What is the check-in process at tryouts?

Your family will be greeted at Winter Garden Arena by the age level directors (ALDs). Your child will be issued a numbered pinnie. Please have your child dress in full hockey gear, including a neck guard, and wear the pinnie over his or her jersey. Goalies should have the number in front; all other players should have the number in back. Please register in advance and pay the tryout fee prior to arriving at the rink. If you arrive at the rink without having paid the tryout fee you will be asked to do it online in front of the ALD.

To check in you must also bring a tuition deposit check payable to Ridgefield Amateur Athletic Association (or RAHA). Squirts, Peewees, and Bantams tuition deposit is $2,500, Mites are $1,500. Please put your child’s name in the memo line. This tuition check will only be cashed once your player is placed on a RAHA team. If your player is not placed on a RAHA team your check will be destroyed.

Are there any forms to bring?

If you have completed all registration forms online, you have nothing to bring. If not, we will ask you to complete the forms on your mobile device while you are there, and you will need to provide your player’s 2022-23 USA Hockey number. Players transferring from another program will need to provide a release.

When do I need to be there?

You can double check your date and time slot on the website.

What do we do with the pinnie?

You will receive a pinnie the first night of tryouts. Please hold onto the pinnie. It is very important that your child wear the same pinnie for all three nights of tryouts, so please let one of the age level directors know if there are any issues. Make a note of your pinnie number, as tryout decisions will be announced by pinnie number. Your pinnie should be returned to your ALD after your final tryout. 

Why do teams have two sessions each night?

We believe that having fewer players on the ice at a time will give the evaluators and coaches a better look at each individual skater. After the first day, you will be notified as to which sessions your child should attend on day 2 and 3.

How do we find out whether our player has made a team, and which team?

The final team decisions will be posted on the website around 24-72 hours after the end of the last night of tryouts. Results will be posted by pinnie number so please take note of your child’s pinnie number.

How long do we have to make a decision?

You have 24 hours from the time that results are posted on the Web site to decline your child’s position on the team. If you decline, the deposit check will be destroyed. 

What happens next?

In the weeks following the announcement of teams, you will receive a welcome email from your player’s coach. Players who are new to RAHA will be asked to choose a number to wear on their jersey and will receive information about ordering their uniforms (approximately $250) as well as jackets, pants, and other RAHA spirit wear. RAHA will provide you with a number of forms to complete, including a Consent to Treat form, a Code of Conduct form, and a Parents’ Code of Conduct form. 

When does the season start?

Practices will begin for all teams in late August. 

How much is tuition for the 2022-2023 season?

Midget tuition will be approximately $2,500. AA team tuition will be approximately $5,130. Other Squirts, Peewees, and Bantams, tuition will be approximately $4,810. For Mites, tuition will be approximately $3,000. The deposit check that you submit at tryouts will be applied to that figure, and the balance will be due by September, 1, 2022.

Whom should I contact regarding any issues?

Please direct any inquiries, questions, or concerns to Mike Kelly (mkelly@ridgefieldhockey.org) or Mike Zarro (mzarro@ridgefieldhockey.org).  Please also let us know if your player will not be able to make one or more of the tryout sessions. 

What else should I know?

In order to keep the process fair and transparent, please do not contact or intercede with any of the coaches, evaluators, or age level directors regarding specific player issues related to tryouts. 

More information regarding the tryout process is available on our web site at Ridgefieldhockey.org.

Thank you for considering RAHA for your family. We look forward to seeing you on the ice.