Welcome to Flathead Valley Hockey Association Parent Handbook

Transcription

1 Welcome to Flathead Valley Hockey Association Parent Handbook What we wish someone had told us the first year we were hockey parents! Welcome new hockey parent, We hope your son or daughter has as much fun and learns as much on and off the ice as our kids have. We all put in a lot of effort, but based on the fact we re here again this year, it s all worth it! Please read the following information to give you an idea about what happens on the ice and behind the scenes at the Woodland Ice Center and feel free to ask ANY other hockey parent if there s something you re still wondering about. Here s to youth hockey! A little history.. Flathead Valley Hockey Association In 2007 Steve and Genia Tartaglino with Tony Clayton purchased a used, portable, refrigerated ice rink system package and established the Flathead Valley Hockey Association (FVHA). The organization was formed for the purpose of creating, organizing, administering and managing youth hockey programs at the Woodland Ice Center. FVHA is a non-profit organization and Woodland Ice Center operates almost entirely on volunteer efforts! This means that parents just like you and me are responsible for putting the ice in early each fall, getting the rink ready for the season, running the Zamboni, shoveling snow, sharpening skates, serving concessions, running the rink and renting skates for public skate, organizing tournaments, checking out gear, cleaning the facility, running the scoreboard, scraping frost off the glass, shoveling snow, lighting the heaters, and putting the rink away again for the summer. FVHA is run by a volunteer Board of Directors. While many Boards for other organizations serve in an oversight capacity, our Board members are the supervolunteers who make most of the behind-the-scenes things happen. If you have any big concerns that you are unable to resolve with other parents, please speak to a Board member. 1

2 FVHA and USA Hockey FVHA youth hockey programs are run under the guidelines of USA Hockey (USAH). Not only does USAH offer insurance, more importantly, our entire hockey skills curriculum comes from them including oversight and development from National Hockey League (NHL) and Olympic coaches and players. Are we training your son or daughter to become an Olympian or NHL star? The odds are against it, but if they have the focus and commitment, it s possible. The best news is that the same goals for a future Olympian are in line with making every youth a great hockey player, student, son or daughter, and all-around athlete. In fact, USAH discourages kids (especially in middle school and younger) from even thinking about hockey in the summer time. Their studies have shown that kids athleticism benefits more from taking a break from the rink and giving their best on the baseball/softball diamond, soccer field, basketball or volleyball court, swimming pool, or just out riding their bikes. They need to be kids. They don t need to be single-sport athletes. USA Hockey s Three Promises: 1. Promise of Fun 2. Promise of Guidance 3. Promise of Achievement Check out the USA Hockey website for more information: And USA Hockey s parent handbook: Pay particular attention to the sections about the ADM (Athletic Development Model why we coach hockey the way we do), LTAD (Long-Term Athletic Development why we stress particular skills at particular ages and why we encourage our hockey players to also pursue other sports). It s not all about winning either this weekend or at the Olympics. It s about developing our kids, so we place as much emphasis on practice and small area drills as we do about getting ready for any game. USA Hockey Magazine is for parents as well as players. Take a look to learn more about the game and the culture. 2

