Elko Hockey Association
2013 - 2014
Parent Handbook
WELCOME TO ELKO HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Welcome to Elko Hockey Association (EHA). The board of directors welcomes the participation of your family in the association and we look forward to a fun and exciting season of youth hockey.
The purpose of this handbook is to help make your experience with EHA more rewarding by offering information about our program. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact a board member. The 2013-2014 Board of Directors are:
Teri Lockie, President Andi Comeau, Secretary
340-0667 775-315-7602
Tyson Schaffner Vice President Matt Burwell, Member
340-8806
Kara Vega, Treasurer Chuck Petersen, Member
777-3083 753-0963
Sally Haueter Rampe, Member Andrew Giebel, Member
About EHA
The Elko Hockey Association is a non-profit hockey program servicing Elko County. Instructional hockey and high school programs are offered to boys and girls ages 5-18. An adult league is also offered. The coaches, managers, and board of directors consist of dedicated parent volunteers whose goal is to ensure that the kids have FUN in the sport of inline hockey.
EHA & Roller Sports Registration
Registration fees for the 2013-2014 season are below. Families registering 2+ players will receive a $25.00 discount from the applicable registration fee for each additional player.
§ Beginning And Intermediate Groups: $175.00
§ High School: $200.00
EHA requires all players to be registered with USA Roller Sports. USA Roller Sports uses the calendar year to manage their memberships and insurance program. Therefore, each player will be required to submit a membership application for 2013 and 2014.
EHA Fundraising Policy
Historically, 100% of the registration fees collected by EHA are used to pay the rental fees to The Igloo for the rink each season. EHA uses its best efforts to apply for corporate donations to cover all other costs associated with our organization, such as replacement practice jerseys, nets, pucks and other related equipment. Net proceeds from hockey shop sales, team and individual pictures and t-shirt/hoodie sales are also used to cover these additional costs. The EHA Board welcomes any fundraising ideas you may have!
Camps & Clinics/The Igloo Scholarship Program
EHA hosts an annual summer camp for all age levels and skill levels. Information such as dates, times, locations and costs will be posted and sent out to participating families.
The Igloo has a scholarship program available to users of The Igloo. For information regarding The Igloo’s scholarship program, please contact a Board Member of The Igloo.
Parent Volunteer
In addition to helping their own child, parents also have other opportunities to help the team. The teams that are fun are the ones where parents help the coach in positive ways and provide the coach with more time to focus on training. Primarily, parents should support the coach and team decisions. However, parents can also fill other roles including:
· Helping coach
· Keeping statistics
· Arranging and providing snacks
· Raising funds (for trophies, travel, etc.)
· Making videos
· Creating photos albums
· Calling the team about special events
· Arranging trophies and recognitions
· Planning and coordinating mid-season or end-of-season parties
Helping in hockey shop
Age/Team Division
Beginning: The beginning division consists of those players ages 5 – 14 with less than 2 years experience.
Intermediate: The intermediate division consists of those players ages 14 and under with 2 or more years of experience.
High School: The high school division consists of those players currently enrolled in high school (9th – 12th grade).
The Board of Directors will evaluate a parent’s request to advance a player from a division based on coach’s recommendation.
Parent Code of Conduct
EHA has a zero tolerance policy regarding sportsmanship and parent conduct during practices and games. As the parent of a hockey player, you set the example for good sportsman like conduct. Learning how to win and lose graciously and having respect for teammates, coaches, officials, opponents and the rink where they play is just as important as the skills they are learning. EHA places a high value on good sportsmanship and respect. These are life skills that will carry throughout the hockey player’s life.
While players are taught to skate “heads-up”, parents should adopt a similar attitude when it comes to game behavior. Cheer strongly in a positive manner, congratulate the opposing team of a job well done regardless of outcome of the game, emphasize the good things your player did even if he/she didn’t score a goal or have a shut-out. Refrain from “ugly talk” or commenting negatively about the other team, coach or referee in front of your player. It is expected that all parents of EHA participants read and understand the Parent’s Code of Conduct and observe and follow all the principles below:
1. Do not force your child to play hockey, but support his or her desire to play hockey. Children are involved in organized sports for their enjoyment. Make it fun.
2. Encourage your child to play by the rules. Remember children learn best by example, so applaud the good plays of both teams.
3. Do not embarrass your child by yelling at players, coaches or officials. By showing a positive attitude toward the game and all of its participants, your child will benefit. Applaud good effort in victory and defeat, and reinforce the positive points of the game.
4.. Emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit your young athlete. Deemphasize games and competition in the lower age groups.
5. Know and study the rules of the game, support the officials on and off the rink. This approach will help in the development and support of the game. Any criticism of the officials only hurts the game.
6. Recognize the importance of volunteer coaches. They are very important to the development of your child and the sport. Communicate with them and support them.
7. Ensure your child is wearing all protective equipment before entering the sport court. Encourage all other skaters to wear protective equipment and help the EHA board enforce protective equipment inside and outside of the rink.
8. EHA supports a safe and healthy environment for your child, free of alcohol, drugs or tobacco.
9. Follow any and all policies established by The Igloo and any other organization in which EHA participates and cooperates with.
