MIDAMDISABLEDHOCKEY FALL,2015 MIDAMDISABLEDSECTIONNEWSLETTER FALL,2014 ThisnewslettereditionpresentsthelatestupdatesasofNovember,2014forbothSpecialandSledHockey ThenextUSAHockeyNationalmeetingwilltakeplaceinJanuary,2015inOrlando,Florida UpdatestotheMidAmDisabledHockeyProgramlist(SpecialandSledHockey)willbepostedsoononthe MidAmHockeywebsite:http://www.midamhockey.com/Visitthewebsitetoviewit supdatedlook AninaguralmeetingintheSpring/SummertimeisbeingplannedforbothMidAmSpecialandSledHockey, separately.thepurposeofthesemeetingsaretonetwork,andhaveameetingofthemindstogrowand sustainspecialandsledhockeyinthemidamregion,thefastestgrowingregionintheusfordisabledhockey. ItishopedaLevel1coachingclinicwillbeattachedtothismeetingtomakeitmoreconvenienttobecome certified.moreinformationtofollow TheAnnualMidAmMeetingisforANYONEtoattendwhoisassociatedwithaUSAHyouth,adultordisabled hockeyprogram.thisincludesofficials,coachesandrinkmanagers.itistypicallythethirdsaturdayofjune eachyear,includesamorningsessionforlearning,lunchandanafternoonsessionforvoting,discusssionand newbusiness.thedatewillbeannouncedshortly. Pleasesendquestionsandcommentsto:sledhockey@zoomtown.com Reneé Loftspring PT,EdD MidAmDisabledSectionRepresentative USAHOCKEY 2015ROGERSHARRERGROWHOCKEYAWARDS2Everyprogramshouldapply ThepurposeoftheRogerSharrer GrowHockey Programistoprovideassistancetolocalhockeyassociationsto growicehockeyparticipationwithintheirarea.thisprogramisforbothable2bodiedanddisabledhockeyprograms. The2015applicationwillbepostedsoonontheMidAmwebsite.MidAmencouragesALLsledandspecialhockey programstoapplyforitemstheyneedtohelpgrowparticipation,suchasjerseys,protectivegear,rinkdividers, uniqueplayerneedsoradaptiveequipment.
SAFESPORT Updates:SafeSportnowencouragesprogram stohaveacoachorparentsafesportcertifiedin additiontosomeoneintheirassociation.formoreinformationonhowyoucangetcertifiedonline,goto http://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining One of the most exciting aspects of the USA Hockey SafeSport Program is the online training/education thatisavailabletohelpourmembersbecomeawareoftheinformationnecessarytohelppreventabuse fromoccurringinoursport. WearepleasedtoannouncethatallUSAHockeyregisteredcoaches,officials,employeesandvolunteers are entitled to take the training at no cost. The training was produced by the United States Olympic Committee. The training is comprised of short video segments that take approximately 90 minutes to complete, however, not all training needs to be completed in one session. We believe you will find the trainingveryvaluableandinformative,andstronglyencourageyoutoaccessthetraining. TheSafeSportTrainingisvalidfor2seasons.Thusifyoutookthetrainingfor2013e14,youwillnotneedto take the training again until the 2015e16 season (at which time a shorter refresher course will be available). LOCKERROOMereminder Itistheresponsibilityofeachprogram scoachestomonitorlockerroomshomeandaway