With that, I felt it was time to hit up Kirsten for an interview to get the ultimate insider’s perspective on this program and find out why it’s such a success.

Kirsten West has been the skating director at Reisterstown Sportsplex since it opened in 2008. She grew up in the Baltimore area and her skating career actually began at eight years old in a Learn-to-Skate program. After that, she began taking private lessons, then started competing. At around sixteen, she began helping teach basic skills classes, then moved into teaching group lessons while competing at Towson University in inter-collegiate competitions with the TU Figure Skating Club. She graduated from TU in 2007 and after teaching pre-school for a few months, she was hired by Rink Management Services Corporation to teach at Reisterstown.

Immediately, I dove right in and asked Kirsten what makes this program so great. Without hesitation, she said the people. “Like Beth said, our instructors are not only knowledgeable, but also patient, flexible people who genuinely love what they do. It plays a big part in how we keep the atmosphere fun and inviting,” Kirsten continued, “some of our coaches and skate aids are young too, which helps them relate to younger students.”

I then asked what makes Reisterstown’s program unique. “While the program itself follows a curriculum developed by US Figure Skating, there are several added bonuses we’ve implemented that you may not find at other rinks,” she replied. A few of the “bonuses” she referred to are:

• Pre-Hockey Program - for those who are interested in skating specifically to play hockey.
• In-House Basic Skills Competition - Though it’s main function is to promote fun, the skills competition gives students an opportunity to showcase the skills they’ve learned in one big competition-style event.
• Learn-to-Skate GROUPON - Recently offered a Groupon featuring a great Learn-to-Skate deal which the rink plans to offer again soon.

With reasonable pricing, great offers, and a talented group of teachers, Kirsten has seen the number of students participating in the program grow exponentially in just four years. “Even through the tough economy, patronage has been strong,” she said. Looking to the future, Kirsten expects more growth of the student body, as well as continued skating improvement by current students who stick with it, growing more together each year.

To wrap things up, I asked Kirsten what the program had in store for students this summer. She got very excited and said, “Another great perk about the Reisterstown Sportsplex figure skating program is that we also offer a full day Figure Skating Camp for four weeks in the summer. The purpose of the camp is to promote growth and fun in figure skating from beginner through the advanced levels. It gives kids a great opportunity to get an edge on their skills during the summer. The camp offers a wide variety of on-ice activities, such as edge classes, jump and spin sessions, power skating, synchronized skating, artistry, and even a “demonstration of skills” show at the end of each week. The Figure Skating camp is taught by our higher level instructors that also teach in our group lesson program. It’s a great way to beat the heat in the summer!”

Reisterstown Sportsplex Summer Camp 2012 dates:
July 9th-July 13th
July 23rd-July 27th
August 13th-August 17th
August 20th-August 24th

You can find more information about the camp and registration on our website at www.rtownsports.com under the “camps” tab.

So here’s how it works. Registration is easy and can be done online. The beginner level consists of eight classes - one per week. At the end of the eighth class, there’s an “exam” to determine if the skills taught were absorbed and can be performed satisfactorily by the student in order advance to the next level of beginner classes. After one year, Brynn is now in the 2nd level of the next tier program, called the “Free Skate” program. According to Beth, the cost is “very reasonable,” and each enrollment also includes a coupon for one free public skating session to encourage students to continue practicing in their free time.

The Merz family is an active one. With four kids, someone’s always playing something - soccer, lacrosse, and now skating too! But Beth enjoys the chaos, especially when it pays off. “Brynn loves skating. She took to it immediately and she was a natural,” she said.

Not surprisingly, the beginner classes tend to be the largest. I asked Beth how the teachers make everyone feel welcome and comfortable. She said, “They’re very knowledgeable, excellent teachers. Good at handling lots of kids at beginner levels. Kirsten (Director of Figure Skating at The Reisterstown Sportsplex) is warm, friendly and encouraging. Brynn loves her.” She went on to explain that as students move up through the ranks, the crowds begin to thin, giving advancing students more one-on-one time with teachers. Private lessons are also offered, especially at the higher levels. There’s also no commitment, so a pay-as-you-go system can be utilized if necessary.

With a year behind her and her skills improving daily, I asked where Brynn wanted to go from here. Beth expressed that Brynn is getting so good and enjoys it so much, they’re beginning to wonder how they want to proceed as far as possibly competing. “She would probably want to compete at some point. We haven’t explored that just yet. But we look forward to speaking to her coaches about that possible next level.” Reisterstown offers a competition for skaters of all levels. Students are encouraged to compete if they choose.

After thanking Beth for offering to speak with me about Brynn and the “Learn to Skate” program, I asked if there were any final thoughts she would like to add. She responded by saying, “They’re doing a really nice job. It’s a good program. They have something for everybody. You can be a beginner, intermediate or advanced skater and get a lot out of the program.”

To check out the “Learn to Skate” program offered here at Reisterstown Sportsplex, follow this link: http://www.rtownsports.com/LTS_weekly.htm.

Miracle - The moving true story about the 1980 U.S. Hockey team that defeated the “unbeatable” Russian team in the semi-final game. Full of drama, comedy, and of course, hockey!

Slap Shot - The definitive hockey movie. Perhaps not the best choice for a romantic evening with your sweetheart. But, you can’t do a list of hockey movies without it. It’s a rule.

Youngblood - A coming-of-age story about a young player trying to find his place in a new town and its semi-pro hockey team. 80s heartthrobs (yep, I said “heartthrobs”, what of it?) Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze star in this dated, yet timeless dramedy. I have no idea how something can be dated and timeless at the same time, but just go with it.

The Rocket - One of the lesser well-known hockey movies around, but certainly not a lesser film! The Rocket follows the trials and tribulations of Quebec’s most famous hockey player, Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, a French Canadian trying to be successful in the NHL. Some have called it “the Gladiator of hockey movies”.

Mystery, Alaska - A hockey movie with heart about a small town in Alaska with an amazing secret...they have phenomenal hockey players! After a story in Sports Illustrated exposes them to the world, the NHL plans an “old time hockey” event pitting the Mystery boys against the New York Rangers, much to the shock, excitement, and panic of the townies and pond-hockey players alike. Dubbed “The Rocky of hockey”, the film stars Russell Crowe and few other recognizeable faces. Cute, sweet and funny....oh, and hockey too.

The Cutting Edge - Okay guys, before you freak out, I’m well aware this isn’t technically a hockey movie. But you know what? It’s about a hockey player and there’s a lot of ice and skating in it. So chill! It wouldn’t hurt to watch one your lady might actually enjoy, ya know? The Cutting Edge is about a hockey player (D.B. Sweeney) who’s career is cut short by injury, but is given an opportunity to skate again with a cute partner (Moira Kelly) in Olympic pairs figure skating competition. Being a romance, it’s pretty predictable. But the ride is fun, sweet, and worth the hour and forty minutes.

Goon - This one will have to wait until after Valentine’s Day because it doesn’t actually hit theaters until March, but I HAD to mention it because I’m geeked about it! This comedy stars Sean William Scott as a loser whose fists of fury land him a job on the local semi-pro hockey team as a bruiser. Looks to me like it’s gonna be a fantastic companion to “Slap Shot”. Check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_YQU2xZxWs

Pro Shopping

One thing you can always count on is that hockey players need gear. Constantly. Gloves wear out, sticks break, skates dull. The first place to look for some great new stuff is the pro shop at your local rink. They’ll have anything and everything your hockey player needs. Of course, if you don’t know what they need, consider a gift basket made up of hockey essentials - Tape, sharpening stone, laces, and there’s always the can’t-go-wrong gift certificate. This way, they can buy whatever they like.

Skate Date

Rather than dinner and a movie, why not take your better half to a public skating session? It’s fun, different, and your local rink may even have a special engagement planned for the holiday.

App-y Valentine’s Day

This is a cool one. If your hockey-fanatic is tech savvy and enjoys spending time on their tablet or smartphone, you might want to consider buying them a hockey app. There are literally hundreds of hockey-themed games, books, movies and music available for just about every device. Do a quick search and you’ll be bombarded with them in no time. One of the coolest ones around is called “SpeedClock Lite”. It’s used like a radar gun to calculate the speed of a baseball pitch, or in this case, a hockey slapshot! The best part is that it’s FREE. Your hockey player will have a blast with his teammates clocking they’re power during the next practice.

Spread the Love

So if you’re tired of the same old flowers n’ candy Valentine’s junk, give the gift of hockey this year! Nothing says “love” like ice and sharp skates. You know I’m right.

Scenes like this happen all too often in youth sports. Let’s face it, some people are just jerks. However, even ordinary good-natured folks can sometimes let emotion get the better of them. The hard truth is that ALL parents are emotionally tied to their children and will not always act appropriately when attending their sporting events. Further, it only takes one bad decision by one adult to ruin what’s supposed to be a fun event for everyone. To try and avoid these instances, here are a few quick suggestions when dealing with difficult or disruptive parents.

Cool, Calm and Collected

You can’t control what other people do, only what you do. If you witness a parent behaving badly, it’s best to report them to the league director or rink management, rather than taking matters into your own hands. Remember, you want to stop the problem, not contribute to it. Getting involved directly often adds fuel to the fire and cause tensions to escalate. Once that happens, you’re no better than the jerk who started the mess.

