- 1. How do I register to play for Bel-Air Lions or the Norsemen?
- 2. How much does it cost to play?
- 3. How are my registration fees used?
- 4. Is there any way I can lower my fees?
- 5. Do the Lions/Norsemen have a refund policy?
- 6. What's the difference between "team registration" and "league registration"?
- 7. What levels of play does the Bel-Air Club operate? What level would I play for?
- 8. Is the program open to both boys and girls?
- 9. What are the age and weight restrictions?
- 10. Do I have to buy equipment?
- 11. How much time does it take to play football?
- 12. How long is the season?
- 13. When and where are practices and games held?
- 14. When are the play-offs?
- 15. Where do I have to live to play for Bel-Air?
- 16. What are the rules of amateur football?
- 17. Is football a safe sport?
- 18. How long have the Bel-Air Lions been around?
- 19. Who are the Bel-Air Norsemen?
- 20. What is the mandate of the Bel-Air Copeland Lions Sports Club?
- 21. What is the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) and what do they do?
- 22. Where can I find more information about amateur football in Canada?
- 23. How do I become a team sponsor?
- 24. How can I become a volunteer?
- 25. I'm a player. How can I volunteer with Bel-Air?
- 26. How can I help with fundraising for the teams?
- 27. Why do we participate in Bingo? How can I help?
2. How much does it cost to play? $50 non refundable and no refunds after thr first game
3. How are my registration fees used? Your registration fees are used to help maintain and purchase equipment, to pay for league registration, to purchase the snacks and drinks you receive at the games and other activities that support the teams. Fundraising also helps to supply the things you need to play football. 4. Is there any way I can lower my fees? Yes. Bel-Air also offers assistance on a needs and case-by-case basis. Contact John Smith for more information. 5. Do the Lions/Norsemen have a refund policy? Partial refunds will be given if a player leaves before the start of the regular season. At the Midget level, $175 will be refunded (the Club retains $50). For all other levels, the Club retains $20 of the player's registration fees if a player leaves before the start of the regular season. There may be special situations (e.g. injury) where additional refunds may be considered. Once the regular season begins, no refunds are offered. 6. What's the difference between "team registration" and "league registration"? To play for the Lions, you must register with the Bel-Air Club; this is your "team" registration. Team registration occurs before the start of practices in June/July. Since the Bel-Air Lions are a member of the "league" - the National Capital Amateur Football Association, or NCAFA -- all its players must undergo a second registration to participate in the regular season. At the League registration, you will take part in the "weigh-in" and present proof of age to ensure you are eligible for the team you are playing with (see question 7 for more information). Once you have registered, you will receive a players card. League registration occurs just prior to the beginning of the regular season. <<TOP>>7. What levels of play does the Bel-Air Club operate? What level would I play for? There are 6 Bel-Air Copeland Lions teams, including Tyke, Mosquito, Pee Wee, Bantam, Midget (the Norsemen) and Girls' Touch. Boys and girls are welcome to play at all levels, except Girls' Touch which is for girls only. Your age determine which team you join. <<TOP>>8. Is the program open to both boys and girls? Yes, both boys and girls may play Bel-Air Lions' football at Tyke, Mosquito, Pee Wee, Bantam or Midget levels. We also have a Girls' Touch team for girls between the ages of 12-14 years. For more information about which level you would play for, see question 9. 9. What are the age and weight restrictions? Ther are no longer any weight restrictions at any level. 10. Do I have to buy equipment? All football equipment is provided by the Bel-Air Club for both practices and games, except footwear (running shoes). Players are outfitted with equipment at the beginning of the season. Each player is then responsible for caring for the equipment throughout the season (e.g. keeping it clean, all screws tightened on a regular basis) and returning it at the end of the season. 11. How much time does it take to play football? The Lions and Norsemen practice three nights a week, starting in July. There is also a game every weekend starting at the end of August until the season ends in mid-October. Play-offs are generally over by the first week of November. Each game is approximately 2 hours in length. For current game and practice schedules, click here. The season typically begins in August and runs until mid-October, followed by play-offs. Teams begin practicing in July, approximately 1.5 months before the first game. Click here for current practice and game schedules.... 13. When and where are practices and games held? Practices begin in July each year and the first game is usually held the last week of August. The season typically finishes in mid-October. Bel-Air teams from Tyke to Bantam levels, practice at Raven Park, the Lions' practice field; the Midget team, the Norsemen, practices at McKellar Park, (on Wavell Avenue). Lions' home games are played at Merivale High School. The Norsemen play at the Nepean Sportsplex for their home games. Away games for all teams are played at numerous fields throughout Ottawa. Click here for maps to the game fields. NCAFA play-offs are usually held at the end of October and Midget play-offs are usually held the first week of November. 15. Where do I have to live to play for Bel-Air? Each team in the National Capital Amateur Football Association has a certain territory from which they draw their players. The Lions' territory runs from Bronson Avenue, west on Heron Road to the Rideau River; south along the Rideau River to Hunt Club Road; west on Hunt Club Road to Merivale Road; north on Merivale Road to Clyde Avenue; Clyde Avenue to Baseline Road; Baseline Road to Woodroffe Avenue; north on Woodroffe Avenue to Highway 417; northeast on the 417 to Tweedsmuir Avenue; north on Tweedsmuir to the Ottawa River; east along the Ottawa to Bronson Avenue; and south on Bronson Avenue to Heron Road. Map of Bel-Air territory. If you aren't in Lions' territory, check out the NCAFA web site to find your home territory. 