Kentwood Hockey & Skating Association: Parents Section

This page has been prepared by USA Hockey to assist parents in becoming more familiar with the sport of ice hockey and its organization and structure at the grassroots level. In this brochure, you will find information designed to enrich the entire youth hockey experience for parents and players alike.

Keep in mind that, above all, the motivating factor for most children who enter an organized youth sports program is their desire to have fun. This is particularly true with young children, many of whom are newcomers to the youth sports scene.

With a supportive attitude and a fundamental understanding of the "basics" of ice hockey, everyone will come away from their youth sports experience with a positive feeling.

In The Stands
Parents can take the fun out of hockey by continually yelling or screaming from the stands. Parents should enjoy the game and applaud good plays. The stands are not a place from which parents should try to personally coach their kids. Kids often mirror the actions of their parents; if they see mom or dad losing their cool in the stands, they'll probably do the same on the ice.

Car And Home
Some parents not only spoil the fun for their kids at the ice rink, but also in the car, believing this is the perfect place for instruction. Parents should try to keep things in perspective. There's more to life than hockey, and the car and home are not places to coach. Parents are responsible for supporting and respecting the coach's decisions and abilities. It is unfair to put children in a position of having to decide who to listen to their parents or the coach.

At Practice
Parents should remember that if a child wants to improve, they have to practice not just play. Even if a child is not the "star" player for a team, practice stresses the importance of teamwork, establishing goals, discipline and learning to control your emotions, all of which are important lessons children can use both in and away from sports.

At The Rink
Hockey parents can help create a fun environment by making certain their children are wearing properly fitted equipment. Parents also need to stress fair play and risk management to help eliminate injuries.

Initiation Program
The USA Hockey Initiation Program has been developed to make certain that a child's first experience with hockey is positive, safe and fun. Parents should avoid pressuring or placing unreasonable expectations on their children, particularly at the Initiation Program level. No matter what happens on the ice, children need your support, so always strive to be positive.

Heads Up Hockey
In 1996-97, USA Hockey introduced a national safety and awareness campaign called Heads Up Hockey. Designed to promote a safer, smarter, better style of play, Heads Up Hockey introduces concepts and techniques that will enhance your child's enjoyment of youth hockey. For more information on the Heads Up Hockey program, contact your coach or league administrator. Encourage your child to play Heads Up Hockey.

Support Your Child
There are many benefits that are derived from playing youth hockey. Boys and girls learn good sportsmanship and self-discipline. They learn to work together, how to sacrifice for the good of the team, how to enjoy winning and how to handle defeat. In the process, they also learn important lessons about physical fitness and personal health.

The degree to which your child benefits from his or her youth hockey experience is as much your responsibility as it is theirs. In order for your child to get the most out of a youth hockey program, it is important for you to show support and offer encouragement while maintaining a genuine interest in the team.

Always Be Positive
Parents serve as role models for their children, who often look to adults for advice, direction and approval. Never lose sight of the fact that you are a role model, and strive to be a positive role model. As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is show good sportsmanship at all times to coaches, referees, opponents and teammates.

Remember that your children are PLAYING hockey. It is important to allow them to establish their own goals and play the game for themselves. Be careful not to impose your own standards or objectives.

Let The Coach Coach
Avoid placing an exaggerated emphasis on winning. A recent survey indicated 72% of children would rather play for a losing team than ride the bench for a winner. The most important aspect of your child's youth hockey experience is for them to have fun while developing physical and emotional skills that will serve them in life. A healthy, risk-free environment that emphasizes the importance of fair play, sportsmanship, discipline and, most importantly, fun will be invaluable for your child as he or she continues to develop a positive self image.

Positive Reinforcement
The best way to help children achieve goals and reduce their natural fear of failure is through positive reinforcement. After all, no one likes to make mistakes.  If your child does make a mistake and they will (remember, they're just kids) keep in mind that mistakes are an important part of the overall learning process. Strive to be supportive and point out the things they do well. Make your child feel like a winner.