3 Which Team does my Child Play for? Mites are our youngest players, 8 years of age or younger as of January 1. Some towns call their first-year Mites Novices and the 5-6 year old younger players might also be referred to as Mighty-Mites, Termites, or Hot Shots. For the season, these are boys and girls born in 2009 and later. Squirts (called Atoms in Canada) are 10 years of age or younger as of January 1. For the season, these are boys and girls born in 2007 and PeeWees are 12 years of age or younger as of January 1. For the season, these are boys and girls born in 2005 and Bantams are 14 years of age or younger as of January 1. For the season, these are players born in 2003 and This age group is co-ed, but most girls choose to play U14. High School are players enrolled in high school or high school program (home school). Under-14s are girls born in 2002 and later. Under-19s are girls born in 1997 and later. Costs and Fees Mites (costs are per child) $53 USA Hockey / Montana Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) membership, which covers insurance, USA Hockey magazine subscription, and MAHA fees. (This fee applies only to kids 7 years old or older. It is free to register Mites up to age 6.) Once you start registration process with FVHA it will direct you to the USA Hockey site, you will receive a registration number which will be needed for registration with the Flathead Valley Hockey Association at $125-$250 registration fee there is a $125 fee for each session. Mites have 2 sessions during the hockey season. Each session is about 6-8 weeks long, three practices per week. Your child can participate in 1 session or both. Session 1 begins at the end of October and ends just before Christmas. Session 2 starts in early January and runs until the first week of March. The Mites Jamboree occurs in the second session. $150 gear deposit Rental gear is free for mites. This check will not be cashed unless gear is not returned at the end of season, or is damaged. Rental gear includes shoulder pads, shin guards, elbow pads, helmet, breezers, gloves, stick Gear that you will need to provide: skates, mouth guard, hockey socks, cup (boys) or pelvic protector (girls), and long underwear SEE PAGE 8-12 FOR DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT $150 Volunteer deposit We ask that parents volunteer 15 hours per child per session for a total of 30 hours for the hockey season. If you choose not to volunteer or are just unable because of other commitments this deposit check will be cashed at the end of the season. Friends of the family, grandparents, aunts, and uncles can also volunteer and apply their time to your child. 3

4 Mites sometimes play games in Whitefish, but there is little to no travel outside of the Flathead Valley. The team hosts a Jamboree in January or February each year inviting teams from around Montana and Canada. FVHA teams participate in this Jamboree at no cost. Players who want to form a team and travel to Missoula or other tournaments can elect to do so in coordination with the coach at an additional cost. Before your child s first practice expect to pay $125/session and a $53 USA Hockey fee which covers the entire season. You will likely spend an additional $85-$100 on skates and other gear not included in the free gear rental. You will write two deposit checks for borrowed gear and your volunteer hours deposit which will be not be cashed and returned to you at the end of the session or season when all gear, the jersey and the volunteer sheet have been returned to the team manager. Squirts through High School (costs are per child) $53 USA Hockey / MAHA (Montana Amateur Hockey Association) membership, which covers insurance, USA Hockey magazine subscription, and MAHA fees $550 Registration Fee. $50 discount for registration before September 1. Payment plans are available. $50 Rental Gear if you don t own your own gear. It will cost $200+ to buy used gear and $400+ to buy new gear. $75-$185 Ice Time Fee to cover game and referee costs (more games=higher costs) $150 Gear Deposit (only if you rent) $150 Jersey Deposit (2 game jerseys and a practice jersey) $150 Volunteer Deposit You will make a payment of $53 to USA Hockey and $550 to FVHA (or arrange monthly payments) before the first practice. Additionally you will write a check for $50 for gear rental if needed and a $75 down payment for game and ice time fees and give these to your team manager. Ice Time Fees are determined by the number of games and tournaments your child s team decides to participate in and the amount of fundraising your team does. The team manager will request a check for $75 at the beginning of the season to cover tournament registration fees, and ice time and referee costs for local MAHA games. At the end of the season they will calculate actual costs and subtract any funds that were raised by the team and the divide the total by the number of players on the team. You will write three deposit checks for borrowed gear, jerseys and your volunteer hours deposit which will be not be cashed. The checks will be returned to you at the end of the season when all gear, the jersey and the volunteer sheet have been returned to the team manager. If the gear or jerseys are not returned or your volunteer hours are incomplete, the checks will be cashed as appropriate and the balance returned to you. In addition to the League/Team costs, expect to spend: $ Personal Equipment 4

