Hello! Hockey season is just around the corner! Did you know as a member of USAH and being in MidAm there are/is:

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1 MIDAM DISABLED SECTION NEWSLETTER SUMMER/FALL, 2015 Hell! Hckey seasn is just arund the crner! Did yu knw as a member f USAH and being in MidAm there are/is: ó DISTRICT GRANTS thrugh the ROGER SHARRER GROW HOCKEY AWARD ó DISTRICT GRANTS twards the team fee t attend the NATIONAL DISABLED FESTIVAL ó NO FEES t attend the Annual Disabled Hckey Wrkshp ó TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE kits, with ne hur f ice dnated ó ANNUAL (separate) MidAm Special Hckey and Sled Hckey meetings where EACH PROGRAM HAS A VOICE TO CONTRIBUTE TO GROWTH/RETENTION OF HOCKEY ACROSS THE DISTRICT ó Disability Awareness Handbk ó Special Hckey and Sled Hckey COACHING MODULES ó Expert caching educatin frm level 1 thrugh 5 ó MidAm District Annual Meeting (held each June in Clumbus, Ohi) where all members have a vice ó FREE Registrar training ó FREE MidAm District Rad Shw (prgrams can request the Rad Shw t cme t their cmmunity) mst recent Rad Shws in Indianaplis and Pittsburgh had a cmbined attendance f ver 140 peple! ó FREE TEMPLATES fr brchures, fliers and ther dcuments (why reinvent the wheel?) ó Bi- Annual Disabled Sectin Newsletters t keep all members up t date ó MidAm Disabled Sectin Representative whse rle is t help with grwth and retentin f disabled hckey prgrams yu can call, , text r meet with Renee If yu, yur players and r their families wuld like t learn mre abut these benefits and supprt thrugh USAH and MidAm, cntact Renee Lftspring at midamhckey@zmtwn.cm wh will cme t yur hmetwn and speak t yur prgram members. Fr everyne R An updated list f MidAm Disabled Hckey Prgrams (Special and Sled Hckey) can be fund n the MidAm Hckey website:

2 R Inagural discipline meetings, ne each fr MidAm s Special and Sled Hckey were held July at the Chiller Nrth Ice Rink in Clumbus, Ohi. Special Hckey players were n the ice fr ver an hur while parents met with bth Susie Miller, USAH Special Hckey Chair, and Renee Lftspring, Disabled Sectin Rep. fr MidAm, regarding the rle f USA Hckey, MidAm Hckey and the Disabled Sectin Rep, grwth and retentin f Special Hckey in the regin, the additin f a Special Hckey Summer Camp, and a Special Hckey Jambree being implemented within the next 2 seasns. Midam Sled caches and managers met t discuss the tremendus grwth in the regin in all skill levels, hw each f the sled prgrams can assist ne anther t cntinue the current grwth and retentin, and prpsed a framewrk fr an adult intermediate r B league due t grwth f this ppulatin arund the regin. Bth meetings were successful in establishing imprved cmmunicatin between the parents and their representatives within the Natinal and District Disabled Sectin. Stay tuned fr dates fr next year s annual meetings fr bth Sled and Special Hckey, t be held in the Summer, R Imprtant Natinal Dates and Events WELCOME BACK TO HOCKEY WEEK/WEEKEND is September 14-20, Find ut what yur cmmunity is ding and jin in! NATIONAL DISABLED SECTION WORKSHOP is Octber 2-4, 2015 in Bstn, MA. This free wrkshp fr existing and new prgrams: Tpics include designing the framewrk f yur prgram; supprting yur supprt such as vlunteers, marketing, administratin; public speaking/cmmunicatin; develping a strng relatinship with rink management HOCKEY WEEKEND ACROSS AMERICA is February 20-22, 2016 February 20: WEAR YOUR JERSEY DAY February 21: TRY HOCKEY DAY BRING A FRIEND TO THE RINK February 22: CELEBRATE LOCAL HOCKEY HEROS After January 15, 2016, check the MidAm and USAH websites fr details regarding (a) nminatins fr USAH Disabled Athlete f the Year; (b) Rger Sharrer Grw Hckey Awards (ALL MidAm ice hckey prgrams are eligible) NATIONAL DISABLED HOCKEY FESTIVAL is April 7-10, 2016 adaptive ice hckey teams, frm all ver the cuntry cme tgether t play hckey, make friends and have a blast! MIDAM ANNUAL MEETING is fr ANYONE assciated with a USAH yuth/adult able bdied prgram r disabled hckey prgram. This includes fficials, caches, rink managers, and team managers. It is typically the third Saturday f June each year. The frmat includes an interactive mrning sessin fcusing n an imprtant tpic (such as SafeSprt, registratin, grwth and retentin) fllwed by lunch (prvided by the district, n site) and an afternn sessin dedicated t sectin reprts (inlcuding Disabled Sectin) vting, discusssin and new business. Date t be annunced in January, 2016

