Ringette events inspires youth

Posted on: Staff Writer

From edition: September 14 2018 Strathmore Times

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

Nearly 20 kids from Strathmore and Wheatland County participated in the annual Come Try Ringette event Sept. 7 at the Strathmore Family Centre blue ice. Local instructors and coaches from across the province came to help teach the kids a new sport. Tyler Lowey Photo

Nearly 20 kids from Strathmore and Wheatland County participated in the annual Come Try Ringette event Sept. 7 at the Strathmore Family Centre blue ice. Local instructors and coaches from across the province came to help teach the kids a new sport.
Tyler Lowey Photo
The Come Try Ringette event is beginning to enjoy the results of the program’s early years.
The annual ringette season opener took place Sept. 7 at the Strathmore Family Centre blue ice.
The program is held for kids aged between three and 12 to introduce them to the sport before the season hits its stride.
This year, Ringette Alberta supplied a couple of coaches and there were a few local coaches on the ice with the 18 participants. Joining them were a few kids who were a part of the event several years ago.
“The Come Try Ringette event definitely got me motivated for the sport,” said Rebecca Bradley, who was one of the few players from the Strathmore Minor Ringette Association (SMRA) helping out during the skate. “I love being around kids and being a part of different teams and meeting new players.”
Bradley, who suited up for the U10 Strathmore Ice Skulls last season was still too young to help with the on-ice portion, but she helped get the kids organized and into the right dressing room before the skate.
On the ice with the instructors, young kids used sticks and skate trainers to learn the first few steps. After that, the camp progressed into passing and shooting drills before a small, non-competitive game broke out.
Like every program that requires usage of the Family Centre, the annual ringette event had to cut itself short by 15 minutes to accommodate other programs that have seen their schedules thrown out the window by the pipe leak underneath the gold ice.
But that didn’t stop the kids from enjoying the evening skate.
“We want these kids to have fun here today. In the season, we don’t measure success by wins and losses, but by who had fun and grew as a person and a player,” said Amy Bradley, SMRA director of marketing. “Last year, we had kids that couldn’t skate here today and turned into great players by the end of the season. That’s what we hope for each season.”
For any inspired kids looking to sign up with their designated ringette team, they are encouraged to contact the SMRA as soon as possible. If they miss the evaluation period, they will get placed in the lowest level of ringette for their age group and will have the opportunity to work their way up during the season.