5 Skates $ used, $ new Flames Socks $15 purchase at the rink Mouth guard $3-20 Protective cup (boys) or pelvic protector (girls) $20-40 Fees cover a full four months with multiple practices per week and additional free skills sessions, and free stick and puck ice times. Your son or daughter can also skate free when you are volunteering to run the open skate. You will be amazed at what your daughter or son can learn in four short months. If they re a new skater, it s like they re learning to walk again, and you will never forget the excitement of their first goal. Your child does not need to know how to skate before he or she starts playing hockey. Where do all these fees go? Your fees cover your child s practice ice time and rink operation costs. While rink operation is expensive, FVHA has the lowest annual fees in Montana, and some of the lowest annual fees in the country. Parents in larger metropolitan areas pay upwards of $4,000 per player, per year! These relatively low costs are thanks to the work of all of our parent volunteers, major fundraising efforts, and the donors who have graciously given toward our large capital investments namely retiring the debt on the ice equipment, repairs and upgrades to the facility. Scholarships Partial scholarships are available to cover Registration Fees paid to FVHA. Scholarship applications from returning members should be submitted by October 1 st. Forms and the application process can be found at on the Parent Portal page. New FVHA Association members can apply for scholarships at the time they decide to join FVHA and should contact the Chair of the Scholarship Committee directly. Scholarships do not cover USA Hockey membership, gear or traveling expenses. Team Ice Fees are not covered by FVHA scholarships, but team fundraising is an option. Scholarship recipients are requested to contribute additional volunteer time in addition to the base hours each family is expected to contribute for every player in their household. One hour of volunteer work earns $10 of scholarship. Volunteering FVHA expects each family to give 30 volunteer hours per player (15 hours per session for Mites, 20 hours per player for the season). There are dozens of volunteer opportunities, and we need the most help at the start of the season and end of the season. Any family member or friend of the family can contribute to your volunteer hours. Everyone has different strengths and skills that they can bring to our association, and every contribution helps. Even if you have no hockey experience, you can make huge contributions. There s strength in numbers so jump in! The hours are available throughout the fiscal year, July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 It is your responsibility to seek volunteer opportunities in Dibs The following positions will fulfill ALL required volunteer hours: FVHA Board, Team Manager, Head Coach, Registrar & Jamboree Organizer. Please contact the board if you have interest. 5

6 October is spent preparing the refrigeration system, the white reflective paper below the ice, putting the ice down, striping the ice, installing the glass, and laying the rubber mats around the rink, as well as getting the office and concession stand ready for another season. In November we re really getting into the swing of things. Take the opportunity to learn how to work in the concession stand, work the front desk to collect money and rent out skates during public skating, drive the Zamboni, and clean the locker rooms and bathrooms. December starts a lot of league play and we always need parent volunteers to run the score board and record scores on the score sheet, as well as open the penalty box doors to allow players in to cool off. If you don t know how to do it, just ask. There are always plenty of veteran parents who have done it before who will be glad to sit with you and work a few shifts with you. It s a great way to meet other parents and find out how hockey has positively impacted their son or daughter and to learn more about the sport and the association. In early December, we host our annual BrewFest with microbreweries sponsoring teams who draft retired NHL players to join them on the ice for a fun tournament and microbrew sampling. The games are fun yet intense, the crowd is fun, and it s a major fundraiser for our Association. Yes, you can pour beer for volunteer hours! We also continue our popular Winter Classic tournaments in December. As one of the only outdoor rinks in Montana, Alberta, and British Columbia, these Winter Classics are extremely popular for teams from neighboring towns to join us for a weekend of youth hockey. If there s a big snowfall, please plan to stay during your child s practice and help shovel. We have plenty of shovels at the rink, but we need to get it cleared out of foot traffic areas before it melts and freezes as ice. We can t use de-icer or salt on ANY areas near the rink because it will contaminate the ice and prevent it from freezing hard. February sees more Winter Classics and later in the month teams have state tournaments. In 2014 the Flathead Convention and Visitor s Bureau started the Pond Hockey Classic on Foys Lake and our Association was able to be involved. We had a lot of fun and also earned a lot of money for the Association. A few teams will have their State tournaments the first weekend of March. Finally, most teams will use their remaining practice time to have parents (or families) vs. kids games. Do you want to find out how much your player learned this season? Face off on the ice against them! As the season winds down, we again have to stack the rubber mats, remove the glass, and lay plywood to protect the sand and tubing for the summer; as well as packing up the office and concession stand to turn it over to Kalispell Parks and Recreation for the summer season. Sometimes during the summer we participate in the downtown Kalispell 4th of July parade. If you choose not to volunteer or are just unable because of other commitments your $150 Volunteer deposit check will be cashed at the end of the season. We have many opportunities and committees where you can contribute your skills and ideas. If you have ideas for new ways you can help our Association, don t hesitate: jump in and join the team! 6

