St. Paul Capitals Season

Transcription

1 St. Paul Capitals Seasn Mite/8U Guidebk fr Parents & Guardians Welcme! The St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin (SPCHA) welcmes yu and yur child t participate in a fun upcming year f Mite (bys) r 8U (girls) level hckey. We hpe yu find the fllwing guidebk t be a helpful tl fr parents and guardians, but mst imprtantly, we hpe this hckey seasn will help yur child develp a passin fr the fun sprt f hckey! SPCHA Missin Statement T prvide the pprtunity fr St. Paul area yuth t participate in the sprt f ice hckey, and develp the skills and knwledge necessary fr all players t cmpete at their highest level pssible. Guidebk Cntents 1. Yur Rle as Parents/Guardians 2. Levels, Teams & Registratin Inf 3. Equipment 4. Charles M. Schulz Ice Arena (aka Highland Arena) 5. Web Site & Parent Resurces 6. Team Schedules 7. Practices, Scrimmages & Games 8. Vlunteer Hurs and Fundraising Respnsibilities 9. Mite Jams & Turnaments 10. Caching Opprtunities 11. Abut the SPCHA 12. FAQs St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

2 1. Yur Rle as Parents/Guardians One f the mst imprtant things that yu can d as an assciatin parent/guardian is t shw psitive supprt! Here are a few helpful reminders abut ur simple cde f cnduct fr parents/guardians: Remember that children participate t have fun and that the game is fr yuth, NOT adults. Please be a psitive rle mdel fr all skaters and encurage sprtsmanship by shwing respect and curtesy, and demnstrating psitive supprt fr all players, caches, fficials and spectatrs at every game and practice. Set a gd example by nt engaging in any kind f unsprtsmanlike r petty cnduct with any fficial, cach, player, r parent such as bing and taunting; r using prfane language r gestures. Teach yur skater t play by the rules, listen t their cach, and t reslve cnflicts withut resrting t hstility r vilence. Demand that yur skater treat ther players, caches, fficials and spectatrs with respect regardless f race, creed, clr, sex r ability. Teach yur player that ding ne s best, wrking hard, being cmmitted and attending all practices/games, and skill develpment are far mre imprtant than winning, s that he/she will never feel defeated by the utcme f a game. Never ridicule r yell at any player (yur wn included) fr making a mistake. Prmte the emtinal and physical well-being f the athletes ahead f any persnal desire yu may have fr yur skater t win. Respect the fficials and their authrity during games. Never questin, discuss a cncern with a cach in r arund the lcker rm area, rather, take the time t speak yur cach at an agreed upn time and place where yu can speak privately. Refrain frm caching yur child r ther players during games and practices, unless yu are ne f the fficial caches f the team. Related Resurces n the SPCHA Web Site: New t Hckey Infrmatin St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

3 2. Levels, Teams & Registratin Inf Here are the age guidelines fr the varius levels in St. Paul Capitals hckey fr : 1. 8U/Mite: Mini-Mite: Brn n r after July 1, U/Mite A/B/C: Brn July 1, 2008 t June 30, Squirt: Brn July 1, 2006 t June 30, Peewee: Brn July 1, 2004 t June 30, Bantam: Brn July 1, 2002 t June 30, 2004 St. Paul Capitals seasn registratin pens in August each year. T play fr the St. Paul Capitals, all players must als register with USA Hckey (mandatry requirement fr all hckey players/levels). With the USA Hckey registratin, players will ccasinally receive a hckey magazine during the year. The number f 8U, Mite A, B, C teams will vary each year depending n enrllment and skill levels. Yu miss 100% f the shts yu never take... Wayne Gretzky St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

4 3. Equipment All 8U/mite hckey players need t supply their wn equipment. There are plenty f secnd-hand stres that ffer great ptins fr equipment. Make sure the equipment is in gd wrking cnditin, especially when cnsidering used helmets and skates. All 8U/mite players will receive a jersey and hckey scks frm the St. Paul Capitals t use during the seasn. Older players are required t purchase a jersey and scks. 8U/Mite hckey players shuld have each f the fllwing mandatry equipment items, all labeled with the player s name t simplify the lcker rm equipment scramble: Hckey skates Hckey stick (when chsing a stick, ask the stre clerk t help with stick selectin and height; mst yung mites wuld benefit frm a relatively straight blade) Hckey bag (gal is t fit all the equipment in the bag; bnus if yur child can carry the bag n his/her wn) Shin guards Athletic supprter (fr bys) with velcr t hld up hckey scks (r garter t hld up scks) Breezers (red is SPCHA preferred clr) Elbw pads Shulder pad Glves Helmet (nte that helmets have an expiratin date sticker n them, s watch the dates and make sure that yu have the helmet prperly sized fr yur child s head als, SPCHA unifrm plicy mandates that players wear a white helmet, althugh the plicy is nt strictly enfrced) Muthguard (it wuld be gd t have 1-2 extra n hand; remember t fit them befre play) Optinal equipment, sme f these items are strngly recmmended Water bttle with lng straw t drink/squirt thrugh face mask r squeeze bttle mdel Twel t wipe the skates dry after skating Misture wicking undergarments Sft skate blade cvers t prtect the blades Outdr skating apparel if applicable (glve liners underneath hckey glves, thin hat and/r neck insert under the hckey helmet, skate guards) Hckey tape Hckey skate laces (the lnger lengths can be helpful t tie arund 8U/mite s ankles fr extra supprt) Hckey bag dedrizer yu wn t believe the stink little peple can prduce in that equipment! Practice jersey(s) if applicable, evaluatins may require specific jersey clrs Hckey puck r ball fr at-hme stick handling practice Backup hckey stick, just in case the primary stick breaks St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

