Billet Families
Billets are families who invite junior players into their homes to be a part of their family during the hockey season. The billet family provides housing and support to young men who have moved away from home to pursue their dreams of playing the game they love. Billets are an integral part of junior hockey and organizations like the Greater Metro Hockey League and its teams.
Junior league players, who range in age from 16-20, look to their billet families to provide not only a roof over their heads, but also a comfortable and safe family atmosphere. The players take part in many aspects of normal family life with their billets, including family meals and taking on active “big brother” roles with their younger billet brothers and sisters.
Billet parents serve as authority figures, role models, and extended family to their assigned players, and players rely on their billet parents for help while transitioning to a new city and community. The efforts of billet families make a significant difference in the lives of the young men who have left home for the opportunity to play at a more elite level. Junior Hockey players show dramatic changes in confidence levels, grade point averages, social graces, work ethic, and more while living with billet families instead of on their own. The benefit derived from placing the players with billet families is truly immeasurable.
The unique bond families form with their players often last a lifetime: It is not uncommon for players to keep in close contact with their former billet family years after playing junior hockey.
A long-standing tradition in hockey culture, billets are a vital part of a team’s success, both on and off the ice.
If you would like to apply to become a billet family, please fill in and submit our initial intake form below. You will be asked more detailed information after we contact you.
Honorarium for billet families is $500 per month, per player.
Safety and transparency are important to all teams and the league. As such, players sign an in-depth Code of Conduct along with their player contract (copy can be viewed HERE), which includes a non-drinking and no drug use policy, strict curfew, etc. A site visit and criminal record/vulnerable sector checks by billet parents are also part of the leagues player safety policy.
HOST FAMILY GUIDELINES
To be a mentor, friend, counselor, and a good role model.
To provide a clean, family-oriented environment.
To provide a private bedroom.
To treat the player as “one of the family”.
“Guests” are not permitted in the player’s bedroom.
Provide three (3) balanced meals a day. Meals should be wholesome and varied.
Flexibility on behalf of Billet Family and players is needed in this area. Billets should talk with the play and determine his preference in foods. If no one is home and the player cannot prepare his own meal then plans to reheat a meal should be in place. Team provides all meals while on the road.
In the event a player has to share a room, it will be with another team-mate only.
Enforce curfews established by the General Manager (GM) and report any violations.
Ensure that players do not leave the city/town without permission from the GM.
Ensure players attend all classes, either high school or post-secondary, including after away games. All players must notify the GM if they will be late or absent. Players are to provide the Host Family with a timetable of their classes.
Report any incidents involving player safely, security or well-being to the GM and Billet Coordinator immediately.
Report any concerns with the player to the GM and Billet Coordinator.
Ensure that underage players are not given access to alcoholic beverages.
If the player has a medical emergency, billets are asked to take appropriate steps – i.e. go to the hospital/call emergency services – first – then contact the GM.