7 Travel Games If your child is on a team that travels for games (Squirts and older), you will have at least four travel weekends during the season. We frequently travel to Great Falls, Missoula, Helena, Bozeman, and Havre, and somewhat frequently to Salmon, Idaho. High School-aged teams travel to Billings, and Glasgow. Some teams may decide to travel to Canadian cities within a 2-3 hour drive of Kalispell. Plan these as family vacations and take in some sights or new restaurants. You will have 1-2 nights of hotel rooms or stay with out-of-town friends or family members. Consider sharing a room with another hockey parent, carpool with another family to save on gas, and pack food to shave costs. For group travel to Canada, parents and players 18 and older must have a valid passport or passport card. Check with local passport offices for information and costs related to passports. Minors must have a consent letter to travel from all parents or legal guardians not traveling with them. If your child misses more than 25% of your scheduled MAHA league games (generally one 4- game weekend), they will be ineligible to play in the state tournament. If your player will miss more than two league play weekends due to illness or any other extenuating circumstances, please contact your team coach or manager so they can help you fill out a waiver to appeal to MAHA for State eligibility. Players on high school teams (girls or boys) may miss 50% of games and still be eligible to play in the State Tournament. MAHA league travel schedules vary from year-to-year. MAHA consists of 11 associations: Kalispell, Whitefish, Missoula, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Butte, Bozeman, Billings, Miles City and Glasgow. Not all associations have teams at all the same levels as us, but teams participating in MAHA leagues may play other teams from any or all of the other associations. As much as possible, scheduling is done in a fashion to minimize travel distances and maximize what is accomplished over the course of a trip. Salmon is an association in Idaho that is comparable to us and a reasonable travel distance so trips there are often scheduled by teams occasionally a Salmon team will play in a MAHA league. 7

8 The Game of Hockey Isn t this what it s all about? What is icing? What are offsides? Why is my daughter in the penalty box?! Check out this link to learn about the basics: Or try the Canadian Classic Peter Puck to learn hockey basics: Peter Puck, Part 1: Offsides and Icing Peter Puck, Part 2: Timing,Equipment, Officials and Players Peter Puck, Part 3: Rules, How Hockey Pucks, Skates and Sticks are made Peter Puck, Part 4: Hockey penalties, signs and fines Remember the recommendation to work in the score or penalty box? It s OK to ask your fellow parent volunteers, What just happened?! We ve all been there! Hockey is a difficult, yet exciting and rewarding sport. Remember to be positive. Cheer for your player, cheer for their teammates, and cheer for the other team when they make an exceptionally good play. Leave the coaching to the coaches. They may have a plan that is not immediately apparent to your player or to you. It s OK to ask the coach after a practice what their goals are and read the USA Hockey ADM pages again while unexpected, you ll generally be happy about why they re doing what they re doing. DO NOT coach in the car on the way home from a game or practice. Tell your daughter or son you re proud of them. Celebrate the things they did right. Ask them what the coaches said in the locker room and reinforce the positive. Ask them if there are things they want to improve on. Leave it at that and go find food. Oh yeah, your hockey player will be hungry after every time they play! Be a good winner. Congratulate your team on playing a great game. Congratulate your child s opponents on their efforts. Congratulate their parents for their kids efforts. Be a good loser. Even in loss, your player and their team will still have done a lot of things correctly. Celebrate the high points. Losing is a great life lesson every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve. 8

