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St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association Mite/8U Guidebook for Parents & Guardians3643629203834SPCHA Mission StatementTo provide the opportunity for St. Paul area youth to participate in the sport of ice hockey, and develop the skills and knowledge necessary for all players to compete at their highest level possible.SPCHA Mission StatementTo provide the opportunity for St. Paul area youth to participate in the sport of ice hockey, and develop the skills and knowledge necessary for all players to compete at their highest level possible.Welcome! The St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association (SPCHA) welcomes you and your child to participate in a fun upcoming year of Mite (boys) or 8U (girls) level hockey. We hope you find the following guidebook to be a helpful tool for parents and guardians, but most importantly, we hope this hockey season will help your child develop a passion for the fun sport of hockey!Guidebook Contents 4448810187325Your Role as Parents/GuardiansLevels, Teams & Registration InfoEquipmentCharles M. Schulz Ice Arena (aka Highland Arena)Web Site & Parent ResourcesTeam SchedulesPractices, Scrimmages & GamesVolunteer Hours and Fundraising ResponsibilitiesMite Jams & TournamentsCoaching OpportunitiesAbout the SPCHAFAQs1. Your Role as Parents/GuardiansOne of the most important things that you can do as an association parent/guardian is to show positive support!Here are a few helpful reminders about our simple code of conduct for parents/guardians:Remember that children participate to have fun and that the game is for youth, NOT adults.Please be a positive role model for all skaters and encourage sportsmanship by showing respect and courtesy, and demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, officials and spectators at every game and practice.2766060480060Set a good example by not engaging in any kind of unsportsmanlike or petty conduct with any official, coach, player, or parent such as booing and taunting; or using profane language or gestures.Teach your skater to play by the rules, listen to their coach, and to resolve conflicts without resorting to hostility or violence.Demand that your skater treat other players, coaches, officials and spectators with respect regardless of race, creed, color, sex or ability.Teach your player that doing one’s best, working hard, being committed and attending all practices/games, and skill development are far more important than winning, so that he/she will never feel defeated by the outcome of a game.Never ridicule or yell at any player (your own included) for making a mistake.Promote the emotional and physical well-being of the athletes ahead of any personal desire you may have for your skater to win.Respect the officials and their authority during games. Never question, discuss a concern with a coach in or around the locker room area, rather, take the time to speak your coach at an agreed upon time and place where you can speak privately.Refrain from coaching your child or other players during games and practices, unless you are one of the official coaches of the team.Related Resources on the SPCHA Web Site: New to Hockey Information2. Levels, Teams & Registration InfoHere are the age guidelines for the various levels in St. Paul Capitals hockey for 2019-2020:8U/Mite: Mini-Mite: Born on or after July 1, 2012. (USA Hockey has a minimum age requirement)8U/Mite A/B/C: Born July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2012427672514604Squirt: Born July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010Peewee: Born July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008Bantam: Born July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2006St. Paul Capitals season registration opens in August each year.To play for the St. Paul Capitals, all players must also register with USA Hockey (mandatory requirement for all hockey players/levels).With the USA Hockey registration, players will occasionally receive a hockey magazine during the year.The number of 8U, Mite A, B, C teams will vary each year depending on enrollment and skill levels.12630147083425“You miss 100% of the shots you never take...”Wayne Gretzky“You miss 100% of the shots you never take...”Wayne Gretzky3. EquipmentAll 8U/mite hockey players need to supply their own equipment. There are plenty of second-hand stores that offer great options for equipment. Make sure the equipment is in good working condition, especially when considering used helmets and skates.All 8U/mite players will receive a jersey and hockey socks from the St. Paul Capitals to use during the season. Older players are required to purchase a jersey and socks.8U/Mite hockey players should have each of the following mandatory equipment items, all labeled with the player’s name to simplify the locker room equipment scramble:Hockey skates Hockey stick (when choosing a stick, ask the store clerk to help with stick selection and height; most young mites would benefit from a relatively straight blade)Hockey bag (goal is to fit all the equipment in the bag; bonus if your child can carry the bag on his/her own)Shin guardsAthletic supporter (for boys) with velcro to hold up hockey socks (or garter to hold up socks)4333875277714Breezers (red is SPCHA preferred