Coachesaretobeinthelockerroomwhenplayersareinthere,monitoringplayerbehavior, dressingandparentshelpingplayers Nooneshouldbealoneinthelockerroom,atanytime(includescoaches,parents,playersand siblings) Parentsandvolunteerscannothelpachilddress,toiletorhavedirecthandseonunlessitistheir childortheparenthasbeensuccessfullyscreenedthroughmidam SCREENINGereminder Allcoachingstaffandvolunteers,withroutineaccesstochildrenunder18)withinyourassociation, mustbescreened(includesteammanagers,lockerroomsupervisors,andadministrators) Screeningwebsite:https://www.midamhockeyscreen.com/login.php Screeningsareona2eyearcycle(appliestonewscreeningsandtheexpirationof3eyearscreens) Onceallcoachandvolunteerscreeningapprovalsarereceived,theregistrarwillapprovetheteam roster
2014DISABLEDATHLETEOFTHEYEAR:MidAm sownconnorbarge,harrison,ohio Dedicatedtothesportofhockeybothonandofftheice,ConnorBargehasn tletanythinggetinthewayof his love for the game. The 16eyeareold Barge, who was diagnosed with Progressive Pseudorheumatoid Dysplasiawhenhewas5,hasbeenanactivememberoftheCincinnatiIceBreakerssledhockeyteamfor thepastsixseasons.notonlyhasbargeemergedasoneofcincinnati smostaccomplishedplayers,buthe alsodedicatescountlesshourstopromotionandfundraisingeffortsfortheprogram.duringpracticesand games,bargeoffershishelptonewplayersbygivingthempointersandhelpingthemgainacomfortfor thesport.he sanopenemindedteammateaswell,willingtoplayanypositionorroleforthebettermentof theteam.barge senthusiasmwasrecognizedthisseasonwhenhewasofferedachancetoplaywiththe OhioUnitedsledhockeyteamattheUSAHockeySledClassicinPittsburgh,Pennsylvania.Offtheice,Barge has been the top fundraiser for the IceBreakers in recent memory, having raised over $1,000 for the programsincejoiningtheteam.healsovolunteersduringtheflyingpigmarathon,whichdonatesmoney to noneprofit organizations that participate in the event. A sophomore at William Henry Harrison High SchoolinHarrison,Ohio,Bargehasencouragedhisteachersandclassmatestolearnmoreaboutthesport ofsledhockeybyinvitingthemtotrythegameeachyear.thedisabledathleteof theyearawardrecognizesadisabledathletethathasdisplayedincrediblededication todisabledhockeyintheunitedstates. NOMINATIONSFORDISABLEDATHLETEOFTHEYEARwillbeacceptedearly2015.Anoticewillgoout whentheapplicationperiodhasbeenannounced. USAHockey sannualcongressisayearlygatheringofusahockeyvolunteerleaders,includingmembers oftheorganization sboardofdirections,councils,committeesandsections.eachyear,themost outstandingcontributorsandplayersarerecognized.oneoftheawardsisdisabledathleteoftheyear. TheindividualisflowntotheCongressinJuneandhonoredattheawardsbanquet.Createdin2005,this annualawardrecognizestheoutstandingperseveranceanddedicationbyadisabledhockeyplayerthrough demonstratingtheabilitytoovercomeobstaclesinthepursuitofexcellencebothonandofftheice. MidAmencouragesitscoachesandteamstonominateaplayerfromtheirprogram(Specialhockey,Sled Hockey,USAWarriorHockey)whomeetsthedefinedcriteria.Applicationsandacriterialistwillbeposted early2015.