9 Equipment How are they supposed to get dressed?! Watch this great instructional video from USA Hockey: Mites (8 and under) will generally require help getting dressed. It may be cozy in the dressing rooms so you may want to get your child dressed in some of their gear prior to arriving at the rink. Squirts and older should learn to dress on their own. There is a lot of camaraderie and team spirit to be built in the locker room, and a parent or two helping their child get dressed stifles them. Let kids be kids. Yes, their teammates and other parents do think it s amusing that mommy or daddy needs to help them get dressed. What if their jersey gets caught on their shoulders? Their teammates can and will help. Guess what? Adults sometimes get help from each other, too! Coaches also utilize locker room time to preplan practices and prep the team for games. Your presence is not helpful. If they need you, they will come find you. The exception could be goalie gear which sometimes requires a lot of buckling. Enable your son or daughter to succeed by encouraging them to dress out on their own. If you have any questions, please confer with the coach! However, parents floating in and out of locker rooms and just outside are welcome. For older kids a reminder from an adult about appropriate locker room conversation is sometime necessary when a coach is otherwise occupied. Skates can be difficult for smaller hands to tighten. Lace tighteners/lace hooks are a simple $3 investment. Get one! Rent or buy? Our Association s rental equipment has been donated by past players and purchased incrementally over past years. It s decent gear. If you calculate that gear is $200 or more to buy used and $450 or more to buy new, $50 a season is a bargain. If you are able to find deals on used gear or buy from an older player, you might be able to piece together the equipment for less than $200. Replay Sports is one of our league sponsors and they frequently stock used gear. They are also a great resource for ice skates. New gear can be purchased at the Sportsman & Ski Haus. A player must provide his/her own skates, mouth guard, hockey socks, and protective cup (boys) or pelvic protector (girls). Long Underwear Conditions at our outdoor rink can get below zero. UnderArmor, Champion (Target) or similar close-fitting, wicking polyester long underwear is preferred for performance and warmth. Wearing long underwear also enables players to change modestly. Some players perspire enough that they prefer not to wear any undergarments below their shoulders to provide better air circulation. This is personal preference. Younger players typically don t perspire that much and should be dressed primarily for weather conditions. 9

10 Older players will develop their own preference. Practices can be cancelled if the weather is too cold/windy. Cup (boys) or Pelvic Protector (girls) Old school hockey players wore a cup and jock strap, plus a garter belt to hold their socks up. Modern hockey players typically buy padded shorts that have the cup/pelvic pad built in, and they have Velcro patches on the legs that hold up the top of their socks. These shorts can either be loose like swim trunks or a lycra version similar to bike shorts. They cost $20-40 and will last several seasons. Younger players change in coed locker rooms. For privacy and modesty, PLEASE have your player either wear their cup/pelvic protector shorts to practice under their pants/sweats or have them wear a pair of light shorts that they can wear under their cup/pelvic protector shorts. For the liability and privacy of all involved please don t plan to have your child disrobe down to their underwear in front of teammates, other players, coaches, and other parents. Girls programs and older boys programs (Bantams/High School) are all the same gender and will close the locker room to change. Please respect their privacy and knock before entering. Our locker room walls are low you can shout to your player if you need to talk to them! Girls who play Bantams or High School should dress into their pelvic protector shorts in another locker room or the bathroom while their male teammates are doing the same in the primary locker room. Shin Pads Used shins can run as low as $5-10 and up to $40. New are $ Younger players can wear anything that fits and is comfortable. Older players will need shins with better padding and protection their opponents will be hitting the puck much harder than younger players! The knee cap on a shin pad should be centered on your child s own knee cap and the bottom of the shin should sit at the top of the skate boot. Socks Socks hold the shin in place and should be the red-black-yellow-white color that matches their jerseys and their teammates. For Squirts and older, buy game socks from FVHA at the start of the season. Mites can wear any color socks all season. You may choose to also buy practice socks, but don t need to. Used socks are typically $5 and new can run $ Holes can be darned with matching thread. Fixing holes when they re small will ensure that socks last longer. Breezers Hockey pants or breezers are the short pants worn over the socks and cup/pelvic protector shorts. They have thigh, hip, tailbone, and kidney pads. They can be found for $20-40 used and $ new. Some NHL players prefer a girdle with the pads and a shell with no pads and the team s colors. Breezer fit is important but not critical. The bottom of the breezer legs should lie just above the player s knee caps. Some players prefer loose fitting breezers while others prefer tighter ones. Do put them on before skates it s nearly impossible to get skates through the breezer legs! 10