color)Elbow padsShoulder padGlovesHelmet (note that helmets have an expiration date sticker on them, so watch the dates and make sure that you have the helmet properly sized for your child’s head…also, SPCHA uniform policy mandates that players wear a white helmet, although the policy is not strictly enforced)Mouthguard (it would be good to have 1-2 extra on hand; remember to fit them before play)Optional equipment, some of these items are strongly recommendedWater bottle with long straw to drink/squirt through face mask or squeeze bottle modelTowel to wipe the skates dry after skatingMoisture wicking undergarmentsSoft skate blade covers to protect the bladesOutdoor skating apparel – if applicable (glove liners underneath hockey gloves, thin hat and/or neck insert under the hockey helmet, skate guards)Hockey tapeHockey skate laces (the longer lengths can be helpful to tie around 8U/mite’s ankles for extra support)Hockey bag deodorizer – you won’t believe the stink little people can produce in that equipment!Practice jersey(s) – if applicable, evaluations may require specific jersey colorsHockey puck or ball for at-home stick handling practiceBackup hockey stick, just in case the primary stick breaks 4. Charles M. Schulz Ice Arena (aka Highland Arena)The home ice arena for the St. Paul Capitals is Charles M. Schulz/Highland ice arena at 800 South Snelling Avenue, St. Paul MN 55116. There are two sheets of ice, one is called “North” arena and the other is “South” arena. North Arena (Arena #1)The North arena has more fan seating capacity and serves as the home ice for several high school hockey teams. There are several benches near the concession stand where fans can watch the game and stay warm.South Arena (Arena #2)The South arena has bleachers, plus there is a room where fans can watch hockey and stay warm. You can access the south arena observation room via the hallway to the left of the concession stand. Many parents and siblings watch South arena practices from this room.The South arena also has a synthetic ice training area room at the opposite end from the entrance door. The training room is generally reserved for the older players, although team and individual pictures are taken in that room at the start of each season.Locker roomsThere are 8 locker rooms supporting both arenas; the rooms are numbered 1-8.Locker rooms 1, 2, 7, 8 are typically reserved for players in the South arena.Locker rooms 3, 4, 5, 6 are typically reserved for players in the North arena.To know what locker room your child should be in, check out the TV monitors on the upper or lower levels. Note that the ice times between the North and South arena sometimes start only 10 minutes apart, so review the locker room assignments carefully. Hockey players want to be in the locker room with their teammates, especially Mites/8U players.At the Mite/8U and mini-mite levels, everyone expects that the players need help getting their equipment on, especially tying skates. Moms and/or dads are encouraged to help their mites/8U players get ready for practice and make sure their skates are tight.For safety reasons, players with hockey equipment must go through the lower level door into the South arena. There are signs reminding players to use the right entrance.There are a handful of parking places down in the lower level of the parking lot near the South arena entrance doors. Please be courteous and do not double park.Skate sharpening is offered at the arena during select hours. Please contact the arena directly at 651-695-3766 to determine the hours of operation.Additional skating programs are offered at the arena throughout the year, such as Ramsey County’s Learn-to-Skate Program – check out the brochures in the lower level locker room area in between the arenas.5. Web Site & Parent ResourcesTo keep costs down, the St. Paul Capitals organization relies on electronic communication via email and the St. Paul Capitals web site: are expected to read communications sent out via email and/or notifications to read the web site for pertinent information.Each team’s schedule and coach contact information is posted on the web site under the “Teams” section.People can also choose to subscribe to an iCalendar feed to keep track of the team schedule.Key links to other great resources, including the USA Hockey web site, and many more valuable resources, can be found at the main St. Paul Capitals hockey web site, such as under “About Us” > “Ice Locations”: need help navigating Mite or 8U hockey? Please contact spcha.ops@ and Katie Murphy will connect you with the right resources.6. Team SchedulesMite/8U Warm-ups 8U/Mite A, B and C level players have the option to begin the hockey season with “Mite/8U Warm-ups.” Mite/8U warm-up hockey sessions are optional and start several weeks before the start of the season. The sessions provide an opportunity for players to get ready for the season with structured drills and mini-scrimmage time as well.Mite/8U EvaluationsAfter the Mini-Mite level, Mite/8U players go through a player evaluation in order to determine level and team placement. St. Paul Capitals typically reserves two weekends in October for the evaluations.The goal of the evaluations is to figure out how many 8U, Mite A, B and C teams will exist and then place the players on each team.The evaluation process