Communcation

As I stressed in my last blog, communication is the key to understanding. Whether you agree with what another parent is saying or doing, it’s important to be respectful of their position. No matter how trivial or ridiculous you think they’re being, it’s important to remember that they don’t see it that way. Allowing them a forum to explain their perspective not only opens the lines of communication, but also gives that person an outlet to express themselves, thus helping keep tempers under control. As they say, you catch more flies with honey.

A Helping Hand

Very often, disruptive parents really don’t realize they’re being disruptive. After all, they’re just looking out for the best interests of their child, and possibly yours' as well. You would do the same thing, right? That may be so, but again, there are good ways and bad ways to “help”. If a well-meaning parent is causing more problems than they’re solving, sometimes it’s best to offer them a “position” in which to focus their efforts. For instance, if a busy-body mom feels the team doesn’t have enough pucks to properly warm up before a game, one could suggest she organize some type of fundraiser like a bake sale in order to make money to buy more pucks. Obviously, this isn’t the most difficult of problems to solve. But it’s a good example to get you thinking outside the box. After all, not EVERY difficult parent actually means to be difficult. Most people mean well. So, it’s important to find productive ways to get everyone involved whenever possible.

Hi-Tech Temperament

Many people refrain from reporting disruptive people for fear of getting involved. You certainly can’t blame someone for avoiding possible confrontation. However, a program in Calgary has taken an interesting, hi-tech approach to the problem. They have devised a system which encourages parents who witness bad behavior to report it via text by simply sending a 4-digit code via phone. This anonymous system allows for officials to be notified of behavior infractions, thus allowing the reporting party to avoid dealing with the culprit(s) directly. To read more about this fantastic new approach, follow this link: http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/10/10/respect-1-idiots-0

Once again...fun!

Remember, youth sports are supposed to be fun for everyone, including the adults. If at any time it doesn't feel that way, something is wrong. Never be afraid to address the problem. Just be sure to do it in a smart, productive way.

Enjoy The Journey

Don’t focus on the end result - winning and losing. Focus on the process of getting there. That’s when everything is learned. The emphasis on the process of learning, acquiring and honing their skills can not only help them achieve their goals in hockey, but also in life.

Let Them Play

Being invested in your child’s experience can be a great thing. However, too often parents get so wrapped up in the rollercoaster of a game that they forget how to be passionate in a constructive manner.

I used to coach youth hockey myself. I can tell you first hand that even mild-mannered parents occasionally erupt and voice their displeasure over a bad call by the ref, or a dirty play on the ice. It’s happens all the time. It’s normal, it’s human, but it’s not helpful.

Let’s face it. Your child is going to take bad calls from time to time. He’s going to be checked on a dirty play that the ref will miss. Things are going to happen that you’re not going to like. But banging on the glass and yelling at the refs, coaches and opposing players is NOT the way to handle it. In hockey, as in life, things aren’t always going to go your child’s way. How to handle adversity, and how to conduct themselves in a mature and sportsmanlike manner when bad things happen are the best lessons you can teach them.

Car Coaching

Everyone talks in the car, right? That is, if you can keep your children off their phones, ipods, and PSPs for 5 minutes. Well, for those parents who successfully manage to do this long enough to carry on a conversation, you may be interested in this next tip. 

It’s been my experience that parents love to discuss games and practices with their kids. This is great, except that sometimes parents will offer their own opinions on what should and shouldn’t be happening on the ice. Occasionally, this approach may conflict with what your child’s coach is trying to achieve. So, instead of blindly offering an opinion, ask the coach if there’s anything he feels you should discuss with your child during these opportunities. This not only keeps the message consistent, but it also offers reinforcement of what your child is being taught.

Parent/Coach Relationship

Some coaches and parents get along great, some don’t. In all their years of playing hockey, your children may be coached by someone you’re not completely on-board with. It happens. Heck, the coach may not be too fond of you either. But, no matter what your feelings are about each other, the key to keeping things healthy and productive is communication. Parents, listen to the coaches. Coaches, listen to the parents. Talk to each other. Be courteous, mature, civilized, and above all remember that it’s not about either of you. It’s about the kids and their experience playing ice hockey that matters. 

Overcoming Failure

We all fail. No matter how good a player your child is, they’re going to fail from time to time. The best way to handle their disappointment is to remind them that sports are a metaphor for life. Failing is common, okay, and completely necessary because it’s how we get better. Succeeding is great, but it’s when we fail that we truly learn about ourselves. Like Al Pacino said, “Remember kid, any given Sunday, either you’re going to win or you’re going to lose. The question is, can you win or lose like a man?” (Any Given Sunday, 1999)

FUN! FUN! FUN!

Ultimately, sports are supposed to be joyful. If at any time is doesn’t feel that way for you or your child, then something is wrong. Be sure to discuss it with them. Bring your child’s coach in on the conversation as well. The most important thing is to have fun. The rest is commentary.

Zones

• The ice surface is divided into three zones.
• The area where the goal net is located is the "defending zone" for the team defending that net.
• The middle of the rink, between two blue lines, is the "neutral zone."
• The area where the opposing net is located is the "attacking zone" or "offensive zone."

The Net

• A cage measuring four feet tall and six feet wide, strung with nylon mesh in the back.
• There are two nets at opposite ends of the ice, guarded by the goaltenders.

Object of the Game

• Score more goals than the other team!

The Teams

• Each team has six players on the ice, one goaltender and five "skaters.”
• The five skaters have assigned positions: three forwards and two defensemen.
• Regardless of assigned positions, all players except the goaltender can go anywhere on the ice.
• The goaltender cannot cross the center ice red line that divides the rink in half.

Substitutions

• Substitutions are unlimited and can be made at any time.
• A substitution does not require an official's permission, or a stoppage in play.
• A player can join the game during play as long as the departing player is within five feet of the bench and not involved in the play or with an opponent.

The Faceoff

• The game begins/resumes when the referee drops the puck between two opposing forwards.
• During the faceoff all other players are positioned on the defensive side of the puck.
• There are nine designated faceoff spots painted on the ice.

The Game Clock

• The game is played in three 12-minute or 15-minute periods, depending on the youth level.
• The clock is stopped during all stoppages in play.

Body Checking

• Checking isn’t legal in youth hockey until the Pee Wee level (11-12).
• A player can use a shoulder, hip or torso to hit or impede an opponent, but only when the opponent is in possession of the puck.
• A body check that targets the head is illegal.
• A body check to an opponent's back is illegal if the opponent is facing the boards.
• The upping of checking to the Bantam level, as well as the removal of checking from youth hockey all together have been proposed ad nauseam over the years. The thought here being that only about 1 in every 4000 youths actually go pro one day. So why subject the other 3999 bodies to the physical rigors of checking? You be the judge.

Minor Penalties

Like all other sports, penalties are often open to interpretation. Some refs call a lot of penalties, some don’t. Some call it by the book, some use discretion. But sooner or later, everyone goes to the “sin bin”. A player charged with a minor penalty is sent off the ice to the penalty box for two minutes, with no substitution allowed. The penalty ends immediately if a goal is scored by the opposing team. Minor penalties are called for obstructing an opponent. 

Infractions include:

• Tripping (with the stick or knee)
• Holding (with stick or hands)
• Hooking (with stick)
• Interference (checking or impeding a player without the puck)
• Slashing
• Spearing
• High-sticking (hitting an opponent in the head or face)
• Cross-checking (hitting an opponent with the shaft of the stick)

• Elbowing
• Checking from behind
• Kneeing
• Roughing (broadly defined; usually involves a wrestling or shoving match)

Major Penalties

• Majors can vary depending on any youth program’s handbook. But, majors are commonly differentiated from minors by intent. Any check a referee deems intentional will result in a minimum of a five minute major penalty. Any two major penalties incurred within one game will result in a game misconduct (ejection) which will also carry a one-game suspension.
• The most common major penalty is fighting.
• In youth hockey, a fight carries a game-misconduct (ejection) as well as a 2-game, 5-game (or more) suspension, depending on the severity of the fight.

Power Play

This term refers to the team who is “man up” due to a penalty charged to the other team. If the opposing team has one or more players in the penalty box, the other team is considered on the “power play” for the duration of the penalty since they have more players on the ice.

Offside

If a player precedes the puck into the offensive zone, play is stopped and a faceoff takes place in the neutral zone. The puck or the puck carrier must always be the first to enter the offensive zone.

Icing

• Shooting the puck across the goal line of the offensive zone from behind your own zone’s blue line.
• In youth hockey, icing is automatic. Meaning, the moment the illegally shot puck crosses the offensive zone’s goal line, play is stopped and the faceoff comes back into the offending team’s zone. In the pros, the puck must be “touched up” by the defending team before the offending team in order for icing to be called.
• Icing can often be “waved off” by the official if he feels any player of the opposing team is able to play the puck before it passes his goal line, but does not do so, the linesman can "wave off" icing, allowing play to continue.

You Rule!

As you can see, ice hockey really isn’t that complicated at all. Obviously, there are some additional rules, policies and details not listed here. But you now know the most important stuff to get started. Feel free to coach up the other parents around you when the whistle blows and they don’t know why!

Ice hockey equipment is traditionally well-built, strong and durable. But to keep it that way, you MUST take care of it. Not properly caring for your gear will contribute to its early demise. Some articles of equipment are more susceptible to premature deterioration than others. So, the following article will offer some tips on how to keep those particular pieces in good shape.