11 Skates Whether you rent or buy your player s protective gear, you will need skates. Younger players typically aren t hard enough on equipment to be worn out after a season or two, so used skates can be a great value. Better quality skates can be heat baked to provide a custom fit for your player. Replay Sports in Kalispell, Runner-Up Sports in Whitefish, and Play-it-Again Sports and Mauler s Hockey Central in Missoula all stock used skates. Like shoes, fit is personal. If they are the right size, but don t feel good, they don t fit. Your player will be spending hours or more in these skates this season, so a great fit is important. Aside from fit, look for a reasonably stiff boot. If the boot is floppy, it will be frustrating for your player to control their edges. At most you should barely be able to flex the eyelets together between your thumb and finger. If you can squeeze them easily and make the eyelets touch, the boot is too soft! New skates run $ (or even up to $800!). Steer clear of recreational skates that are only $ They will not be durable enough to last a season. A used middle-tier or higherend skate would give your skater much better performance for the same dollar investment. At the same time, avoid too stiff skates as this will also hamper your player learning to control their edges. Skates that are too stiff will often be too expensive! Kids are constantly growing, but don t be tempted to buy skates a size or two too large. They will be unable to skate well and their on-ice performance will suffer greatly. If they are in the middle of a growth spurt, a half-size would be OK. With your player s heel tightly in the heel pocket, and the skates laced, their big toe should just barely brush the toe cap. The boot should touch their foot everywhere not too loose anywhere (blisters) or too tight (blisters or hot/cold spots). Skates are typically laced with the forefoot tightened snugly and the 2 nd -3 rd laces (around the bend in the ankle) laced tightly. Your player may have their own lacing preference. Laces should be double-knotted so the player doesn t trip on an untied lace while skating. New skates need to be sharpened before they are worn for the first time. They can be sharpened at Wheaton s, Sportsman & Ski Haus or at the rink. All are $5. Skates should be sharpened every few weeks. Older skaters will need their skates sharpened every two weeks and before games. Every six hours of ice time is a good rule of thumb. There are different sharpening radiuses that skates can be sharpened at. Smaller radii are better for lighter players or for better maneuvering. Larger radii are better for heavier players and more speed. This is a sometimes overlooked aspect of skating performance. Encourage your player to learn what radius they like and request that. Try to keep your player from stepping on the aluminum door sill/plate between the locker room and the rink. The metal will dull your player s skates faster. Shoulder Pads Shoulder pads or shoulders are important to protect your child s ribcage from flying pucks, protect their collarbones from high sticks, and protect their entire shoulder joint from collisions with the boards and other players. Used shoulders can run $20-30 and new $ Select shoulders that are comfortable and have the shoulder caps centered over the top/ outside of your player s shoulders. 11

12 Elbow Pads Elbow Pads or Elbows are often overlooked but prevent a lot of injury to the sensitive elbow joint. Newer players who fall backwards typically hit their elbows first, and that exposed bone sure hurts when it hits hard ice! Used run $10-30 and new $ Jersey The game or practice jersey goes over the shoulders and elbows. Helmet Helmets cost $ used and $ new. There is an HECC certification sticker on the right rear of every helmet. The HECC certification must be current. Players heads are all different shapes and sizes. Helmets are typically close-fitting at the temples and over the ears, and can be sized front-to back with screws or adjustment clips. If the helmet is too tight in the temples, get a larger size. If the helmet cannot be fit to a player s head, try a different brand or style of helmet. Helmets get adjusted a lot early in the season. Bauer and Warrior both have helmet models that can easily be adjusted without a screwdriver. While more expensive, the simplicity of adjustment may be worth it in some circumstances. Your manager can adjust your player s helmet for you. Face shields should fit so that the chin strap/chin cup fits over the player s chin. Face shields that put the cup over the player s mouth should be changed for a larger/longer shield. Face shields that have the cup resting below the player s chin should be changed for a shorter/ smaller shield. Mouth guards Mouth guards are important not only to protect from the risk of chipped teeth, but also concussions. Buy one that fits your child comfortably and a spare or two to leave in their hockey bag just in case they lose one. They cannot play without one, and inexpensive mouth guards are only $1-3. Read the instructions on the package carefully which typically involve immersing the mouth guard in boiling water for a custom fit to your player s mouth. Gloves Gloves should fit comfortably. Used gloves are $5-20 and new gloves run $ Stick The stick is one of the most exciting piece of equipment to the young player and until they develop passing and shooting skills one of the least important! Younger players should try both left-handed and right-handed sticks until they develop a preference. Right-handed people do not necessarily shoot right-handed! The top hand provides control, the bottom hand provides power. Your player will determine after a few sessions what feels right. Sticks should come to a player s nose when standing on the floor in bare feet, or to their chin when wearing skates. 12