is led by a volunteer coordinator each year. Former and current coaches help assess the players during drills and also during scrimmage play.Each player has a number pinned to his/her jersey or wears a pinny and will be evaluated during skills drills and mini scrimmage situations. Keep in mind that volunteer resources are doing their best to group kids by their ability.3275329196434After evaluations, teams are posted on the web site and within a couple of days, players are contacted by the applicable coach (by phone or email) and given the details on the first practice and team photos.Team PhotosTeam photos are scheduled at the beginning of the season. Players are asked to participate in team photos regardless of photo purchase plans.Team photos are taken in the synthetic ice training room at the far end of the South arena.7. Practices, Scrimmages & GamesWhat does a typical week look like for Mite/8U hockey players?An hour of ice time Saturday morningAn hour of ice time Sunday morningAn occasional hour of ice time for practice one other time during the weekParents and guardians have a few responsibilities as it relates to practices. Coaches spend a lot of extra time preparing for practices and they want to make the best use of the ice time. Your responsibilities: be on time – players need to be fully dressed ready to skate on the ice as soon as the Zamboni finishes cleaning the iceparents of Mite/8U players are expected to be in the locker room to help their kids get equipment on and skates tied tightly and then undressed after practice (as necessary); either moms or dads are welcome to help their kids at this levelcommunicate to the coach if your player will miss practice (or a game)be aware that practices are often at the St. Paul Capitals home arena (Charles M. Schulz arena), but they can be elsewhere…watch the schedule carefullystay at the arena during practice (or have another designated parent help out if necessary), especially for those with younger hockey playersdiscuss with your child the importance of being a good listener on the iceHockey is exciting…and as parents, we get excited watching our kids play hockey, especially during scrimmages and games. It is important to remember that kids notice fan behavior and St. Paul Capitals hockey fans are expected to be respectful and encouraging to all young players.1884433291886“The biggest thing we get out of it is seeing the kids smile. And hopefully we will also see that the lessons we’re teaching – not only the fundamentals of hockey, but also the life values – are sinking in.” Bobby Orr“The biggest thing we get out of it is seeing the kids smile. And hopefully we will also see that the lessons we’re teaching – not only the fundamentals of hockey, but also the life values – are sinking in.” Bobby Orr 8. Volunteer Hours and Fundraising ResponsibilitiesThe St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association (SPCHA) works very hard to try to keep hockey fees reasonable. This section in the guidebook outlines the volunteer and fundraising commitments that allow the association to offset expenses and maintain reasonable player fees. The SPCHA could not function as an association without the volunteer help of the parents and guardians of the players. There are 3 primary types of volunteer and fundraising responsibilities for parents and guardians of players:Volunteer HoursEach family is required to volunteer 15 hours over the course of the season, regardless of the number of hockey players in the family. The only exception is mini-mite families who are expected to volunteer 6 hours. There are many ways to volunteer. Before each team’s first practice begins, the team manager will collect a $500 check for each player. Families with multiple players will give the check to the team of their oldest player. The check will only be cashed if a family does not complete the mandatory 15 volunteer hours prior to the end of the season.All volunteer positions/shifts will be posted on a monthly basis via the association website on the Dibs page (other than head coach and manager positions). Each family is responsible for signing up and tracking their volunteer hours through the Dibs site. A great way to fulfill your commitment is to volunteer at the 2 tournaments hosted by St. Paul Capitals: Ice Breaker Classic and Heart Breaker Classic. Each head coach position fulfills the 15 hour requirement. In addition, each head coach can distribute 45 additional volunteer hours amongst the assistant coach(es), team manager or other team volunteers at his/her own discretion.Concession Stand: The players and families of St. Paul Capitals are lucky to have the option to buy food and beverages at our home arena. To maintain reasonable hockey fees, St. Paul Capitals hockey teams share the responsibility of operating the concession stand throughout the season. Families interested in fulfilling some of their required 15 volunteer hours through the concession stand should check out the Dibs section of the SPCHA web site for available shifts or contact Katie Murphy at spcha.ops@.Failure to work a volunteer shift someone has signed up for will result in a $100 no-show fee with no credit for the hours. Substitutes can be coordinated to take someone’s place and the substitute will earn the volunteer hours. FundraisersEach family