Billeting at SAHA
A new team and a place to feel at home
For an out-of-town player, the place they return to after school and hockey matters. SAHA’s billeting program connects student-athletes with local host families who become part of their experience in Southeast Alberta.
- Medicine Hat host families
- Private bedroom, family meals
- Matched, not assigned
- Move in late August
Home away from home
Join our team. Become a SAHA billet family
Every season SAHA welcomes players from across Canada and around the world. That is only possible because of local Medicine Hat families who serve as the home away from home for our out-of-town players.
Billet families and their players, on home ice
How it works
A thoughtful match
Placement considers both the player and the household. Families and players share information about their circumstances and expectations before a match is arranged, and the host family has the final say on whether a player is the right fit for their home.
Life in a billet home
A host family offers a place to live and everyday support. Players are expected to respect the household, contribute to daily life and follow the academy’s and the family’s expectations. Clear communication helps everyone build a positive relationship, especially as a player settles into a new season and community.
Read this first
Please read the Billet Information and Guidelines Package before submitting either application. It covers costs, responsibilities, move-in timing and transportation.
Billet Information and Guidelines Package
The process
From application to move-in day
Matching runs through the spring and summer so that players arrive in late August already knowing the family they are joining.
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April to May
Applications open
Host families complete the Host Family Application, and the Billeting Coordinator arranges a home visit. Accepted families complete criminal record checks. Players needing a billet apply as they are accepted into the program.
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May to June
Matching begins
The Billeting Coordinator begins matching players to families based on what each has shared about their circumstances and expectations.
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June to July
Families meet
The player’s family, the host family and the Billeting Coordinator connect by video call so questions can be asked on both sides. The host family makes the final decision to host.
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Late August
Move-in
Players move into their host family homes before the start of the school year and the hockey season.
Apply
Two applications, one match
Host families and players each complete a short questionnaire so we can match personalities and expectations, not just a bedroom and a schedule. Read the guidelines package first.
For host families
Become a billet family
You can be part of a young athlete’s experience far beyond game night. If you have space in your home and an interest in supporting a student-athlete, this is where it starts.
What we ask you to provide
- A separate, private bedroom furnished much like a dorm room: bed, desk and chair, clothing storage
- Nutritious meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks to meet the needs of a high-performing young athlete
- A caring, friendly, family-oriented home
- The same guidance and attention you would want for your own children
Opens in a new tab. Host families receive an honorarium to help offset costs; the guidelines package has the details.
For players and parents
Find your home for the season
Out-of-town players accepted into the program complete this questionnaire so we can find the right home. Share any dietary, household or support needs early in the conversation.
What is expected of billeted players
- Follow all team and host family house rules and show respect for every member of the household
- Keep shared areas and your own room tidy
- Help prepare and clean up from meals
- Do your own laundry unless other arrangements are made with the family
Opens in a new tab. Complete it once you have been accepted into the program.
Questions
Billeting, answered
The questions families ask most, from both sides of the front door.
What makes a great host family?
A caring and supportive family. It can be overwhelming for a player to be so far away from home. A thoughtful host family appreciates that each player is unique and that communication and mutual understanding take effort. Host families also serve as authority figures, role models and extended family to their player. Hosts receive an honorarium to help offset some of the costs, but the true rewards are the lasting relationships that develop.
May a family billet more than one player?
Yes, provided each player has their own private bedroom and closet. Two or more players can share transportation and often provide camaraderie for one another. Every player completes a detailed application and must follow specific guidelines for behaviour and academic performance.
What is a host family expected to provide?
A separate, private bedroom furnished much like a dorm room, with a bed, desk and chair and clothing storage. Nutritious meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks to meet the needs of a high-performing young athlete. A caring, friendly, family-oriented home. The same guidance and attention you would want for your own children.
What is expected of billeted players?
Players must follow all team and host family house rules and show respect for every member of the household. They keep shared areas and their own room tidy, help prepare and clean up from meals, and do their own laundry unless other arrangements are made with the family.
What helps a billet relationship work, from the host family's side?
Set clear guidelines early so the player knows what is expected. Learn what foods the player likes and understand the nutritional needs of an athlete. Know the practice and game schedule so mealtimes work. Respect the player's privacy and need for independence. Keep an open line of communication with the player's parents. Help the player feel at home in your house and in your community. Listen when a player is stressed about ice time, team issues or homesickness. Take an interest in the season and go to games when you can.
And from the player's side?
Know what is expected and acceptable in the host family's house, and remember you are a guest in someone else's home. Do not take things for granted; what was fine at home may not be fine here. Join family dinners and activities where appropriate. Be a positive role model for younger children in the family. Communicate with your host family, and do not take your problems out on them.
When does billeting start each year?
Host family applications open in April and May, matching runs through May and June, families meet by video call in June and July, and players move in during late August before school and the season begin.
Who do I contact about billeting?
Pam DeMan, Billeting Coordinator, at [email protected].
Your contact
Meet your billeting contact
Pam DeMan is SAHA’s Billeting Coordinator. Whether you are a family with a spare room or a player who needs one, Pam is the person to talk to about the application, screening and matching process.
[email protected] 403-527-5516 918 2nd Ave, Dunmore, Alberta A Prairie Rose Public Schools program