2018-2019 First Year Mite Hockey Parent Meeting
Welcome & Introductions AVHA Mite Coordinator Kevin Morris (651) 231-7078 kmox@yahoo.com
Welcome & Introductions AVHA Board Members President Jeremy Pries Vice President Chris Link Treasurer Erin Benolkin
Welcome & Introductions AVHA Board Members Administrator Crystal Kapps Volunteer Coordinator Luke Korkowski Tournament Coordinator Kyle Cloutier
Welcome & Introductions BHC Mite Directors Dean Kuechle Scott Larson
Association Hockey Why Association Hockey? It s OURS: Our community, our city, our school, our neighbors, our neighborhood These are your child s classmates and friends
Association Hockey "The single greatest hockey experience of my life was playing in the State Tournament with the kids from my neighborhood. - Herb Brooks
Firehawks Hockey Build a Culture of Excellence Dedication Support Accountability Results Retention
Firehawks Hockey "You win with people, not with talent. So the quality of the people is very important in building your team. I always looked for people with a solid value system. - Herb Brooks, Coach
Mite Program Overview Goals Safe and fun environment for all eligible ages and abilities Provide an opportunity for all to play Introduce new players to hockey and progressively challenge them throughout the season Produce high level hockey players!
Mite Program Overview Levels of Play (Boys) Mini-Mite 1 Born after 6/30/2014 Primarily Pre K Kindergarten Focus on fundamentals 25% of the time is with a puck
Mite Program Overview Levels of Play (Boys) Mini-Mite 2 Primarily 1 st Grade Hone fundamental skills 50% of the time is with a puck
Mite Program Overview Levels of Play (Boys) Mite Minor Primarily 2 nd Grade Reinforce fundamental skills and introduce complex ones 75% of the time is with a puck
Mite Program Overview Levels of Play (Boys) Mite Major Primarily 3 rd Grade Honing all skills in preparation for Squirt hockey 99% of the time is with a puck
Mite Program Overview Level of Play (Girls) Mite Girls Pre K 3 rd Grade Identical to the boys program Designed to allow girls to skate with their peer group throughout their hockey career
Mite Program Overview Birth Certificate All 1 st year players must provide a copy of a government issued birth certificate to the AVHA Registrar: Give copy to Mite Coordinator at the parent meeting Email a pdf to registrar@applevalleyhockey.com Mail copy to: AVHA Attn: Registrar P.O. Box 240504 Apple Valley, MN
Mite Program Overview Which level should my child start at? Does not know how to skate All brand new skaters start at Mini-Mite 1 or Mite Girls Sort of knows how to skate (can stand, move, get back up) If Pre-K through 1 st Grade, start Mini-Mite 1 or Mite Girls If 1 st through 3 rd Grade, start with Mini-Mite 2 or Mite Girls Can skate, just never played hockey before Pre-K through 2 nd Grade, start with appropriate Mite level 3 rd Grade, start at Mite Minor (move up after evaluation)
Mite Program Overview Schedule Regular season practices October 28 th through March 3 rd Saturdays and Sundays Generally 1 hour long Optional skills training available
Mite Program Overview Jamborees (Inter-squad games) Holiday Jamboree Mid-Winter Fest Hayes outdoor rinks End-of-Season Jamboree
Mite Program Overview Individual and Team Pictures Tuesday, December 17 th, 2018 Burnsville Training Center
Ice Arena Locations Apple Valley High School 14452 Hayes Road Apple Valley, MN 55124 Hayes Ice Arena 14595 Hayes Road Apple Valley, MN 55124
Ice Arena Locations Burnsville Ice Center 251 Civic Center Parkway Burnsville, MN 55337 HOW MUCH DRIVING IS THAT?!?!
Mite Program Costs Costs USA Hockey $50 (total) for birth year 2012 and older
Mite Program Costs Costs AVHA Mini-Mite 1 & 2 $50 Registration (waived if 1 st year) AVHA Mite Minor & Major $100 Registration (waived if 1 st year) AVHA Mite Girls $50 Registration (waived if 1 st year)
AVHA Website Communication Website Each team has specific page Generally contains calendar information, messages from the Lead Coach, etc.
AVHA Website Communication Email Email addresses obtained during the registration process Can be Mite level specific or Association-wide
AVHA Website Calendar All official Mite activities will posted to the calendar One calendar system, may tags Each Mite level will have their own drop down menu team page
AVHA Website Calendar Published by mid-october-ish The entire season will be published Be aware of schedule changes
AVHA Website
Volunteering Requirements Each AVHA family is responsible for 6 hours Not assigned per-child Three primary ways to complete hours Recruiting and retention events Traveling pre-season clinics and tryouts Tournaments and jamborees
Volunteering Requirements Managed online via Dibs See availability Sign up View requirements
Volunteering
Equipment Free Equipment Package For 1 st year players Equipment issued through Westwood Sports Mite Coordinator will distribute forms when available
Equipment Free Equipment Package Includes: Shin pads Hockey pants ( breezers ) Shoulder pads Elbow pads Hockey gloves Athletic protector Helmet with face mask
Equipment Free Equipment Package does not Include: Stick and skates Mouth guard Water bottle Yes, they will need one Neck guard Recommended Equipment bag
Equipment AVHA will provide: Jersey Some groups put names on back Usually a $5 charge Hockey socks
Equipment Fitting If you ve never fitted a hockey player before, let someone else get the sizing right Skates will typically be a size smaller than a shoe Equipment will look bulky
Equipment Fitting Stick Does not need to be an $80 composite Highly recommend wood sticks Should come up to the bottom of their nose when held vertically and they re wearing shoes Does not need to be a Crosby curve (straight blade is ok)
Equipment Fitting Helmets Must have HECC certification (look for sticker) Generally expire 6.5 years from date of manufacture
Equipment Dressing Get to the locker room early! Preferably 30 minutes before start time Make them go to the bathroom first! Ask for help!
Equipment If you only remember one thing from tonight, remember this: LABEL ALL PIECES OF HOCKEY EQUIPMENT
Mite Practice Format Drills and skills A lot of repetition Small area games Station format Follows USA Hockey ADM Rink Rat Outdoor optional ice Less structured
Mite Practice Format Players will be equally divided into teams No evaluations Assigned by Lead Coaches Each team should have: Head coach Assistant coach Manager Usually 2-6 teams per level
Coaching
Coaching Firehawks Mite Program Assistant Coaches Always have a need for coaches! Do not have to be a hockey genius
Coaching Firehawks Mite Program Assistant Coaches Coaching certification USA Hockey membership (annually) USA Hockey Coaching Certification SafeSport training (biannually) Background check (biannually) Concussion training (annually)
Mite Hockey Recruitment You are the best recruiters we have! Referral program $50 gift certificate to Westwood Sports One per player recruited (max 2) Try hockey free day For those players who have not registered
Mite Hockey Recruitment Who should be recruited? Follow Minnesota Hockey participation policy Live in the Apple Valley High School attendance area Open enroll to an Apple Valley High School feeder school
Questions?
See you at the rink!