New Web Site Promises Brighter Future

The new USA Hockey Internet Network launched on June 4, and we have been on bit of a technological roller coaster ever since. While we have received positive feedback regarding the new look and navigation, we have also received significant feedback regarding bugs that have surfaced in the first real-world usage of the site.

Migration – The most significant problem we have experienced relates to the migration of data from our old Web site (and 1,700 local program Web sites) to the new platform. This will explain why you see broken links and server errors as you click around the site. We are recreating stories manually in many instances, and have recruited a number of in-house resources to speed up this effort. If you come across any broken links, please don’t hesitate to e-mail them to: webmaster@usahockey.org, and we will add them  to the fix list.

1,700 Local Program Web sites – In order to help the 1,700 webmasters with the migrated and sometimes messy content on their new Web sites, we have launched usahockeywebsitetraining.com with a FAQ and detailed explanation of the top progress-blockers. If you are a webmaster or know a webmaster who needs help, please refer to this site. We also offer the full-time support of our Network Coordinator, Eddie Olson (eddieo@usahockey.org, (800) 566-3288, ext. 144) who is dedicated to training and supporting rookie and veteran webmasters alike.

We have recently completed a series of free seminars for any webmaster who needs assistance. The first three covered the start-up process for migrated Web sites.

The seminars are archived on the training Web site (usahockeywebsitetraining.com), and can be accessed by anyone at any time.

Event Management Registration/Tournament Tool – We continue to add enhancements to the Event Management Registration system, which allows local programs to register members online for tournaments, banquets, camps and social functions, and collect money. Our objective is to have enhancements to the tournament tool (live scoring, statistical collection and display) ready by the end of August, so programs can use it to score games this season. 

Coach Clinic Registration – In order to minimize the risk of problems with the data collected when coaches register for clinics online, we will continue using the system on the old Web site for the duration of the coach clinic season (July – December, 2007). If the new system proves to be fully tested and running well in the coming months, we will consider a mid-season migration, but only with 100 percent confidence of success. 

We hope this will reflect our efforts to solve these problems as soon as possible. In the meantime, your patience and positive communication in assisting those with frustrations and questions is greatly appreciated. For immediate questions and concerns, contact Lauren Pasquale, director, Internet Communications, laurenp@usahockey.org, (800) 566-3288, ext. 176.

Tapping Into Online Registration

Online registration continues to take the country by storm, with nearly half of all USA Hockey members using the high tech method for processing their USA Hockey membership.

According to Rae Briggle, assistant executive director of USA Hockey’s Membership Services, 44 percent of the country is currently registering online.

Online Registration for the 2006-07 season will continue through July 31. Online Registration for the 2007-08 season began on May 1. As of July 18, 35,000 registrations for the 2007-08 season have been processed.

The program has been so successful, Briggle said, because the online registration software works great, is easy to use and has reduced the workload for volunteers in grassroots programs.

Parents and adult players are especially pleased with how the program works, cutting back on paperwork and reducing the possibility for duplicate payments.

Online registration began during the 2004-05 season with a pilot program. It launched nationally for the 2005-06, and is currently ahead of projected numbers for this season.

“From everything we’re hearing from programs around the country, we project we’ll have 400,000 members register online for the 2007-08 season,” Briggle said.

To register online, please go to usahockeyregistration.com. and to learn more about USA Hockey, click here.

Immediate Offsides Rule Remains

USA Hockey’s Annual Congress ended on June 9 with very little changed in the way of playing rules.

The most spirited debate during the week in Colorado Springs centered around the proposal to adopt the “tag up” offside rule in youth hockey. While the motion to adopt “tag up” failed, it will be allowed in high school hockey.

The board of directors did vote to eliminate the rule requiring mouth guards for girls’ under-10 in order to mirror the rule for boys.

New dimensions for goalkeeper’s equipment will be required beginning in 2009-10 and is strongly recommended for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. An appendix will be included in the new rulebook that includes the new dimensions.

One other highlight in regard to rule changes was the adoption of new ice markings that makes significant progress in the attempt to have one set of standardized markings across all levels of hockey.

USA Hockey also adopted an official policy denouncing the practice of “locker boxing.” Click on the rulebook image above to access the 2007-09 Official Rules of Ice Hockey book in its entirety.