Cincinnati IceBreakers’ Sled Hockey Parent/Player Pre-Season Meeting 2019-2020 CHECKLIST - COMPLETE DURING PRE-SEASON MEETING ________ Receive 2019-20 HANDBOOK ________ Sign-up for TEAM SNAP (see addendum) ________ Register for Kroger Community Rewards (see addendum) ________ Register for SCRIP cards – provides rebates (see addendum) ________ Bookmark Squad Locker spirit wear - provides rebates (see addendum) ________ Sign up for at least ONE event as a volunteer (see sign-up sheet addendum) ________ Put tournaments//games//fundraising dates on your calendar TODAY Tournament commitments for the season due first practice in OCTOBER ________ NEW PLAYER/VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS (age 17+) YOUTH reply to ALLISON * ADULTS reply to ROB AGENDA – ALL PLAYERS/FAMILIES 1. Introductions a. Board members, coaching staff, players (new and returning) 2. Who are the Cincinnati IceBreakers a. Youth team – 17 yrs. old and younger or has ‘Age Waiver’ b. Adult team – over 17 yrs. Old or by invitation 3. Registration (new players, returning players) a. RETURNING PLAYERS who are USA Citizens: https://www.usahockeyregistration.com/login_input.action b. RETURNING AND NEW PLAYERS who are NOT USA Citizens: complete form entitled: 2018-19 International Letter of Approval found at: https://www.usahockey.com/youthhockeytransferforms c. ALL NEW PLAYERS (youth and adult): see Karen Barge, Registrar 1 4. Annual Program Fee for RETURNING PLAYERS ONLY - $175 a. Covers loan of all equipment (sled, sticks, hockey bag, protective gear) for entire season so players can participate in tournaments, games, scrimmages, special events, Cincinnati Jamboree and the July sled hockey development camp at Kent State. b. Players who have loaner equipment are expected to care and maintain their sleds, sticks and gear. Your coaching staff can teach you what needs to be done – please ask! c. Scholarships are available for any player with a financial need. The IceBreakers’ mission is to be sure everyone who wants to play, can play, regardless of their ability to pay some or all of the costs. See the Scholarship form in the booklet. Scholarship requests are ALWAYS confidential. d. NEW Players: no fee during the first season 5. Player/Family Communication a. TeamSnap – Required 6. Marketing – get the word out – let others know who we are and what we do! a. IceBreakers’ Facebook page b. Instagram 7. 2019-20 a. Events for EVERYONE (PLAYERS & FAMILIES) • DEC: Skate with the IceBreakers’ – raffles, baskets, game, fundraising event • FEB: Cincinnati Cyclones – (options: skate between 1st and 2nd period, Split- the-Pot, scrimmage before the game on Cyclone ice) • MAR: Cincinnati Sled Hockey Jamboree – hockey for everyone in the district • APR: Disabled Festival (annual event we attend when close enough to drive) • MAY: Flying Pig Marathon – Street monitors (cheering for the runners) b. Events requiring VOLUNTEERS (14 AND OVER) • DEC: Skate with the IceBreakers’ – raffles, baskets, fundraising event • FEB: Cincinnati Cyclones – sell tickets to game, Split-the-Pot (optional) • MARCH: Cincinnati Sled Hockey Jamboree – registration, greeters, runners, food, fundraising monitors • MAY: Flying Pig Marathon – $800 donation for supplying 60+ volunteers to cheer along the marathon route (requires 2.5 hours) 2 RETURNING FAMILIES ONLY: Need volunteer CHAIR for each of the following: a. ______YouthX Team – Asst. Team Manager (helps Team Manager) b. ______Youthopen Team – plan/communicate meal (one dinner//tournament) c. ______X Equipment – 2 adults to repair/adjust equipment during practices, some take home d. ______open New player/family greeter/mentor e. ______open Cyclone’s game – Marketing ticket sales (IceBreakers’ earn $/ticket WE sell) f. ______Youthopen Team – Communicate//organize “Shoot/Sled-a-Thon” at Skate-with-the IceBreakers’ in December 8. Funding opportunities for sled hockey a. Scrip (online, immediate use) – see instructions in handbook b. Kroger Community Rewards – see instructions in handbook c. IceBreakers’ Apparel – See Ruth Grant Bailey (Squad Locker) d. Donations – in-kind, for the raffle, monetary, employee match at your work, - everyone can seek these e. Grants – (ex) Spina Bifida Association, Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods f. Sponsorships by companies or individuals for a player or event We have marketing videos, brochures, a website, Facebook page, and Instagram that are available if you would like to pursue an application for a grant, sponsorship or donation. PLEASE SEE RENEE or BETH in advance with your idea(s). 