Skates

• Dry, Dry, Dry: Always wipe your skates dry after every use. Yes, EVERY use. Not just the blade either, but the whole boot and tuck as well. Lingering snow will cause the rivets to rust over time. Once dry, DO NOT just throw them in your hockey bag resting against your other wet gear. This will defeat the purpose of wiping them down! Buy a skate bag, or at the very least put them in a plastic bag by themselves. Trust me, it’s worth it.
• Tighten Your Rivets: Having your rivets tightened often can really increase the lifespan of your skates. When a rivet loosens, the others are forced to compensate, resulting in an overall weakening of your rivets. The next time you get your skates sharpened, ask the technician if they can tighten your rivets. Doing this around once a month will keep your rivets tight and doing their job.
• Remove Your Soles: Rivets can also be attacked from the inside of your boot. After using your skates, the boot is usually soaked in sweat. That moisture can rust your rivets from the inside, not to mention affect the padding of your boot. So remove your sole and let it dry before putting it back.
• Change Your Laces: Just like your soles, your laces retain water and sweat after skating. Believe it or not, your wet laces can damage the material of your skate tongue, which can affect your skate stiffness in the long run. By replacing them often, you eliminate that extra moisture resting on the top of your skate. When I say often, I mean every 2-3 weeks. It really helps.

Helmet

Like your skates, wiping your helmet dry is the first line of defense against premature breakdown. Besides that, it’s also a good idea to check your helmet regularly for cracks, chips, or missing pieces. The foam inside your helmet should not be cut or modified and should feel spongy-soft, not hard. Remember, a damaged helmet is never as helpful as it should be.

Hockey Gloves

Just in case I haven’t said it enough, DRY YOUR GEAR. Gloves are no different. However, it’s important to note that when you hang up your hockey gloves, avoid open heat sources like register vents. Direct exposure to heat could shrink the inside or alter the shape of the outside. Check your gloves for rips or tears to either repair them or replace them.

Get the picture?

As you can see, dry is the key. It’s definitely the best way to ensure your gear’s durability and longevity. Though I’m only highlighting the pieces most affected by moisture, ALL of your gear will benefit from air drying after each use. In addition to preserving its integrity, drying out your gear will drastically reduce its risk of stink! Wet gear breeds bacteria. That bacteria is smelly, smelly, SMELLY. So do yourself and everyone around you a favor and dry your gear. Everybody wins!

Wood

Good ol’ fashion, lumber. Wooden sticks are the least expensive sticks on the market. Of course, they also tend to be the heaviest and least durable. Personally, I’m old school. I like wooden sticks. But I do go through them quickly - usually due to breaking.

Composite

The term “composite” basically represents any stick that’s made from multiple natural and synthetic elements. They’re more expensive than wooden sticks, but are also much lighter and (sometimes) more durable. Typical composite sticks are made from:

• Fiberglass - These are essentially wooden sticks which are reinforced by a fiberglass coating. While they are the least expensive of composite sticks they are also the weakest and heaviest.
• Aluminum - The first non-wood to hit the market years ago. The shafts are made of the lightweight metal, while the blades are wood or some type of composite. The blades are affixed using hot glue (usually included). Aluminum sticks are much stronger and lighter than wood, but one of the heavier composites.
• Graphite - This is sometimes used to coat wooden sticks for reinforcement. But, it can also be used on its own to form a stick. Graphite tends to be more expensive than fiberglass and aluminum.
• Kevlar - Like graphite, Kevlar can be mixed with another material or used on its own to create a stick. Kevlar sticks aren’t cheap. But they’re one of the most durable and lightweight on the market.
• Titanium - These are very similar to Kevlar, except they’re not mixed with any other elements to form a stick. Titanium sticks are very expensive, but very light and strong.

The good news is youth sticks are shorter and have less girth than adult sticks. As such, they’re less expensive.

Sizing you up

So, you’ve chosen a stick. Now, how do you know if it’s the right size for your child? Well, odds are it won’t be the right length when you buy it. But, as long as it’s too long, you’re in good shape. For growing players, you’ll want the knob of the stick to reach about the top of the nose when standing it straight up, and while wearing skates. Mark that spot and cut.

Get a Grip!

Athletic tape is used on the butt and blade of the stick for maximum gripping of your hand and the puck, respectively. In order to perform a proper taping technique, follow these instructions taken from prohockeystuff.com:

• Knob: Unravel about 12 inches of tape from the roll and then twirl the roll. This causes the tape to tighten into a twine-like shape. Starting at the top of your stick, roll the hockey tape around the shaft, as far down as you'd like it to go. This will serve as the foundation for your knob. Now roll the tape the same way when taping a blade over this foundation to give you the thickness you would like. You should have a knob thick enough so you can pick up your stick if you drop it, but not too thick so it interferes with stickhandling.
• Blade: When taping your hockey blade most players start at the heel and tape towards the toe in one continuous strand. Make sure the hockey tape is flat against the blade so it doesn't bubble or create folds while taping. If using a wooden stick it's also a good idea to tape the stick just above the point, where the shaft meets the blade, for reinforcement as this is a common area for breakage.

I couldn’t have said it better myself. But for those who are more visual (like me), here are a couple of videos from howtohockey.com, demonstrating the processes:

Blade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzPP292HHds
Knob: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_mCK7WEOuk&feature=relmfu

Now you’re ready!

Skates...check! Gear...check! Stick...check! Now you’re child’s ready to take the ice. So get to it!

Head to Toe

While getting dressed for hockey isn’t exactly like getting ready for work (unless you play in the NHL), it’s really not that complicated. From the top, here’s what you’ll need for your new youth player:

• Helmet w/ Full Face Protection
• Mouthguard
• Shoulder Pads
• Elbow Pads
• Hockey Gloves
• Cup
• Pants
• Shin Guards
• Hockey Socks
• Bag

Helmet

For youths, full face protection is required. So the helmet you choose must be outfitted with a full cage or combo face shield.  To learn more about the differences in face protection, check out my blog “Smash-a-Mouth Hockey” from last session. Just like heads, helmets come in a variety of different sizes. As you’d expect, they’re XSmall, Small, Medium, Large and XLarge. Which do you need? Well, you want the helmet to be as big as possible, while still feeling snug. Too small can cause pain and soreness, while too large will rattle around on your child’s head, greatly reducing its effectiveness. When trying them on, the width should be the main focus. I say that because the length will be adjustable. When you get the right fit from ear-to-ear, it will be easy to make the forehead-to-chin work. New helmets start around $50 and go up from there. Your child should get a good 3-4 years use out of it.

Mouthguard

Once again, these are usually mandatory for youths. But even if you find a rare league where they’re not, you should still have get one for your child. You may feel the face cage will protect your kid’s teeth. But mouthguards are integral in reducing the risk of concussions as well. Anyone participating in an impact sport should use one.

Shoulder Pads

Sizing shoulder pads isn’t a whole lot different than sizing a shirt. They come in Small, Medium and Large. Start with your shirt size and go from there. The key thing to look for is the shoulder cups. Make sure they cup your child’s shoulders. If they don’t, you may need to try another size. While these pads should be securely fastened, they shouldn’t hinder movement. So keep mobility in mind. Also, most shoulder pads these days have Velcro pieces, allowing them to be adjustable. So get as close a fit as you can, then tweak it. You should get at least 1-2 seasons out of these, depending on how much your child grows over that time. Brand new shoulder pads start around $30.

Elbow Pads

Elbow pads come in a variety of lengths. So, it’s recommended you buy these while buying your Hockey Gloves so that you can decide how much gap you want between your glove and elbow pads. Basically, you want a little gap. What’s a “little gap,” you ask? Well, you want enough space between them so that they’re not bumping while in use, but you also want enough coverage on the arm so that only very little is exposed.

Like shoulder pads, the sizes are again Small, Medium and Large. They should also be snug, but not inhibit movement. Snug is key because over time elbow pads will loosen with wear. When they begin twisting around or sliding up and down your arm while in use, it’s time for a new pair. They start around $10.

Gloves

Gloves are size by inches. But that’s probably not going to help you much. The best way to size these (like most things) is to try them on. The fingers should reach the tips. Also, squeeze a fist and feel the palm. Comfort in the palm area is very important. Another great test is to toss a stick on the ground and make sure you can pick it up without difficulty. If your child has trouble grabbing it, the gloves are likely too big. Once again, you should get 1-2 seasons out of them before your child outgrows them. Youth gloves start at around $20.

Cup

Back in the days when I played football I used to need the old fashioned athletic supporter (jock strap) which had the pocket for the cup inside. Never liked it much, but who did? These days, however, you can get the kind that build the cup right into a pair of shorts. These are MUCH better and way more comfortable. Better yet, the ones designed for hockey provide Velcro strips at the bottom which you can affix your hockey socks to - negating the need for a garter.

Pants

Ideally, pants should fit tight enough around the waist that you won’t need suspenders to hold them up. But, some people feel this is a bit suffocating, so they wear hockey suspenders. The length of the pants is the key because you don’t want a gap at your knees. For youths, they should come to about the middle of the knee. This is a little lower than adults would wear them, but it will allow room for growth. As such though, it’s highly recommended you buy shin guards at the same time to make sure that there is no gap, and you can make sure they can bend their knees without the pants and shin guards bunching up. Pants start around $30 and go up from there.