can choose one of the mandatory options below.Opt out- Each family is allowed the option to choose the buyout option during registration of $100 or can mail a check to PO Box 16382, St Paul, MN 55116 for the buyout amount.Spruce Top SalesDates are typically around the 1st and 2nd weekends in November.Each family is responsible for selling a minimum of 10 bundles of spruce tops each seasonPizza SalesEach Family is required to sell a minimum of 20 Green Mill pizzasPU date is in DecemberTeam SupportTeams will need support throughout the season to run the game clock, manage the penalty box and keep the scorebook during scrimmages and games. Each team is responsible for setting a policy and/or schedule to fill those spots on game days. These team support activities do NOT count toward the volunteer hour commitment. 9. 8U/Mite Jams & TournamentsMini-mite players play in-house scrimmages on split sheets of ice throughout the season.Phalen hosts a great outdoor tournament in January for Mite A, B & C teams; check the team schedule to determine if your player’s team is registered for that tournament (and if so, plan to dress your player in many warm layers, with a thin hat under the helmet, gloves inside of the hockey gloves, a neck warmer or turtleneck and bring some Vaseline to protect those rosy cheeks).Mite C players participate in several in-house “Mite Jams” throughout the season where players play other teams at the same level on one-third or half sheets of ice – the players love playing in the Mite Jams.The number and location of additional tournaments may change each year; typically there are no out of town tournaments at the Mite/8U level.St. Paul Capitals Hosted Tournaments – these events are great opportunities to help out and fulfill volunteer hour responsibilities!Ice Breaker Tournament (Squirts B & C) - Jan 3-5, 2020Heart Breaker Tournament (12U B, 10U A, 10U B) – Jan 17-19, 202010. Coaching OpportunitiesThere are many opportunities to help coach St. Paul Capitals Hockey. However, please be aware that there are minimum requirements/certifications that need to be completed to be on the ice. Applications for head coach positions are submitted in July/August. Visit the Coaches section of the SPCHA website to learn more. 468630303529We always need coaches!1800225489921“Success can be defined as the practice of small disciplines consistently over time…Jim Rohn“Success can be defined as the practice of small disciplines consistently over time…Jim Rohn11. About the St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association (SPCHA)We are a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a fun and educational experience for the children residing in the St. Paul Highland Central area who wish to play ice hockey. Our programs are planned, promoted and administered by unpaid volunteers. The Board asks that you support all the volunteers to the greatest extent possible. Our curriculum stresses basic skills, encourages team play and sportsmanship, and strives for fair playing time for all players. The individuals who teach this curriculum, in most cases, have completed one or more courses in the Minnesota Hockey's Coaching Education Program (CEP). SPCHA's coaches and Board of Directors, through such things as our Code of Conduct, are committed to teaching players to respect their opponents and officials.1506219108902512. FAQsQ: I feel lost – everyone seems to know more about hockey than I do – where can I get help?A: Use the SPCHA resources outlined in this guidebook – start with the website. Contact a coach, the executive director, a board member or a team manager. There are many resources ready to help.Q: Why do I have to register my child with USA Hockey?A: USA Hockey requires registration by all players for insurance and liability reasons.Q: How do I know which locker room my child should be in?A: Check out the upper or lower level TV monitors to view locker room assignments.Q: Are moms and dads allowed in the locker rooms?A: Absolutely! Mite/8U players need help with equipment, especially getting skates tightened and helmets put on properly. Locker room protocol may change at the Squirt/10U level.Q: What happens if my child will miss an evaluation session?A: No problem. Please make sure to coordinate the absence with the Mite/8U Evaluation Coordinator ahead of time.Q: Do my concession stand volunteer hours count toward my required volunteer hours? A: Yes. Each family is required to complete 15 hours of volunteer time (other than mini-mites at 6 hours) which may include concession stand duties. Q: If I have two kids playing hockey for the Capitals do I need to double my volunteer hour contribution? Do I need to double my fundraising commitment (e.g. spruce top sales, etc.)?A: No, families are required to volunteer 15 hours per season, regardless of the number of players in the family. Same model is true for the spruce tops sale. Q: I skated in high school; can I help the coaches out on the ice during practice?A: SPCHA always needs help on the ice and more volunteer coaches. However, only those that have been certified by USA Hockey are allowed on the ice. If you are interested in coaching, please check out the Coaches section of the SPCHA web site.5719445170179 Let’s Play Hockey! ................
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