$2,500 Available for Youth Hockey Organizations This Fall From Liberty Mutual

USA Hockey is proud to introduce Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports to the hockey community, a program dedicated to championing and celebrating responsibility in youth sports. Responsible Sports offers valuable resources and expert advice to help coaches and parents make the most out of the youth athletic experience for all involved. Don’t miss your opportunity to earn one of the twenty $2,500 Fall Responsible Sports Community Grants that will be awarded to organizations that demonstrate their commitment to responsibility. It’s not too late to participate, but hurry, this grant period closes on November 30th! Visit ResponsibleSports.com to get started.

Make a TAPE to TAPE Pass

We encourage you to distribute this newsletter to as many people in your association as possible. Board members, hockey directors, coaches, parents and players can all benefit from information in TAPE to TAPE. We thank you for your commitment to hockey and your help in sharing best practices with others in your association.

Daily Themes for Hockey Weekend Across America
presented by Reebok

Hockey Weekend Across America presented by Reebok, will take place February 13-15, 2009. Each day has its own theme and sponsor:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13
WEAR YOUR JERSEY DAY
Sponsored by ShopUSAHockey.com
Show your hockey spirit by wearing your favorite hockey jersey to school or work.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14
BRING A FRIEND TO THE RINK DAY
Sponsored by the NHL
No matter what the event is (an open skate, a youth game or a professional game) do your best to bring a friend to the rink to introduce them to the sport.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15
CELEBRATE LOCAL HOCKEY HEROES DAY
Sponsored by Libery Mutual's Responsible Sports
Honor your favorite coach, timekeeper, official, player, etc., through a special recognition event. Use the day as a fund-raising effort for you association and just plain show the community what hockey has done for them.

Hockey Weekend Across America is a national celebration of our game, so please spread the word within your association. For ideas on what other associations did during last year’s Hockey Weekend, visit 2008 HWAA events.

Tim's Kids Skate for Free in Florida

The Tim’s Kids Program at the Space Coast Iceplex in Rockledge, Fla. provides up to 20 children between the ages of 4 and 8, the opportunity to try hockey for the first time at no expense to their families.

Tim’s Kids is the dream of the late Tim Szymula, who volunteered so much of his time to Brevard Amateur Ice Hockey Association (BAIHA). Even with his passing, his giving did not stop. He directed a portion of his life insurance to be used to start up the program.

The organization lends the child all the necessary equipment, provides jerseys, and covers the ice rental costs for one “house league” session. This session consists of a one-hour orientation, followed by 10 weeks of one-hour cross-ice games to be played on consecutive Friday evenings from 6-7 pm.

“We hope Tim’s commitment will help us to inspire new generations of Brevard youth to become a long-term part of our hockey family,” says Gary O’Neil, the President of the BAIHA.

Is your program trying something to increase participation? Please let us know and we can share ideas with other programs around the country – patk@usahockey.org.

January 2009 is National Skating Month

Be a part of U.S. Figure Skating’s national promotion to attract new skaters to your rink and local program. National Skating Month is endorsed by USA Hockey. You can use this opportunity to celebrate skating, alert the media, and host activities to attract new families in to our sports.

Click here to go to the National Skating Month home page and fill out a registration form to reserve your administration packet today. An application must be completed, with payment of $25, and sent to U.S. Figure Skating Headquarters in order to receive your materials. Click on the “Club Info” and “Previous Events” tabs to get started with your planning.

This year’s focus is on hosting an open house with all print and promotional materials geared toward bringing the community into your facility for a fun day of skating for the whole family. Most important, celebrating National Skating Month on a local level will draw attention to your program and ice facility.

If you have any questions, please contact U.S. Figure Skating’s Membership Department at (719) 635-5200 or swehrli@usfigureskating.org.

Links of Interest

• South Dakota school board to discuss ban on flier distribution in schools
• Pond hockey program provides hockey option in Vermont
• Michigan program grows for 2nd season
• N.Y. Rangers work with arena to grow hockey in Poughkeepsie
• A great day planned to launch high school season in Massachusetts
• Behind every great hockey player is a great hockey mom

USA Hockey Adds Goalie Section to Website

USA Hockey announced that it has added a specific section of its website dedicated solely to the development of goaltenders of all ages. Accessed directly by visiting usahockeygoaltending.com, the site includes detailed information on positioning and mental preparation, downloadable drill sheets for coaches and players, camp information and an overview of the Warren Strelow Goaltender Mentor Program. In addition, a forum entitled, "Ask the Mechanic" is part of the site and gives coaches, players and parents a chance to submit questions that are answered weekly by Joe Exter, goaltending coach for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.

OneGoal Update

There are more than 13,000 sets of OneGoal starter equipment in use around the country this fall. We have heard back from many of our programs and here’s a short list of how people are using their equipment:

• We run a “Give it a Shot” Introduction to Beginning Youth Hockey for 7 to 11 year old kids. Wells Ice Rink – College Park, MD
  
  
• The equipment is being made available to any hockey association in the state that is in need of equipment to use or is running any OneGoal programs. Colorado Amateur Hockey Association
  
  
• We are leasing the equipment for $30 for an 8 month season. We also give them some used socks and jerseys. South Lake Tahoe (CA) Ice Arena
  
  
• In conjunction with a grant received we are planning a 20 week girls only Learn to Skate program at no cost to the participants. Rochester (NY) Youth Hockey
  
  
• Our plan is to hold a "bring your friend to hockey" day for the 8-and-under program where we hope to utilize all of the gear. We also will have some OneGoal days next summer. Hyland Hills (CO) Hockey Association

Please let us know how your organization is using your OneGoal equipment by emailing Pat Kelleher at patk@usahockey.org.

Registration Update as of November 1, 2008

Registration totals for the current season are far ahead of projections thanks to so many programs using online registration. As of November 1, just over 400,000 coaches and players have been registered. 88% of those registrations have been processed through online registration. A special thanks to all USA Hockey program registrars for everything they do behind the scenes to make the games happen!

If you have any questions about the registration process or online registration, please contact Member Services at (800) 566-3288, ext 123.

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