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LITTLE REBELS LEARN TO PLAY HOCKEY | SPONSORED BY BIGGBY COFFEE

Our Next Session will begin in September 2022 - Check back for registration by the end of July!

Why Hockey?

IT'S MORE THAN A GAME
Hockey develops life skills that build a foundation for a child's confidence, pride, focus and responsibility.
 
LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS
Starting with the bonds created in the locker room to the relationships formed on the ice, hockey creates friendships that last a lifetime.
 
SET UP FOR SUCCESS
Hockey's unique structure ensures that your child learns to love the game while promoting a healthy lifestyle, social wellness and mental well-being.
 
HOCKEY IS FUN
The encouraging environment hockey provides helps kids grow as both hockey players and people. 
Our Learn to Play program is for kids ages 4-10 that will provide a fun and memorable experience for them that starts a life long passion for the sport of hockey.  
In this program, over the course of the season, your children will work on learning to skate, how to stop, fall and get up, plus learn the basics of hockey and using a stick and puck while skating.   They are one big team with groups of kids working in stations eventually working up to playing in their first scrimmage game.  
They will work on skills at their own pace in a fun, supportive and safe environment.
  
Your child must be able to skate unassisted before registering for the program  
For information on Learn to Skate at KVIH scroll down the page
All players must wear full hockey equipment to participate in this program
scroll down for rental equipment information

All of our hockey programs, including Learn to play hockey, require that the kids are able to skate, or at least be out on the ice independently without a pusher/assistance. 

Our Learn to Play sessions can have up to 45 kids so they must be able to at least move out there; the kids work as one large group with all of the coaches help, or they break out into smaller groups with one or two coaches at each station. We have 8-10 coaches on the ice during the sessions.  Most of the coaches are Dads or Moms who have children participating.    Our Director of Training kicks off and assists with the program as well.    

Getting your child comfortable out on the ice, with all of the gear, and just moving is the first, and most important, step.  We keep the cost affordable (almost the cost of an open skate per session) because the program is mostly about just getting the kids out there and is loosely structured to give them freedom to give them time to play independently.  Each on ice session includes 5-10 minutes of free time for the kids at the beginning of practices - kids can skate, play with pucks, shinny with the other kids, etc. while the coaches fine tune their on ice plan.   The coaches do some skating drills with the entire group and then divide the kids into groups and they rotate through stations throughout the practice.   Each station will work on hockey skills - skating, stopping, falling, getting up, stick and puck handling, hand eye coordination, and more.   Hockey is a tough sport and repetitions are key to development.  There may be additional free time at the end of each skate or the coaches will group the kids for scrimmage play.   

After the Fall session one, we evaluate players to determine who is ready to move to a team.   This is only offered for session one participants.  The ages and division are as follows - 

  • Mini Mite - 6 years and under 
  • Mite team - 8 years and under 
  • Squirt team - 10 years and under

Those who are not ready to move to a team will continue with Learn to Play.    As they continue in the sessions they will continue to work on basics while the coaches introduce more advanced skills and concepts to the players who are ready.  

Learn to Play Coaches

Our programs are 99% volunteer based and are only a success because of the outstanding efforts of our volunteer coaches.   

We are always looking for help on the ice for this program.  Our Director of Training will assist the coaches for the first couple of sessions and check in regularly once the program is running.   The more coaches we have, the more that can be accomplished and the better support the players will receive.    

At minimum, our Learn to Play assistant coaches must be registered with USA Hockey as a volunteer, have completed Safesport Training and a background check. 

If you are interested in helping with this program, please email office@kvhockey.org

Helpful tips for Learn to Play Parents

All Learn to Play participants must wear full hockey equipment - see below for information on KVHA rental equipment.   
 
The link below will assist you with the equipment that your child will need.   http://newtohockey.com/hockey-equipment-buying-guide-for-kids/
 
Write the name of your child on a piece of hockey tape and place it on the front part of their helmet. This will help the coaches learn your child's name and get to know each of them during their sessions on the ice.
 
Hockey skates vs figure skates?   All of our hockey programs require hockey skates because figure skates are unsafe for both the wearer and other players in a hockey setting.  The figure skate lacks the protection against cuts or shots, and the extension on the blade to the rear of the back stanchion could impail a falling player or coach.  Kids who start out on figure skates, then transition to hockey skates, can find it a little difficult at first, especially if they relied on the toe pick for balance, stopping, and acceleration, but a few  practices with the hockey skates should do it!   
 
If your family is new to hockey, USA Hockey has resources for you! Click here to find more information.

Loaner Hockey Equipment

KVHA has rental hockey equipment  that is geared toward new players with  a junior size for ages 4-6 and  youth size for ages 6-8.   This equipment will be loaned for the season on a first come, first serve basis.

Each set includes a bag, hockey pants, chest protector/shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin pads and gloves. 

Some sets include a helmet but it depends on the size your child needs as only XS and S helmets are available.  They will need a hockey helmet with a full cage or bubble shield. 

You must provide your own hockey skates (figure skates are not allowed), a stick,  mouth guard, neck guard, hockey socks, and a sports cup.  

Regarding hockey sticks -  we recommend that you purchase their first stick.  There are a lot of fun colors and the kids can get what they want and it helps them get excited about playing hockey.  I do have sticks but the majority of them have a flat blade so they are not right or left  handed.   If your child has no tendencies to either side, we are happy to provide a stick. 

All equipment must be returned at the end of the season in good and clean condition. Normal wear and tear is expected, however abuse beyond normal wear and tear may result in a fee being assessed to your account.

You must sign an agreement and provide a valid credit card number to guarantee the equipment will be returned. If the equipment is not returned, you will be charged $100 for it's replacement. Paperwork for this will be provided when picking up the equipment.  Typically pick up will take place before the start of the season 

Heather Olson

Director

Phone: (810) 991-1041

All classes are 35-minute instructor led sessions.  Skaters will learn proper technique with their instructor leading the way.  Skaters progress through each class level at their own pace, earning testing badges when they master the skills in each level.  There is no need to wait for a new session to move up! Skaters are placed in classes based on age and experience. Instructors assess skaters and move them to the appropriate class level when the skater is ready.

Class sizes are limited and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.  Skaters will be invoiced if space is available or notified of other dates/times available if requested class is full.  If no space is available in any of our classes, skaters will be placed on a waiting list.