Arvada Hockey Association

Ben Ziff – Grew up playing youth hockey just outside of Buffalo, NY.  Playing career included high school, college club and has continued off and on in multiple adult leagues.  Spent 5 years as a hockey referee and the last 3 seasons as a youth assistant coach.  Enjoy working with kids and have worked a number of miscellaneous skating/hockey clinics in the past.

Communication - Open communication with parents and players.

Team Goals – Team goals will be set at the beginning of the season and then re-visited and revised during the season if necessary. We will also set specific goals prior to games/scrimmages.

Individual Goals – Early in the season I will have a brief discussion with each player individually and set a basic personal goal(s). These goals will focus on specific skills that the player feels he/she needs to improve. Goals will be revisited throughout the season to see if we are making progress and adjusted if necessary.

Introduction to Checking – Given that checking is new to a number of the players that will be on the team, we will spend time during the beginning of the season going over checking basics, both from a strategic and physical perspective.

Build team concept – Players will always treat each other with respect. Misbehavior in the locker will not be tolerated. Players will learn to be supportive of each other; we will win or lose as a team. Corrective action will be administered by coaches, not other players.

Practice time – I believe players improve in practice situations. I will focus my constructive coaching to practices/scrimmages; not during games. I believe in leading by example and expect players to do the same.

Playing Time- At the PWB level, I believe in equality of playing time. If a player is good enough to make the team, they should be comfortable on the ice in any situation and play any position (goalie being the exception). Effort in practice, negative behavior, attendance (see attendance policy) and tardiness are issues that could negatively impact playing time.

Time commitment - For those new to travel hockey it requires a much greater time and financial commitment. This commitment has to come from players, parents and coaches. Two to three practices per week combined with one to two games per week; all are mandatory at this level. Tuesday AM power skating sessions are optional.

Tournaments – We will play at least two out of town tournaments. Two tournaments I am currently looking into are the Aspen Fall Classic (Oct. 24^th-26^th) and Taos Thanksgiving Festival (Nov 28^th-30^th). We will be hosting a tournament Presidents Day Weekend. Tournament participation is also mandatory. We will attempt to get all tournament details worked out during September to help with everyone’s planning. Additional costs of approximately $200-$300 are likely for tournament fees. This does not include personal travel expenses. We will be looking for tournament locations that are close enough that driving is at least an option in order to attempt to control costs.

Fundraising – This is something that can be done to offset some of the incidental costs along with tournament costs during the season. Fundraisers will be organized by the team manager and parent volunteers. Parents always have the option of not participating in fundraising events understanding that funds collected will NOT be used to cover their players financial obligations (ie. Parties, tournament fees, gifts, etc.)

Team Manager – Team manager commitment includes the following:

• Plan to attend all games
• Plan to attend at least half of the practices
• Easy to reach
• Coordinate all parent volunteers
• Coordinate any fundraising
• Coordinate Parties
• Ordering/Distributing Uniforms if needed
• Tournament Logistics – hotels, schedules, travel options, entertainment, meals.
• Team roster/birth certificates/team credentials
• Coordinate penalty box and clock attendants for games

• Looking for 2 or 3 Assistant Coaches
• Hockey experience either as a coach or player
• Level 3 USAA certification (or willing to get it this fall)
• Ability and comfortable running practice if I am unavailable to attend
• Ability to put together an occasional practice plan.

Attendance Policy – Travel hockey requires a large time commitment. All practices and games are mandatory. It is understandable that there will be an occasion when a player will have to miss practice for a legitimate reason such as illness, religious function or mandatory school function (ie Outdoor lab). For planning purposes, I need to know when this is the case as early as possible. Implications of excessive absences are listed below:

1. All players should arrive at the rink 30 minutes before each practice and be dressed and ready to go 5 minutes prior to our scheduled ice time.
2. If dry land sessions are scheduled, player should arrive wearing proper shoes (no crocs or sandals) and clothing for participation in dry land exercises.
3. If a player is going to miss practice, please notify me either through email or cell phone as early as possible, preferably 2 hours prior to practice.
4. If proper notification is given, the missed practice will be considered a “Level 1” absence.
5. If proper notification is not provided, it will be considered a “Level 2” absence.

6. When serving a suspension, the player is expected to attend the game, go through regular pre-game warm-ups, dress for the game and cheer the team on from the bench.
7. Hopefully we will not have to deal with any long term illnesses or injuries, if so; we will handle them on a case by case basis.

1. All players should arrive at the rink 60 minutes before each game and be ready for a brief dry land warm-up followed by a strategy session. Excessive tardiness will result in a one period suspension.
2. If a player is going to miss a game, please notify me either through email or cell phone, as early as possible, preferably 24 hours prior to the game.
3. No penalties for game absences if I am properly notified. If a player misses a game and I am not properly notified, the player will serve a one game suspension. When serving a suspension, the player is expected to attend the game, go through regular pre-game warm-ups, dress for the game and cheer the team on from the bench.