3 R Annual Opprtunities fr Prgrams and Players ROGER SHARRER GROW HOCKEY AWARDS - Every disabled prgram shuld apply! The purpse f the Rger Sharrer Grw Hckey Award is t prvide assistance t lcal hckey assciatins t grw ice hckey participatin within their area. This prgram is fr bth able- bdied and disabled hckey prgrams. The annual applicatin is typically psted after February 1 each year n the MidAm website We encurage ALL sled and special hckey prgrams t apply fr items they need t help grw participatin, such as jerseys, prtective gear, rink dividers, unique player equipment. Mst anything yu need t grw particpatin and help with retentin, except ice cst, will be cnsidered by the Awards Cmmittee NOMINATIONS FOR DISABLED ATHLETE OF THE YEAR will begin t be accepted in An will g ut t the districts when the applicatin perid pens. USA Hckey s Annual Cngress is a yearly gathering f USA Hckey vlunteer leaders, including members f the rganizatin s bard f directins, cuncils, cmmittees and sectins. Each year, the mst utstanding cntributrs and players are recgnized. One f the awards is Disabled Athlete f the Year. The individual is flwn t the Cngress in June and hnred at the awards banquet. Created in 2005, this annual award recgnizes the utstanding perseverance and dedicatin by a disabled hckey player thrugh demnstrating the ability t vercme bstacles in the pursuit f excellence bth n and ff the ice. MidAm encurages its caches, managers and teams t nminate a player frm their prgram (Special hckey, Sled Hckey, USA Warrir Hckey) wh meet the defined criteria. Criteria and the applicatin can be fund at: (please wait until USAH makes an annuncement that nminatins are pen as the applicatin frmat r questins may vary). REMINDERS & UPDATES LOCKER ROOM - reminder µ It is the respnsibility f each prgram t assign smene t mnitr lcker rms hme and away µ At least TWO adults are t be in the lcker rm when players are in there, mnitring behavir, dressing and parents helping players µ N ne shuld ever be alne in the lcker rm, at any time (includes caches, parents, players and siblings) µ ONLY Parents and vlunteers wh have been successfully screened thrugh MidAm can assist a player dress, tilet r have direct hands- n cntact unless it is their wn child

4 SCREENING - update µ All caching staff and vlunteers, ver 18 yrs. ld and ut f high schl, with rutine access t children under 18 r t any players with a disability, must be successfully screened thrugh MidAm. This includes team managers, lcker rm supervisrs, and administratrs µ MidAm Screening website: µ Screenings are n a 2- year cycle (applies t new screenings and the expiratin f 3- year screens) µ Once all cach and vlunteer screening apprvals are received, the registrar will apprve the team rster. µ PA residents will have an additinal requirement due t HR 153 Act 153 f 2014 is part f a tw- year effrt by the state t imprve Pennsylvania s child prtectin laws. The required backgrund checks include: 1. Pennsylvania State Plice Criminal Histry Recrd Infrmatin; 2. Child Abuse Histry t determine if the persn is named as a perpetratr f an indicated r funded child abuse reprt; and 3. Federal Criminal Histry Backgrund Check (with submissin f fingerprints). FBI checks will nt be required fr vlunteers if they have been a resident f the Cmmnwealth fr the prir 10 years Mre infrmatin t fllw frm MidAm District GREAT NEWS! The cst f screening will be reduced when the new vendr takes ver. Meanwhile, be sure yur screening perid cvers yu fr the upcming seasn. It is still n a 2- year cycle. SAFESPORT - update: All persns ver 18 and ut f high schl, wh have direct cntact with any yuth r disabled players f any age, n- r ff- the ice (in relatin t their rle in a USAH sanctined prgram) shuld cmplete SafeSprt. It is free and nline: One f the mst exciting aspects f the USA Hckey SafeSprt Prgram is the nline training/educatin that is available t help ur members becme aware f the infrmatin necessary t help prevent abuse frm ccurring in ur sprt. We are pleased t annunce that all USA Hckey registered caches, fficials, emplyees and vlunteers are entitled t take the training at n cst. The training was prduced by the United States Olympic Cmmittee. The training is cmprised f shrt vide segments that take apprximately 90 minutes t