10. Communicate any and all concerns regarding inappropriate behavior first with the Coach and then with the EHA Board.
11 . If you enjoy the game, learn all you can about the game and volunteer!
Parents are a child’s ultimate role model. Children look to parents as models for how to behave and react. If parents communicate that it is all about winning, children believe that too. Parents must remember that one game is not a life altering event. Learning how to play hockey is a journey that should be recognized and rewarded. The more children enjoy hockey, the harder they work at it. Each game should be kept in perspective. This means:
· Emphasizing positive plays – Parents should not make the primary focus of their conversations about what was done wrong. Parents should encourage players by pointing out what they are doing well and making progress on and surround any criticism with positive comments.
· Emphasizing a positive attitude – The most important thing is for a child to be receptive to learning and hard work. With a good attitude there won’t be anything that can’t be improved. Every child progresses at his own pace. A good attitude and hard work improves skills.
· Emphasizing effort – Skills come with time. Parents should expect their child to improve as he gains confidence about his role and abilities. However, all of this takes time and is not always constantly improving. Setbacks are a normal part of the learning cycle.
· Emphasizing a positive contribution to the team – Parents should remind their child to help the team with unselfish play and reinforce the importance of team contribution. This keeps players focused on all areas of their game, not just scoring goals.
Key Points for Parents
Know That:
· Kids are going to have bad games just like you have bad days.
· It is okay if your child falls down or loses the puck.
Do:
· Do phone the coach if you can’t make the game. Coaches may not have time to check email before a game.
· Do arrive early for games so that your child can be completely dressed before any coaching discussions in the locker room. This gives the coach time to make lineup changes based on attendance.
· Do encourage fun, hard work and team play.
· Do have your kids carry their own equipment and dress themselves as much as possible.
· Do demonstrate good sportsmanship – appreciate that all the kids are trying hard and behave toward them as you want others to behave toward your child. Say positive things about the other team’s players.
Don’t:
· Don’t correct your child – leave that to the coaches during the game.
· Don’t try to resolve frustrating issues with the coaches or other parents right after the game. Wait 24 hours to let things cool down and then call when your child cannot hear the conversation.
· Don’t take your child’s play as a measure of your parenting or instructing skills.
· Don’t pay for a goal or assist. If you must reward your child, base it on something more general like team contribution. Paying for goals or assists often just motivates your child to stand in front of the net waiting for an easy goal.
· Don’t go on the bench during practices, games and camp instruction – allow independence.
· Don’t discuss other parents or the referees in negative ways.
· Don’t argue with other parents, referees or coaches.
· Don’t discuss the coach’s negatives.
· Don’t blame a loss on a particular player or attribute a win to a single player. Teams win and lose as a team, not as individuals.
· Don’t discuss the amount of rink time or shifts allocated to players. Shifts are often determined by play on the rink, player attendance and many other factors.
· Don’t discuss position choice – good coaches routinely give all players a chance to experience all positions. At younger ages, it is just too early to type a player into a particular role.
Player Code of Conduct
Good sportsmanship, respect for teammates, coaches, parents, opponents, officials and the rinks where they play are expected from all players. Players will not swear or use abusive language on the bench, in the rink or at any team function. There will be no lashing out or verbal abuse to officials. Fighting, drinking, smoking, using chewing tobacco or illegal substances during any team function will not be tolerated. Any player who violates any of these rules of conduct is subject to disciplinary action. It is expected that all participants of EHA read and understand the Player’s Code of Conduct and observe and follow all the principles below:
1. Play for FUN! Work to improve your skills.
2. Treat teammates with respect. If a teammate makes a bad pass, tell them it was “unlucky” or tell them “good effort”. A teammate who makes a mistake did not do so intentionally, and does not need you to remind them of it. Let them know you are confident they will make the play the next time.
3. Treat opponents with respect. If during the course of a competitive game, you and an opponent engage in some rough play, compliment his/her hard work and get on with the game. Any retaliation will not be tolerated. At the end of a contest, win or lose, congratulate your opponent in a courteous manner.
4. Treat referees with respect . The referee does not care who wins the game. The referee is human and will miss calls. Just like your teammate, they do not need to be reminded they made a mistake. Don’t use the referee as an excuse for why your team loses a game. Concentrate on the areas of the game that you can control. After every game, go over and shake the referee’s hand and tell him/her “good game”.
5. Treat coaches with respect. Come to practices and games focused and ready to give 100%, on time and properly equipped. When the coaches talk, listen. If you can’t make a practice or game, I notify my coach as soon as possible.
6. Treat volunteers with respect . The volunteers donate their time and money for the success of EHA. Without volunteers, you would not be able to play hockey. Periodically thank the volunteers throughout the season for their help and commitment to the program.
7. Poor sportsmanship (trash talking, instigating, etc.) will not be tolerated and may affect Participant’s participation, to be determined by the EHA board in consultation with your coach.
Spectators Code of Conduct
All spectators, parental and non-parental, should conduct themselves in a sportsman like manner at all times. Be respectful of all players, spectators, coaches, officials and the rink itself. While it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the game, this is a youth league event. Avoid negative criticism or conduct. Emphasis should be on the positive and make each player feel like a winner regardless of the scoreboard.