Welcome to the Henniker Youth Hockey Association (HYHA). We, the members of the Board of Directors, are very pleased that you and your child have chosen to participate in HYHA this year. The purpose of this handbook is to provide information about our programs to help make your experience with HYHA more rewarding.

Communication is key to providing a positive rewarding experience. The all volunteer Board will be working to ensure parents, coaches and participants do what is necessary to understand what is expected from each other. This will be accomplished through various media, including parent/coach team meetings. Communication to and from you as parents and participants is equally vital. While we will all have different objectives to accomplish this season, please keep in mind what should be everyone’s common goal… the children, their development, and their enjoyment of the sport.

About the Henniker Youth Hockey Association

The Henniker Youth Hockey Association, Inc. (HYHA) was founded and incorporated as a non-profit corporation in April 1991.

The Association is governed by a board of 13 directors who are elected to serve three year terms. All positions are filled with volunteers. The HYHA is a member of the New Hampshire Amateur Hockey Association and USA Hockey, Inc., which is the governing body for all amateur hockey in the United States from local associations, like HYHA, right up through the US Olympic Team.

HYHA offers programs from learn-to-skate to competitive hockey. Our home ice arena is the Lee Clement Arena, located on the New England College campus in Henniker, NH. Participants of HYHA hockey programs compete at various levels in the New Hampshire Amateur Hockey Association’s Granite State League. Having started with just 68 participants and a budget of $14,000, we have grown to be the state’s fourth largest association, with participants from over 20 surrounding towns and a budget of over $100,000.

About the Henniker Youth Hockey Association

Funding comes from tuition, individual donations, fund raisers, tournament fees and the generous support of local businesses. As a non-profit organization, individual donations are welcome, and may be eligible for matching corporate gifts from your employer, if such a program exists.

Who’s Who in HYHA?

USA Hockey, Inc. is this country’s national governing body for the sport of ice hockey. In this role, USA Hockey provides a registrar to register teams, a risk manager to oversee liability and safety programs and an initiation program administrator to facilitate learn-to-play programs for youth players and their parents.

USA Hockey also studies and makes recommendations for protective equipment, distributes Hat Trick, Playmaker and Zero Club awards and provides an insurance plan.

For coaches and officials, USA Hockey conducts a Coaching Education Program and an Officiating Education Program. USA Hockey also promotes uniformity in playing rules and the interpretations of those rules.

Our Philosophy

The Henniker Youth Hockey Association’s mission is to provide a foundation for the growth and development of HYHA participants, designing programs aimed at improving skills and providing a responsible environment for the conduct of youth hockey.

Primary emphasis is on the development of skills, sportsmanship and teamwork, and a de-emphasis on excessive competition and a win-at-all-costs attitude.

The values on the following page have been adopted by HYHA with this philosophy in mind to guide the association’s members in their planning, programming and play, both now and in the future.

Our Values

Sportsmanship - Foremost of all values is to learn a sense of fair play. Become humble in victory, gracious in defeat. Foster friendship with teammates and opponents alike.

Integrity - Seek to foster honesty and fair play beyond mere strict interpretation of the rules and regulations of the game.

Respect for the individual - Treat all others as you expect to be treated.

Pursuit of excellence - Each member of the organization, whether player, volunteer or staff, should seek to perform each aspect of the game to the highest level of his or her ability.

Teamwork - We value the strength of learning to play together. The use of teamwork is reinforced and rewarded by success in the hockey experience.

Enjoyment - It is important for the hockey experience to be fun, satisfying and rewarding for all participants.

Our Objectives

• To make every possible attempt to provide everyone, at all skill levels, with a place to play.

• To provide programs that encompass fairness to the participants, promote fair and safe play and teach sportsmanship.

• To recruit volunteers, including coaches, who demonstrate qualities conducive to being role models to the youth in our sport.

• To support programs that train and educate players, coaches, parents, officials and volunteers.

• To partner with parents by practicing open communication, through parent meetings as well as by being available to answer questions and address problems throughout the season.

• To promote and publicize our programs, seek out financial support when possible.

Henniker Programs

HYHA provides opportunities for participation in the following programs:

Learn-to-Skate
An introductory program for the first-time skater. The program provides 8 hours of instruction over a 4 week period. The objective is to develop basic skills and to build confidence. "Graduates" may continue on into the Initiation program.

Initiation
Designed to meet the needs of beginning players ages 5 and up. Basic skating and hockey skills are taught in a non-competitive environment. Physical skill development and fun are stressed in two, one-hour sessions per week.

Recreational
This program is intended to provide opportunities to play for enjoyment, fitness and fellowship. Skill development and team concepts are stressed, rather than competition. HYHA Rec Teams will play in the Granite State League levels (3/4). Travel is required.

Competitive "Travel Teams"
Provides an opportunity for higher-level skill development for players who have the desire and ability for a competitive experience. A balance of winning and sportsmanship is stressed. Extensive travel is required for competition with other teams within the New Hampshire Amateur Hockey Association League. Competitive level play involves more practices, travel of longer distances and is also much more competitive. Also required is a greater commitment for both players and parents than recreational level play.

