A GUIDE TO DRIVE 8 & UNDER PARTICIPATION FOR YOUR LOCAL ASSOCIATION

Transcription

1 A GUIDE TO DRIVE 8 & UNDER PARTICIPATION FOR YOUR LOCAL ASSOCIATION INSIDE:» 2 AND 2 CHALLENGE» PROGRAM OVERVIEW» STATUS & REWARDS

2 What is THE CHALLENGE? The 2 and 2 Challenge guides youth hockey leadership through national programs and tools to drive participation at the 4 to 8 age group. By growing hockey at this age group, programs will experience long-term growth as these kids continue to develop. To complete the CHALLENGE, participating associations will utilize programs that emphasize the main driving forces of growth Retention, Acquisition & Conversion. ACTION GOAL Retain more youth hockey players Welcome Back Week Acquire new youth hockey players Participate in Try Hockey Day Convert try hockey kids to youth hockey players Place Kids in a Transition Program 2

3 VISIT ACCEPT.2AND2CHALLENGE.COM AND START GROWING YOUR PROGRAM! CHALLENGE GOALS The goal is for every association to add two new players and retain two additional players than the previous season s 8 & under player totals. + = Growth A c q u i r e d R e t a i n e d OVER THE LAST THREE SEASONS:» Over 900 youth hockey associations have completed the 2 and 2 Challenge» 8,000 OneGoal starter equipment sets have been awarded» 10,000 youth starter sticks have been allocated across the country When you re ready, get started on the path to being the best possible local youth sports program by visiting Accept.2and2Challenge.com. We really wanted to focus on growing our association this year. Thanks to the 2 and 2 Challenge, we were able to grow tremendously, including doubling our Learn-to-Play class. The incentives and materials provided really helped to make our programs more attractive. SAN ANTONIO YOUTH HOCKEY ASSOCIATION 3

4 1. RETENTION WELCOME BACK WEEK September 14-20, 2015 Associations gather volunteers to personally call and invite families back for another season. Reaching out with a personal invitation will dramatically increase retention. Local Association Coordinates:» Volunteers to make phone calls to local families USA Hockey Provides:» reminders to unregistered families» Broadcast phone message reminder from a Women s National Team athlete or NHL player» Step-by-step instructions» List of players that need a personal phone call * Welcome Back Week Fact: 39,623 registration reminder calls in Key Dates: Women s National Team athlete Hilary Knight and NHL player T.J. Oshie welcomed kids back to hockey last season with a phone call. AUGUST 25 TH reminder to 8 & under players that need to register for SEPTEMBER 2 ND Recorded phone call from a Women s National Team athlete or NHL player goes out to previously registered participants SEPTEMBER 14 TH -20 TH Welcome Back Week 4

5 VISIT ACCEPT.2AND2CHALLENGE.COM AND START GROWING YOUR PROGRAM! 2. ACQUISITION TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE DAYS, PRESENTED BY KRAFT November 7, 2015 & February 20, 2016 Provides youth hockey associations the opportunity to acquire new players locally. By participating in either November 7th or February 20th, associations will attract new players for this season as well as capture interested families for the following season. Local Association Coordinates:» One hour of ice» Volunteers» Equipment to lend USA Hockey Provides:» Jerseys & goodie bags» On- and off-ice clinic guidelines» USA Hockey sanctioning» Online registration platform» Grassroots promotional tools» Best practices on attracting new families» National marketing DID YOU KNOW?» Last season, over 25,000 kids participated in a national Try Hockey event.» November is an ideal time to bring families into your rink that may not have previously considered youth hockey and are completing their fall sports.» February is a great opportunity to attract new families who are thinking hockey because it s winter. This will give you an advantage with your spring programs and identifying new families for next fall. PRESENTED BY OFFICIAL SPONSORS OF TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE DAYS AND Key Dates: Try Hockey Day Nov 7th: SEPTEMBER Complete online training OCTOBER 23 RD Jerseys and Goodie Bags arrive NOVEMBER 7 TH Try Hockey For Free Day, presented by Kraft Try Hockey Day Feb 20th: JANUARY Complete online training FEBRUARY 12 TH Jerseys and Goodie Bags arrive FEBRUARY 20 TH Try Hockey For Free Day, presented by Kraft 5

6 COMPLETING THE 3. CONVERSION TRANSITION PROGRAM Begins after your Try Hockey For Free Day, presented by Kraft A low-cost, low-commitment program eases new families from try hockey to youth hockey. This allows kids to become more comfortable on the ice and will significantly increase your chances of adding more participants. BRONZE: Achieve Bronze status by participating in the three growth programs listed below: Participate in Welcome Back Week Host one Try Hockey event (Nov. 7 or Feb. 20) Organize a Transition Program Examples:» Learn-to-Skate» Learn-to-Play» Shortened Season Local Association Coordinates:» Coaches to run on-ice sessions» Low-cost, low-commitment introductory program» Equipment to lend USA Hockey Provides:» Best practices on developing a transition program» Practice plans CHALLENGE TIMELINE: August 25th: reminder to 8 & under players SEPTEMBER September: (Try Hockey Nov. 7th): Complete online training AUGUST September 2nd: Recorded phone call from a Women s National Team athlete or NHL player September 14th 20th: Welcome Back Week OCTOBER 6

7 CHALLENGE VISIT ACCEPT.2AND2CHALLENGE.COM AND START GROWING YOUR PROGRAM! SILVER: Achieve Bronze status and participate in at least one more growth initiative, and we ll recognize you as a Silver status association. Silver Initiatives: (Choose at Least One) Host both national Try Hockey events Season Ice Breaker Event (Season Kick-off) Girls Hockey Weekend (Oct. 10 & 11) REWARDS:» National recognition from USA Hockey» Banner for display in your rink» BRONZE: Four (4) sets of Starter Equipment» SILVER: Four (4) sets of Starter Equipment plus six (6) youth hockey sticks» GOLD: Four (4) sets of Starter Equipment plus six (6) youth hockey sticks and twelve (12) Ringettes GOLD: Go for the Gold! Achieve Silver status and participate in at least two additional growth initiatives, and you ll reach the top of the podium as a Gold status association. Gold Initiatives: (Choose at Least Two) Apply for a growth grant Implement your own original growth program Send an 8 & under specific newsletter Hold an equipment drive Send an end-of-season survey to participants Mail an end-of-season thank you postcard Organize a female-focused initiative within your coed 8 & under program NOVEMBER November 7th: Try Hockey For Free Day, presented by Kraft JANUARY February 12th: (Try Hockey Feb 20th): Jerseys and Goodie Bags arrive February: Transition Program Starts October 23rd: (Try Hockey Nov. 7th): Jerseys and Goodie Bags arrive November: Transition Program Starts DECEMBER January: (Try Hockey Feb 20th): Complete online training FEBRUARY February 20th: Try Hockey For Free Day, presented by Kraft 7

8 SCAN THE CODE TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE! TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE PROGRAM SERVICES:» » The National Hockey League and USA Hockey are committed partners in the shared goal of promoting youth hockey participation.