants will be notified.

If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to contact us at info@ballhockeyguelph.com.