HYHA Coaches

HYHA coaches are dedicated volunteers from local communities. In order to coach in the HYHA, the individual is required to have successfully attended a Coaching Education Program conducted by USA Hockey for the level of play they wish to coach ("patched"). Selection of coaches are recommended to the Board of Directors by the Coaching Committee, a committee of five HYHA adult members. The criteria is based upon experience, training and the ability to serve as a positive role model. In addition, HYHA coaches are required to adopt the following Coaches Code of Conduct recommended by USA Hockey:

• Winning is a consideration, but not the only one, nor the most important one. Care more about the child than winning the game. Remember, players are involved in hockey for fun and enjoyment.

• Be a positive role model to your players, display emotional maturity and be alert to the physical safety of players.

• Be generous with your praise when it is deserved; be consistent, honest; be fair and just; do not criticize players publicly; learn to be a more effective communicator and coach; don’t yell at players.

• Adjust to personal needs and problems of players, be a good listener, never verbally or physically abuse a player or official; give all players the opportunity to improve their skills, gain confidence and develop self-esteem; teach them the basics.

• Organize practices that are fun and challenging for your players. Familiarize yourself with the rules, techniques and strategies of hockey; encourage all your players to be team players.

• Maintain an open line of communication with your players’ parents. Explain the goals and objectives of your association.

• Be concerned with the overall development of your players. Stress good health habits and clean living.

• To play the game is great, to love the game is greater.

Parents

HYHA wants the hockey experience to be a rewarding one for your child. As a parent, you can help to ensure that it is in many ways. Volunteer to help with the numerous tasks required to make our programs successful. Be sure that your child has and wears properly fitting equipment. Ensure that your child attends all practices and games. And, finally, HYHA strongly encourages you to observe the following Parents Code of Conduct suggested by USA Hockey:

• Don’t force your child(ren) to participate in sports, but support their desires to play their chosen sport. Children are involved in organized sports for their enjoyment. Make it fun.

• Encourage your child to play by the rules. Remember, children learn best by example, so applaud the good plays of both teams.

• Do not embarrass your child by yelling at players, coaches or officials. By showing a positive attitude toward the game and all of it’s participants, your child will benefit.

• Emphasize skill development and practices and how they benefit your young athlete. De-emphasize games and competition in the lower age groups.

• Know and study the rules of the game, and support the officials on and off the ice. This approach will help in the development and support of the game. Any criticism of the officials only hurts the game.

• Applaud a good effort in victory and in defeat and enforce the positive points of the game. Never yell or physically abuse your child after a game or practice - it is destructive. Work toward removing the physical and verbal abuse in youth sports.

• Recognize the importance of volunteer coaches. They are important to the development of your child and the sport. Communicate with them and support them.

• If you enjoy the game, learn all you can about it and volunteer!

Parent Coordinators

To assist with the many tasks we require of our coaches, HYHA asks parents to volunteer as Parent Coordinators. Coaches will recruit one or several Parent Coordinators at the start of the season. Parent Coordinators are responsible for communicating team-related news and information to the other parents of the players, coordinating fund-raising efforts, and organizing team events. Parent Coordinators relieve the coaching staff of these important tasks, which allows them to focus on your child’s development as a player. We thank, in advance, all of you who will volunteer for this much appreciated role.

Players Code of Conduct

HYHA coaches strive to teach players the following values recommended by USA Hockey:

• Play for fun.

• Work hard to improve your skills.

• Be a team player - get along with your teammates.

• Learn teamwork, sportsmanship and discipline.

• Be on time for practices and games.

• Learn the rules and play by them. Always be a good sport.

• Respect your coach, your teammates, your parents, opponents and officials.

• Never argue with an official’s decision.

Try-out Process

HYHA has developed an evaluation process (try-outs) which is intended to place players on teams matching the individual skills and competitive level of each child. At HYHA try-outs, great care is taken to ensure that the process is impartial. As a result, players wear "pennies" and evaluators who do not know the players are sought. Participants are evaluated while executing drills designed to test skills and game situations. The final step in the process is to put all the evaluations together, along with the player evaluations from the end of the previous year (if available), to determine the child’s overall skill rating.

The evaluations are then used for the selection of players for teams, which is conducted by the Head Coaches, the Coordinators for each level, and the coaching committee.

Questions and comments should be directed to the Coaching Committee.

Moving Players

It is HYHA’s policy that you may move a player to another level. This requires Board approval if the placement is for the entire season. If you have a player who is having difficulty at the level he/she has been placed, you may request the Board move the player to a different level. It is important that you work with the child to develop his/her skills as best you can. Also, it is our policy that all players be treated equally and fairly. Therefore, the player should be given the same opportunity to practice and play as his/her teammates. The child always comes first, not the score or outcome of the game. As levels of play increase, it is important to understand, through the coaching staff, how a game situation may be handled.

Please note: travel team players who play three or more games at a higher level are not permitted to return to the lower level. Also, players must play at least 50% of regular season games to participate in the play-offs. Therefore, players who wish to play up as a substitute for players at a higher level should take care in doing so to ensure that they are not disqualified from participating at the level for their age group or in the play-offs.