• From 7 and above, it becomes more difficult for a child to catch up to those that have been skating for years. Roller blade skating provides an advantage to those who have not done actual ice skating before.
  
• For those skaters over 12-13 years of age, it is necessary that a child has the basics of ice skating mastered in order to be placed on a KHSA team.

• Travel teams will begin play mid-August and will play through approximately mid-March.
  
• B League teams will begin the first Tuesday after Labor Day and will play through approximately mid-March.
  
• Cross Ice teams will begin at the first of October and will play through approximately mid-March.

• Travel teams will have a minimum of two (2) practices per week and one (1-2) games per week.
  
• B League teams will have a minimum of two (2) practice per week and one (1-2) games per week.
  
• Cross Ice teams will have a minimum of one (1) practice per week and one (1) game per week at Kentwood Ice Arena.  There may 2-3 times per year when this group visits other associations in the Greater Grand Rapids area for Cross Ice Jamborees.  For the first few weeks game times will be used as practices.

• KHSA has an equipment list available by down the page in the Parents section.
  
• Minimum equipment without skates (beginning skaters) will cost between $150-200. Used equipment can be obtained at local used equipment shops. New skates can cost anywhere from $75 to $300 and over.
  
• The LTS/LTP Program can provide all of your equipment except skates.

• All costs to put a skater on the ice except equipment.
  
• KHSA provides 2 game jerseys (home and away) and socks to both House B and Travel Teams.
  
• Newsletters, referee costs, league costs, USA Hockey registration fees, general administration costs such as postage, copies, insurance, equipment, pucks, scoresheets, etc.

• LTS/LTP Program $150-300
  
• Cross Ice Program $300 - $400.
  
  
• Mites - House B $1100.


• Squirts - House B $1,300


• PeeWee - House B $1,400



• Bantam - House B $1,500

Travel & Select – based on team budget.

How does my child get registered for KHSA?

• Send child’s information to KHSA’s address. Child will be added to mailing list. Registration forms must be completed and returned with deposit to KHSA. Registration dates are published in the "KHSA Newsletter" portion of this website.
  
• Child’s Full Name, Address, Phone Number.
  
• Child’s Birthdate.
  
• Child’s Social Security Number (will be used as USA hockey number).
  
• Parents’ names.
  
• Or call Amy Barnes at 616-871-9888 or E-Mail admin@kentwoodhockey.eom
  
• Child/Family will be loaded into database and will begin to receive KHSA’s newsletter "Between the Lines".  The newsletter and/or KHSA's website will have registration information for the fall season.
  
• New skater registration for KHSA is held in August each summer. There are normally 1-2 dates available for new skaters to register. A deposit is required, with parental or guardian signature needed for the registration form. Part of that deposit is non-refundable due to registration fees paid up front to USA Hockey and other administration costs. KHSA accepts cash, checks, Visa and Mastercard for all fees. After registration dates, registration information can be obtained from Amy Barnes at 616-698-0100 or at admin@kentwoodhockey.com

• Each family will be notified either through the KHSA Website, Between the Lines Newsletter, or through a letter as to when evaluations/tryouts are to be conducted for your child’s age group.
  
• The season begins after those dates.
  More information is available to you by calling any board member. Board member phone numbers are available on the back of any issue of Between the Liness or on KHSA’s website.
  

Hockey parents should be advised that buying hockey equipment for their skater is not a one-time expense. As the child grows, the need for proper equipment grows. It is dangerous for a skater to have ill-fitting equipment; equipment that is too large hampers his/her skating, and equipment that is too small endangers them because the protection is not adequate.

If you have any questions about whether your child’s equipment is adequate, it is very important that you check with your coach or pro shop to get the answers. Equipment should be professionally fitted.

Equipment should be maintained properly after purchase. It will pick up bacteria and therefore should be aired properly after each use. Skate blades should be wiped down before covering. There should be a place in the family’s home just for the equipment to be properly maintained after each use, as it will rot if not dried adequately. Most equipment made today is washable and should be washed regularly.