Shin Guards

There are two ways to wear shin guards - over the skate tongue or under it. It’s best if new players wear shin guards over the skate tongue. This is much easier on the skates. Wearing them under the tongue will deform it over time. It can also affect the fit of the skate. Shin guards come in one-inch increments ranging from 7” to about 18”. But like gloves, it’s best to just try them on. Shin pads should come to just above the top of the foot (in shoes) with the player’s knee directly in the knee cup. If you can try them on with skates, that would be ideal. They start around $25.

Hockey Socks

Socks aren’t really “socks” at all. They’re more like leg warmers. Their purpose is to cover your shin guards. Wearing a garter used to be necessary to hold them up. But as I suggested earlier, now you can attach them to the Velcro on your supporter shorts.

Bag

The last thing you’ll need is a hockey bag to transport all this stuff to and from the rink. While you can use any durable bag that will fit all the gear, many hockey bags are outfitted with pockets and vents which help compartmentalize the gear and air it out. Bags start around $30 and go up from there.

Where to Buy

For beginners, it’s always best to stick with what you know. When you set out to find gear, start at your local ice rink. The pro shop will likely have a variety of brands and sizes to choose from for each of the pieces outlined above. They’ll also have a knowledgeable staff on hand to help you get the best fit and price available.

Now you’re ready! Well, almost...

So far in the Beginners Series, we’ve discussed choosing, buying, and fitting skates and equipment - as well as skate sharpening. So, what’s next? Well, you’re child’s going to need a stick. In the next blog, we’ll discuss the different types of sticks, how to calculate its proper length, and taping technique. See you then!

Falling isn’t just part of the game, it’s basically impossible to avoid for new skaters because it’s usually attributed to their lack of experience, being off balance, or getting knocked down by other beginners. The good news is they will learn to avoid these pitfalls as their skating improves. But there’s one culprit that all the experience in the world can’t help them with - dull skate blades. The forth-coming is a quick guide for knowing the what, where and why of keeping your child’s skates sharp and ready for action.

Why?

Well, even the best skaters will stumble if their skates aren’t sharp. Also, proper skating techniques are difficult to learn, and even more difficult to master with dull skates.

When?

The short answer is whenever they feel dull. However, new skaters likely won’t have a feel for that early on since the entire act of skating will be foreign to them. Also, it’s difficult to pinpoint a time frame because some kids skate more often and more aggressively than others. So, a good rule of thumb to go by is that youth skates should probably be sharpened after every 5-10 hours of use. But when you notice your child having more difficulty than usual planting, turning, and performing other hockey moves, their personal time frame will become apparent.

Where?

Skate sharpening in an art and science. It’s not something just anyone can do. Your best bet is to get them sharpened at the local rink where you play. The staff will have knowledgeable people on hand who know what they’re doing. Now, if you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to get them sharpened before the next game or practice, I suggest keeping a sharpening tool in your child’s hockey bag. I use a product called “Re-Edger.” It sells for around $15. It won’t take the place of a sharpening, but it will help smooth out any nicks to get you through a practice or game. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isAc-bBoYSM.

Can skates ever be too sharp?

YES! Players under the age of 13 should generally not have their skates over sharpened. Extra sharp skates can cause a few problems for youth skaters like slowing them down, causing them to twist their ankles on sudden stops, and reduce glide as the skates sink deeper into the ice. Extra sharp skates are meant for older players with stronger legs and ankles. The depth, or “hallow” of the skate blade determines its sharpness. The radius is measured in millimeters as follows: 9mm, 11mm, 13mm,15mm, 18mm. Youth players typically want to stay between 13mm - 18mm.

Sharp as a tack!

Now you have the info you need to keep your child’s skates sharp and safe. So get them on the ice and have some fun!

Most rinks either train people who want to drive the ice resurfacer, or those people who have the work-time availability to drive the machine during key day parts.  The workers who want to drive the ice resurfacer are usually easier to train.  Regardless of which type of worker, ice resurfacer drivers usually go through stages.

The first stage seems to be fear.  Most new drivers are scared of performing the wrong action and breaking the machine.  Some of these feelings are valid, especially when it comes to collisions with the walls, but most of the time ice is fixable.  This stage is characterized by poor ice quality with streaks where the machine did not overlap the passes correctly.  Blade level is always an issue leading to overfull dump tanks when the blade is too low, or bumpy ice when the blade is too high.  Most drivers survive this stage and go on to stage 2.  Proper management style for this type of driver is concern, gentle correction and positive reinforcement. 

The second stage is where the driver feels that now I've got this skill set down, I will go faster.  Most drivers in this stage go fast in the straight-aways and over-slow for the corners.  Sometimes they even have informal contests with other drivers to see who can make ice quickest.  The ice is usually unevenly coated with water (unless the machine has one of those new automatic feeds) with loads of water in the creases near the ends of the rinks.  When you see the goalie suiting up with SCUBA gear, you know there is way too much water in the crease.  Blade height is still a concern, but usually drivers in this stage don't fill the dump tank overfull.  This type of driver is most likely to crash the machine into the boards on a corner.  Proper management style for this type of driver is to commence retraining, write ups if he or she hits the boards and negative reinforcement for what is going wrong.

Once a resurfacer driver gets through the preceding stages he or she will usually understand the best ice comes from proper use of wash water, and a steady constant speed to make sure the ice making water is uniformly spread.  Even with the automatically metered newer machines, a steady constant speed is best.  This type of driver is very steady, and what I would call a third stage driver.  He or she can make ice in 7 minutes, but won't unless circumstances demand that kind of speed.  Blade height adjustment is not a problem at this stage.  Proper management style for this driver is a once a year training session with the rest of the drivers.

Every once in a while a driver will want to go beyond the technical skills to drive the ice resurfacer.  This type of driver is usually motivated to observe how different environmental conditions affect the ice quality.  Once the driver observes this, he or she will want to control the ice cut to take advantage of the conditions.

Even though buildings seem the same every day, there are small differences.  Some of the factors that enter into ice making include relative humidity, building temperature, number of people in the building and ground temperature.  Refrigeration repair technicians call all of these heat loads.  Before I knew how to make ice, I always wondered why the Inuit Eskimos have more than 1,500 words for ice.  Watching how ice in a building changes from snappy and fast to swampy and slow, I am now starting to understand. 

The fourth stage driver who notices the different building conditions usually turns into what I call a master ice resurfacer driver.  Master ice resurfacer drivers rarely make ice the exact same way twice. If the building is warm, he or she will use less water.  If the building is cold and the ice can handle a stronger flood, he or she will use more water.  This is the artistry part of ice making; knowing how to change the cut to get top results.  Master ice resurfacer drivers drive intuitively.  Some master drivers listen to the sound of the snow going through the machine and adjust the blade based on the sound.  Most master drivers are able to drive rapidly about two to three inches from the wall without looking down at the edge of the machine.  You always know who these drivers are because the older figure skaters always want him or her to make their ice.  Proper management style with this type of driver is usually hands off because nothing more is needed. 

Most organizations need to actively cultivate master drivers.  In the ice arena business, the end product is ice.  Without a good end product, guests will always go to the competition.  No one can afford that in any business.  We, at Rink Management Services Corporation, can help you set up a training program for your ice resurfacer drivers that will help them transcend the stages.

Where?

Where, you say? That’s easy. There are likely ice skates available for purchase at your rink! Rink pro shops usually stock a great selection of skates for youths and adults. They also offer a knowledgeable staff you will help you choose the right ones for you. If yours is one of the few rinks that doesn't sell skates, talk to a manager or staff member. They can recommend the best place to shop in your area.

Size?

Sizing hockey skates isn’t difficult. But it IS different than shoes. Generally, skates measure one size smaller than your shoe size. So, if you wear size 9 shoes like me, you need size 8 skates. I know, my feet are small. Get over it.

Of course, even this “rule” isn’t fool proof. Depending on the brand of skate you’re buying, this method may not apply. So, to make things a little easier, here’s a link to a SIZING CHART featuring all the most popular brands and how they size: http://www.americanhockeycenter.net/hockey_skates.cfm

How Much?

Brand new ice hockey skates start around $50 and can go as high as $800. As a beginner, you obviously don’t want the most expensive pair on the market. I mean, the priciest pair of skates won’t make you skate like Ovechkin any more than the priciest set of golf clubs will make you swing like Tiger. However, you don’t want the cheapest piece of junk you can buy either.

Lace up and go!

Hopefully the info above will help you select some skates for your child and maybe even yourself! But, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to buying skates. Ultimately, follow your gut. Look for what’s in your price range, try them on, see what’s most comfortable, and go from there. It’s really not rocket science. Having said that, new skates tend to be quite stiff. Obviously, through use they’ll break-in over time. But, if you don’t want to wait, or if you just want to get a more comfortable and custom fit, check out my blog “Totally Baked” from last session. It deals in how to use the technique of Heat Molding to get a great fit from your skates.

Most experts recommend facility operators perform a thorough check of the building and roofing systems. A good resource for a complete roof checklist is Service Notes from National Roof. They are in the roofing business, but their list is very thorough.

Heavy snow loads do need to be removed from roofs to prevent collapse. Care must be taken to ensure safe roof operations. A professional company is always the right way to go. Never send up the rink guards or life guards for this important job due to the very real possibility of serious injury.

