2011 ~ Sports Mom Etc.

University Ringette Challenge Cup UCC 2011-2012

Looking for the 2013 University Challenge Cup pages?
Here's UCC 2013 Tier 1 and UCC 2013 Tier 2.

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Schedules for the ringtte University Challenge Cup, hosted by University of Western Ontario from December 29 to January 1, are available here:

Game scores will be posted here:

Universities participating in Tier 1 are:

Alberta
Brock
Calgary
Dalhousie
Mount Royal
Ottawa
Western (Facebook)
Wilfred Laurier

Universities participating in Tier 2 are:

Live Webcast World Club Championship (WCC) Ringette Games

SportsTVCanada is live streaming World Club Championship (WCC) Ringette Games. Handy @nrllnr twitter stream on the same page.

> Links to other WCC pages

Broadcast schedule is available lower down on the webcast page. All times in EST.

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World Ringette Club Championships - Turku, Finland 2011

The International Ringette Federation (IRF) World Club Championships (WCC) are being held in Turku, Finland from Dec. 27, 2011 to Jan. 1, 2012.

Follow live tweets at the World Ringette Club Championships by @NRLLNR.

Visit the WCC website for:

Schedules
Teams
FINLAND: Lapinlahden Luistin -89, Luvian Kiekko -82, Raision Nuorisokiekko ry
CANADA: Cambridge Turbos, Richmond Hill Lightning
SWEDEN: Ulriksdals SK
Results & Standings

Scores - St. Marys AAA Ringette Challenge Cup Games

Scores for the St. Marys AAA Ringette Challenge Cup games are below. Player stats and game sheets are available on Score2Stats.

> Follow rinkside tweets from the teams & fans

Scores below last updated: 18:11 27 November 2011

Friday, November 25, 2011
12:00 PM - W 3 vs S 5
1:30 PM - NE 5 vs United 12
3:00 PM - C 8 vs E 5

6:00 PM - NE 3 vs W 10
7:30 PM - United 7 vs C 9
9:00 PM - E 7 vs S 3

Saturday, November 26, 2011
10:00 AM - W 6 vs C 3
11:30 AM - S 7 vs NE 1
1:00 PM - United 6 vs E 5

5:00 PM - C 5 vs S 5
6:30 PM - W 8 vs United 2
8:00 PM - NE 2 vs E 9

Sunday, November 27, 2011
9:00 AM - S 3 vs United 6
10:30 AM - E 7 vs W 2
12:00 PM - C 9 vs NE 5

FINAL
4:00 PM - 2nd - Eastern 4 vs 1st - Central 5

Congratulations to Central Region for winning Gold and Eastern for taking the Silver.

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Follow Tweets from St. Marys AAA Ringette Challenge Cup

Tweets during the 2011 St. Marys AAA Ringette Challenge Cup (#AAAringette) by the Southern, Central, United and Eastern AAA teams & anyone who uses #AAAringette hashtag are captured below.

Game stats are available on Score2Stats.

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St. Marys Ringette Challenge Cup Schedule

The St. Marys AAA Ringette Challenge Cup schedule, November 25-27, 2011, is below and is also on Score2Stats. This Challenge Cup will be hosted by the St. Marys Ringette Association.

All games will be played at St. Marys Pyramid Recreation Centre (previously known as the St. Marys Area Arena) > View Map

Updates:
> Scores
> Tweets

Friday, November 25, 2011
12:00 PM - W vs S
1:30 PM - NE vs United
3:00 PM - C vs E

6:00 PM - NE vs W
7:30 PM - United vs C
9:00 PM - E vs S

Saturday, November 26, 2011
10:00 AM - W vs C
11:30 AM - S vs NE
1:00 PM - United vs E

5:00 PM - C vs S
6:30 PM - W vs United
8:00 PM - NE vs E

Sunday, November 27, 2011
9:00 AM - S vs United
10:30 AM - E vs W
12:00 PM - C vs NE

FINAL
4:00 PM - 2nd vs 1st

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Well Done, Choice Hotels

I'm always on the lookout for good examples of well integrated, relevant marketing campaigns that don't leave you confused.

Choice Hotels has a behaviour targeted campaign that was able to detect that I might be interested in hotels for sports teams. So it showed me this ad (only the top part is shown here, full ad below) ...

All too often, such an ad will just send the visitor to a general reservation page. Choice Hotels sent me to a landing page that was a bit more customized, promoting their group rate programs.

What would have been really cool would have been a behaviourally targeted landing page that inserted a ringette player image where the hockey player is shown, with copy 'Score big on your next out-of-town ringette game', based on my interests and the site I was on.

Here's the complete skyscraper ad...

Total Flex Gives a Total Gym Workout at Home

A few weeks ago, I succumbed to an infomercial and ordered a Total Flex home gym, sold by Thane Direct Canada.

The Total Flex is a resistance band home gym. A few years ago, I borrowed my brother-in-law's Weider Total Gym, sort of a lower cost version of the Total Gym promoted by Chuck Norris. It was a convenient alternative to going to the gym for weight/resistance training. While it was 'foldable' and had wheels, it was very heavy to move around and stayed in the middle of the basement floor. Eventually, I returned it because it took up too much room.

The Total Flex is much more compact, is indeed easy to move around and re-position. However, the Total Flex is still quite heavy and I wouldn't want to have to regularly lug it up and down stairs.

The resistance bands take a bit of getting used to, but having done 3 workouts, we'll be keeping our Total Flex.