5 4. Charles M. Schulz Ice Arena (aka Highland Arena) The hme ice arena fr the St. Paul Capitals is Charles M. Schulz/Highland ice arena at 800 Suth Snelling Avenue, St. Paul MN There are tw sheets f ice, ne is called Nrth arena and the ther is Suth arena. Nrth Arena (Arena #1) The Nrth arena has mre fan seating capacity and serves as the hme ice fr several high schl hckey teams. There are several benches near the cncessin stand where fans can watch the game and stay warm. Suth Arena (Arena #2) The Suth arena has bleachers, plus there is a rm where fans can watch hckey and stay warm. Yu can access the suth arena bservatin rm via the hallway t the left f the cncessin stand. Many parents and siblings watch Suth arena practices frm this rm. The Suth arena als has a synthetic ice training area rm at the ppsite end frm the entrance dr. The training rm is generally reserved fr the lder players, althugh team and individual pictures are taken in that rm at the start f each seasn. Lcker rms There are 8 lcker rms supprting bth arenas; the rms are numbered 1-8. Lcker rms 1, 2, 7, 8 are typically reserved fr players in the Suth arena. Lcker rms 3, 4, 5, 6 are typically reserved fr players in the Nrth arena. T knw what lcker rm yur child shuld be in, check ut the TV mnitrs n the upper r lwer levels. Nte that the ice times between the Nrth and Suth arena smetimes start nly 10 minutes apart, s review the lcker rm assignments carefully. Hckey players want t be in the lcker rm with their teammates, especially Mites/8U players. At the Mite/8U and mini-mite levels, everyne expects that the players need help getting their equipment n, especially tying skates. Mms and/r dads are encuraged t help their mites/ 8U players get ready fr practice and make sure their skates are tight. Fr safety reasns, players with hckey equipment must g thrugh the lwer level dr int the Suth arena. There are signs reminding players t use the right entrance. There are a handful f parking places dwn in the lwer level f the parking lt near the Suth arena entrance drs. Please be curteus and d nt duble park. Skate sharpening is ffered at the arena during select hurs. Please cntact the arena directly at t determine the hurs f peratin. Additinal skating prgrams are ffered at the arena thrughut the year, such as Ramsey Cunty s Learn-t-Skate Prgram check ut the brchures in the lwer level lcker rm area in between the arenas. St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

6 5. Web Site & Parent Resurces T keep csts dwn, the St. Paul Capitals rganizatin relies n electrnic cmmunicatin via and the St. Paul Capitals web site: Parents are expected t read cmmunicatins sent ut via and/r ntificatins t read the web site fr pertinent infrmatin. Each team s schedule and cach cntact infrmatin is psted n the web site under the Teams sectin. Peple can als chse t subscribe t an icalendar feed t keep track f the team schedule. Key links t ther great resurces, including the USA Hckey web site, RinkFinder.cm and many mre valuable resurces, can be fund at the main St. Paul Capitals hckey web site, such as under Abut Us > Ice Lcatins : Still need help navigating Mite r 8U hckey? Please cntact spcha.ps@gmail.cm and Katie Murphy will cnnect yu with the right resurces. St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

