Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/797481
USICERINKS.COM MARCH.APRIL.2017 / 47 never think of going to someone's house, trashing the place, and leave, treat your facility as if it's disposable. The golden rule for coaches and managers is to leave everything ready for the next team, something Freeman said 95 percent of Flyers Skate Zone teams do well. To ensure success, Freeman and his staff adhere to a four-step plan: • Upon arriving, a manager or coach from each team must check in at the counter and trade their car keys for the locker- room key. (An added benefit: giving the key to the coach or manager also puts the responsibility of protecting valuables, and actually locking the locker room, on the team members themselves). • A team representative must report damages, or any other issues encountered upon entering their locker room immediately. Otherwise their team will be held responsible. • The same coach or manager who took the key initially also takes responsibility for making sure the locker room is cleaned, empty, and locked before leaving. (Freeman said leftover tape balls and water bottles, along with running showers, are the biggest 'offenses' at Flyers Skate Zone, so it's probably true at your facility, too). • Finally, before each team leaves, a Flyers Skate Zone staffer will inspect the locker room before returning car keys to their owner. Don't discipline when there's damage Although Flyers Skate Zone has cameras in each hallway (as they're not open to the ice rinks), they're not able to capture locker room damage. However, if and when damage is found, the offending team's coach or manager is notified immediately, and it's up to the team to determine the cause of the damage. Typically, any damage that occurs is handled in one of two ways: 1. Flyers Skate Zone charges the customer (team) a fee for materials and labor. 2. The team responsible for the damage comes back to do a complete Flyers Skate Zone "team cleaning"—including the locker rooms, bleachers, and rink areas. Freeman finds this to be a great way for kids to learn respect for their facilities and understand what staffers do for them on a daily basis. Obviously, you don't want your facility to be known as the "bad" rink around town. So, take the tips Freeman offers to heart—your customers (and your facility's financial managers) will thank you for it. J Since 2011, Jay Freeman has served as the general manager of Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, NJ. He can be reached at Jay_Freeman@comcastspectacor