I ordered the Total Flex 'Performance Package' - the leg extender and head rest (image, right). This is definitely a worthwhile addition. The leg extender is needed if you want to do leg extension exercises to exercise your quads.

The Total Flex kit comes with a package of exercise charts and a DVD with video workout segments led by fitness trainer Kim Lyons. The DVD segments correspond to the exercise charts, which are grouped by Core, Upper Body, Lower Body, etc. The workouts on the DVD are a bit slow, but should be watched for technique.

The infomercial showed the Total Flex comes fully assembled, but that's not the case.

One of the resistance band pods is attached but you'll have to attach the second one.
Parts and tools are provided. The Total Flex User Guide isn't quite complete as it should be, and page 4 of my copy of the English user guide was in French.
Putting everything together, including the attachments for the leg extender, took about an hour.

Under the current Total Flex special offer, the base unit has a 30-day free trial with free shipping.

I paid the total price of $249.75, got the free shipping.
The Total Flex Performance Package cost $59.95, with additional shipping cost of $24.95. Plus HST on everything.

So far, the Total Flex is working well, does provide a total gym workout and I give it a definite thumbs-up review.

Update (2015): Does the Total Flex home gym work? Yes.

We also purchased an elliptical and the combination has been great. Unfortunately, the elliptical has broken down, we've gotten rid of it and are not planning to buy another. I have gone back to a gym membership, and therefore have just sold the Total Flex on Kijiji.

Scores - Eastern AAA Ringette Challenge Cup (Ottawa)

Scores for Eastern Region Ringette Challenge Cup schedule, October 8-10, 2011, are below or see game stats on Score2Stats.

Last updated: 5 pm, October 10.

Saturday, October 8, 2011
10:00 AM - United 7 vs E 4
11:20 AM - NE 1 vs C 8
12:40 PM - W 4 vs S 4

4:00 PM - C 6 vs United 2
5:20 PM - W 8 vs NE 1
6:40 PM - S 3 vs E 5

Sunday, October 9, 2011
9:00 AM - United 4 vs NE 4
10:20 AM - E 4 vs W 2
11:40 AM - C 3 vs S 4

4:00 PM - NE 3 vs E 10
5:20 PM - C 5 vs W 7
6:40 PM - S 7 vs United 3

Monday, October 10, 2011
8:00 AM - E 6 vs C 3
9:20 AM - NE 3 vs S 10
10:40 AM - United 7 vs W 3

FINAL
3:00 PM - Southern (2nd) vs Eastern (1st)
Eastern wins 5-4 for Gold.
Southern takes Silver.

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Follow Tweets for Eastern AAA Ringette Challenge Cup (Ottawa)

Tweets during the Eastern Region AAA Ringette Challenge Cup (#AAAringette) in the Ottawa Area this Thanksgiving weekend (Oct. 8-10) by the Southern and Eastern AAA teams & using #AAAringette hashtag are captured below.

Game stats are available on Score2Stats.

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University Challenge Cup UCC 2011-2012

Looking for the 2013 University Challenge Cup pages?
Here's UCC 2013 Tier 1 and UCC 2013 Tier 2.

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The next University Challenge Cup (UCC) will be hosted by the University of Western Ontario, from December 29, 2011 to January 1, 2012.

The first University Challenge Cup was held in 1999. This will be the 14th UCC (see History of University Challenge Cup). The website, CanadianUniversityRingette.ca, contains past schedules and game scores. Fourteen teams participated in the 2011 University Challenge Cup.

The two levels of play correspond to Open A (Tier 1) and Open B (Tier 2). Several University teams play regularly in regional Open leagues across the country.
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Ringette at 2012 Ontario Winter Games will be in Creemore, Ontario

The 2012 Ontario Winter Games, March 5-11, 2012 are being hosted by Collingwood. Ringette will be played March 8-11 at the Creemore & District Recreation Centre, Creemore, Ontario.

Updated: OWG Ringette Game Schedule & Results

For more information about the sports in the 2012 Ontario Winter Games, visit the OWG website.

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2011 St. Marys AAA Ringette Challenge Cup

The St. Marys Ringette Association will be hosting the second of three AAA Ringette Challenge Cup tournaments, in the Town of St. Marys, from November 25-27, 2011. St. Marys Ringette Association is in the Western Ontario Region.

Location of games or schedule have not yet been announced. My guess is that games will be held at the same place as the 2009 St. Marys Challenge Cup, at the St. Marys Pyramid Recreation Centre (previously known as St. Marys Area Arena) >view map.

Update: The game schedule is out! View St. Marys AAA Ringette Cup Game Schedule ...continue reading >

A & AA Ringette Provincials in West Ottawa & Whitby

Where and when are 2012 'A' and 'AA' Ringette Provincials?

AA will be in Whitby, March 1-4, 2012 > schedules
(just before the Ontario Winter Games in Creemore, Ontario)
A will be hosted by West Ottawa, March 15-18, 2012

Keep an eye on Ontario Ringette Association's Provincials page for updates. This page also contains information about the wild card formula.
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West Ferris to Host "U12" (Petite) 2012 Provincial Event

The 2012 "U12" Provincial Ringette Event will be hosted on April 12-15, 2012 by the West Ferris Ringette Association. For more information, visit Ontario Ringette's U12 Event page.

Scores and standings will be available on Score2stats.

Mississauga hosted the 2011 "U12" event, which consisted of 5 divisions. Last years ringette teams, standings and scores are shown on the U12 Provincial Event page.
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Eastern Region Ringette Challenge Cup Results Will be on Score2Stats

For Challenge Cup Results, visit Score2Stats.