7 6. Team Schedules Mite/8U Warm-ups 1. 8U/Mite A, B and C level players have the ptin t begin the hckey seasn with Mite/8U Warm-ups. 2. Mite/8U warm-up hckey sessins are ptinal and start several weeks befre the start f the seasn. The sessins prvide an pprtunity fr players t get ready fr the seasn with structured drills and mini-scrimmage time as well. Mite/8U Evaluatins 1. After the Mini-Mite level, Mite/8U players g thrugh a player evaluatin in rder t determine level and team placement. St. Paul Capitals typically reserves tw weekends in Octber fr the evaluatins. 2. The gal f the evaluatins is t figure ut hw many 8U, Mite A, B and C teams will exist and then place the players n each team. 3. The evaluatin prcess is led by a vlunteer crdinatr each year. Frmer and current caches help assess the players during drills and als during scrimmage play. 4. Each player has a number pinned t his/her jersey r wears a pinney and will be evaluated during skills drills and mini scrimmage situatins. 5. Keep in mind that vlunteer resurces are ding their best t grup kids by their ability. 6. After evaluatins, teams are psted n the web site and within a cuple f days, players are cntacted by the applicable cach (by phne r ) and given the details n the first practice and team phts. Team Phts 1. Team phts are scheduled at the beginning f the seasn. Players are asked t participate in team phts regardless f pht purchase plans. 2. Team phts are taken in the synthetic ice training rm at the far end f the Suth arena. St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

8 7. Practices, Scrimmages & Games What des a typical week lk like fr Mite/8U hckey players? 1. An hur f ice time Saturday mrning 2. An hur f ice time Sunday mrning 3. An ccasinal hur f ice time fr practice ne ther time during the week Parents and guardians have a few respnsibilities as it relates t practices. Caches spend a lt f extra time preparing fr practices and they want t make the best use f the ice time. Yur respnsibilities: 1. be n time players need t be fully dressed ready t skate n the ice as sn as the Zambni finishes cleaning the ice 2. parents f Mite/8U players are expected t be in the lcker rm t help their kids get equipment n and skates tied tightly and then undressed after practice (as necessary); either mms r dads are welcme t help their kids at this level 3. cmmunicate t the cach if yur player will miss practice (r a game) 4. be aware that practices are ften at the St. Paul Capitals hme arena (Charles M. Schulz arena), but they can be elsewhere watch the schedule carefully 5. stay at the arena during practice (r have anther designated parent help ut if necessary), especially fr thse with yunger hckey players 6. discuss with yur child the imprtance f being a gd listener n the ice Hckey is exciting and as parents, we get excited watching ur kids play hckey, especially during scrimmages and games. It is imprtant t remember that kids ntice fan behavir and St. Paul Capitals hckey fans are expected t be respectful and encuraging t all yung players. The biggest thing we get ut f it is seeing the kids smile. And hpefully we will als see that the lessns we re teaching nt nly the fundamentals f hckey, but als the life values are sinking in. Bbby Orr St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

9 8. Vlunteer Hurs and Fundraising Respnsibilities The St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin (SPCHA) wrks very hard t try t keep hckey fees reasnable. This sectin in the guidebk utlines the vlunteer and fundraising cmmitments that allw the assciatin t ffset expenses and maintain reasnable player fees. The SPCHA culd nt functin as an assciatin withut the vlunteer help f the parents and guardians f the players. There are 3 primary types f vlunteer and fundraising respnsibilities fr parents and guardians f players: 1. Vlunteer Hurs Each family is required t vlunteer 15 hurs ver the curse f the seasn, regardless f the number f hckey players in the family. The nly exceptin is minimite families wh are expected t vlunteer 6 hurs. There are many ways t vlunteer. Befre each team s first practice begins, the team manager will cllect a $500 check fr each player. Families with multiple players will give the check t the team f their ldest player. The check will nly be cashed if a family des nt cmplete the mandatry 15 vlunteer hurs prir t the end f the seasn. All vlunteer psitins/shifts will be psted n a mnthly basis via the assciatin website n the Dibs page (ther than head cach and manager psitins). Each family is respnsible fr signing up and tracking their vlunteer hurs thrugh the Dibs site. A great way t fulfill yur cmmitment is t vlunteer at the 2 turnaments hsted by St. Paul Capitals: Ice Breaker Classic and Heart Breaker Classic. Each head cach psitin fulfills the 15 hur requirement. In additin, each head cach can distribute 45 additinal vlunteer hurs amngst the assistant cach(es), team manager r ther team vlunteers at his/her wn discretin. Cncessin Stand: The players and families f St. Paul Capitals are lucky t have the ptin t buy fd and beverages at ur hme arena. T maintain reasnable hckey fees, St. Paul Capitals hckey teams share the respnsibility f perating the cncessin stand thrughut the seasn. Families interested in fulfilling sme f their required 15 vlunteer hurs thrugh the cncessin stand shuld check ut the Dibs sectin f the SPCHA web site fr available shifts r cntact Katie Murphy at spcha.ps@gmail.cm. Failure t wrk a vlunteer shift smene has signed up fr will result in a $100 nshw fee with n credit fr the hurs. Substitutes can be crdinated t take smene s place and the substitute will earn the vlunteer hurs. 2. St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

