AAHA Board Meeting 2/11/2008

AAHA Board Meeting 2/11/2008

Attendees: Dave King, Tom Heenan, Debbie Goodchild, Heidi Kozlowicz, Tom Reese, Tony Pudlo, Pam West, Susan Bush, Chris Henwood, Mike Larabell

Absent: Mike Goodchild

Guest Attendees: Trey Hanson, Phil Hanson, Todd Schmidt, Mike Brolsma,

Gregg Anderson, Sean Coughlin, Scott Krueger, Bob Parsons, Dan McGrath, Tim Thomas, Brenda Dexheimer.

Todd Schmidt attended to present the following to the board as the ACE coordinator and to answer any questions presented by the Hansoms.

Waiver Request: Trey and Phil Hanson attended the board meeting to request a waiver to return to FoxValley, reimbursement of unused team fees, code of conduct violation. Phil and Trey presented their concerns regarding the above. Board discussion pursued to obtain more information.

Waiver will be issued to return to FoxValley. Dave King informed Phil that waiver would have been issued at the beginning of the season, but one was never requested. Code of conduct was not discussed by the board as the proper procedure was not followed. Phil was informed that a formal complaint needs to be put in writing and forwarded to the Travel Director who will investigate the issues and determine if further investigation is needed.

Proposal: Return of unused team fees

Motion: Return of unused team fees will be returned by Mike Larabell and Tom Heenan

Motion discussed by the board with the following decision passed by the board

Return of unused fees will be decided by the Bantam A team with a recommendation from the board that unused fees be returned.

Sean Coughlin attended board meeting to express his concerns regarding the amount of traveling required and added expense.

Pam West explained that some of the games Sean was referring to aregirls’ teams. Due to a lack of girls’ teams extensive travel is required to find teams available to play. Brenda Dexheimer, AAHA scheduler, also explained that the league requires so many games be played by each team home and away. Any games that are scheduled over and above the league games are being done at the either the managers or coaches discretion. In the beginning of the season, each team is to have a parents meeting to determine how many additional games and tournamentsthey would attend.

Dave King explained to Sean that for the 2008 – 2009 season we are looking at purchasing additional ice at Waupaca and Green Bay for home games and possible practices.

Todd Schmidt asked the board to consider the following agenda items

1. Parent credits for completing the coaching survey.
2. Mandatory baseline testing for all skaters for concussions.
3. Bantam A coaches.
4. Review the attached document on player development (first and very rough draft).
5. Parent meeting before conditioning or try-outbegins.
6. Commitment/cost letter for all interested in playing travel.
7. Timed eval posting at AFIC.

Philosophy:

The association will provide the opportunity for area youth to learn how to become hockey players through skating and skill development. All levels of competition are available from recreational to advance. Emphasis is placed on proper skating, puck handling and playing fundamentals. Team work, focus, accountability, respect and commitment are all values we practice, teach and encouraged.

Programs:

Learn to skate: Offered to all area you and families. Offered once a week, preferably Friday evenings, Saturdays or Sundays, but not when the Packers play. There will be a minimum cost ($60-$70) for people to participate and a skating instructor(s) should be available. Each session should run for an hour and a half and be broken into three sessions. Duration is 6 weeks at a time.

Learn to Play Hockey should only be made available to youth who know can pass a skating evaluation. This evaluation would be looking for the youth to demonstrate the ability to stand on skates, execute strides to provide forward movement, etc.

Learn to play hockey is not teaching how to skate to beginners. Beginning skaters should take advantage of the Learn to Skate program. This program will emphasize proper skating fundamentals first and foremost and a professional on ice instructor will be at each scheduled ice time and will lead a demonstration first and then allow each group to break away and practice with their support. Pucks will be introduced slowly and practices will increase in difficulty as the skating ability increases. As the season progresses, small area games will be introduced during practices. Hockey basics will be taught and will include what is a forward, what is a defense man and what do they do on the ice. What are the basic rules of the game, i.e. what is icing, what is off-sides, etc... Learn to Play hockey should be offered no more than twice a week.

Cross Ice: More small area games are introduced at this level. Skating development is foremost still and a professional skating instructor should be available at every other session. Their format should follow the recommendations used in Learn to Play Hockey. Positional playing responsibilities are now introduced and more puck work is included. Cross Ice should be offered no more than twice a week.

Mites: The mite program should include an A team and then all house teams. The A team should have a minimum of 10 skaters and no more than 12. The position of goalie is rotated to anyone who wants to try it and goalies can be used in practices only after skating drills are completed. All mites will participate in weekly “power skating” program. Drills taught during these sessions will be replicated each week in practices. Fundamentals such as passing, stick handling and shooting will be taught. NO system work will be taught and everything revolves around the fundamentals of the game. Practices should not be more than two a week for the house program and the mite A team should have no more than three a week. Mites will practice 3 teams per sheet of ice each time and the mite A team should also be able to practice with any squirt level team in half ice. Parent coaches are allowed at all levels.