At Score2Stats, you be able to access not only the results but full player stats and game sheets. ...continue reading >

Skating Lessons / Kids' Learn-to-Skate Program With a Difference

Looking for a longer term children's 'learn-to-skate' program that lasts longer than 8-9 weeks? Consider this learn-to-skate program offered by Etobicoke Ringette. Held at Centennial Arena in West Toronto, skating lessons run 20 weeks from September to March.

After the New Year, they'll give the kids a stick and teach them basic ringette skills. Learning to skate proceeds even faster, because now, a game's involved. There's a reason to pay attention to skating as there's a payoff!

Etobicoke Ringette is where my younger daughter learned to skate properly. In the Toronto City Parks & Rec programs, she learned to skate, but didn't want to learn to stop. It was just too much fun to sit down and slide into the boards or outdoor snow bank (on the rinks that were iced-over tennis courts).
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Game Schedule: Eastern Region AAA Ringette Challenge Cup (Ottawa)

The Eastern Region Ringette Challenge Cup schedule, October 8-10, 2011 (Thanksgiving long weekend) is below. Games will be played in Ottawa, Nepean & Arnprior. Game stats on Score2Stats and follow game tweets & #AAARingette here.

Saturday, October 8, 2011
10:00 AM - Arnprior - United vs E
11:20 AM - Arnprior - NE vs C
12:40 PM - Arnprior - W vs S

4:00 PM - Nepean Sportsplex (Yzerman) - C vs United
5:20 PM - Nepean Sportsplex (Yzerman) - W vs NE
6:40 PM - Nepean Sportsplex (Yzerman) - S vs E

Sunday, October 9, 2011
9:00 AM - Jim Durrell (Peplinski) - United vs NE
10:20 AM - Jim Durrell (Peplinski) - E vs W
11:40 AM - Jim Durrell (Peplinski) - C vs S

4:00 PM - Ray Friel #1 - NE vs E
5:20 PM - Ray Friel #1 - C vs W
6:40 PM - Ray Friel #1 - S vs United

Monday, October 10, 2011
8:00 AM - Kanata Rec Centre - E vs C
9:20 AM - Kanata Rec Centre - NE vs S
10:40 AM - Kanata Rec Centre - United vs W

FINAL
3:00 PM - Kanata Rec Centre - 2nd vs 1st

> Download PDF - Eastern Region AAA Ringette Challenge Cup Schedule.

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Come Try Ringette in Mississauga on September 11, 2011

There's a great alternative to hockey for girls - Ringette. No, not gym ringette, but the version played on ice. Have a player under 10 years old? On September 11, give ringette a try at Mississauga Ringette Association`s Come Try Ringette event at Iceland Arena, Rink 4.

This is a great opportunity for young players to learn to skate, develop team building skills and begin to enjoy a fast paced sport. (Want to see ringette now? See below for list of links to videos)

Schedule for Sept 11, 2011:

3:15pm-4:15pm Players under 7 years, get on the ice and try Ringette
4:15pm-5:15pm Watch an Exhibition game by players from the U12 (Petite) Provincial team
5:15-6:15 pm Players under 10 years on-ice session to try Ringette

> Register now on the ComeTryRingette website
The MRA Ringette / Learn To Skate program is more cost effective than most Learn To Skate programs. Youngsters are motivated to learn skating skills because they get to use them in a game.

When our younger daughter, was in learn-to-skate programs, she didn't want to learn to stop properly. To stop, it was more fun to sit down and slide in to boards or snow bank if outside. Put a stick in her hand and, well, she had to learn to stop standing up or she couldn't change directions to get the ring. The rest is history and she now plays U16 AA ringette.

Links to Ringette Videos
With a ring instead of a puck, players change direction often and quickly. Ringette's the fastest game on ice!

Canada Winter Games 2011 Round Robin Game - Ontario vs BC

Video of overtime goal, followed by interview with Emily Bakker, Team Ontario. She also plays for National Ringette League's Cambridge Turbos.
Winter Games players are U20.

Canada Winter Games 2011 Gold Medal Game - Ontario vs Alberta. Ontario won in overtime 8-7. Video snippets of key plays and goals from the game:

Two minutes of the gold medal game - Ontario in red, Alberta white
Ontario's 7th goal
Alberta's tying 7th goal (warning - lots of screaming)
Unfortunately, no video found of Ontario's game winning goal

Rick Mercer Report - Rick goes on ice with the National Ringette League Cambridge Turbos. A tongue-in-cheek Rick-Mercer-style intro to ringette.
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Eastern AAA Challenge Cup Ringette Schedule

The Eastern AAA Challenge Cup Ringette Schedule is out.

> View the Eastern Region (Ottawa) AAA Challenge Cup Ringette Schedule.

Eastern Region Ringette is hosting the first of three AAA Challenge Cup ringette tournaments October 8-10, 2011 in Ottawa and surrounding areas.

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SIM Cards for Cheaper Local Calling During Out of Town Tournaments

Traveling in Europe last year on family vacation, we picked up a cheap SIM card in England and then in France. At the time, there wasn't anything here that was comparable. Now many options have sprung up.

One thing found out recently is that, if you your phone is 'locked' to a carrier, you can unlock your phone by simply calling your carrier and asking for the unlock code. All Canadian carriers apparently must give you the unlock code.

I wrote in an earlier post about Petro-Canada's prepaid phone plans*. What's this got to do with SIM cards and unlocking phones?