5 cmplete, hwever, nt all training needs t be cmpleted in ne sessin. We believe yu will find the training very valuable and infrmative, and strngly encurage yu t access the training. The SafeSprt Training is valid fr 2 seasns. Thus, if yu tk the training fr , yu will nt need t take the training again until the seasn at which time a shrt refresher curse will be available. NEVER accept inapprpriate r text messages. Example: Yu hear abut an inapprpriate pht ging arund the team n player phnes. Yu tell the persn with the pht t send it t yu s yu can take it t the president f the assciatin and demand actin be taken by the persns wh first circulated it. GUESS WHAT? YOU are nw a SUSPECT as well because yu had the pht n yur phne. It s yur wrd nly stating yu were nt invlved dn t get int this situatin. USA HOCKEY DISABLED FESTIVAL 2016: Detrit, MI April 7-10, 2016 The Disabled Hckey Festival takes place in a different part f the cuntry each year. This year, the Festival will take place at Fraser Hckeyland Ice Rink, Utica Rad, Fraser, MI The missin f the Festival is t prvide a fun and exciting weekend f hckey in a grand manner as well as prmte and grw disabled hckey thrughut the cuntry fr Special Hckey, Sled Hckey, USA Warrir Hckey, Standing Amputee Hckey, and Deaf/Hard f Hearing Hckey. A ntice will be sent ut t all USAH registered prgrams regarding entry fee, htels, restaurants, and the general schedule in the next few weeks. MIDAM IS HOPING EVERY SLED AND SPECIAL HOCKEY PROGRAM ATTENDS THE FESTIVAL ITS NOT EVERYDAY THE FESTIVAL IS IN OUR BACKYARD Fr additinal infrmatin abut the 2016 festival, revisit this webpage beginning Mid- September: disabled- hckey- festival Fr additinal infrmatin regarding assistance with the Natinal Disabled Festival entry fee, cntact Renee Lftspring at Midamhckey@zmtwn.cm APPLY TO HOST A NATIONAL DISABLED FESTIVAL IN YOUR COMMUNITY in 2017 r 2018 The USA Disabled Hckey Festival, the largest disabled hckey event f its kind in the United States brings tgether all the disciplines: Special Hckey, Sled Hckey, Standing/Amputee and Deaf/Hard f Hearing Hckey, under ne rf. Players travel frm all ver the United States t reunite with friends and play hckey! If yu wuld like mre infrmatin regarding hsting pprtunities, visit this website: disabled- hckey- festival WHITE PAPER: In 2014, the Disabled Sectin published a white paper t express the missin and gals f Disabled Hckey within USA Hckey. All fur disciplines, Special, Sled, USA Warrir, Standing Amputee and Deaf/Hard f Hearing apprved this statement June, 2014 at the Annual Cngress in Clrad. The white paper is a guide fr new and existing USA Hckey Disabled Hckey prgrams, parents, players, administratin and caching staff. Please take a mment t read it. The paper is attached t this .