In the ice rink business especially, a roof or two goes down every year. I've not heard of any incident causing loss of life, but the possibilities are there. When the Hartford Civic Center Roof collapsed, due to snow load, the rebuilding process took years. Just hours before the collapse, the building hosted a college basketball game. The “what if” part of my brain wonders what if the building collapsed in the middle of the game?

Lately, the Prince William Ice Center in Virginia collapsed. After a complete rebuild, the center reopened in September. I talked to the owners during a recent rink conference, and the amount of work to rebuild was stunning. Dealing with the insurance company, finding quality contractors, and finding a place to store the merchandise for the pro shop, are all factors that made the whole process very intricate.

Beyond the roof, operators should check equipment, policies, and procedures. Every building is different, but here are a few common sense ideas to help winterize your operation:

• Maintain Roof Top HVAC units in case snow is too heavy to do so later in the season.
• Maintain cooling towers, take steps recommended by water treatment company to prevent ice ups.
• Lubricate ventilation fans where needed (many are sealed) and make sure the louvers operate freely.
• Create policies and communicate them to the employees to ensure proper equipment shut down in the event of power failure or brown out. Brown outs, which frequently happen during inclement weather, can kill motors which cost thousands.
• Place checklists for procedures in any area employees use frequently.
• Set up flashlights in strategic locations, ensure the batteries are fresh. Flashlights tend to mysteriously disappear, so check regularly. A radio is a good idea too.
• Establish procedures to notify the public in the event of closure. Social media (Facebook and Twitter) can help, as well as more conventional media like TV stations.
• Check emergency building systems like emergency lighting, sprinklers, etc. After a few years batteries in the emergency lighting fail.
• Establish contracts with a snow removal company.

Once inclement weather arrives you will be glad you planned out how to operate your building. In Oregon, we rarely have snow but the ice storms are usually severe. When I worked in Connecticut, the whole state could be shut down by blizzards, but the hockey teams usually came to the rink anyway. I always theorized that hockey, as a ritual combat, took a greater commitment to the team than most sports. In any event, your building will usually have to be in partial operation unless the storms are very severe. Here are a few ideas for things to do while your building is closed, or operating at reduced capacity:

• Get that project done that you've been putting off because interruptions get in the way.
• Follow up with the snow plow company that your lot will be first to be dug out.
• Shovel paths for building access, salt the sidewalks.
• Make sure the road sign is lit.
• Check the flash lights and other emergency preparations.
• Lower the ice temperature a little if you think a power outage is possible.
• Call nonessential employees and tell them to stay home.

Lowering the ice temperature helps maintain the ice in the event of a power failure. A little goes a long way when you do this. If you notice your ice getting really chippy, or large divots coming out, your temperature is too low. Once the rink temperature control failed and the compressors stayed on. I thought that finally the hockey teams would think the ice was fast enough because cold ice is usually fast ice. And then the large divots started coming out and the ice was really brittle. The hockey teams complained. That experience makes me realize that an ice rink can be set too cold.

Once the storm is over, and the state is dug out, I find that business, especially public skate, is very good. I believe this is because the news commentators advertise our end product, ice, heavily. Even though they talk about school closures, stuck buses, or snow accumulation, people usually think about skating as a result. I usually call in extra help in the days after the storm, and the extra business makes me glad every time. Generally, if the rink is only closed a few days, the increased business makes up for the closure.

Winter weather definitely makes life more complex. Any severe weather event will cost your facility money. Taking appropriate steps now, will result in minimizing the losses later. Rink Management Services Corporation can help your facility plan for any event.

Begin at the Beginning

So you’re child comes up to you and says, “Mom, I want to play hockey like Ovie.” You’re thinking, “Oh great. Hockey? Really? Pads, skates, falling down a lot...can’t he just try swimming instead?” The answer is yes, he can try swimming. But he WANTS to try hockey. So relax, take a deep breath, roll up your sleeves and follow me....

Ready Freddie?

First, how do you know when your child is ready to play ice hockey? There really isn’t one right answer to this question because all children are different. But here are some things to consider...

• Trust your instincts - You know your child better than anyone. If you think he’s ready, go for it. If not, then don’t.
• Consider your child’s age and maturity level - Most kids aren't ready to try any kind of organized contact sport before the age of 6. Basic skills like running, throwing, balance and ability to track objects and judge speeds must first be mastered. As for maturity, your child is likely mature enough to play a team sport if he has a long enough attention span and enough self-discipline to learn in a group instruction setting. This ability comes with time. Please note though, playing sports DOES NOT speed up the maturation process.
• How do you feel? - Watching your child play a sport like ice hockey - where the potential for injury is somewhat greater than most other sports - can be very difficult for some parents. If you think you’ll feel the need to jump on the ice every time your child gets knocked down or runs into the boards, you may not be ready to handle the stress of his participation.

Having said that, let’s get into the fun stuff...

Skating

Unlike a lot of other sports, ice hockey requires a pretty important prerequisite: knowing how to skate. Believe it or not, some people actually think if they just throw some skates on their child’s feet and put a stick in his hand, he’ll eventually “pick up” the whole skating thing. It really doesn’t work that way. In fact, the most he’ll learn by this method is how to get back up after he falls again and again. Skating is a skill that must first be learned if it is ever to be mastered. A good hockey player knows not only knows how to skate, but how to use specific skating techniques in order to maximize his energy, speed, agility and endurance during the game. So first thing’s first, by your child some skates and start teaching him how to use them.

“I don’t know how to skate! How am I supposed to teach my kid?”

Not to worry. There is absolutely no shortage of classes available at your local ice rink for people of all ages. You can sign your child up for youth skating classes; yourself for adult skating classes; even both of you together for family skating classes. If you want to be bold, there are also adult hockey basics classes. Either way, get out there and skate!

Ice Age

When it comes to learning something new, the sooner you start, the better. Skating is no different. I know parents who’ve put their children in skates as young as 2 and 3 years old. If they can walk, they can learn how to skate. As for hockey, it’s usually a few years later - around 5 or 6 years old. That may seem really early, but try telling that to the 6-year-old who’s already been skating for 3 years.

Divisions

Like all youth sports, ice hockey is divided up into several age groups. But unlike all youth sports, our age groups have really cool names...

• Atom (X-Ice): 6 years and under
• Mite: 8 years and under
• Squirt: 10 years and under
• Peewee: 12 years and under
• Bantam: 14 years and under
• Midget: 17 years and under

“X-Ice” refers to playing cross-ice hockey. Meaning, the games are played across the width of the ice rather than the length. This is done to compensate for the size and speed of the children in the Atom age group.

Cost

I’m not gonna lie to you. Ice hockey isn’t exactly the most inexpensive sport around. League fees for children can range from $600 to $3000. I know, that’s a BIG range. The reason for this is because the cost depends on a number of factors:

• Your child’s age
• Length of season
• Whether or not your child joins a travel team and/or participates in tournaments

$1500 is probably average for most kids.

In addition to league fees, the equipment your child will be required to wear can be somewhat pricey as well. However, I’ll give you some great tips on how to stretch your dollar on gear in an upcoming blog.

As you can see, hockey isn’t exactly cheap. But this is another good reason to get your kids skating as soon as possible. The amount of time and energy they put into learning how to skate should help you gauge their level of commitment to the sport long before you make any major investments.

Feel better?

Hopefully, now you have a slightly better handle on how to get your child started in ice hockey. If you have any questions, comments, or would like to share your own experience in getting your child into the sport, please post your thoughts below. Thanks!

In the recreational facility industry, we have to remember that parents make a significant investment in their children. This investment turns parents into highly charged emotional individuals. One parent, whose child stopped skating, confided to me that she was now able to buy a new car and move into a nicer house since she wasn't spending large sums on skating anymore. Since parents make significant sacrifices to keep their children in skating, we have to treat them with upmost respect while understanding that the charged emotions can lead to more complaints.

Sometimes staff can create a threatening environment from being too quick to ask people making disturbances to leave. An additional factor in threatening environments can be rigid rules and regulations creating polarization, where staff think of themselves as being on one side, and guests are on the other side. Facility rules should be stated as 'Codes of Conduct' to avoid polarization and potential legal issues. Polarization always leads to conflicts, which are bad for the facility. Management has a front-line role in creating firm, but flexible structures (Safety is an exception to this rule) that all stakeholders can live with.

I rounded up a few winning strategies good for managers and owners to apply in difficult guest service situations. Your actual results may vary.

Kill Them with Kindness

This technique works every time. Your difficult guest creates staff groans when coming through the door. The staff refuses to talk to this person, because he/she is so rude. This is the person who should be singled out for caring guest service. Frequently I receive tickets for shows and sporting events for the civic center down the street. One day I took four hockey game tickets and gave them to our most difficult, rude guest. My staff looked at me like I was crazy. Our guest went to the hockey game, became grateful, and now treats everyone with respect. Killing them with kindness is counterintuitive, but incredibly effective.

Get Friendly

Whenever I see our difficult guests, I go out of my way to greet them and make their time here special. Frequently, I hear the complaint of the day and I am able to fix or deflect the issue before more problems occur. Sometimes our difficult guests comment on legitimate issues, which I then fix quickly. If the issue is not legitimate, I employ the listening technique and offer a reasonable solution.

