CLUB LEAGUES FAQs
 

WHAT AGE DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO PLAY YOUR SPORTS?
Most of our sports do require a minimum age simply because there is a requirement of safety and dexterity to play.  For example, the sport of floorball involves light carbon fibre sticks with a hard polymer blade and wiffle ball.  In this sport, reasonable eye hand coordination is preferred as well as a good grasp on keeping the sticks low and on the ground during quick speeds of play
For this sport we recommend the minimum age limit be eight years (or grade 3).

Our typical age brackets (divisions) are U10, U13, U16, U19, Adult and Seniors.  These age divisions may change from time to time depending on the number of player registrations, however we attempt to keep the age divisions no more than a FOUR year difference.  Unlike the other age divisions, our U10 division is more informal and is geared towards creating a play environment for players to be safe, learn and enjoy our sports.

There are a few rare Exceptions:  younger players may play up a division but usually if they are within a ONE year difference (i.e. a 13 year old may be permitted to play in our U16 division).  This is determined by the league operator and based on the players experience and recommendation from the coaches/ convener.  Older players are not permitted to play in a lower age division.

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT/ CLOTHING DO THE PLAYERS NEED TO PARTICIPATE?
Players will need comfortable gym like clothing and clean indoor footwear that offers good traction and ankle support. Indoor footwear must always be secured (tie shoelaces) as there are frequent stop-starts and turning and loose footwear can impede movement or cause ankle fatigue/ injury.

Players should also consider eye protective wear, especially players under 14 or who are not experienced and just learning the sport.  Shin pads are recommended for players to ensure sticks and sneakers do not injury a players shins (it is suggested that high (knee) socks be worn if the player chooses to use shin pads).  Jock/ Cup protection is optional.
Helmets and gloves are not used by players, but in the sport of floorball goalies are obligated to wear both.  Jewelry must be removed during play.

Premier Sports Leagues operators usually have extra equipment on hand (i.e. floorball sticks) in the event a player has not yet purchased or forgets/loose their equipment.  All other equipment such as nets and balls are provided by Premier Sports Leagues.

WHAT IF A PERSON IS NOT EXPERIENCE BUT WANTS TO PLAY?
In all of our other leagues, tournaments and sports programs goal is for the players to have learn, have fun and enjoy their time playing our sports.  Our facilitators and coaches are trained to help participants who have little or no experience assimilate into the sport and better understand the rules and tactics of play.  We work individually with each player to understand their comfort level and ability, then help them improve their skills, discover new competencies and gain more confidence in playing.

HOW SHOULD I REGISTER TO PLAY?
Players MUST join the Club location within the district they domicile (a district comprises of communities that make up their Federal Electoral Districts).  This will be their designated HOME Club.

If a Club is not available in their district a player can register in a Club that is within closest proximity to their community).  Once a player is registered in a HOME Club, they may also to choose to register and play in a neighbouring Club, provided they are not occupying a space that prevents a player from that district to participate.  For competitions and tournaments amoung Clubs, players will be required to play for their Home Club.

Premier Sports Leagues follows similar guidelines with other organized sports organizations when establishing registration requirements and Club boundaries.  This is to help balance Club leagues and limit players from associating with a Home Club outside their district, more so for competitions and tournaments (commonly referred to as a clubs “stacking their teams’).

To REGISTER go to our main web page www.PlayPremierSports.ca and select WHERE TO PLAY.  This will give you a list of all active the community clubs.  Choose the Club within your district (i.e. Home Club).  If your Home Club does not have an active club or appropriate age division, contact them to be referred to an alternate Club location.

ARE THE PLAYERS INSURED?
Yes.  All the players who register and pay to participate in our leagues will be covered under Premier Sports Leagues Inc. insurance.  Most times the gym facility also has general insurance as well.  If an injury should occur, the players family insurance usually is the primary coverage with Premier Sports leagues and the gym facility as secondary insurers.

HOW WOULD I BECOME A COACH?
Coaches are a vital role in our leagues, tournaments and sports programs so much diligence is undertaken in our recruitment and screening process.  Premier Sports Leagues has a number of key guidelines, policies and codes of behaviours that apply to all our coaches.

It is paramount that our coaches be vetted, properly trained and suitable for developing youth through sports.  This is where the “rubber hits the road” so it is critical that we get this right so that youth can be safe, feel included, be treated fair, learn new skills, become more confident, build life skills, become all round healthier, have fun and have a better sports experience.

To apply to become a Premier Sports League coach CONTACT US for details and application (see main menu).

HOW ARE TEAMS FORMED AND GAMES PLAYED?
Depending on the number of player registrations and gym rental availability, each age division would consist of a minimum and maximum number of players, a set time limit for each game and a pre determined number of scheduled games per season.

Once registration closes, the Club operators determine the number of teams so that an equal number of games can be played by each team.  Consideration will also be given to the number of players assigned to each team so that playing time and rest time are proportional.  Too few players put them at risk of over exertion and injuries.  Too many players limit the actual playing time during the game and does not provide enjoyment/ ample active time (i.e. players get too rested and then return to play which can cause an injury).

In deciding teams, Club operators may refer to their coaches to determine the skills and behaviour of registered players in an attempt to balance teams, thus not positioning any team with being short skilled or having unreliable players (i.e. short bench).  As the season progresses players will become more skilled at different rates, so it is inevitable that the team dynamics will change.  Premier Sports Leagues has a Team Formation Policy in the formation of teams so that the process is transparent, fair and reasonable and is expected to be adhered to by the Club operators.

Goalies are always a challenge with any sport, more so with our relatively unknown sports, so situations may occur when games are played without a goalie (in which smaller mini nets serve as a smaller target and rules of play are modified to account for the open net).  Other times players take turns playing goalie so that the games can most resemble the sport.  When a player who has no experience, does plays goalie the coaches and officials are instructed to be more supportive and aware of the spread between goals going too high.
 
Check with your community Club operator if your child is interested in playing goalie as SOMETIMES incentives are awarded.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PLAY YOUR SPORTS?
We do what we can to ensure our sports are affordable.  The cost to register for leagues however, is reflective of insurance costs, advertising expenses, training programs, jerseys costs, compensation for our officials and overhead expenses

The registration fees for leagues also varies depending on the type of league (recreational or competitive), the facility type (gym or full-size court), the time of year and number of games in a season,. 

Therefore, it is best to check with the Club operator for more details.

Clubs do offer early bird registration incentives, late registration fees, discount for multiple players in a family or returning player discounts so the registration price can fluctuate depending on the number of children and date you register

Player equipment costs are over and above registration for Club leagues.  In the case of the sport of floorball, sticks can range in price from $40 to $200 and goalie gear from $300-$500 depending on the quality of the gear.  Protective eye wear, shin pads and jock/ cup can be purchased at a local sports retailer.

Check with the Club operator for more information about equipment purchases.