FAQ
1. Registration
When does the Spring/Summer Season registration take place?
Registration usually opens in January each year. Check the website for exact dates. Register early to avoid disappointment.
How do I register my child(ren) in the High Park Ball Hockey League?
REGISTRATION is online only through our website with payment by e-transfer only
2. Refund Policy
What is your cancellation policy?
To obtain a refund, you must submit a request by email info@highparkballhockey.ca. Please specify:
- your name and the name of your child
- the division in which your child is registered (Learn to Play, Tyke, Novice, Atom, Peewee, Bantam, Junior)
- your child's team (if he or she has already been assigned to a team)your phone number, email address, and mailing address
- your reason for requesting a refund
Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for refund processing.
Will any charges be applied for my refund?
- Full Refund before Start of Season
- Refunds will only be considered if request is received in writing. Please send your request to us via email (info@highparkballhockey.ca)
- Note - After registration, up to and including two weeks into the season — refund available minus $30 non-refundable administration fee.
- No refund - After the second week of the season — except in hardship cases (injuries, etc.) and refund will be prorated to games played and including minus non-refundable administration fee.
- No refund for team registration.
Can I sign up my child(ren) to play on the same team as a friend?
Yes, please specify the names of friends in the Special Request Field of our registration form. Please note that teams might be re-evaluated based on parity. Our goal is to have balanced teams and divisions.
3. Season Date And Times
When and for how long does the season run?
The Spring/Summer Season begins in late April. The season ends the last weekend in June before the primary school year ends. We do not offer a minors program in the fall.
When is the first game of the season and how will we be notified?
Each child will be notified through provided email in mid April.Jerseys will be handed out first game of the season by staff.
What are the days of the week and the times of the games?
Games in all divisions are 45 min long. Exact times of games will not be available until the start of season and are subject to change. Schedules are established only at the close of registration. Games are played outdoors so the schedule is entirely weather-dependent.
4. Venue
The following chart provides general break down of game times for different divisions. This can change depending on amount of registrations and teams per division
General Game Times
Division |
General Game Times |
|
|---|---|---|
| Learn to Play | Saturdays 9:00 - 10:00 am | Sunday (make-up day) 9:00 -10:00 am |
| Tyke | Saturdays 10:00 -12:00 pm | Sunday (make-up day) 10:00 -12:00 pm |
| Novice | Saturdays 12:00 - 2:00 pm | Sunday (make-up day) 12:00 - 2:00 pm |
| Atom | Saturdays 2:00 - 4:00 pm | Sunday (make-up day) 2:00 - 4:00 pm |
| Peewee, Bantam | Saturdays 4:00 - 6:00 pm | Sunday (make-up day) 4:00 - 6:00 pm |
| Women's Division | Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00 pm | |
| Men's Division | Tuesday 9:00 - 10:00 pm Thursdays 7:00 - 11:00 pm |
|
4. Location
Where are the games played?
League games are played at High Park Rink (High Park and Bloor) Next to the Swimming Pool. Map High Park, Tor
5. Experience
My child has never played ball hockey/ice hockey before. Is this program suitable for a child with no prior experience?
Yes! Our program is designed to suit children at all levels of experience and skill. A fair number (especially Learn to Play and Tyke) of HPBHL players are children with limited or no ice hockey or ball hockey experience.
6. Equipment
What kind of equipment do you provide? What equipment do I need to provide for my child?
We provide each registered player with a team jersey, Shorts and Socks. We also provide goalie equipment, permitting each child to try their hand at goaltending (if they so wish). Goaltenders must wear their own regular CSA-approved helmet (not provided) or their own CSA-approved goalie mask (not provided).
Mandatory Equipment
- Hockey helmet with full facial protection (cage)
- Note: both facemask and helmet must have CSA sticker.
- Goaltenders can either wear player helmet/facemask (as above) or a goalie mask
- Note: goalie mask must have CSA sticker. –
- ** Street hockey goalie masks ARE NOT PERMITTED ***
- Hockey gloves
- Note: any type of gloves not designed for ice hockey use (e.g., lacrosse) are not permitted.
- Hockey stick
- Note: both wood or composite are accepted. Push-on plastic blades are not permitted.
- Running shoes
- Soccer style shin guards
- Note: It is mandatory for shin guards to be completely covered by socks.
- Note: Ice hockey shin guards are not permitted.
Is there any additional equipment that is acceptable and recommended?
- Mouth guard
- Atletic support (jock or jill)
- Knee pads (soft)
- Soft elbow pads
- Note: Hard ice hockey elbow pads are not permitted. Elbow pads must be covered by jersey.
Is there banned and prohibited equipment?
- Shoulder pads
- Hockey-style hard elbow pads
- Hockey-style shin guards
- Any type of gloves that are not ice hockey gloves, (e.g. lacrosse gloves)
What type of hockey stick is required?
Wooden or composite hockey sticks only. Plastic bladed sticks where the blade is pushed on to the shaft are not allowed.
7. All-Star Program
High Park's All Star program is for players who want to play in a more competitive environment. We have a long and storied past playing at the provincial level. Every year, the League sends all-star teams to the Ontario Ball Hockey Federation’s provincial tournaments, which are held over one weekend in July. We have also had teams compete nationally and internationally, and had representatives play at the Ontario Summer Games. Tryouts typically take place beginning in late April/early May, followed by team selection and dedicated all-star practices.
8. Volunteering/Working with the HPBHL
How do I become a coach?
As part of the registration process, please indicate when prompted if you are interested in coaching or assistant coaching your child(ren).
How do I become a paid HPBHL referee?
Please visit the OBHF website for qualification details. If interested in refereeing please send us an email at info@highparkballhockey.ca
Who do I contact to join the HPBHL family of volunteers?
Contact us at info@highparkballhockey.ca
9. Equalization
Why rebalance the teams?
While every effort is made to ensure that the teams selected are of relatively equal strength, the League appreciates that this is a difficult process and all games will always have a team that wins and a team that does not win. The goal is to promote close competition, which is proven to encourage great effort and even better fun. Ideally, we would like all games in every division to be close. We would like every team to have a realistic chance of beating the other teams in its division.
When does equalization take place?
As noted above, equalization typically takes place after the second weekend of the season (i.e., after each team in the division in question has played 4 games).
What are we doing to minimize equalization?
We continue to take steps to try to minimize equalization.Convenors put together the teams before the start of the season based on information of thier skills of so that we have a sense of what we’re dealing with.
The league appreciates that moving children between teams can be uncomfortable and we will rely on parents, care givers and coaches to help ensure this process highlights the value of creating a competitive league.
By registering with the High Park Ball Hockey League all players are agreeing 100% to the team balancing process.