When away at an out of town tournament, the cost of local calling can add up when away from the hotel. It's all long distance! Switching temporarily to a local number could save a lot of local long-distance cost, although the hassle of using a new, temporary phone number is a consideration. Since Petro-Canada is now selling SIM cards, I could unlock my regular phone, use it with my regular plan when I'm not traveling, but then get a SIM card if we have a tournament out of town, and activate it for the city that we're in.

Cost would be $15 for the SIM card, $15 for 30 days prepaid time. Let it expire, and then when we're off to another city, change the phone number on the SIM card(which they will do!) and load on another $15.

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* Disclosure: In my non-sportsmom life, this company is a client. We are also a customer, with more than one mobile device on their monthly plans.

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Can "Bunga Pads" Help Heal Skate Bite?

Do Bunga Gel pads work for skate bite?

Eight months of skate bite (earlier post) and counting. The summer's come and gone but since skating and ringette camp went on through the summer, there wasn't any real time off.

A player on my daughter's team has had the tongue replaced on her skates. The new skate tongue has an extra layer of felt. Seems to work for her.

Gel pads were suggested by the store we bought the skates at. These Bunga pads are the only ones I found.

If anyone has any experience with Bunga pads, or other gel pads, for skate bite would love to hear about your experience.

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Prepaid Cell Phones with Canada-Wide Calling & Unlimited Texting

At out of town ringette tournaments, it can be challenging staying in touch with players, coaches and other family members who want to know what's going on. Texting's the way to go but once in a while, a phone call's really needed, such as when trying to meet up at a restaurant for lunch or dinner, or co-ordinate rides.

Our kids have been on Petro-Canada Mobility's prepaid plan* for a while because of cheap texting. As of earlier this week, phone calls Canada-wide are included in the Talk & Text Monthly Cell Phone Plans. Before, the 100 minutes were local minutes only. Given that this service isn't restricted by calling 'Zones', it's a great fit for us.

So whether our players are in a tournament in Ottawa, Calgary or St. Marys, they can call long-distance across Canada. These calls are 'free' within the 100 minutes included in their monthly plan. They've got Talk & Text 100, so for $20 per month, they've got 100 Canada-wide phone minutes and unlimited texting (incoming and outgoing).

We can check to see how many of the 100 minutes have been consumed by logging into the account.

Billing is convenient. Recurring billing is set up online, and we get an email every month when the credit card charge goes through.

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* Disclosure: In my non-sportsmom life, this company is a client. We are also a customer, with more than one mobile device on their monthly plans.

My mother's on the 'Anytime' plan, which gets topped up with $25 every 4 months. Costs her $6.25 per month for an emergency cell phone. Since she doesn't use the phone much, the balance rolls over with each top-up and she's got over $100 balance if she needs to use the phone for an extended call.

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University of Calgary Ringette Tryouts

The University of Calgary Ringette Team tryout dates have been announced.

22 September 2011 7:30-9:15 p.m
23 September 2011 7:30-9 p.m

Location: Olympic Oval

For more information, email Murray Pettem (mopettem@shaw.ca).

The University of Calgary Ringette Team plans in the Calgary Open League as well as 2-3 tournaments, including the University Challenge Cup. The University of Calgary Ringette Team has been highly successful at this tournament, winning last 5 Challenge Cups, including 2011, hosted by the University of Western Ontario.

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Eastern Region AAA Ringette Challenge Cup (Ottawa Area)

Eastern Region Ringette is hosting the first of three AAA Ringette Challenge Cup tournaments October 8-10, 2011 in Ottawa and surrounding areas.

The other two AAA ringette challenge cup tournaments are in St. Marys in November and Ajax in February 2012, just a few weeks before the Ontario Winter Games. Hosted by Collingwood in March 2012, we have yet to hear which locale will be hosting ringette.
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Spikes for Track & Field, including Triple Jump Shoes

Maximum spike lengths aren't the same for all track and field meets. They do sell spikes at most track meets, but if you're in between meets or want to get some ahead of a meet, where do you go? If you're in Toronto, the Runners Shop is one place to go.

Located at 180 Bloor Street West (near Avenue Road), The Runners Shop likely sells all lengths of spikes you'll need for sanctioned competition.
> Map to The Runners Shop

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AAA Ringette Challenge Cup 2011-2012 Locations

In the run-up to the 2012 Ontario Winter Games in March 2012 in Collingwood, the six Ontario AAA Ringette teams will play in 3 challenge cup tournaments:

Eastern Region AAA Ringette Challenge Cup
Oct. 8-10, 2011 (scores)
St. Marys AAA Ringette Challenge Cup
Nov. 25-27, 2011 (scores)
Ajax AAA Ringette Challenge Cup
Feb. 10-12, 2012 (scores)

More information about the six Ontario AAA Ringette Challenge Cup Teams and tournament schedules on the Ontario Ringette Association website.

Updated: 12 Oct 2011 ...continue reading >

Ontario United AAA Ringette Team Tryouts

Ringette players who did not make their region's AAA ringette teams are eligible to try out for the 2011-2012 Ontario United AAA Team.

Visit their website - UnitedAAARingette.ca

Tryouts are June 18-19, 2011 at Iceland Arena in Mississauga. Start time is 10:45 am. Exact times will be provided by the team's coaching staff.

To register to attend the tryouts, players should email Ontario United AAA Team Head Coach, Harry Hirsimaki at team6ringette@hotmail.com. Harry will send the player two tryout forms, both of which must be sent back to him along with a copy of the letter the player received from their Region's AAA tryouts when they were released.