Squirts: The squirt program will be broken into three levels: A, B and House. Squirts should practice no more than 3 times a week and there should be 3 teams per sheet of ice up to twice a week and half ice practices once a week. All squirts will participate once every other week in a “power skating” program. Drills from “power skating” will be repeated during regular practices. Practices will also include the 1st Phase of player development will begin and small area development is introduced. The 1st phase will include drills that will increase in difficulty by program level and by program. 1st phase will include passing, stick handling and shooting drills. Defensive, neutral and offensive zone play will be introduced along with proper body contact, positioning and angling. NO systems will be taught. Non-parent coach should be used if available for the A team. Non-parent coach will need to meet minimum requirements and must meet with the coaching selection committee. Parent coaches can be used at the B and house levels.

Peewee: The peewee program with be broken into three levels: A, B and House. Peewee level A should have one full ice practice a week. Peewee B should have one full ice practice every other week and should share half ice with the A team in all practices. Peewee A and B should have up to 3 practices a week and the A level team should participate once a week in a dry-land practice (i.e. Sports Acceleration); the B team will have the option to do a dry-land program or not. The house program should have no more than one half ice practice a week and games on the weekends. NO “power skating” will be available. A and B practices will require skating drills in each practice for 10 minutes at a time. 2nd phase of player development will begin. Drills used in squirts are replicated, but are increased in difficulty. Full ice practices will introduce flow, transition, fore-checking, back-checking, break outs and break in drills. Box +1 will be taught as a basic defensive zone. Teaching will also include power play and penalty kill scenarios along with continued focus on body contact, positioning and angling. NO systems will be taught. Non-parent coach should be used if available for the A team. Non-parent coach will need to meet minimum requirements and must meet with the coaching selection committee. Parent coaches can be used at the B and house levels.

Bantam: The bantam program with be broken into three levels: A, B and House. Bantam level A should have one full ice practice a week. Bantam B should have one full ice practice every other week and should share half ice with the A team in all practices. Bantam A and B should have up to 3 practices a week and the A level team should participate once a week in a dry-land practice (i.e. Sports Acceleration); the B team will have the option to do a dry-land program or not. The house program should have no more than one half ice practice a week and games on the weekends. NO “power skating” will be available. A and B practices will require skating drills in each practice for 10 minutes at a time. 3rd phase of player development will begin. Drills used in peewees are replicated, but are increased in difficulty. Full ice practices will continue to teach flow, transition, fore-checking, back-checking, break outs and break in drills. Box +1 will still be taught as the basic defensive zone. Teaching will continue to focus on power play and penalty kill scenarios along with continued focus on body contact, positioning and angling. NO systems will be taught. Non-parent coach should be used if available for the A team. Non-parent coach will need to meet minimum requirements and must meet with the coaching selection committee. Parent coaches can be used at the B and house levels.

Mandatory baseline testing for all skaters for concussions.

Board is in favor of this. Baseline testing can be done on line through Theda Care. The cost for the test is $10.00. Enforcement of this still need to be worked out.

Bantam A Coach

Proposal by Chris Henwood for a non-parent coach at Bantam A level.

Bob Parsons, Dan McGrath, and Tim Thomas attended the board meeting to express their concerns as to why the Bantam A coach is a non parent.

Dave King explained that the board made that decision last year due the transition to a non-parent coach at the high school and a number of other clubs in the state already did change to non-parent coaches at the Bantam a team and others were considering it. Also the need to have some coaching stability, and the exposure for kids to be taught by other qualified coaches. Not the same coach year after year.As a non parent coach the board felt that reimbursement was necessary up to $500 for expenses.

Board pursued discussion regarding Bantam A coach after the above concerns were heard.

Motion: Bantam A head coach to be a non-parent for the next three years with to assistant coaches at the head coach’s discretion.

Motion second by Susan Bush and Debbie Goodchild

Due to time constraints not all of Todd’s issues were discussed and will be followed up on at the March board meeting including the developmental program.

Board Reports:

President: Dave King

Overview of registration.

AAHA will place bids with WAHA for Gils’ U14 and Squirt B state tournament for 2010.

Vice President: Tom Heenan

Frigid Frolic took place on February 8, 2008 financial statements from this are still being processed.

Elections will take place February 11, 14, 18, and 21 from 6-8pm. Bill Haig will run elections.

Registrar: Heidi Kozlowicz

Registration for 2008-2009 will take place to co inside with elections, February 11, 14, 18, and 21. All paperwork must be presented at the time of registration or registration will not be accepted.

Sponsorship Coordinator: Tony Pudlo

No report

Travel Director: Chris Henwood

Mite A, PeeWee A& B will play for WAHA state tournament.

Girls’ Director: Pam West

No report

Treasurer: Susan Bush

Frigid Frolic is being reconciled as soon as possible. There are still some outstanding bills.

Secretary: Debbie Goodchild

January 14, 2008 board minutes are approved. Annual membership meeting will be held on March 18, 2008 at 6:30pm at SuperBowl. Notices will be posted at the rink and on the web site. All presentations need to be submitted to Mike Larabell by March 12, 2008.

Proposal to Bylaws change: Dave King

If a board position becomes vacant during the tenure of that positon, the incumbent AAHA board may appointment a replacement to fill the position for the remainder of the year. The vacated position will need to be placed on the election ballot in February.

Motion passed by the board second by Debbie Goodchild

Next AAHA board meeting March 10, 2008, at 6pm. The time change is due the length of agenda items for the March meeting.