Introduction to Hockey – Ages 7 to 10RMHA is pleased to provide a new service to new players – the “Introduction to Hockey Program”.
This intro program is geared towards Hockey 3, 4 and Atom players who have never played hockey in an organized league. The objective of this full-equipment program is to use expert hockey instructors to guide these youngsters through quick development of their basic hockey skills, while having fun and boosting their confidence. Similar to other divisions, parent volunteers will be needed to go on the ice and be Assistant Coaches. Assistant Coaches will also be mentored by our professional instructors and will gain enough experience to coach their own team in the future if they so desire. A Team Manager will also be needed. This program is designed to be a one-year focus on skating and hockey skills enabling the player to jump start into full league play in his/her second year. This group is on the ice three times a week, and the schedule is not set until September. Once the season is up and running, players will get an opportunity to try on the goalie equipment and take a turn in goal.
Those Atom players who are 10 years old will be placed on regular Atom teams and participate in practices and games with that team. The Intro program will be used to supplement their development.
All others (ages 7 to 9) will be coached just under the Intro program. All players will receive RMHA jerseys. Games will be limited to intra-squad games.
It is our belief that the Intro program will enable your child to be much further ahead, with their confidence intact, in the next year when they join one of our regular teams. Because all players in the Intro program will be new to hockey, the instruction will be specific to their ability level, thus meeting their needs directly. If, by contrast, if they were placed directly onto a team, they would have to compete with players who have had years of prior experience. This is usually very frustrating for the new players, who seldom if ever touch the puck during a game. The specific instruction they will receive in the intro program will meet their needs better, and thus prepare them to join in with the experienced players the following year.
Equipment: The equipment required (listed in the order that it is put on) is as follows:
Jock for boy's, Jill for girls, garter belt, shin-pads, socks, pants, skates,neck guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, jersey (team jersey supplied by RMHA, you will need your own practice jersey), helmet, gloves and stick, (stick length should somewhere between the mouth and nose while wearing skates). The last piece is an optional mouth guard. Since there are so many options to each piece of equipment, sports stores that sell the equipment will be able to better explain the differences.