Burnaby Wildcats
Volunteers
BFIHA runs on volunteer passion—building community, supporting teams, and creating a positive hockey experience for all!
"Volunteers don't necessarily have the time, but they have the heart."
BFIHA offers a variety of volunteer roles at the association, tournament, and team levels. Help with Picture Day, tryouts, evaluations, equipment, and goalie support, or assist at tournaments with raffles, fundraising, and sponsorships. Every volunteer makes a difference in supporting our players and building a strong hockey community!
Volunteer with BFIHA!
BFIHA thrives on the dedication of volunteers who support events, coaching, and team operations. Their efforts create a positive hockey experience, fostering skill development, teamwork, and a love for the game. Volunteers are the backbone of our association, making everything possible!
- Building a Hockey Family – Volunteers create a supportive and connected community where players and families feel at home.
- The Heart of Our Association – Their dedication keeps our programs running, ensuring every player has the best experience possible.
- Keeping Hockey Within Reach – By giving their time, volunteers help make hockey more affordable and accessible for all.
- Shaping Future Leaders – Coaches and mentors inspire young athletes, teaching life skills that go far beyond the game.
Contact us today to share your interests and find out how you can get involved!
How You Can Help
There are numerous ways to get involved and contribute your time and skills. Some of the volunteer opportunities include:
- Picture Day
- Tryouts
- House evaluations
- Equipment Manager helper
- Goalie Manager helper
- Volunteer Banquet helper
- Various tournament roles (raffle table, 50/50, etc.)
- Planning committee
- Sponsorship
- Fundraising
- Association Ambassador (engage with visitors, answer questions, gather feedback, etc.)
- Coaching and Assistant Coaching
- Team Management
- Timekeeping
- Scorekeeping
- Dressing Room parents
- Video (record or livestream games)
- Music (if separate from scorekeeping)
- Social coordinator (organize team lunches, dinners, social activities)
Volunteering FAQs
BFIHA deeply values the time and effort contributed by all our volunteers. While we encourage all families to participate in our volunteer program, we recognize the significant contributions made by individuals in key roles. As such, the following positions are exempt from the volunteer hour requirements:
- Board Members: Exempt due to their ongoing commitment and responsibilities in overseeing the association's operations and strategic direction.
- BFIHA Support Staff: Equipment managers, Goalie equipment managers, and similar roles, who do extensive planning before and during the season.
- Tournament Committee Members: Exempt due to their critical role in organizing and managing tournaments.
- Division Managers: Exempt due to the significant time and effort they contribute in overseeing and coordinating activities across different age groups and divisions.
- Rostered Team Officials: This includes head coaches, assistant coaches, HSCP, and team managers, who are directly responsible for the training, development, safety, and management of our teams.
By recognizing the contributions of these key roles, we ensure that our volunteer program is fair and acknowledges the essential functions these individuals perform within BFIHA.
The U18 division will be exempt from the volunteer program due to the following considerations:
- Paid Game Roles: U18 Rep teams utilize paid timekeepers and scorekeepers, reducing the number of volunteer opportunities available for parents.
- Player Independence: Many U18 players drive themselves to practices and games, meaning parents are not always present to volunteer.
- Tournament Participation: BFIHA does not host a dedicated tournament for the U18 division, limiting additional opportunities for parental involvement.
These factors have led to the decision to exempt U18 parents from the volunteer requirements, ensuring fairness across all divisions.
For our U21 teams, we understand that it can be more challenging to engage parents in volunteer activities, as many U21 players drive themselves to practices and games. Therefore, U21 parents are exempt from the general volunteer program requirements.
To ensure smooth game operations and support our team managers, the following measures have been implemented:
- Game Timekeeper and Scorekeeper Compensation: U21 teams will compensate scorekeepers and timekeepers $25 per game. This cost will be included in the team fees collected by the team manager.
- Parent Participation Priority: Parents within the team who wish to volunteer as timekeepers or scorekeepers are given priority, providing an opportunity for those who want to be involved.
- Securing Game Helpers: The Director of Volunteers will maintain a mailing list of willing game helpers. U21 team managers can use this mailing list to broadcast game availability and ensure these essential roles are always staffed.
By implementing these adjustments, we aim to streamline game operations for our U21 team while providing fair compensation for those who take on these important roles. We appreciate the ongoing support of our parents and volunteers in maintaining the high standards of BFIHA.