2025 Winnipeg Winter Ball Hockey FAQ's & Policies

Please also refer to the WBHL Winter rules & regulations module.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE OFFICIAL WINTER BALL HOCKEY HOME PAGE

 

What are the basics of Winter Ball hockey ?
Winter Ball Hockey is played in a gymnasium with a soft orange liquid ball. Four players, including the goalie, (Five players, including the goalie for coed) compete against the opposing team's 4 players. Additional players are on opposing corners of each bench, and they are swapped with the players on the floor, either while the game is in progress or during a play stoppage. Every match is officiated by a single qualified referee (except for playoffs, where two referees are present) and a timekeeper.

Can I participate if I am under the age of 16?
Players under the age of 16 need to have waiver forms signed by their parent or legal guardian.
 

How often do we play ?
Usually, there is one game per week, scheduled on Sundays. There is also the possibility of a double header at some point during the seaon. 

What levels of play do you offer & divisions & when are the games played ?
Men’s A Division will play most games on Sunday aftermoons 

Men’s B Division will play most games on Sunday aftermoons/evenings 
Men’s C Division will play most games on Sunday evenings 

Co-ed division  will play most games on Sunday mornings/aftermoons 

Women's Division will play games on Sunday's in early December.

 

Where are the games played ?
Games are played at River Osborne Community Center loacted at 101 Pembina Hwy in Winnipeg (Confusion Corner)
 

When does the season start and end ?
The season starts October 30, 2024. The season will end in Approx Early March. 

 

What is provided by the WBHL/MBHA?

Online Payment Sysyem

Association Membership
Trained Officials
Timekeepers

Live Game Scores
Online Statistics & Player Profiles on our easy to navigate website

Division Championship Prizes

Trophy Presentation for Division winners
Limited Player Accident Insurance

What is the cost for the 2024-25 season ?
Men's Division  - $1675.00 (14 plus playoffs)

Coed Division  -  $1675.00 (14 plus playoffs)

Women's Division - $900.00  (8 plus playoffs)

Individuals (Free Agents) - $165.00 (Team uniform with number is an additional $30.00 including GST) if placed on a league based team - We will contact all registrants prior to the the season with purchase details.

 

Who is responsible for covering the payments of league fees for team entries ?

Team representatives as indicated on the registration form are ultimately responsible for all outstanding fees by his or her team, and as such are legally liable for their team's financial commitments. We have payment options where players can go online and make payments towards a team. If a player requests a refund it is at the descretion of the team rep to provide and decide if a refund will be made. The league has no control over individual payments from players based on a team unless a free agent based team. Refund requests are to be made to the team rep in question. If a player makes a payment from our online system on behalf of a team in the online form, they are still required to go through the team rep with regards to refunds. The league will not refund custom payments unless requested by the team rep in question. 

 

Does the league offer a payment plan ?

Yes. All Teams must be either paid in full before your 1^st game of the season or you will automatically be placed on the league payment plan. If you go on the payment plan, the cost will be an additional $50.00 per team.

 

Is there a deposit required to register a team ?
Yes. A minimum deposit of $400.00 is required to enter a team. Individuals must pay in full.

 

I don't currently have a team, can I sign up as an individual ?
Yes. Every season the league creates a team of individuals in Men's C  & Coed Divisions. If you are looking to play in a higher division, we will contact all current teams to see if any roster spots are available. All individuals must be registered and paid in full before we can place he or she on a team.

 

Does the league provide Jersey's if I sign up as an Individual ?

Yes. Once registered, you will receive an email requesting your Jersey size. They will be available at your first game for the cost of $30.00. 

 

Does the league provide Jersey's if I register a team ?

No. It is the team reps responsibility to provide jersey's.

 

If I register a team, can my players make payments online towards my team ?

Yes. They can click the "Make A Custom Payment" sublink under REGISTRATION located on the top left hand side of our website. Just have them enter the team name in the form field and a credit will be applied once payment is confirmed. You will receive a confirmation email detailing all payments received towards your team. You can also use this method to accumulate your deposit.

 

How many games will each team receive ?
All teams will play 14 regular season games plus a minimum of 2 playoffs.

What is your refund policy ?
Refunds will not be accepted after Oct 20, 2024. All refunds are subject to a $25 Administration Fee. This applies to Team deposits and Free agents.

How long are the games ?
Games consist of two 20-minute Halves with the last 2 minutes of the game stop time, if there is a three or less goal spread.