Deadline for all forms to be returned to Harry is June 7, 2011.

Please check the Ontario Ringette website for additional information about AAA Ringette.

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Southern AAA Ringette Team 2011-2012 Website is Up & Running

The 2011-2012 Southern AAA Ringette Team website is up and running.

The team roster is posted and the team has a game scheduled next Sunday against the Western AAA Ringette team.

Ahead of the 2012 Ontario Winter Games March 5-12, the Southern AAA team will be playing in 3 Ringette Challenge Cups:

Ottawa - October 8-10, 2011
St. Marys - November 25-27, 2011
Ajax - February 10-12, 2012

If you want to keep up with the Southern AAA Ringette team, bookmark the website.
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Another Source of Triple Jump & Long Jump Spikes

Found another two suppliers of triple jump and long jump shoes - FirstToTheFinish.com. And they do ship to Canada. Also give

eBay.ca

a try.

Now that we're a bit more certain of how sizing works, perhaps next time we'll order online.

My daughter has been battling shin splints, and the pair of Asics Turbo Jump long jump spikes she picked up at Foot Tools (earlier post) has really helped. Shin splints aren't totally gone, but much better. The strap over the toe also keeps her toes from ramming into the top of the shoe.

Is there a difference between long jump and triple jump spikes? Eastbay has posted the following about Choosing the Right Field Event Shoe:

Long jump shoes tend to have a raised forefoot, sometimes referred to as a negative heel lift, that helps jumpers roll onto the forefoot during the plant for better toe-off.
Triple jump shoes tend to have a more level profile with more cushioning under the heel to help absorb the impact of going from the hop-and-step phase to the jump.

Browsing around, here's a recent post I found on Livestrong about the kinds of triple jump shoes Olympic athletes wear. Got a bit curious about the brands/models long jump Olympic athletes prefer but couldn't find anything about this.

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Springless Trampolines are Safest

Very interesting learning today relating to play, trampoline safety and concussions. A timely topic as we approach summer.

The automotive industry established a safety standard called the Head Injury Criterion (HIC). This index measures the likelihood and severity of head injuries in an accident. A higher HIC score indicates increased likelihood of a more severe injury.

The HIC is now used as the safety standard for many products including playground surfacing materials and ... trampolines. Currently, the industry standard for playground surfacing and trampolines is a HIC score of 1000. This is amazing, consider what 1000 means. Check out what 1000 means.

Head Injury Criterion	Chance of NO Injury	Chance of Minor Injury	Chance of Moderate Injury	Chance of Critical Injury	Chance of Fatality
77	Over 99%	Under 1%	~0%	~0%	~0%
250	65%	35%	12%	~0%	~0%
400	30%	75%	30%	Under 1%	~0%
1000	1%	99%	90%	3%	~1%
2000	~0%	100%	100%	65%	25%

Source: SpringfreeTrampoline.ca

Not all trampolines are equal! The HIC of a springless trampoline by Springfree Trampoline* is just 77.

Read the full blog post, which contains additional research references.

* Full disclosure: In my non-sportsmom life, Springfree Trampoline is a client. Given recent experience with concussions, this was personally very interesting!

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Triple Jump Shoes - Found Jump Spikes at Foot Tools in Burlington

Specialty track and field shoes are difficult to find in Toronto, particularly jump spikes for triple jump and long jump. Even the Nike Toronto store in Yorkville doesn't carry jump spikes such as the Zoom TJ, and they're just down the street from Varsity stadium and Athletics Canada's National Development Centre.

My daughter has shin splints (hence the search for Kendall tape), and it was suggested she get jump shoes because they have more cushioning.

We were just about to place an order on Eastbay (close our eyes, cross our fingers, hope for the best on sizing and fit), when one of my daughter's Junior Blues track clubmates told her about Foot Tools in Burlington. We treked out there yesterday and came away with a pair of Asics Turbo Jump shoes. Just in time for the ROPSSAA meet this Friday.

Really glad we went in person. Looks like the right size for Asics is a men's 8.5. In Nike, she takes a 10 and Mizuno is an 11. Very patient, and they certainly know their shoes.

If you need track or jump spikes, try Foot Tools. Browse the website and call ahead to see if they have your size (+ or - one size up and down). Ask if they have other shoes not shown online. The Asics Turbo Jump isn't on Foottools.ca.

And if you or your track star belong to a track club, let them know as you may qualify for a discount.

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Robin Mahy Named Head Coach of the Southern AAA Ringette Team

Robin Mahy, who coached Team Ontario's Ringette team to a gold medal at the 2011 Canada Winter Games, will be head coach for the 2011-2012 Southern AAA Ringette Team. This is Robin's second time as head coach for Southern AAA. She was also the head coach of the Southern AAA team in 2007-08, when Southern won a silver medal at the Ontario Winter Games.

Robin's a wonderful coach! My older daughter played for Robin on the 2008-09 Belle (U19) AA team that was based in Burlington. That team consisted of players from 8 different associations. Playing short all season because we had players going to university as far away as Queens, the team was one win short of making 4th place, losing their final game at AA provincials in overtime. They won the Fair Play award, and it was one of my daughter's most satisfying ringette seasons ever.

Robin also introduced us that year to treadmill training at the Skating Lab, and the results turned us into fans of Dr. Kelly Lockwood and her team. It's made big difference to our players' skating.

