Kenosha Komets Hockey  

Parent Guides

PARENTS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

USA Hockey has developed a brochure (click below to download the brochure) has been prepared 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. Key guidance for parents is highlighted below.

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 their coach.

AT PRACTICE

Parents should remember that if a child wants to improve, he/she has 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.

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, log on to usahockey.com or contact your coach or league administrator.

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 positive. 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. 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, teamwork 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 feels good about making 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 sure your child knows that, regardless of the outcome of a game, he or she is a winner.

HOCKEY - THE GAME

HOCKEY - THE GAME

Ice hockey is played on a rink, a sheet of ice which is approximately two-thirds the size of a football field, usually 185-200 feet long and 85-100 feet wide. The game is played in three periods of equal length; 20 minutes for each period at most levels, but often 12 or 15 minutes in youth classifications. The sport involves four basic skills: skating, stickhandling, passing and shooting. These skills can be learned at any age, and the good hockey player continually works to improve and refine his or her skills. Physical size is not an important factor in becoming a skilled and successful hockey player. Every player has an opportunity to be a part of the action given the speed of the game, the number of players on a team and the size of the surface upon which the game is played.

THE FOUR BASIC SKILLS OF HOCKEY

Skating is the skill that makes hockey unique and it is something that players at all levels of the sport continually strive to improve. Without adequate skating ability, players are less able to perform the other essential skills of the sport.

Stickhandling is perhaps the most difficult of the basic skills to master. It allows a skilled player to maneuver around opponents and create better offensive opportunities.

Passing is what makes hockey a true team sport and helps make the game fun. Passing gets everyone on the ice involved in the action and turns scoring into a team effort. Helping teammates experience success is what the game is all about and passing allows the thrill of scoring to be shared.

Shooting is the end result of an offensive team play and is the action that produces a goal. Many players spend most of their time practicing shooting because they believe scoring is the most fun. Players should, however, place an equal emphasis on the other basic skills of hockey, given the fact most players generally take fewer than six shots in an entire game.

THE TEAM

A team is comprised of a maximum of six players on the ice at any one time (see “penalties”).

The goaltender is responsible for guarding the team’s goal and preventing the opposing team from scoring.

The primary responsibility of the defensemen (two) is to prevent the opposing team from having a good shot at the goal. The defensemen also attempt to gain possession of the puck and pass to teammates to initiate an offensive scoring opportunity.

The primary responsibility of the forwards (three: right wing, center and left wing) is to score. However, forwards also assist the defensemen by back-checking after their team has yielded control of the puck to the opposition.

THE PLAYING ZONES

The ice surface is divided by blue lines into three zones: defensive, offensive and neutral. The defensive zone is the area in which a team protects its own goal and attempts to keep the opposition from scoring. This same zone is the opposing team’s offensive zone, or the area in which they are attempting to score. The neutral zone is the area between the two blue lines.

THE OFFICIALS

At higher levels of ice hockey competition, four officials — two referees (identified by an orange arm band) and two linesmen — are utilized. At the youth level, two officials — both of whom are referees — are common. The referee is the ultimate authority during the game and is primarily responsible for calling penalties and determining if goals have been legally scored. The primary responsibilities of the linesmen include conducting faceoffs and determining violations of offside and icing while assisting the referee in enforcing the rules of the game.

THE RULES

The playing rules of hockey are divided into three basic categories:

  1. Violations that result in a face-off
  2. Violations that result in a player being awarded a penalty shot
  3. Violations that result in a player being sent to the penalty box for a specified period of time

The following is a brief explanation of each type of violation. Naturally, there are technical aspects of each rule that will, at various times, determine whether or not the violation is called.

Face-Offs

  • Offside — An offensive player may not precede the puck across the blue line into the offensive zone.
  • Icing — A team, when both teams have an equal number of players on the ice, may not shoot the puck from behind the center red line over their opponent’s goal line (except if the puck goes into the goal). In Junior hockey, the puck must first be touched by a player from the defensive team before icing is called.