6 USAH pre- seasn checklist: USAH reg. (annual) SafeSprt (2 yrs) MidAm Screening (2 yrs) Minimum: CEP Level Cach Asst. Caches Manager Players Under 18 vlunteer Over 18 vlunteer Pusher * fee * fee FREE * fee FREE FREE FREE returning player; NO FEE first seasn player * * * if has *if has * any direct any direct cntact with cntact with players players * * * if has any direct cntact with players * recmmended fr ; may be required * if has any direct cntact with players * Direct cntact included any f the fllwing scenaris: in a lcker rm with a least ne player present; helps players dress/undress, get in/ut f sled r n/ff the ice thrugh hands- n assistance; n bus / in car with players because f a sprt related event; helps player n- ice * = Required fr a team s rster t be apprved by the district registrar USAH Registratin ó RETURNING PLAYERS/COACHES must register/pay fee ONLINE at: ó FIRST SEASON PLAYERS register thrugh their prgram s registrar because there is n fee the first seasn. Please cntact yur team s registrar. ó Per Registrar: PLEASE register each prgram (team) SEPARATELY frm ne anther, nt as a single rganizatin if there is mre than ne team under the same 501c3. If yu d nt have yur wn prgram assciatin number, cntact the MidAm registrar: Keith Kenitzer at: keith.kenitzer@gmail.cm Registering teams individually permits USAH t identify grwth and retentin arund the cuntry. This can mean mre funds fr grwing districts! ó COACHING: All prgrams must have a head cach with at least his/her CEP Level 1. This upcming seasn, it is highly recmmended all assistant caches als cmplete at least their CEP Level 1. In the near

7 future, it is pssible it may becme mandatry. Caching is critical in the grwth and develpment f a hckey team, thus the mre prepared and skilled the caches are, the greater the benefit t the players. Sled Hckey Classificatins & Eligibility fr Yuth Sled Divisin The yuth divisin (Nvice, Junir) is a nn- checking divisin (physical cntact is permitted) Yuth players are defined as players 17 years f age and under as f December 31 f the current playing seasn. If a player is 18 years ld as f December 31st f the current seasn, they can play n a yuth team if they have NEVER played n any adult team in a USA Hckey sanctined game. If the player is 18 years ld as f December 31 f the current seasn and has never played n an adult team in a USA Hckey sanctined game, they d nt need a waiver t participate in the yuth divisin. Players that lder than 17 years f age as f December 31 f the current playing seasn and have participated in any USA Hckey sanctined adult sled game and players lder than 18 years f age as f December 31 f the current playing seasn, may be allwed t play in the yuth divisin if a waiver request is submitted and apprved by the Waiver Cmmittee (made up f USAH district representatives). Hsts fr sanctined USAH adult games will need t be sure teams are aware f this prcess and apply fr player waivers in advance f registratin fr a turnament befre Nvember f the current seasn. The purpse f this waiver is slely t allw players with mre severe disabilities t play in the yuth divisin where it is less physical. Waiver requests shuld be submitted by Nvember 15th f the current playing seasn. Waiver requests must be submitted and apprved prir t any USAH sanctined cmpetitin beginning. A team manager, cach, r player must submit a cmprehensive descriptin why the requesting player is requesting the waiver fr the entire seasn, alng with a vide f the player n ice demnstrating their skills. Apprved/disapprved waivers are active fr the entire playing seasn fr all USAH sanctined games r turnaments Rsters USA Disabled Hckey will nt waive the 100- mile rule fr sled players, including USA Warrir Sled teams fr the NHL Classic r the Natinal Festival if there is a team t play n that is clser t where they are living. Yuth players need t be rstered and play with the sled team clsest t them. The requirement is determined by the distance in miles frm the player s primary residence t the sled team s main practice facility. Yuth Players cannt be dual rstered n tw yuth teams. Hwever, players are permitted t be dual rstered n a yuth team and adult team. Team rsters need t be set by Nvember 30th f the current playing seasn. The Disabled Sectin cmmittee will review requests t change lcatins n a case- by- case basis

8 Natinal Disabled Festival: Players need t be identified with the prgram clsest t them (100- mile rule) Players cannt be dual rstered Deviatins frm this rster must be pre- apprved by an assigned cmmittee (within Disabled Sectin) If a player s rstered team is NOT attending the Festival, each player may submit a waiver t jin anther team. The chair f the Disabled Sectin must apprve cmbined teams befre they can register fr the Festival The Wmen s Natinal team is cnsidered an adult team. Natinal female players, 17 years r yunger, as f December 31 st f the current seasn, are allwed t play in their lcal yuth divisin. If the player is 18 years f age as f December 31 st f the current seasn, and they have played n the Natinal team, they are nt allwed t play n their yuth team in sanctined games and turnaments. Send questins, cmments t: Midamhckey@zmtwn.cm