Listen Listen Listen

Always listen to the guest making a complaint. This is the time where he or she needs to get out what is bothering him or her. Many guests tend to make the same complaint 5 times before he or she is willing to accept a solution. As a managers, we need to listen to the complaint and not offer a possible solution until the fourth time the guest makes his or her case. Once the proposed solution is integrated into the fifth complaint, we know the guest has accepted the solution and can move on.

Be the Fairy Godmother

We use guest passes effectively. When something goes sideways, the guest is upset, we offer a guest pass to smooth the choppy waters of discontent. Sometimes a minor discount on a program goes a long way too. We usually try hard to use discounts on items that do not have a large intrinsic value. Discounting or giving away pro-shop items never works because they cost cash to bring in. The warm feeling our guests get from a minor discount or guest pass far outweighs the small amount these items cost us.

Sometimes, being a fairy godmother means giving a cash refund even on a program that has a no refund policy. When the guest gets his or her money back, the facility has no further obligation. This sets the clock back and clears the deck in case further problems arise. Every once in a while making an exception to a policy also helps the guest feel happy about the facility.

The fairy godmother technique works even when other methods won't. Guest also feel special because of this method, and that always helps when complaints are involved.

Involve the Guest with the Process

Sometimes guests are consistently unhappy or rude to the counter people. Either way there is a problem somewhere in the chain. We've found that involving the guest with the operation sometimes helps. Frequently guests have time and want to help. When this combination occurs, getting the guest involved in the program helps. One guest was particularly rude, but when we talked him into purchasing used CD players for the facility, he came on board and treated people politely. Being part of the team makes a huge difference and removes the polarization of different parties taking different sides.

Prevention

By far, the best solution to difficult guests lies in preventing complaints in the first place. There is no substitute for clearly written and posted codes of conduct, clear but flexible policies for employees, and guests who know what to expect. If everyone has reasonable expectations, knows what he or she will get for the price of admission, then we have provided an appropriate framework within which everyone can have a great time.
Conclusion

Vary your plays for guest satisfaction. After a while, you'll know the best times to play the Fairy Godmother, and when to Kill Them with Kindness. All of these methods work, they have different degrees of success depending the person and the situation. Keeping that 1% of patrons happy always helps, because a bad apple will always spoil the barrel.

For more tips on Recreational Facility Management, visit our blog, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.

Parents, as you know there are many sports your children can attempt. Should ice hockey peak their interest, we’re dedicating the next blog series to arming you with the information you’ll need about the sport we love. This way, when your child comes to you and says, “I want to play like Alex Ovechkin,” you’ll be able to play your role like a pro.

This new “Beginners Series,” will cover:

• Registration - The expense for each division (age group), when to enroll, and how to know if your child is ready.
• Rules - For those of you who are learning about the game along with your child.
• Positions - The names and responsibilities of each.
• Skates - How to properly size skates, as well as tips on how to get the best fit.
• Sharpening - The when, where, why and how of skate sharpening will help your kids get the most out of their skates.
• Sticks - Types, proper length, taping technique, and more.
• Equipment - A breakdown of the gear from head to toe and the expenses of each.

These upcoming topics and many others will give you a great head start in the world of youth ice hockey. Also, as this will be a weekly series, please feel free to suggest related topics you want to read about. After all, this blog is for you!

Stay tuned, exciting things are on the way. Thanks for reading!

Today, skating on the mill pond is just a memory. Thompsonville and Somersville are usually too warm now for residents to enjoy natural ice skating. Prior to my High School graduation, the town lost the jeep in the water due to thin ice when resurfacing Thompsonville's pond. Seasonal rinks were more abundant then. A seasonal rink is a rink that only operates during the winter. Some seasonal rinks are very fancy with a roof and sides, but others are just a slab of ice in the outdoors. Seasonal rinks seem rarer now, as owners enclose them and start to operate them on a more continuous basis. Seasonal Rinks are not usually very pretty; they tend to just provide people with a place to skate without frills. Holiday rinks usually have a season just a couple of months long, operate in conjunction with shopping or holiday activities, and are usually located in a world renowned scenic location with heavy pedestrian traffic.

Due to the net effect of global warming (and perhaps more towns than Enfield losing their jeeps in the water), the world has turned to holiday rinks that use man-made refrigeration to make the ice. I think the current popularity of holiday and seasonal rinks started a few years back in Europe. The first rink I found was Somerset House in England. Nothing like a grand old palace with an ice rink during the holiday season. An odd European rink is the FlevOnice in the Netherlands that runs 5 kilometers long. The FlevOnice reminds me of the Ottawa Canals where skates can zoom on the ice for miles. London seems to be full of holiday rinks these days, there is even one at the London Eye, called EyeSkate.

In the US, we have quite a few holiday rinks in beautiful locations. I think the Embarcadero Holiday rink is really beautiful with a commanding view of the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Santa Monica puts up the ICE at Santa Monica annually, which adds an additional component of ice skating to the already georgous downtown area. The Reston Town Center Pavilion and Ice Rink is an experience always treasured by people who live in that area. Reston's glass roof is a nice touch and a distinctive feature for this seasonal rink. Even the Standard Hotel in New York City gets in on the action with their ice rink in Manhattan.

Seasonal and holiday rinks do well in a variety of locations. Property owners, downtown councils, chambers of commerce, hotels, and leasing agents probably wonder what elements go into a successful holiday or seasonal ice rink. Here is a list of attributes of successful seasonal and holiday locations, but we have to caution you, site selection is an art, not a science.

• Visually stunning area
• Metro area population over 350,000
• Busy foot traffic
• Easy access to highways and major streets
• Low amounts of precipitation
• Tie-ins with Santa, Holiday Lighting Ceremonies, and other novelties
• Synergies with area traditions, and complementary activities
• Easy access to high voltage and current electricity (Temporary Rinks can draw 800A @ 480V)
• Enough vacant area to put up an 80' X 60' rink will a trailer for skate rental, tents and party areas

All of these factors tie in together and make a successful site. Once a good site is chosen, an early start is highly recommended. The more lead time, the better. Ice rinks are full of moving parts, and enough time creates tight organization and a seamless opening day. Rink Management Services Corporation can study your site for you, make recommendations, and operate the rink should you decide to start one of these holiday traditions for people in your area.

Different rinks have different management structures. There is a wide variety of possibilities ranging from a turnkey operation where the owners operate the rinks themselves, to a leasing arrangement, to a public-private partnership, all the way to a management contract. Every location and ownership group has their own priorities, making the structure of every project a little different.

We hope this holiday season you and your family have a chance to check out a holiday or seasonal rink near you. I know I will, even though quite a bit has changed since those long lost days on the mill ponds of my youth. Seasonal rinks are great fun and add a lot to the livability index of any community.

Whenever any job goes out to bid, responsible owners and managers always consider who to hire. The ins and outs of hiring contractors are beyond this document today, but there are a few things to consider whether hiring a consultant to give input on fixing a facility.

Does the consultant have enough experience, and the correct type of experience?

I would expect a consultant to have more than 20 years experience in the field where I need the advice. Any less than that and the consultant might not have experienced enough ups and downs. For niche sports like ice hockey, figure skating, aquatics, Lacrosse, and indoor soccer, the best consultant is the person who works in the field on a daily basis. The daily work is important because headquarters staff usually get out of touch with the daily workings of a sports facility. However, if you are a multi-location company looking for help with head quarters issues, the best choice would be a person with recent daily headquarters experience.

Does the consultant have an appropriate formal education level?

Education level is important, but the importance of it should be related to the job at hand. If you are hiring a consultant to advise you on HVAC systems, then the best person would be a refrigeration contractor with appropriate state licensing and work experience. If you need a system designed, then an engineering firm would be the best pick. If the problem is related to a business analysis or a feasibility study with more than 100 pages, then the best person would likely be someone who writes well, has writing experience, and knows what goes into professional publications. Usually this type of person has an MBA at the minimum; for complicated projects, the person should have a PhD. Also look for industry-specific certifications, like STAR Certified Ice Technician (CIT) or CIRM (Certified Ice Rink Manager) as indicators of a well trained individual whose motivation and dedication to the field shows by a high certification.

Does the hiring manager feel confident the consultant can establish a good rapport with the staff?

Getting along with others, cultural issues, and manner can all be blocks to successful consulting. Getting along with others is crucial. If you feel your consultant is just irritating everyone, then send him or her back and hire someone who matches the organization. Cultural issues like fluency in the language spoken at the facility can be an issue too. Manner is a catchall phrase meant to encompass warm relations with others, talks on the same level as the people in the conversation, patient in the face of adversity, and always prepared.

Does the consultant come recommended?

Recommendations are the best way to find out if a consultancy has a previous history of successfully completed jobs. Consultancy can be difficult and if a consultant has a good track record with reputable references, then that consultant is likely a good pick for the job. We always check in newspapers or on the internet to find jobs a consultant worked on that are not on his or her reference sheet. Sometimes the unintended reference can be quite enlightening and cause to assign the work to another group.

Did the consultant bid somewhere in the middle? Or was the consultant on the inexpensive or expensive side of the prices quoted?

In any business transaction, there are usually problems with both the high bidder and the low bidder. The high bidder usually does a similar job as the bidder in the middle, but usually is just a waste of money. Bidders in the basement, unless they are building a reputation, usually have an unsavory reason why they are trying to motivate managers to hire them. This could be something small and unrelated like the consultant needing money for some personal reason. Or possibly the consultant can't get work because word has spread about him or her. In any event, usually the middle bid is best, because that person priced out the job correctly and is not displaying potential problems.