USAHOCKEYDISABLEDFESTIVAL2015"Buffalo,NYApril9212 TheFestivaltakesplaceindifferentpartsofthecountryeachyear.Thisyear,theFestivalwilltakeplaceat thenorthtowncenterlocatedat1615amherstmanordriveinwilliamsville,newyorkwhichisadjacentto Buffalo,NewYork.ThemissionoftheFestivalistoprovideafunandexcitingweekendofhockeyina grandeventaswellaspromoteandgrowdisabledhockeythroughoutthecountryforspecialhockey, SledHockey,USAWarriorHockey,StandingAmputeeHockey,andDeaf/HardofHearingHockey Thecosttoparticipateinthe2015eDisabledFestivalwillbe$350ifyourregistrationandpaymentis receivedbydecember31,2014and$500ifyourregistrationandpaymentisreceivedafterthatdateand byfebruary14,2015.allentriesmustbereceivedbyfebruary14,2015. Foradditionalinformationaboutthisyear sfestivalinbuffalo,ny,goto: http://www.usahockey.com/disabledhockey?id=903981edisabledehockeyefestival APPLYTOHOSTANATIONALDISABLEDFESTIVALINYOURCOMMUNITYin2017or2018 TheUSADisabledHockeyFestival,thelargestdisabledhockeyeventofitskindintheUnitedStatesbrings togetherallthedisciplines:specialhockey,sledhockey,standing/amputeeanddeaf/hardofhearing Hockey,underoneroof.PlayerstravelfromallovertheUnitedStatestoreunitewithfriendsandplay hockeyifyouwouldlikemoreinformationregardinghostingopportunities,jeremykennedyat JeremyK@usahockey.org WHITEPAPER:Thispastyear,theDisabledSectionpublisheda whitepaper toexpressthemissionand goalsofdisabledhockeywithinusahockey.allfourdisciplines,special,sled,usawarrior,standing AmputeeandDeaf/HardofHearingapprovedthisstatementJune,2014attheAnnualCongressin Colorado.ThewhitepaperisintendedtobeaguidefornewandexistingUSAHockeyDisabledhockey programs.thepapercanbefoundhere. UPDATESforSpecialHockeyNTheCapitalCityCondorsareverypleasedtobehostingtheSHI2015 TournamentRegistrationinfoisnowavailableontheirwebsiteat:www.capitalcitycondors.org Pleasefindtheinvitationletterhere:2015SHITournamentInvitationLetter: http://www.specialhockeyinternational.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2015-shi-tournament-invitation-letter.pdf NewsstoriesforSpecialHockey: BlackSwampIceFrogs(BowlingGreen,OH): http://www.uct.org/uct-in-action/news/uct-helping-special-hockey-players-learn-to-skate-more-safely/ Pittsburgh ssteelcityicebergs:http://www.pittsburghspecialhockey.org/ PittsburghEmperors:http://americanspecialhockey.org/team/pittsburgh-emperors
UPDATESforSledHockeyN 100emilerule: USADisabledHockeywillnotwaivethe100emileruleforsledplayers,includingUSAWarriorSledteamsfor thenhlclassicorthenationalfestivalifthereisateamtoplayonthatisclosertowheretheyareliving. TheDisabledSectioncommitteewillreviewrequeststochangelocationsonacaseebyecasebasis. RegardingtheNationalFestival: (1)Playersneedtobeidentifiedwiththeprogramclosesttothem(100emilerule) (2)Playerscannotbedualrostered. (3)Deviationsfromthisrostermustbepreeapprovedbyanassignedcommittee(withinDisabledSection) (4)Ifaplayer srosteredteamisnotattendingthefestival,eachplayermaysubmitawaivertojoin anotherteam. Waivers (5)Waiversareinplaceforthoseovertheageof18inDecember31 st ofthecurrentseasonwhowantto playonayouthteam.anyplayer18yearsoldondecember31 st ofthecurrentseasoncanplayontheir youthteamiftheyhaveneverplayedonanadultteaminagame (6)Toapplyforawaiver:eachplayermustsubmitacomprehensivedescriptionofwhytheyarerequesting thewaiveralongwithavideooftheirplayinghockeytodemonstratetheirskills.districtrepresentatives willberesponsibleforforwardingthisinformationtothewaivercommittee. (7)ThechairoftheDisabledSectionmustapprovecombinedteamsbeforetheycanregisterforthe Festival (8)TheWomen snationalteamisconsideredanadultteam.nationalfemaleplayers,17yearsor younger,asofdecember31 st ofthecurrentseason,areallowedtoplayintheirlocalyouthdivision.if theplayeris18yearsofageasofdecember31 st ofthecurrentseason,andtheyhaveplayedonthe Nationalteam,theyarenotallowedtoplayontheiryouthteaminsanctionedgamesandtournaments. LATESTNEWS: Buffalo,NYtohosttheWORLDSledgeHockeytournament(8nations)April24eMay2,2015 Happy New Year Wishing Health and Happiness to Everyone - Renee Loftspring, MidAm Disabled Section