• Skates. Must fit comfortably, though not so loose as to cause blisters when skating. Skate sizes are NOT the same as shoe sizes – skater must try on the skates before purchasing. White socks should be worn for comfort.
  
  
• Practice Socks. Hockey socks (colored, usually to match jersey) must be long enough to be gartered and to give skater room to grow. (KHSA provides game socks).
  
  
• Garter Belt. Used to garter hockey socks. Need to periodically check length of garters and size around waist for need of a larger belt.
  
  
• Shin Guards, Tape. To protect shin from pucks and sticks, to fit from knee to ankle. White tape is normally used to secure in place, or shin-guard straps (Velcro) may be used.
  
  
• Pants. Padded to provide some protection, must reach upper to mid-knees. Some skaters prefer long pants going to the ankles; however, can prevent skaters from easily getting up again after falling because of the material. Socks and short pants are the norm. Black is the preferred color.
  
  
• Athletic Cup. Not only for boys; girls need proper protection also.
  
  
• Shoulder Pads. Should not be so large as to hamper movement, but should provide some protection against bruises resulting from skating into boards, or in later years, checking. Too large of size pads will cause pads to fall away from the shoulders and will not protect the collarbone.
  
  
• Elbow Pads. Ideally, elbow pads should protect the area between the top of the elbow pad to the top of the glove. Again, it is important for proper sizing – especially as the skater grows. Is an important piece of equipment in preventing skate cuts along the arm when the skater has fallen.
  
  
• Gloves. There are many brands of gloves and price ranges on the market. The glove must fit the skater’s hand to have proper movement, but also should have room for growth. Worn, tattered gloves have no place on the ice. The top of the glove should ideally meet the elbow pad. The length of the glove can protect skate cuts along the arm when the skater has fallen.
  
  
• Helmet. US Hockey has strict rules regulating helmets for amateur hockey players. Your pro shop can assist you in purchasing the proper helmet. If you have an older used helmet, you may have to purchase proper straps for it and plug the ear holes that are no longer allowed.
  
  
• Mouth Guard. It is a KHSA and US Hockey rule that amateur hockey players from Peewee and up wear a mouth guard. The guard must be colored. It is an USA Hockey requirement that mouth guards be connected to the facemask.
  
  
• Neck Guard. It is a KHSA rule that all skaters from High School and down wear neck guards to prevent severe injury from being slashed with a skate, injured with a stick, or hurt from falling into the boards as an older skater might. The neck guard rule has prevented many injuries since its inception. Not wearing a neck guard can result in a suspension for the coach responsible for that skater.
  
  
• Practice Jersey. An expensive jersey is not needed for practices. It should provide comfort and not be too large as to hamper movement, not too small that it binds the movement. It is usually a good idea to have an extra one in the child’s bag, as it is not unusual for the skater to forget his/her jersey at least once a season. (KHSA provides game jersey).
  
  
• Stick. The hockey stick is left or right handed, comes in different lengths and different curves on the blade, or has a straight blade. The length is determined by the following: If in street shoes, the end of the blade should go to the nose; if in skates, the end of the blade should go to the chin. The stick will hardly ever be perfect; buy it longer and have the pro shop adjust it by cutting off the end. A dime shouldn’t be able to pass under the curve o f the stick; otherwise, it is illegal and may result in a penalty. Sticks come in adult, intermediate and junior sizes. A reputable pro shop will be able to help you size a stick to your skater. There are solid wooden sticks and aluminum shafted sticks with replaceable wooden blades. Adhesive tape of any color is usually used on the blade and handle for friction. The end of a hollow stick MUST be fully covered.
  
• Goaltenders. For goaltenders, special equipment is necessary, such as: gloves (catching and stick), chest and stomach protector, goalie skates (with a protective shell), leg pads, and shoulder and arm protectors. The goaltender's equipment is especially important, so seek advice from a knowledgeable source.