Hockey 101- Information and links for new to hockey families

Hockey is a wonderful sport. When you join the Bears, you also join a family. However, the start of such a different type of sport can be a little intimidating, especially when this is your very first season trying to fly. To try and help lessen the stress Greeley Youth Hockey has created this survival guide to help lead you through the year with as few hang-ups as possible.

From meals on the go to volunteering and bag checks, we have you covered. Welcome to hockey season!

Should it Look Like That?: If you’re familiar with hockey, you’ve probably seen the game played on a full sheet of ice. Taking your son or daughter to their first practice will look a little different.

It’s OK – it’s still hockey. And it’s the best path toward development and overall enjoyment. In Greeley, our mission is to create and foster an environment where young hockey players can have fun, learn, and prosper through playing the sport of ice hockey.

Cross-ice hockey for our 8U players is just one component of the American Development Model (ADM), a proven road to developing top talent while fostering a true love of the game. The ADM and cross-ice training is based on long-term athlete development.

Shrinking the ice size is just like playing on a smaller field in Little League. There are four main benefits to playing cross-ice hockey: More puck time, age-appropriate training, cost savings and increased competition. Makes perfect sense, right?

Learn more about the ADM. Here’s a parent’s guide for the 8U/Mites level.

Also, remember that with 8U, the goal isn't the number of goals. Games are not scored but we can rest assured that all players will keep count for us. And usually, the team on the ice won. Tell your young player that everyone did a great job and how much fun you had watching him/her play.

Once players move up to the 10U level, they will begin to play full ice while continuing to develop and build on skills at each level.

Beware of Athletic Fever: Even the most realistic and understanding parents are occasionally overtaken with the need to scream and yell at anything that goes against their child upon entering a rink, or really any sports arena. Logic goes out the window as an innate desire to see their kids succeed becomes all-encompassing. Do your best to guard against these urges and encourage other parents to do the same. All our fans are representative of GYHA whether we are at the Ice Haus or at an opponent's rink. We want to always conduct ourselves in a respectful and appropriate manner.

Parent-Coach Relationship: You and the coaching staff are working toward the same goal: focusing on what is best for your child. Work with the coaches instead of against them to accomplish that. Coaches will also be your best resource for any questions you might have. How is my child doing? What can he/she do better? What is the team’s philosophy here? Coaches are there to help you understand the game better. In Greeley, we focus on fair playing time. It is impossible to ensure that all players receive equal playing time but coaches strive to make sure that players all get fair ice touches.

SafeSport: It’s normal to be nervous of bumps and bruises kids can get on the ice, but we also want to make sure they are safe off the ice. That’s why USA Hockey and Colorado Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) have adopted the SafeSport Program, a comprehensive, zero tolerance policy for abuse and misconduct.

GYHA uses USA Hockey’s off-ice safety policies, including education and awareness, ensuring safe supervision and locker room monitoring complete with background checks of all volunteers and employees.

Help Out: Volunteers are vital for the success of our program and your player. Jumping in and helping with game day jobs, fundraising or wherever you can not only benefits your child, but the organization he/she will be playing in for years to come. It’s even a benefit to you and your wallet. It’s also a great way to get to know other parents in the community.

Eat Healthy (and on the go): Healthy eating habits are essential for kids to achieve on and off the ice. Hockey schedules might force parents to adopt new meal schedules. Snacks like peanuts, fruit, or crackers are a great way to refuel in the car between school and practice. Be prepared to switch up dinner routines as game and practice times vary.

And don’t forget, just because you’re on the go shouldn’t mean more fast-food stops. Plan ahead and keep making those healthy decisions – it saves money, too!

Equipment Check: There’s nothing worse than getting to the rink and realizing you left a shoulder pad, skate or jersey at home. Always double or even triple-check your hockey bag to make sure everything is ready to go. Keeping spare laces, socks and mouthguards in the car or a side pocket of the hockey bag. See below for a picture to help you out! And don't forget skate sharpening! It will vary from player to player how often skates need to be sharpened and as your player progresses his/her preference in cut may change. Getting started, getting the blades cut at 7/16 is the typical house cut and players will probably need a sharpening every 3 to 4 months.

Easy on Advice: Don’t make a tough loss even tougher for your child. While you may want to critique and give advice on what he/she could have done better, it is better not to. Pointing out flaws only makes kids feel worse about it. Use that drive home to listen to music, talk about school or about how fun the game was.

Have Fun: This is the easy part! Enjoy the smiles on your son’s or daughter’s face and have fun cheering them on. You get to see firsthand your child making friends and developing as a hockey player. There are few greater things to witness as a parent.