16. What are the rules of amateur football? Our games are played in accordance with Football Canada's Canadian Rule Book for Tackle Football. Also, check out the National Capital Amateur Football Association Constitution for rules which apply specifically to NCAFA clubs including the Bel-Air Lions. Football is a contact sport and every effort is made to ensure that your child does not sustain injuries while on the field. All children are required to wear full equipment including a helmet and mouth guard. All equipment (except shoes) is provided by Bel-Air. The helmets are certified annually and the equipment is checked and replaced when it is no longer safe to use. In addition, all NCAFA football clubs have volunteers who are trained in first aid on the field at practices and games. 18. How long have the Bel-Air Lions been around? The Bel-Air Copeland Lions Sports Club was formed in 1962 with a Pee Wee team. In 1970, a Mosquito team was added and the Club began to grow. Last year, the Bel-Air Lions Football Club had 6 teams, including the Bel-Air Norsemen and the Girls' Touch team, and about 200 players registered! The Lions are completely run and staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers. Bel-Air has been a proud member of the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) since 1962. 19. Who are the Bel-Air Norsemen? The Norsemen is the name of Bel-Air's Midget team. The Bel-Air Lions welcomed the Norsemen to their team in 2002 when the Ontario Midget Football League (OMFL) joined forces with the National Capital Amateur Football Association. At that time, an agreement was made between the Norsemen and the Bel-Air Lions and the Norsemen became part of the Lions' football club. The Norsemen will be practicing at McKellar Park. 20. What is the mandate of the Bel-Air Copeland Lions Sports Club? Our mandate is to provide tackle and touch football programmes for youngsters in our league designated area. The Club endeavours to raise funds to provide all uniforms and equipment for the players, to pay all league fees, and to support ongoing operations of the Club. Our primary objectives are to: 21. What is the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) and what do they do? The National Capital Amateur Football Association was established in 1955. It now has 13 member clubs across the City of Ottawa and is the largest amateur football association in Canada. NCAFA's mission is to foster and encourage participation by boys and girls up to age 22 in organized amateur football. Its mission is based on core values of fair play, team work, discipline, education and participation. NCAFA aims to achieve a quality experience for all participants including players, coaches, officials, parents, and families and to ensure a fun, healthy, safe and harassment free environment for the players. 22. Where can I find more information about amateur football in Canada? - National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) - the largest amateur football association in Canada. The Bel-Air Lions are a member club of NCAFA. 23. How do I become a team sponsor? The Bel-Air Lions' rely on volunteers and fundraising to cover most of their expenses. If your company would like to support the Bel-Air Lions' in any way, please contact John Smith, Lions' President at 948-6170. 24. How can I become a volunteer? The Bel-Air Copeland Lions Football Club is a volunteer organization. Our teams rely on parents, players and other community members to keep us running smoothly. Whether you have a little or a lot of time to give, want to help "BEHIND THE SCENES" or "IN THE LIMELIGHT", "JUST ONCE OR TWICE" or on "GAME DAYS" there are plenty of ways that you can form part of our volunteer family. Here are some ideas about how you can help: Behind the Scenes: videotape or photograph throughout the season, provide treats for players after practices/games, recruit more players to join the Club, fundraising, bingo. In the Limelight: help coach or manage a team, or become an equipment manager Just Once or Twice: help keep our facilities clean, help create our annual yearbook or help us plan and provide our annual year-end players' banquet. Game Days: be a field manager, scorekeeper or timekeeper, help the stick crew, become a team trainer, provide refreshments for the players (cost reimbursed), help at the canteen or provide help with the carpool and provide transportation for players before games. 25. I'm a player. How can I volunteer with Bel-Air? The Bel-Air Copeland Lions Football Club is a volunteer organization. Our teams rely on parents, players and other community members to keep us running smoothly. You may even be able to use your volunteer hours with Bel-Air towards your high school degree! Players can help with many different tasks from videotaping games to fundraising, from assisting with the annual yearbook to helping the stick crew on game day. Click here to find out more. 26. How can I help with fundraising for the teams? Bel-Air has the lowest registration fees in the League. One of the reasons that we are able to continue to offer low fees is the fundraising that we do throughout the year. Our primary fundraising activities include bingo, 50/50 and the canteen you see at our games. For more information about our fundraising activities, or to volunteer to help raise funds for the Bel-Air Lions and Norsemen, contact Lisa Chartier. 27. Why do we participate in Bingo? How can I help? Bingo provides additional resources to the Bel-Air Lions and Norsemen which allow us to keep your registration fees among the lowest in Ottawa. Bel-Air volunteers work Sunday night at Bingoland South on Slack Road. We need 5-6 volunteers every week to help sell bingo cards. Some of our Bingo volunteers come every week, others come once a month and still others come every once in a while....you can let us know what your schedule can handle! You do not need to know how to play Bingo and we will provide you with training. If you are interested in helping out, please contact John Smith. <<TOP>> |