My younger daughter's looking forward to trying out for Robin this weekend at AAA tryouts. Regardless of whether or not she makes it, it'll be a great experience.

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Kendall Ultra-Light Adhesive Sports Tape

Looking for a place to buy Kendall Ultra-Light Adhesive Sports Tape. Need the 3 inch wide product, to help alleviate pain with shin splints. Anyone know of a place in the Greater Toronto area that sells this tape? Please comment below if you do...

I've found a website (esportshealth.com) but would have to buy a case of 16 rolls.

It's sticky and won't fall off. So sticky, pre-wrap is a must.
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Specific Foods May Speed Concussion Recovery: Research Study

Interesting article in the Globe and Mail today Starve a Fever, Feed a Concussion, describing research into recovery of US soldiers from brain injury that shows that specific nutrients, taken soon after brain injury, appear to speed recovery.

The research suggests that "speedy supply of specific nutrients can give hurting brain cells the energy and chemical cues they need to heal while preventing inflammation". The Globe and Mail also writes...

Canadian experts on concussions are taking note:

Charles Tator, a Toronto-based brain injury and concussion specialist whose expertise is in sports-related brain injuries, says ongoing research into the role specific types of food play in healing hurt brains will be a huge boon to sports teams of the future.

“It's a useful report; it'll provide some guidelines,” he said, adding that the Defence Department’s interest is needed to push forward “very difficult, very costly research.

“Brain injuries are a major social and financial burden following combat. With these explosive injuries that soldiers are getting, it's turning out to be one of the most important complications of war that society is left with.

“Athletes who are in high-risk sports, who are at a high risk for concussion, might benefit from that type of research.”

Definitely something to follow!
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"What Happens in Vegas III" Tournament :: Ringette Destination Las Vegas

While younger ringette players' provincial and regional tournaments are closing down the ringette season, adult ringette players are getting ready for the third edition of the "What Happens in Vegas" Adult Ringette Tournament in Las Vegas!

This year's tournament runs from April 17-21. Last year, 16 teams participated. From their video snippets and photos, looks like they've been a lot of fun.

Follow them on Facebook . On Twitter, follow @RingDestination or hashtag #WHIV3.

U12 Provincial Petite Tournament - Now On!

The first U12 (Petite) provincial championship is underway.

Hosted by Mississauga Ringette, keep up with scores and standings at Score2stats.

Games are being played at these two rinks:

Erin Mills Arena >view map
Iceland >view map

For a full look at the five tournament divisions, their PDF schedules are available here from Ontario Ringette:

All schedules, as well as scores and standings, are available at Score2stats (U12).

Tom Rose Pre-Tryout AA & A Ringette Sessions (Cambridge)

In addition to the Tryout Tune-up sessions in Mississauga, Tom Rose (Rose's Hockey School) is also offering AA Ringette and A Ringette Pre-Tryout Preparation sessions, at Hespeler Arena in Cambridge:

AA Ringette Pre-Tryout Prep:
Apr 17, 2011 4:30 - 6:30pm
Apr 23, 2011 6:00 - 8:00pm
Apr 27, 2011 7:30 - 8:30pm

A Ringette Pre-Tryout Prep:
May 14, 2011 10:30am- 12:30pm
May 22, 2011 1:30 - 3:30pm

For fees, more sessions and any changes to times, visit the Rose's Hockey School schedule page.
...continue reading >

Ringette Summer Camp - National Ringette School Contest

Enter contest at
theNRS.com/win

National Ringette School is running ringette summer camps in 15 cities, 7 provinces across Canada.

A contest is underway where you can win a spot to attend summer ringette camp for free. Winners to be announced on April 25, 2011.

Last year, my daughter (played U16 AA this past season) attended the Ajax Top Gun ringette camp, enjoyed it thoroughly and she's going back this year.

To attend Top Gun Ringette Camp, the player has to be 14 or played a year of Junior/U16 and have been selected to an A or AA team. Top Gun isn't offered in all 15 cities; in 2011, Top Gun is in Ottawa, Paris, Ajax, Halifax and Calgary Trico Week 2.

It's not too late to sign up for ringette camps, although some are apparently full. Early bird prices end April 30, 2011.
...continue reading >

U12 Petite Ontario Provincial Championship Tournament - Mississauga April 14-17, 2011

This year, U12 Ontario Ringette championships, both A and AA, have been split from the A and AA U14, U16 and U19 Provincials.

The U12 (Petite) teams have their own championship tournament during April 14-17, 2011, hosted by the Mississauga Ringette Association.

There are five tournament divisions, and their PDF schedules are available here from Ontario Ringette:

Once the tournament is underway, you can keep up with scores and standings by checking this Score2stats link.

Games will be played at these two rinks:

Erin Mills Arena >view map
Iceland >view map

Opening Ceremonies and Party will be at the Capital Banquet Hall, 6435 Dixie Road, Mississauga >view map.

The party after Opening Ceremonies is in the same location, until 10 pm, and it's a Beach Party!

So come dressed up with sun glasses, sun hats, Hawaiian shirts, lei's, or whatever else you wear at beach party (but no bathing suits).
...continue reading >

Treadmill Skating Training - Pre-Tryout Tune-up

If the timing of ringette pre-tryout tune-ups in Mississauga aren't convenient, another option is treadmill skating. Just received an email that the Skating Lab is booking pre-tryout training.

We first heard about treadmill skating at Skating Lab from Robin Mahy*. Robin coached the 2007-08 Southern Region AAA team, and the entire team completed a Skating Lab program. My older daughter played for Robin when she coached the 2008-09 Burlington Belle AA team and the AAA players on that team gave rave reviews about their performance improvement after going to the Skating Lab.