Registration

Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. However, priority is given to the previous season’s participants through registration weekend. Since enrollment is limited, HYHA cannot guarantee a space for all children who are registering for the first time. Nor can HYHA hold spaces open for participants from previous seasons after the close of registration. Players transferring from another hockey organization must bring a signed release from that organization. Each participant’s Social Security number is required at registration. Registration may also be done by mail.

Payment of Tuition

HYHA tuition fees for the 2003-2004 season are due in full at registration. Family discounts are also provided at the rate of $20 for the second player and $40 for each additional child registered.

Past Due Fees

The value of any equipment or uniforms, which were not returned from the 2002-2003 season, will be added to your tuition fees for the 2003-2004 season. Post-dated checks will not be accepted.

Tuition Assistance

Limited tuition assistance is available due to the generous donations of individuals and local businesses. Requests are considered and granted on a case-by-case basis by the HYHA Board of Directors. To apply, submit your request for assistance in writing and include information regarding the amount of assistance you seek.

Grievance Policy

HYHA expects Directors, Coaches, Referees, and parents to conduct themselves in a professional, ethical and responsible manner that is consistent with USA Hockey regulations and that reflects well upon HYHA.

HYHA hopes to instill in each volunteer a willingness to observe the standards of conduct not because he/she must, but because he/she takes pride in the program, and has a desire to see HYHA operate efficiently and attain it’s objectives. Failure to observe the standards of conduct may lead to corrective action.

Grievance Procedure

It is HYHA’s purpose to provide an effective means for all volunteers to bring problems and complaints concerning the program to the attention of the Board Of Directors without fear of recrimination.

If you have a complaint regarding HYHA Policy or if you feel you have been mistreated or unfairly disciplined, you must report to the Board Of Directors in writing, the problem no later than one week after it’s occurrence.

Getting on the Monthly Board of Director’s Meeting Agenda

Every month the Board of Directors hold a directors meeting. Anyone wishing to submit issues to the Board for general discussion must request from the President of the Board that the matter be added to the agenda for the next regularly scheduled Board Meeting. The issue must be submitted to the President in writing (with thirteen copies) at least one week prior to the meeting.

Board of Directors Meetings
Board meetings have been typically held on the 1^st Thursday of the month @ 6:30 pm. The actual times, dates, and locations have a tendency to change slightly. Please check the Arena bulletin board or contact a Board member for the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Apr. (TBD) Annual Meeting

Equipment

Participants of HYHA programs at all must wear the minimum protective equipment required by USA Hockey (HECC approved).

Learn-to-skate and Initiation Program participants are required to have hockey skates, gloves and a helmet with full face cage. Initiation Program participants are required to have a hockey stick. HYHA strongly recommends that all children be outfitted with full protective gear. Participants in the Mite level and above are required to wear the full complement of protective equipment, listed below:

• helmet with full face cage
• mouth guard
• neck protector
• shoulder pads
• elbow pads
• hockey gloves
• cup and athletic supporter
• shin guards
• hockey pants
• jersey
• socks
• hockey skates
• stick

Lee Clement Arena

As we spend a large amount of time at the New England College’s Lee Clement Arena, it is very easy to take for granted the privileges, which exist. We must all respect the facility. Please park your vehicles in designated areas. Help keep the facility clean. If you find a locker room clean, please return it to that condition upon departure. If you find the room not to be so, bring it to the attention of the rink attendant. The facility is not a drop off for children. Parents are responsible, and will be held accountable, for children and their behavior at the arena.

Fund-raising

Fund-raising is a very important function of HYHA. The success of our fund-raising programs is critical to keeping the costs of our programs low. Currently, the income from fund-raising provides for over 20% of our budgeted expenses. HYHA conducts several fund-raising projects throughout the year. Parent support and assistance in these efforts is greatly needed and appreciated. Remember, you benefit from these efforts. This year, our fund-raising program will include:

Ticket Sales
There will be raffles for cash prizes each day in the month of January. $25 will be added to tuition to cover the five $5 raffle tickets, which you may keep for yourself or sell to offset your registration costs. Each participant is required to purchase at least 5 tickets.

HYHA also plans to conduct other fund raising events as while as raffles for merchandise throughout the season as merchandise or services are received.

Tournaments
Each year HYHA holds tournaments at which funds are raised from admission, participation fees and raffles for merchandise donated by the NHL and local businesses.

Sponsors

The following individuals and businesses have generously supported HYHA, this season and past seasons, through donations and sponsorships. Their support is greatly appreciated. Please support them by purchasing their products and services whenever possible. Let them know we appreciate their generosity.

ARCOMM
Hillsboro Ford
PFC Contracting
Lineberry Tennis
Wyman’s Chevrolet
Michie Corp.
High Forest

New England College Pilgrims

HYHA extends a special thanks to New England College. They have provided us with a nice facility and environment in which to conduct our programs. We are particularly thankful to the many NEC players and staff who have generously shared their time and knowledge with our players.