Will geographic distance have any bearing on the services needed?

Sometimes consultancies put together a team where one person on the ground feeds a whole team with information. This can be a good arrangement. The person on the ground finds the issues, and the team writes the report, or makes suggestions that the ground person might not have thought about. Some issues, like financial analysis, can be done anywhere. This type of job could be done by anyone in the world who has the correct experience and education. Consider the job, and how the location of the consultant affects visits to the facility, or final presentations.

Finding the sweet spot of the right consultant, the right price, in the right location, with the right education and experience sounds difficult. In reality, this is easier than it looks. Once the hiring manage finds the right individual, the job will get done quickly and well.

Rink Management Services Corporation offers all levels of consultants, combined with a presence in most of the major sports facilities markets in the US. Give us a call, we are sure we can add to your discussion on the best consulting group for your job.

#4 You are a municipality and your facility is 30 years old and needs replacing

This situation is happening all over Canada and the Northern tier of states. Questions to ask include keeping the old facility open after a refurbishment, maintaining ice times if the old structure has to be demolished, how many surfaces should be in the new facility, and the best building site. A consultant can help the stakeholders answer all of these questions from the strength of deep experience in the athletic facility business.

#3 Too many owners want to be managers

Once, in my professional experience, I had dealings with an ownership group that numbered over 2 dozen. That's a lot of owners. The managers there never knew who to report to, or sometimes went a little crazy trying to deal with opposing requests from different ownership group members. When the time came to make a decision, all the different points of view led to late decisions. This is a good example of a structural problem that a consultant could help the group decide to change.

#2 Your REIT can't run a business within the property

Sometimes Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) come to own businesses within their properties. Usually this is a distressed athletic facility and the change in ownership is sudden. In 1960, Congress exempted REITs from corporate income tax, but in exchange took away the ability for the REIT to operate a business within their property. REITs have several solutions to deal with this type of situation, but which one is best for all stakeholders? A consultant can lay out the choices along with the pluses and minuses of each method.

#1 You want to take time off from the facility for that cruise around the world

When the owner decides to take time off from a facility, the decision path can become complicated. Some of the options on the table include: sale of the business, leveraged buyout by employees, hiring a management company, and selling shares of the business. These types of decision are difficult, especially with the emotional investment owners make. A consultant can help value the business, suggest ways for employees to purchase the business, and generally help winnow the options to a useable one or two.

Conclusion

Hiring a consultant can be difficult because any facility has negative information better left private. Consultants are always willing to sign privacy agreements. A consultant is someone a facility has to trust, otherwise there is no point to hiring one. Consultants need the most accurate information available to help identify good decisions and opportunities for the facility. Once a facility gets beyond the difficult notion of telling an outsider everything, the consultant can get to work with effective advice.

Consultants come in many different flavors. Choose one that has experience similar to your current issues. Usually facilities are best with consultants that worked in the field a minimum of 20 years. Don't be afraid to ask for references. If other institutions are happy with his or her work, then you will too. Interview a few consultants, or write a RFP (Request for Proposal) and see how many different consultants would approach your situation.

Word travels quickly. When hiring a consultant, an organization is always best hiring a group or person who is busy. At Rink Management Services Corporation, we are always busy with feasibility studies, business analysis, answering Requests for Proposals, and strategic business planning for a variety of different facilities. With the variety of facilities we help, we always deal with new trends effectively.

There are likely hundreds of reasons to hire a consultant. Every facility has different reasons, but most of the reasons share a few themes. The reasons are listed in no particular order.

Consultants generally have experience and have personally gone through dramatic changes in the business climate. Bringing this experience to bear on the problems faced by your facility makes sense. Consultants are generally cost effective and in the years to come, you can measure their successes in time and money saved.

Reason #10: You need to let go family members or trusted long term employees.

Every business person founds a great organization and then family members or long term employees get involved. Any manager worth his or her salt will get emotionally involved with the people he or she works with on a daily basis. Most people want to have a Happy Thanksgiving and not endure the scornful looks from the other end of the table after they have let go a family member or long term trusted associate. When you know a person has to leave and you want to make sure you have good relationships with those left behind, being able to say an outside, disinterested professional recommended the change will help with the interpersonal issues. Hire a consultant, and have him or her recommend how to make changes in the organization which will help the bottom line. The consultant will find the pertinent issue (sometimes a different issue than you thought of) and help you and your organization change to suit.

#9 You need to have a politically correct reason to end a program, or change a facility

Frequently the politics of user groups and of government bodies mandate a neutral party to present ideas to resolve issues. Sometimes facilities wind up doing what is good for a user group or political body and lose sight of what is good for the facility. After the facility starts to lose money, or can't keep up on debt payments, the consultant comes in and makes a series of suggestions. The ownership entity follows some of the suggestions and the facility runs better than before. A consultant can help cut the haze so owners can see what really needs changing without being distracted by nonissues.

#8 You have a sudden shift in business and need help to forge a good strategy

This one usually comes up when someone builds a facility within a mile or two of your existing facility. The user groups like the new facility better (all other things being equal, customers always go to the nicest, newest facility). One morning you wake up and realize one of the ice rinks hosted freestyle for a solid week without any other activities resulting in diminished revenue inflow. Usually when this happens, the facility needs to adjust the structure and consultants can help quite well in strategic planning. Sometimes facilities change into a turf facility, basketball courts, or dry floor exhibition hall depending on the location. These changes are major, and getting an outside opinion helps.

#7 You think your vacant land would be a great place for an athletic facility

Your vacant land is large enough to support a multi use athletic facility, but prior to spending millions, you need a market assessment and feasibility study. Sometimes an owner just needs a little help getting his or her arms around some of the demographic and demand issues. this process goes better with someone who has daily contact with the retail ice rental market.

#6 You need help in determining which manager to hire

Hiring a manager can be difficult. In any interview process, the hiring manager never knows the candidate as well as he or she will after the new hire starts working. Sometimes, candidates come with factions and an unbiased viewpoint comes in handy. Some managers have a touch of blarney and separating truth from embellishments can be difficult. A consultant can help with these issues.

#5 Your facility had major damage and needs rebuilding

This one is tough. Your facility is in ruins, and you have to rebuild. Usually the roof collapsed, or there was a big fire. We hope you had insurance. A consultant can help get the construction details correct, help you ensure your contractors do not pad the bill (charge more than is customary), and determine if any additions to the structure make sense. The right consultant can make all the difference when this happens.

This post is long enough....We'll go for the next five next week. Stay tuned...

Knowing how to skate is obviously essential to playing hockey. But there’s one aspect that can give you an edge over your competition - Power Skating. Power skating is a series of techniques used by hockey players and figure skaters alike that enable them to maximize every aspect of their stride to push each step to its fullest potential.

To Name a Few

• Arm Swing - When you skate straight forward or backward, your arm swing should also be forward and backward. It helps maintain balance and propel your momentum accordingly.
• Riding Your Edges - Your blade edges account for ALL of your maneuverability. When standing straight up, you ride on the "flat" of the blade (inside and outside edges simultaneously). The flat of the blade is designed to travel a straight line on the ice - not to curve or to grip the ice. Thus, when on the flat it is impossible to curve or push. Ironically, beginners are hell-bent on keeping their skates directly under them in order to maintain balance. Little do they know this act is precisely why they can’t properly grip the ice.
• Tight Turns - When performing a tight turn, your shoulders should stay level with the ice. Players often drop the inside shoulder, probably because it just feels natural to do so. However, this can often create too much lean, which may cause a loss of balance.
• Kick It - When skating forward, the beginning of the push comes from the heel - the back third of the blade. The second third of the push comes from the middle of the blade, and the final third of the push comes from the toe. Hockey players call this final push the "kick". Properly “rocking” your skates so you can feel each of these stages will dramatically increase your push-off power.

Barely Scratched the Surface

Moving your feet quickly doesn’t necessarily mean you’re skating with power. The above notes are just a few of the techniques that will help you get the most out of your stride, no matter how quickly or slowly you’re moving your feet.

At my local rink, Reisterstown Sportsplex, they’re offering Power Skating Classes through the end of July. I highly recommend attending. Visit rtownsports.com now for more information.

Direct mail is still a vital marketing method for athletic facilities. As a niche market, athletic facilities need to advertise to specific people who are interested in their services. A partial list includes past customers, customers who express interest in activities, and customers currently involved in facility programs. Good programs to promote this way include Learn to Play, Leagues, birthday parties, camps, groups, and clinics.

Many people I talk to think the sure route to getting a good direct mail campaign going is to buy a mailing list for a specific group of people in local zip codes. Getting lists this way will change your direct mail into junk mail since most people aren't interested in a particular sport. Purchased lists do have their place especially when opening a new facility. Commercial mailing lists are unnecessary for direct mail.

Here are a few ways to build your own list of interested consumers:

• When people sign up for your e-mail list on the web site, also get their physical address for direct mail pieces
• Have comment cards at the facility, and get both e-mail and physical addresses
• Registration lists for current programs
• Former group customers
• Birthday Party hosts

Keep the lists in a safe place. Lists can become potent marketing tools and managers should safeguard them from people who would give them to the competition.

Once you've generated the list, the next step is to design a catchy brochure, post card or catalog. We usually use a modified version of the brochure used at the athletic facility and we always make sure the piece has professional quality.