Both our daughters have been to the Skating Lab at Chesswood Arena, completed the 8-week programs and been back for tune-ups.

It says 'hockey' in the email excerpt below but it's great for ringette players as well. Read this testimonial from a Team Canada ringette player about how Skating Lab helped her make Team Canada.

Here's an excerpt from Skating Lab's email:

"As one season ends, tryouts for the next season are on the horizon……..so it is time to book your PRE TRYOUT TUNE UPS for April tryouts!

The Skating Lab is booking PRE TRYOUT TRAINING now. If your tryouts are the second and third week of April, your player has a potential training opportunity over the next three weeks. Start now and ensure they have the preparation required to show at their best.

The Skating Lab programs focus predominantly on SKATING MECHANICS trained on a skating treadmill. Tryouts are all about showing off your skill set, SKATING IS THE FUNDAMENTAL SKILL OF THE GAME OF HOCKEY! Training SKATING SKILLS elevates all aspects of your game... "

-----

* Robin Mahy was recently the head coach of Team Ontario ringette, Gold Medal winners at the 2011 Canada Winter Games.
...continue reading >

Canadian Ringette Championships 2011 - Watch Games Live April 1-2

Happy to post the following for the National Ringette School. Thanks NRS for sponsoring live video webcasts for Canadian Ringette Championships (CRC2011.ca) games on April 1-2 at www.theNRS.com/live (Post has been updated with game results, below).

Update: Game Video Archives, courtesy of National Ringette School.

The National Ringette School is proud to sponsor
live game webcasts of the semi-final and final games April 1-2.

Watch webcasts live or visit the webcast home page (and enter the National Ringette School contest) at www.theNRS.com/live .

Game times:

Friday, April 1 - Semi-Finals (2nd vs 3rd - Bronze Medal Games):
U-16 5:00 p.m. EDT / 3:00 p.m. MDT - QC 6 vs ON 5
U-19 6:30 p.m. EDT / 4:30 p.m. MDT - ON 7 vs AB 2
NRL 8:00 p.m. EDT / 6:00 p.m. MDT - Turbos 7 vs RATH 5

Saturday, April 2 - Finals (Gold Medal Games):
U-16 10:00 a.m. EDT / 8:00 a.m. MDT - AB 2 vs QC 1
NRL 12:30 p.m. EDT / 10:00 a.m. MDT - WAM! 4 vs Turbos 2
U-19 3:00 p.m. EDT / 1:00 p.m. MDT - QC 5 vs ON 4

> Connect to the live video feed or visit NRS CRC2011 page www.theNRS.com/live

You can also enter to win a spot to attend any one of our NRS
camps across Canada. This includes registration in any of our TOP
GUN camps too (a $499 value)!

Visit www.theNRS.com/win to enter and for full contest rules.

Good luck!

National Ringette School

2312 Uxbridge Drive N.W.
Calgary, AB
T2N 3Z6

...continue reading >

Play Sports. Avoid Facebook Depression.

Lots of buzz this week about Facebook Depression, the catchy ailment that is just one of the pitfalls highlighted in a clinical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. Additional comments from kids and specialists are in this article in the Globe and Mail. The AAP report isn't total negative on social media, highlighting both benefits as well as risks. It also suggests how parents and pediatricians can participate to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks.

Understanding how Facebook or other social media technology can skew a child's life is difficult because parents don't interact with their social circle on Facebook the same way or with the same intensity as their kids do (even if the parents are on Facebook). I'm 'on Facebook' don't really use it. I use Twitter and LinkedIn a lot more (which on the flip side, my kids don't see a need for), and these are more for listening, sourcing and sharing information than for posting status.

Intensity of use appears to be key. Problems occur when the social media technology tool becomes the main conduit and hang-out for social interaction. It's not just that Facebook or gaming or whatever the tech-enabled hangout presents a skewed view of the world, it's that such concentration and isolation can lead cause the child to seek help from only that source. Quoting from the AAP report (p.4), "...As with offline depression, preadolescents and adolescents who suffer from Facebook depression are at risk for social isolation and sometimes turn to risky Internet sites and blogs for “help” that may promote substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, or aggressive or selfdestructive behaviors..."

So the key is to be balanced and 'well-adjusted'.

And one big way that parents can help is to enable and encourage some other interest, away from texting or Facebook on smartphones. Play sports, or play music, dance, get involved in the community.

The important thing is to encourage expansion of experiences and kids' social circles in a variety of different ways, so that they'll find their passion, one that's fueled by their natural talents.

I'll bet passion always trumps depression, Facebook or otherwise.
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Concussion Recovery - Ready to Return to Competition

Twenty-seven days after being diagnosed with a concussion, my daughter is essentially fully recovered from her concussion. Last step is to to return to competition, which isn't going to happen until April 10 or 28.

Cleared for step 4 of the Return to Play protocol and full practice on March 20, she went to her 90 minute track & field practice on March 21, but held back on some of the plyometrics. Sore muscles but no concussion symptoms after practice.
On March 24, did a complete 90 minute track practice, plus 60 minutes in the weight room. Very sore muscles next day, but once again no concussion symptoms.
March 26 - went to 90 minute ringette tryout practice tune-up. No concussion symptoms.
March 27 - 90 minute ringette practice again, with chance of contact. No concussion symptoms.