10 3. 2. Fundraisers St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin runs an annual Spruce Tp Sale, typically arund the 1 st and 2 nd weekends in Nvember. Each family is respnsible fr selling 10 bundles f spruce tps each seasn r alternately, can pt t buy ut f the fundraiser fr $ Team Supprt Teams will need supprt thrughut the seasn t run the game clck, manage the penalty bx and keep the screbk during scrimmages and games. Each team is respnsible fr setting a plicy and/r schedule t fill thse spts n game days. These team supprt activities d NOT cunt tward the vlunteer hur cmmitment. St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

11 9. 8U/Mite Jams & Turnaments Mini-mite players play in-huse scrimmages n split sheets f ice thrughut the seasn. Phalen hsts a great utdr turnament in January fr Mite A, B & C teams; check the team schedule t determine if yur player s team is registered fr that turnament (and if s, plan t dress yur player in many warm layers, with a thin hat under the helmet, glves inside f the hckey glves, a neck warmer r turtleneck and bring sme Vaseline t prtect thse rsy cheeks). Mite C players participate in several in-huse Mite Jams thrughut the seasn where players play ther teams at the same level n ne-third r half sheets f ice the players lve playing in the Mite Jams. The number and lcatin f additinal turnaments may change each year; typically there are n ut f twn turnaments at the Mite/8U level. St. Paul Capitals Hsted Turnaments these events are great pprtunities t help ut and fulfill vlunteer hur respnsibilities! 4. Ice Breaker Turnament (Squirts B & C) - Jan 5-7, Heart Breaker Turnament (12U B, 10U A, 10U B) Jan 19-21, Caching Opprtunities There are many pprtunities t help cach St. Paul Capitals Hckey. Hwever, please be aware that there are minimum requirements/certificatins that need t be cmpleted t be n the ice. Applicatins fr head cach psitins are submitted in July/August. Visit the Caches sectin f the SPCHA website t learn mre. We always need caches! Success can be defined as the practice f small disciplines cnsistently ver time Jim Rhn St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

12 11. Abut the St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin (SPCHA) We are a nn-prfit rganizatin dedicated t prviding a fun and educatinal experience fr the children residing in the St. Paul Highland Central area wh wish t play ice hckey. Our prgrams are planned, prmted and administered by unpaid vlunteers. The Bard asks that yu supprt all the vlunteers t the greatest extent pssible. Our curriculum stresses basic skills, encurages team play and sprtsmanship, and strives fr fair playing time fr all players. The individuals wh teach this curriculum, in mst cases, have cmpleted ne r mre curses in the Minnesta Hckey's Caching Educatin Prgram (CEP). SPCHA's caches and Bard f Directrs, thrugh such things as ur Cde f Cnduct, are cmmitted t teaching players t respect their ppnents and fficials. St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin

13 12. FAQs Q: I feel lst everyne seems t knw mre abut hckey than I d where can I get help? A: Use the SPCHA resurces utlined in this guidebk start with the website. Cntact a cach, the executive directr, a bard member r a team manager. There are many resurces ready t help. Q: Why d I have t register my child with USA Hckey? A: USA Hckey requires registratin by all players fr insurance and liability reasns. Q: Hw d I knw which lcker rm my child shuld be in? A: Check ut the upper r lwer level TV mnitrs t view lcker rm assignments. Q: Are mms and dads allwed in the lcker rms? A: Abslutely! Mite/8U players need help with equipment, especially getting skates tightened and helmets put n prperly. Lcker rm prtcl may change at the Squirt/10U level. Q: What happens if my child will miss an evaluatin sessin? A: N prblem. Please make sure t crdinate the absence with the Mite/8U Evaluatin Crdinatr ahead f time. Q: D my cncessin stand vlunteer hurs cunt tward my required vlunteer hurs? A: Yes. Each family is required t cmplete 15 hurs f vlunteer time (ther than mini-mites at 6 hurs) which may include cncessin stand duties. Q: If I have tw kids playing hckey fr the Capitals d I need t duble my vlunteer hur cntributin? D I need t duble my fundraising cmmitment (e.g. spruce tp sales, etc.)? A: N, families are required t vlunteer 15 hurs per seasn, regardless f the number f players in the family. Same mdel is true fr the spruce tps sale. Q: I skated in high schl; can I help the caches ut n the ice during practice? A: SPCHA always needs help n the ice and mre vlunteer caches. Hwever, nly thse that have been certified by USA Hckey are allwed n the ice. If yu are interested in caching, please check ut the Caches sectin f the SPCHA web site. LET S PLAY HOCKEY! St. Paul Capitals Hckey Assciatin