3 Practices - Mondays Sept. 9, 2019 – Feb. 24, 2020 NO PRACTICE Dec. 23 or Dec. 30, 2019 7:15pm – 8:45pm Sports Plus 10765 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH. 45241 4 Cincinnati IceBreakers Sled Hockey 2019-2020 Table of Contents-page Contact information 6 2017-18 Schedule 7-8 Cincinnati IceBreakers 9-10 Communication 10 Volunteer requirements 10 Player Expectations 11 Player/Family Expectations 11 Youth sled hockey 12 Adult sled hockey 13 Equipment loans/purchases 13-15 Fees, costs 14-15 IceBreakers scholarships 16 SafeSport 17 Media Policies 18 -----------------------------ADDENDUMS----------------------------- TEAMSNAP 19 Kroger Community Rewards 19 Scrip Instructions 20 Youth FUNdraiser 21 Concussion Management – USA Hockey 22 Lindsey’s Law 23 5 Cincinnati IceBreakers Sled Hockey Contact Information Email Text/Call Renee Loftspring – Pres. [email protected] 513-518-6716 Beth Yantek - Financials [email protected] 513-545-9002 Karen Barge - Registrar [email protected] (registrar) Rob Wocks - Adult coach [email protected] 513-293-9756 Tim Steffen - Youth coach [email protected] 513-289-9458 Allison Benassi -Youth Mgr [email protected] 513-324-2072 Team Website: cincinnatisledhockey.org Facebook Page: facebook.com/groups/IceBreakersSledProgram Instagram: instagram.com/cincyicebreakers USAH Registration: usahockeyregistration.com SafeSport: usahockeysafesportparenttraining.com MidAm Screen: midamhockey.com Coach education: usahockey.com/coachingclinics USAH website: usahockey.com MidAm website: midamhockey.com Ohio Sled Hockey: ohiosledhockey.pointstreaks.com (parent org.) THANK YOU Board Members who work to grow & develop the IceBreakers’ program Rick Bailey Karen Barge Kaitlin Burnam Renee Loftspring Tim Steffen Rob Wocks Beth Yantek Welcome: Chris Schade, Frank Baverso 6 Cincinnati IceBreakers Sled Hockey 2019-2020 DATE EVENT LOCATION LEVEL 9-Sept 6:30 Team Meeting/1st pm Practice Sports Plus All 16-Sept Practice Sports Plus All 21/23 Sept Hobart Arena, Adult North and CBJ South League Play Troy, OH South 23-Sept Practice Sports Plus All 30-Sept Practice Sports Plus All 7-Oct Practice Sports Plus All 14-Oct Practice Sports Plus Adult North and 19/20 Oct League Play Baltimore, MD South Pittsburgh Youth 18/20 Oct Tournament Pittsburgh, PA Junior 21-Oct Practice Sports Plus All 28-Oct Practice Sports Plus All 4 -Nov Practice Sports Plus All 2/4 Nov Brampton Cruiser Cup CANADA OSH Combined Teams TBA Tournament Bloomington, IL Junior 11-Nov Practice Sports Plus All 18-Nov Practice Sports Plus All 21/24 Nov NHL Sled Classic St Louis, MO Adult B 25-Nov Practice Sports Plus All 2 -Dec Practice Sports Plus All 9-Dec Practice Sports Plus All 28-Dec Skate with IceBreakers Sports Plus All & Firefighters * 2020 * 11/12 Jan NESHL League Play Altoona, PA Adult North and South 6-Jan Practice Sports Plus All 13-Jan Practice Sports Plus All 17/18 Jan Tournament Columbus, OH Novice/Junior 7 DATE EVENT LOCATION LEVEL 27-Jan Practice Sports Plus All TBA London Blizzard London, Ontario OSH Combined Tournament Teams TBA Cyclones Game US Bank Arena All 1/2 Feb Silversticks Fort Wayne, IN Junior 4-Feb Practice Sports Plus All 10-Feb Practice Sports Plus All 17-Feb Practice Sports Plus All 24-Feb Practice Sports Plus All 7 -Mar Jamboree Sports Plus All 13/15 Mar NESHL Championships TBA Adult North and South 2/5 Apr D-Fest Pittsburgh, PA All TBA Tournament Nashville, TN Youth 6:30-9:30am 3-May Flying Pig Marathon Purcell-Marian HS ALL VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS: • Take your sled hockey equipment and hockey bag home the practice before each tournament. • Ask coaches how to clean gear and jerseys – always hang dry o PLEASE: do not wash/dry the night before an event • Bring a water bottle with your name on it to each game/practice • Check TEAMSNAP for information, updates and changes before each event and practice • When packing to leave for a tournament out of town: DOUBLE CHECK you have everything (sled, 2 sticks, protective gear, jersey, water bottle, tape) 8 Cincinnati IceBreakers Sled Hockey Cincinnati IceBreakers Sled Hockey Hey Rob…want to You bet- join me and start I’m in !! sled hockey in Cincinnati?? The IceBreakers’ program grew from a couple players and volunteers learning how to play sled hockey in 2007 to having close to 40 players in 2019! We boast a dedicated coaching staff; youth and adult teams playing at least 4 tournaments each season; hosting an annual Jamboree at the end of the season with over 50 skaters in attendance from all over the Midwest including Tennessee, Michigan, Texas and New York; skate annually in front of (at least) 2000 Cyclone’s fans during intermission at a Cincinnati Cyclones game; annually play Cincinnati Firefighters in a sled hockey charity game and PAY-IT-FORWARD thru volunteering at the Flying Pig Marathon the first Sunday each May. We have players of all ages and all skill levels having fun learning to play hockey while others have their eye on becoming a future Paralympian! USA Hockey Vision: To be the recognized leader for all who seek a fun, safe and rewarding hockey experience. USA Hockey Purpose: To ensure that every day is a great day for hockey. USA Hockey Mission: The mission of USA Hockey is to promote a safe and fun learning experience, supporting the growth of the sport and all of its participants and enthusiasts by encouraging, educating, developing and administering all aspects of the sport. 9 Cincinnati IceBreakers Sled Hockey Cincinnati IceBreakers' Mission The Cincinnati IceBreakers' mission is to provide an opportunity for youth and adults with a physical disability to benefit physically, emotionally and socially as a participant of an organized sport team.