So rest time is over. With both school and club track & field now on, my daughter has 6-7 hours a week of practice. She'll be fit and ready for ringette tryouts by the end of April.
...continue reading >

Spring Tune-Ups for A & AA Ringette Tryouts

To help players get ready for next season's A & AA ringette tryouts in April, Mississauga Ringette Association is holding four 1-hour on-ice tune-up practices for U14 (Tween), U16 (Junior) and U19 (Belle) players at Iceland Mississauga.

Dates: March 26, 27 and April 9, 10

Fee: $30 for 2 sessions

> View schedule on MRA website

> Download registration form (pdf) Includes information on pre-registration, etc.

...continue reading >

Ringette A & AA Tryouts for 2011-2012 Season

Tryout dates for A and AA Provincial Ringette Teams are now posted. Check back at the links below to confirm dates and times:

> Mississauga Ringette Teams

> Southern Region Ringette Tryout Page

Southern AA tryouts for U16 (Junior) and U19 (Belle) will be centralized this year. Pre-registration is needed. Visit the Tryout Page for more information.

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Southern AAA Ringette Tryouts

National Ringette Championships 2011 are next week but next season is already upon us. Letters were received this week in Southern Region by players 1993 birth year & later to register and tryout for the 2011-12 Southern AAA Ringette Team. Open tryouts are May 14-15.

Southern AAA ringette team's Head Coach is Courtney Schell, NRL Cambridge Turbos player and Head Coach this year of the 2010-11 Cambridge U16AA team.

The southern AAA ringette team will be one of six AAA ringette teams that will compete at the next Ontario Winter Games in Collingwood March 8-11, 2012.

Good luck to all!
...continue reading >

Cleared for Full Practice - 3 weeks After Concussion Diagnosis

It's 20 days tomorrow since my daughter's concussion diagnosis, and 4 weeks since she sustained her concussion. She's cleared to return to full practice.

Since ringette season is over, it won't be ringette practice but track & field/jumps practice. Ringette practice won't happen for a couple of weeks, and then it's pre-tryout tuneups, in preparation for ringette AA tryouts at the end of April.

Last week, she had 3 stationery bike tests. First at 50%, second at 100%. On Thursday, she spent 3 hour working on a school project with a friend, had a '3' headache after and pressure in her head. So re-did the 100% bike test and she was fine. Today, she exercised 2x on the elliptical at home (she's really bored) and had no symptoms at all. She was soooo happy not to have any symptoms (and we are too!)

Having had a baseline ImPACT test, she re-did that also. Since this was her second time doing the ImPACT test, some of her her post-concussion ImPACT scores were higher than her baseline. [Looks like test familiarity affects scores! Perhaps when a baseline is taken, it should be taken 2x if it's the very first time the player is taking the test.]

Saturday's Globe and Mail carried an article that Females More Susceptible to Concussion, Studies Suggest by Anne McIlroy, which says "...Evidence is mounting that women, who are more likely than men to suffer a sports-related concussion, also have more severe symptoms in the days immediately following the injury." University of Montreal's Dave Ellemberg is quoted as saying “The current clinical assessment protocols and return to play guidelines, which are almost entirely based on research with male athletes, are not only inappropriate for women but likely place them at a greater risk of suffering multiple concussions and experiencing long-term consequences of their injuries...”

We're glad we've erred on the side of caution, and look forward to hearing of further research. ...continue reading >

Bike Test Tomorrow, We Hope

Tomorrow is Day 14 after my daughter's concussion diagnosis. Reassessment by the doctor and then hopefully, the bike test, which is Step 1 on the Return to Play protocol.

She went to school for 2 half days and then 2 full days (no test, quizzes or homework). Dead tired after each day, but her headache never went above a "1".

Unfortunate to read about 14-year-old Andrejs Linde in the Globe and Mail, who's suffering from post-concussion and going through a much slower recovery (see The lessons of one young hockey player’s pain and denial)

Certainly do hope that he will do well in his re-assessment. However, he's been listening to music and left the house to watch one of his team's games while being told to 'do nothing'. Perhaps his doctors were as insistent as Drs Cruz and Amin at Pivot Sport Medicine. They made it very clear that 'do nothing' meant shutting down your brain as much as possible, preventing your neurons from firing at all and keeping your blood pressure low.

One of my daughter's team mates received a concussion in December. During the time she was told to rest, she went to school and came to the rink and sat with the team in their change room during pre-game. It is VERY LOUD in the change-room before a game, from music and players getting psyched up! She hasn't play ringette since. Her slow return to play influenced my daughter to follow the doctor's instructions diligently. We're very proud of her.

Fingers crossed (again) !

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Day 7 after Concussion Diagnosis - Back to Half-Day School

After 6 days of complete rest, my daughter had a '1' level headache and head pressure on the SCAT rating but was cleared to return to half day school for 2 days. After 2 half-days, if she's at the same level of symptoms and no worse, she can return for two full days. Until the end of the week, no homework, tests, assignments or heavy note-taking. The doctor just wants her to 'be present' and experience a noisier environment than home.

After the first half day, she's exhausted, has a '1' headache, and went to bed at 8:30 pm. For her, this is almost two hours earlier than bedtime on a normal school night.

The school was very understanding about deferring school work. I suppose that's because concussion diagnoses are becoming all too often. [Yesterday came news that Pittsburgh Penguin's Sidney Crosby's sister, Taylor Crosby, also has a concussion].

Next Monday, she'll attempt the 1st step of return to play, the stationery bike.

Fingers crossed!

...continue reading >

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