13 Wood sticks were used for 100+ years but have largely been replaced by composite sticks. New wood sticks are $10 (frequently on sale) to $40, and the same prices used. New composite sticks run $ Since players seldom outgrow their sticks and they re sometimes broken, used sticks are not commonly found in our area. Wood sticks are a great idea for newer players until they develop passing and shooting skills. Composite sticks are the choice of most experienced players who want a particular flex and blade pattern. Equipment Swap: FVHA holds an equipment swap at the beginning of the season and all players are encouraged to participate. All consigned items to the FVHA swap will be charged a 20% handling fee to be paid into FVHA general fund. Practices Skaters will typically have 3 one-hour team practices per week. Hockey is a team sport requiring players to practice together in order to learn team work and commitment. Expectations include that players 9 years and older will attend all practices and games except in cases of illness, injury or family emergency. Excused absences require parents and/or players to communicate with the coach (manager) in advance of the absence. Coaches may set alternate policies at the beginning of the season. Coaches may also elect to have scrimmages with other teams during your player s regularly-scheduled practice. Because ice time is one of the greatest factors in player success, the FVHA board is committed to providing as many on-ice opportunities as possible for each player all season. In addition to practices, there are also optional skills sessions (free), power skating clinics ($5/ea) and stick-and-puck sessions (free) open to all registered FVHA players. These sessions are often held after school or on weekend afternoons. Your player will learn the most by attending these optional sessions in addition to team practices. Open skating is the same $5 fee the public pays, but your player can skate for free if you re volunteering at the front desk. FVHA has the only outdoor hockey program in Montana and one of the few outdoor rinks near western Canada. This makes our facility popular for other teams to visit. However, practices may be shortened or cancelled due to inclement weather. During periods of bad weather, check your or text messaging for updates from your child s coach or manager to know whether practices or games will proceed or not. Temperatures between 10 degrees Fahrenheit and -10 degrees Fahrenheit are considered a discretionary zone. Discretion as to whether or not to participate in a practice or game due to low temperature lies with parents, players and coaches at no penalty to the player. In the event that the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, all MAHA league games will be cancelled. All activities at Woodland Ice Center will be cancelled at a temperature of -10 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Team Managers and Coaches Each team has one team manager, a head coach and several assistant coaches. The team manager is responsible for scheduling team games, collecting deposit and ice time checks, handing out jerseys and gear, communicating announcements for games and 13

14 practices, sending out reminders, making block reservations at hotels for the team when traveling out of town and managing the team s finances. Coaches are all volunteers and are required to be USA Hockey certified. They are required to take a coaching seminar each year and hours of online, age-appropriate modules provided by USA Hockey. FVHA asks that you not stand on the benches behind the player benches and talk to your children during games. It is distracting to the children, and although the coaches may be too polite to say so, they do not appreciate parent coaching from the stands! Again, please leave the coaching to the coaches! If you have an interest in hockey, we invite you to check out our adult programs. If you know a lot about hockey, we encourage you to consider coaching. If you have never skated, we have adult beginner programs you will gain a new appreciation for how much your child is learning! Is it worth it? Absolutely! There is no other sports program that teaches your child sportsmanship, teamwork, dexterity, conditioning, athleticism, and focus like youth hockey. Ask any other hockey parent, it s true. Registering with USA Hockey and the Flathead Valley Hockey Association 1. Register with FVHA: During FVHA registration, you will sign up for and manage a Bonzi account to receive team updates, notifications from your coaches and schedule information. Please register using the address of the parent who regularly checks their . You will receive periodic updates from USAH and regular notifications from FVHA and your team s coach/manager. It will direct you to Register with USAH for players 7+ years old. Registration for players up to age 6 is still required, but free. You will get a USAH registration number that you will need to register with FVHA. Parent Check list o Registered my child with FVHA & USA Hockey in the process o o Paid all the fees Collected all the gear/equipment my child needs to be on the ice o Completed gear and jersey paperwork and provided deposit checks to the team manager o o Have the name and contact information for my child s team manager Have read information about volunteer opportunities, provided volunteer deposit check to the team manager and signed the Volunteer policy Have fun!!!!! 14