Come Play Youth Hockey Commercial

USA Hockey is inviting parents of children ages 4 to 8 years old to watch their kids soar with its “Come Play Youth Hockey” campaign.

A 30-second commercial was created by the NHL Network to accentuate the positive qualities that youth hockey can bring out of kids and stress the importance of why a parent may want to choose youth hockey. This message, which can be used at all levels of youth hockey from the national office to the local association or facility, is one that will help attract the parents of children that may not think of hockey as a team-sport option when they are choosing their kid’s activities.

Local associations and rinks have the opportunity to download the video for their use in promoting youth hockey. The last five seconds can be tagged with the local program information. Local associations and rinks are encouraged to work with their local cable network to utilize free PSA space to help promote the positive message of what youth hockey can bring out of a kid.

If you would like additional information regarding the Come Play Youth Hockey Campaign or the commercial, please email us at ComePlayYouthHockey@usahockey.org or contact USA Hockey’s Membership Development department at (719) 576-8724.

Flex Development Program

The Hoffman Estates Park District has created a successful hockey program that overcomes entry barriers while keeping children engaged. The Flex Development program lets busy families play hockey and participate in multiple activities, while keeping kids engaged, which provides extra value. Three slots are provided per week with the same programming, and lets families decide when it’s time for hockey. Families can attend once a week; if they miss a session they have two other times to choose from. If time lends itself, they can attend up to three times a week to advance their child’s skills. For the growth model on the Flex Development Program, click here.

American Development Model:
A Brighter Future For All

The process of helping educate those around the country about the American Development Model and its associated benefits has begun in earnest. By the end of September, each USA Hockey youth association throughout the country will receive an ADM kit with materials for distribution within its organization.

Our ADM regional managers are out meeting with district, affiliate and local associations to share how ADM principles can be incorporated. This is being done through presentations to coaches and parents, as well as through on-ice demonstration. If your local association would like direct assistance, please contact Ken Martel, director of the ADM, at kenm@usahockey.org or the ADM regional manager responsible for your area.

JOE DOYLE
AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, MT, NV, NM, OK, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY
Email: joed@usahockey.org |Cell: (719) 331-4058

GUY GOSSELIN
ND, SD, NE, MN, WI, IA
Email: guyg@usahockey.org | Cell: TBA

ROGER GRILLO
CT, ME, MA, NH, RI
Email: rogerg@usahockey.org | Cell: (719) 304-1884

BOB MANCINI
IL, IN, MI, MO
Email: bobm@usahockey.org | Cell: (989) 780-0515

KEN MARTEL
Director of the American Development Model
Email: kenm@usahockey.org | Office: (719) 538-1181

SCOTT PALUCH
AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, TN, Western PA, WV
Email: scottp@usahockey.org | Cell: (719) 339-1425

TBA
DE, Eastern PA, MD, NJ, NY

In beginning to implement the ADM, several affiliates have taken the initiative to require cross-ice hockey for all Mites. This is a great first step in improving player development and cutting costs for this age group. The most recent affiliate to take this forward-thinking approach is Vermont.

As the ADM is put into practice across the country, we’ll utilize Tape-to-Tape to share success stories with you. As always, we invite your feedback on the ADM as together, we build “A Brighter Future for All.”

About the ADM: USA Hockey’s revolutionary American Development Model provides — for the first time ever — a national blueprint for optimal athlete development that is based on long-term athlete development principles, including age-appropriate learning. It provides a framework for our children to reach their fullest potential and also assists in reducing costs.

What Are YOUR Goals For The Upcoming Season?

Recruit new players? Retain your coaches and officials? Increase number of returning players? Run a successful tournament? Implement a successful fundraising program? And the list goes on. But how do you measure your success?

This fall Liberty Mutual is unveiling the Responsible Sports Season Evaluation Tool™ – an easy-to-use, free online survey tool designed to help leagues and teams measure season-over-season improvement and obtain valuable feedback from parents.

The Responsible Sports Season Evaluations will help you:

• Demonstrate your organizations’ commitment to goals and improvement
• Create a space for parents to voice opinions in a constructive manner
• Reinforce your organizations’ dedication to athletes, parents and coaches
• And more…

Want to learn more about the Season Evaluation Tool, built by Responsible Sports and the youth sports experts at Positive Coaching Alliance? Visit ResponsibleSports.com for survey best practices, pre-season, mid-season, and post-season steps, and to sign your league up for the latest season evaluation information.

Sign up today! >>

Visit ResponsibleSports.com to learn more about season evaluations and sign-up to use the tool this winter.

HOCKEY WEEKEND ACROSS AMERICA 2010 – January 29-31
95 Rinks Signed up to Host a Free Clinic on Saturday, January 30, 2010

At the root of growing hockey, the largest barriers are making your product cost-effective and convenient. To demonstrate how to overcome these barriers, Saturday, January 30th, of the 2010 Hockey Weekend Across America, USA Hockey will promote a nationwide free trial of hockey. This is a countrywide effort to have local rinks and associations offer a free sample of hockey at a consistent time with the maximum amount of ease.

The goal is to have least 200 rinks offer the program from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm their local time zone. So far, 95 rinks and associations have signed up to host a clinic – don’t miss out on this opportunity to grow the game in your area. Every facility participating will be promoted through the Hockey Weekend Across America website and their national campaign publicizing the event. If your facility is interested in participating, please fill out this form. For other questions, please email growthegame@usahockey.org.

Celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America: Jan. 29-31, 2010
Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by Reebok, is set for Jan. 29-31, 2010. USA Hockey has created a list of ways to celebrate the sport. Do you have an idea of how to celebrate the weekend that is not on the list, please send a note to hockeyweekendacrossamerica@usahockey.org and we’ll be happy to include it.

OneGoal Update

With over 14,000 sets of OneGoal equipment out across the United States, many have created successful programs utilizing the OneGoal gear. If you have a success story you would like to share, please email growthegame@usahockey.org. Click here for the OneGoal Best Practices manual.

2009-10 Season Update

The 2009-10 season is in full swing with registrations arriving at an amazing rate during the last two months! As of September 17, 325,000 ice coach and player registrations have been received. Over 97% of all registrations have been completed through online registration! USA Hockey registration software has been sent to 2,800 member programs. There’s great excitement in the air as teams get formed, rosters created and the traditional playing season begins. Thanks so much to the great volunteers and program administrators who make it all happen!

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.

If you don’t already receive this newsletter directly from USA Hockey and would like to, please click here to subscribe.