Rink

The Skating Director Program presented by U.S. Figure Skating is targeted for figure skating program directors, administrators and coaches who are intent on offering the highest level of service and opportunity through their figure skating program. This program will teach the participants how to use the full array of U.S. Figure Skating programs to create a successful, and financially viable, figure skating program. "I had fun and learned a lot at NARCE," said Michelle Sibley, Skating Director at the Farmington Hills (MI) Ice Arena. "I enjoyed meeting and networking with directors from around the country, and the instructors are a great source of information." The instruction team, led by Susi Wehrli, U.S. Figure Skating's Senior Director of Membership, focus on successful programs from around the country. They provide information and resources that can be implemented to help on the local level. "NARCE is such an important event for U.S. Figure Skating," states Wehrli. "It allows us to share our resources with those skating directors and rink operators that are out in the rinks growing our sport." The Hockey Director Program presented by USA Hockey is targeted for hockey directors and hockey program administrators. This program will explain how to use USA Hockey programs to create successful development opportunities for all players, while maximizing the profitability for all hockey programs. "NARCE allows us to work directly with rink owners and operators whose business depends on growing hockey," says Kevin McLaughlin, Senior Director of Hockey Development for USA Hockey. Rink operators and hockey directors from more than 20 facilities and 3 International Hockey Federations attended the Hockey Director Program at NARCE 2007. "I felt that my first NARCE conference was a fantastic experience," said Nate Putek, Assistant Manager of the Novi (MI) Ice Arena, after completing the Hockey Director Program. "I met new people in the business, heard issues that others are having at their facilities throughout the country and in Europe." This course will also provide a road map to help an administrator navigate the various hockey programs and options offered through USA Hockey. "Being able to put a face with the name of the USA Hockey people that I had previously dealt with was helpful," added Putek. NGB News 56 R INK MAGAZ INE March/April 2008 USA Hockey, U.S. Figure Skating Offer Educational Programs at NARCE SKATING DIRECTOR PROGRAM PRESENTED BY U.S. FIGURE SKATING TOPICS INCLUDE... Understanding figure skating from tots to elite, Franchising the program, Customer Service issues, Parent education with CD, Risk management, Ethics, Coaching programs, Synchronized skating, How to develop an off-ice training program. Class runs Monday-Wednesday HOCKEY DIRECTOR PROGRAM PRESENTED BY USA HOCKEY TOPICS INCLUDE... Understanding the USAH structure and organization, Role of a hockey director, Recruiting new players, Teaching body checking, Training & developing your coaches, Teaching skating, Developing goalies, Developing defensemen, Age-appropriate habits & concepts vs team systems, Designing practice & your season, USAH national player development programs, Parent education & behavior, Developing goal scorers. Class runs Monday-Wednesday SPEED & CURLING Both USA Curling and US Speedskating will be in attendance at NARCE 2008. Each will have a booth at the RINKexpo trade show and will give a short presentation in the Programming, Marketing & Promotions class. U.S. FIGURE SKATING

• Cover