How can I register for 2024-25 Season ?
Online registration forms and payment options (Etransfer & Credit Card) are available on our website. You may also mail in your team deposit or payment. You can register by clicking on REGISTRATION link  at the top left of our website.

 

Where Do I find instructions for registration ?

You may click on the "REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS" link on our website. The direct link is Here

What equipment is required to play ?
Mandatory equipment includes running shoes, Ice Hockey Gloves/Ball Hockey Gloves or Lacross gloves.

Recommended: shin pads (soccer or hockey), protective cup.

Are visors or cages required ?
If you are under 16, you will be required to wear full facial protection.

If I use protective shin pads, do they need to be covered ?

Sport socks must be worn by players who wear protective shin pads. They must cover the entire shin guard, but no higher than the top of the shin (knees should not be covered). For players who wear Mylec or D-Gel brand shin guards are not required to cover them with socks.

 

Does the league supply any equipment ?
Player equipment is the players responsibility. The league will provide a set of goalie equipment at the gym if required.

Are teams required to have matching jersey's ?
All teams must have a matching sweater color & shade, (IE: All blue or all black Etc, the stripes do not have to match, just the base color) with a one or two permanent digit number on the Back between 0-99 by November 12.. Taped numbers and sleveless shirts are not permitted. 

How many games am I required to play to qualify for the playoffs ?
All players must play in 4 regular season games to qualify for the Playoffs. All goaltenders must play in 1 regular season game in the goalie position to qualify for the Playoffs. If a player is injured at any point during the season and wants to receive credit for a game, he or she must be present to sign the game sheet and inform the timekeeper prior to the game. Picture ID may be required.

What if my goalie is unavailable for playoffs ?
Teams should make necessary arrangements to dress a second goalie at some point during the season. Teams also have the option to use a regular player in the goalie position if they have played 6 games as an attacker.

How many players can I have on my roster ?
Each Coed team is allowed a 20 player roster including Goaltenders.
Each Men's And Women's team is allowed a 18 player roster including Goaltenders.

 

What happens if I exceed the player roster limit ?
The league will carefully keep track of rosters throughout the season. If a team reaches the limit, their roster becomes frozen for the remainder of the season.

 

How many games does a player have to participate in to count against the roster ?

Once a player has participated in one game, this counts towards their player roster number. You can keep track of roster sizes by selecting the team in question in the statistics section of our webste.

How many players can I dress for a game ?
Coed teams are allowed to have a maximum of 11 players dressed/participating per game including goalie.  

Men’s & Women’s teams are allowed to have a maximum of 10 players dressed/participating per game including goalie(s). If a team has max amount of players in a game, only those are eligible to participate. No Subsitutions are allowed if a player gets injured or adding an additional goaltender.

 

If a team has max amount of players participating in a game, only those are eligible to participate for the duration. No Subsitutions are allowed if a player gets injured or adding an additional goaltender. If a team only has one goaltender dressed and has the max amount of players & an injury occurs, an attacking must play in the goaltender position for the remainder of the game or play without a goalie.

 

How many players are required to start and finish a game ?
Co-ed games are normally played with 2 males, 2 females and a goalie on the floor. A team may start and finish the game with 2 attackers and a goalie, or 3 attackers and no goalie. Anything less will result in a default. A team may play with up to 4 females on the floor at any time but no more than 2 males (excluding the goalie) may be on the floor at any given time. If a team pulls the goalie or plays without a goalie an extra male or female player may be added to the floor.

 

Men’s & Women’s games are played 3 on 3 plus goalie and must have at least 3 players on the floor to start a game.  A team may start and finish the game with 2 attackers and a goalie, or 3 attackers and no goalie. Anything less will result in a default.

 

Is there a mercey rule ?

Yes. If a team has a 12 or more goal lead with 10 or less minutes left in the game, the game will be called and the and the score at that time will be recorded as the final score.

 

What happens if the opposing team defaults a game ?

The team that defaults will be recorded in the standings as a 3-0 loss. Only the opposing team’s current rostered players as per the statistics section as played 1 or more games will receive credit. Any new players for the non defaulting team must inform the league via email within 24 hours to receive credit for the game. Game credits for defaults will not be issued after this period.

If both participating teams default a game, the game will be recorded as a default loss in the standings for both teams & no players will receive game credits.

Will there be league championships in every division ?
Yes, there will be a league championship for each respective division.

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