Rink

September/October 2020

Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1289816

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 23 of 47

NGB News USA Hockey & U.S. Figure Skating , We're back. While rinks and admin- istrators have had to be creative to get youth and adults back on ice, hockey is definitely moving ahead. Coming out of the pandemic, rink oper- ators and hockey associations will need to focus not only on how to get their existing hockey families back but will need to pri- oritize attracting new players. USA Hockey's Program Services department has been planning for the return for hockey and can help your rink show new customers why youth hockey is one of the best and safest options for their child. Our website ( usahockey- programservices.com) has a multitude of resources for associations, including a couple of key things that are aimed to help with growth and retention. • Return to the Rink Resources: The Return to Rinks Toolkit includes essential resources like a social media pack- age, COVID safe hockey activities, email artwork, posters, web banners and more. A highlight in this area are the record- ings from past Program Services webinars. You can learn ways to market for growth to details on how rinks and hockey asso- ciations can create a better relationship. Future webinars will also be posted here. • Hat Trick Growth Challenge: By growing hockey at the 4-8 age group, programs will experience long-term growth as children continue to develop. The Hat Trick Growth Challenge blue- print guides youth hockey leadership through national programs and tools to realize their goal of growing their associa- tion at the 8-and-under age category. • Try Hockey For Free Days: Try Hockey For Free Days provide rinks with a national platform and opportunity to acquire new players locally. This initiative is a joint effort between USA Hockey, the National Hockey League and NHL member clubs. Try Hockey Days will take place November 7 and February 20 this season. The Program Services team can also help out rinks that want to host on a custom date. With the fall season already upon us, take the right steps with USA Hockey to ensure you're growing your youth hockey base. Now, more than ever, families are looking for activities that can engage their children physically, emotionally and socially. Hockey can be that answer. 24 / SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2020 USICERINKS.COM Hockey is Back! , U.S. Figure Skating and Learn to Skate USA announced today a partnership to promote and grow the Axel Club, a joint program that recognizes skaters who land their Axel for the first time. Learn to Skate USA and U.S. Figure Skating members who land their Axel are encouraged to apply to the Axel Club. Inductees will receive an official Axel Club membership certificate, a recognition gift, listing on the Axel Club Hall of Fame page on Learn to Skate USA and U.S. Figure Skating websites and the opportunity to be featured in Axel Club marketing materials. "There are a few firsts in life you never forget, and in a skater's life nothing is more exciting than landing your first Axel," said Susi Wehrli McLaughlin, the senior director of membership at U.S. Figure Skating. "That's why we started the Axel Club—to commemorate all skaters' accomplishment of landing their first Axel, even if it was long ago." New to the program is the Axel Emeritus Club, an opportunity for skaters who landed their Axel more than a few years ago to join and celebrate their Axel achievement, even years later. To join, skaters must be either an active member of Learn to Skate USA or current full member of U.S. Figure Skating and able to provide a witness to verify the skater landed the Axel. Learn more about the Axel Club and apply to join at usfigureskating.org/axelclub. NGB News USA Hockey & U.S. Figure Skating Join the Axel Club!

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Rink - September/October 2020