Penalty Shot

A penalty shot is most commonly awarded if:

  1. A player, while in a scoring position, is fouled from behind and deprived of a scoring opportunity; or
  2. A defensive player grabs or falls on the puck when it is in the goal crease.

To take a penalty shot, an offensive player takes control of the puck at center ice and tries to score against the opposing goaltender. All other players are removed from the action.

PENALTIES

For the following penalties, the penalized team must play minus the number of players serving such penalties, with one exception: the penalized team can have no fewer than four players, including the goaltender, on the ice (delayed penalty):

  • Minor Penalty — Two minutes. If a team is scored upon while it is shorthanded because of a minor penalty, the penalty shall terminate immediately.
  • Major Penalty — Five minutes. Does not terminate early for any reason.
  • Match Penalty — Five minutes, depending upon the violation, and is served by a teammate. If assessed a match penalty, the offending player is ejected for the balance of the game and may not play in future games until the case has been reviewed by league administrators.


For the following penalties, the team will replace the penalized player on the ice immediately:

  • Misconduct — Ten minutes. Served in the penalty box.
  • Game Misconduct — Ejection for the balance of the game and the player or coach will serve an additional one-game suspension.

The following is a list of common penalties and their definitions:

  • Charging — Body checking an opponent at an excessive speed; checking or pushing from behind.
  • Checking from Behind — An extremely dangerous action characterized by a player checking an opponent directly from behind. Parents, players, coaches and referees must all work to eliminate this infraction from our sport.
  • Checking to the Head — The action of a player, regardless of intent, contacting a player in the head, including with the stick or by an illegal body check.
  • Cross-Checking — Checking an opponent with the stick across the body.
  • Elbowing — Checking an opponent with the elbow extended.
  • High-Sticking — Carrying the stick above normal shoulder height. If the violation results in an injury to an opponent, a major penalty should be assessed.
  • Holding — Impeding the progress of an opponent by using the hand, stick or any other means.
  • Hooking — Using the stick to impede the progress of an opponent. Interference — Impeding the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.
  • Slashing — Hitting or swinging at an opponent with the stick.
  • Tripping — An action against an opponent’s leg which causes the opponent to fall.

EQUIPMENT NEEDS

Selection of hockey equipment is a key issue for players, parents and coaches. When purchasing and fitting hockey equipment, remember two important factors:

  • Make certain the player is adequately protected and
  • Be sure the fitting allows freedom of movement so the player can properly perform the necessary skills.

By carefully considering these two factors, your child will be more comfortable and will have more fun playing hockey. A complete set of hockey equipment can be purchased for a relatively reasonable cost. Shop around for the best values and remember that you need not buy the most expensive equipment. Inquire about local equipment swaps and team discounts, but keep in mind the equipment must fit properly to provide maximum protection.

  • Skates — Purchase skates that will fit your child today, with no more than 1/2” allowed for growth. Seek adequate protection in the ankle, toe and instep areas. Improperly fitted skates will hamper your child’s ability to skate.
  • Helmet — Must be of a design and construction approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC). Must be sized at the time of purchase to fit properly. The chin strap must always be fastened. Facemask — Must be of a design and construction approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council (HECC).
  • Mouthpiece — Required for players in the 12 & Under (youth) and 8 & Under (girls) through Junior age classifications. USA Hockey encourages players of all ages and ability levels to use a mouthpiece.
  • Stick — Length should generally extend from the ice to the player’s chin (with skates on). Quality and price differ greatly, so the choice is yours.
  • Shin Pads — Check for proper length so they protect the knee and shin completely. Supporter and Cup — Essential protective equipment.
  • Gloves — Check for proper fit with good finger and hand mobility.
  • Shoulder Pads — Adjust to fit the individual at the time of purchase. A fiber cap is extremely important in preventing shoulder separations and should extend to the tip of the shoulder.
  • Pants/Breezers — Held in proper position by suspenders. Pants provide protection for the lower spine, hips and thighs.
  • Elbow Pads — Properly fitted so they do not slide.
  • 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.
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