Make sure the brochure lists the following:

• Where
• When
• Date & Day
• Cost
• Duration
• Call to Action

A Call to Action simply tells the recipient to sign up, send money, or register NOW!

Back in the day, I spent hours purchasing a bulk mail permit, and then studying the Post Office regulations on how to use bulk mail. Then, frequently, the person at the Post Office interpreted the rules differently. We would fix the mailing and send it out again. Today, we use mail houses. Many are available in any metropolitan market. Some operate on the Internet selling inexpensive full color postcards mailed to your list. A mail house has a relationship with the Post Office, knows how to prepare your piece, and makes sure (for a fee) that your item gets in the mail stream. The price is usually close to the amount the facility pays in labor and transportation if done in-house.

Direct mail going out to an interested audience usually gets a good response. The added impression of a piece of mail in a consumer's box often helps people who are undecided to buy the program or service. Most direct mail campaigns expect a response from 1% to 5% of recipients, but campaigns going to interested people always do better. Usually the pricing is very attractive; and the cost per piece of the mailer including postage is less than the postage charge for a first class letter.

Return on Investment (ROI) is a critically important measure for anything in business. If a mailer costs 15 dollars, the facility should be able to see $16 or more in gross profit (revenue less cost of goods sold). Always track and calculate the benefit of your mailer. If there is no benefit, then review your program, mailer quality, and reliability.

Direct mail still has an important role in drumming up business for any athletic facility. With a little practice, your direct mail program will be an asset to your organization. You, too, can know that great feeling when someone signs up for a class and says I got the mailer at home.

“R E S P E C T, find out what it means to me!”

Public skates are designed for EVERYONE. As such, there are probably some skaters out there who aren’t as good as you. So, be patient and respectful. Don’t show off and skate full speed, weaving through the other skaters like a fool. All this does is frighten kids and intimidate people who are trying to learn how to skate. It’s also dangerous because you never know when a youngster may take a bad step in front of you causing a major collision and possibly some injuries.

How can I work on my game if I can’t skate like a psycho?

There are several skills you can focus on that won’t disturb those around you. For one, you can practice your stride. Your form can ALWAYS improve.

Look for open ice and practice your stops and pivots. Except for the newbies holding onto the wall for dear life, most skaters don’t skate near the boards. So you should be able to find some space there. The corners of the rink are great for this too.

While everyone else is circling the rink in the designated direction, the center tends to be vacant. If anything, it’s usually used by figure skaters practicing their own skills. Feel free to do the same! Jump in there and work on tight turns and crossovers, quick forward/backward transitions, and anything else you can think of within the space.

Summer Lovin’

It should be noted that not all public skates will be packed with people. In fact, summer is an especially great time to go! Many families are on vacation, at the community pool, or just out enjoying the weather. I went to the local public skate at Reisterstown Sportsplex this past weekend and there were a total of 10 people on the ice, including me! All that space allowed me plenty of freedom to skate “my way.” Of course, I was still respectful of those around me.

Just go already!

Seriously, just go. It’s fun, it’s cheap, and it beats the summer heat. Plus, skating without all that gear on is a bonus only a hockey player can truly appreciate!

As someone who's played plenty of both, I can tell you there are a lot of differences apart from what you're skating on...

Rules

Ice Hockey:

• 5 on 5 + Goaltenders
• Offsides (NHL style)
• Blueline Icing (not redline)
• No Checking (although some checking leagues exist)

Roller Hockey:

• 4 on 4 + Goaltenders
• No Offsides
• No icing
• No Checking (EVER)

Mandatory Equipment

Ice Hockey:

• Helmet (Faceguard optional)
• Shoulder Pads
• Elbow Pads
• Hockey Gloves
• Hip Pads
• Cup (duh)
• Shin Guards
• Hockey Socks
• Ice Hockey Skates

Roller Hockey:

• Helmet (Faceguard optional)
• Shoulder Pads (optional)
• Elbow Pads
• Hockey Gloves
• Hip Pads (optional)
• Cup (again, duh)
• Shin Guards
• Roller Hockey Pants
• Inline Skates

The Skinny

Though hip pads aren't mandatory in Roller Hockey, I always wear them. Falling hurts. Pads help. If you're a newbie, you're definitely gonna want some. You can wear shoulders too, but you'll quickly realize you're the only one.

Cost-wise, Roller Hockey equipment tends to be cheaper than ice. It's thinner and more lightweight. But if you hit a local Play It Again Sports, you can probably assemble a full set of Ice gear for around $100-$150. Even less for Roller. If you don't already have skates, add $50-$100 minimum. As for league costs, Ice Hockey has traditionally been about double the cost of Roller Hockey (which is why I played Roller for years). But thanks to local competition (and the awful economy) you can often find Ice Hockey leagues for about the same price as Roller these days. So shop around.

Where I Land

Ice Hockey is the way to go. It's not about the money because as I suggested above, I found a league that costs the same as Roller. For me it's about the game. With 5 on 5, and offsides and icing in play, the game is designed to keep things bunched up. And since I'm not 19 anymore, that plays to my strengths. Don't get me wrong, I'm neither the oldest nor the slowest guy out there. But Roller Hockey is about space. With 4 on 4 and no lines to worry about, it's a wide open game whereby the youngest, fastest and best skaters thrive. But Ice Hockey is a position game. Even the shakiest skaters can cause problems for the best if they're playing good position. I'm almost 35. I switched from Roller to Ice exclusively just over a year ago. I will never go back.

So?

Which is better, Ice or Roller? Honestly, it's not about which is "better". It's about which is best for you. If you're young, spry or poor, Roller might be a good fit. But if you're an older guy like me who loves the cold and wants to play NHL-style hockey, I'll see you on the ice.

Day parts possess different character in the summer. Usually, in the winter, nights and weekends are busy and the days are very slow. Once the kids get out of school in the summer, the pattern shifts 180o with plenty of business in the morning, slow weekends and slow nights. Thinking back, a long time ago, I realize this pattern has not been here forever. When I first started managing the rink, summers were just plain dead slow. So what, you may ask, is the difference?

The answer lies within identifying possible business and then building that business up through effective marketing. Effective marketing is different now, than in the past. In the past, Ice Rinks would advertise in the newspaper, or on TV and hope for the best. Today, marketers wonder why no one ever seems to read a newspaper anymore. As far as TV goes, there are so many channels now, that a promoter can't corner an audience anymore. We also have modern marketing techniques including email, social Networking and online web sites. Today's marketing strategies lie within the area of segmentation.

Segmentation is identifying characteristics held by many people who are likely to use the goods or services you are trying to promote. In our Learn to Skate business, a good demographic is mothers ages 25 to 40. For our Rock and Skate teen skate party, the demographic is kids aged 11 to 16. Quite a few of our customers are outside those two demographics, which is fine. Sometimes marketers include household incomes in their segmentation. Segmentation just identifies likely customers based on common characteristics. The common characteristics combined create an inclination to purchase the product or service.

Once the perceptive marketer identifies the segments, the next step is to promote the goods or services where the target market is likely to listen. Today, the major choices are Buy One Get One free sites (Groupon, Google Offers, Living Social, and a myriad of other copycat sites), e-mail blasts, social marketing, Adwords, and any Web 2.0 method. The melding of segmentation and marketing is referred to as the practice of target marketing.

However, sometimes when the summer business is nonexistent, target marketing is not enough: we have to make new markets. I had the same situation in the first rink I managed. We had literally nothing going on in the summer. I went in everyday to a black building at 3 pm. I thought about Hockey Schools and how our ice would be a good fit with people who run camps. I decided my target market would be camp operators, went out and bought a copy of the Hockey News, and proceeded to contact every summer camp advertising in the issue. In those days, I sent letters. Today we call this direct mail, which is a very successful tool that I will discuss in a later blog. The letters consisted of an introduction, description of the rink, and a brief description of the clientele. The final paragraph had a call to action. I was delighted when the first calls came in, and then I called everyone I had sent letters to seeing if I could help with their decision process.

Perseverance is an important attribute in this part of the process. Sometimes I have to just keep trying when I don't get a response. In two years, we went from no ice rented to 9 weeks of ice rented. This was a very successful application of the segmentation concept combined with rethinking an existing product. Segmentation, new products, and promotion together create target marketing.

The process boils down into simple steps:

1. Identify Day Parts or areas that need help
2. Identify where market formation would help
3. Create a new product or revamp an existing product
4. Identify a market segment
5. Promote to the target segmentation (and persevere if at first you don't succeed)
6. Run a great program! If the program is terrible, no one will come back.

When I arrived at Lloyd Center Ice Rink, the company (not Rink Management) already offered an in-house summer camp. Upper management named the camp Kool Kamp. Kamp lasted a half day with various ice-centered kids' activities. Quite a few of the activities were all about competitive skating. We did this camp each year for perhaps three weeks over the summer. I quickly discovered most weeks were cancelled for lack of participation. When Rink Management came in, my team and I decided to revamp the camp since Rink Management was willing to let us be creative. We first checked our state laws, determined that we could offer an athletic camp, and then set about designing an all day camp for beginning skaters. Before you knew it, I had a licensed teacher on the staff, we bought crafts and kids started to sign up. Our target market was Learn to Skate students aged 6 to 12 years of age. We promoted directly to that group of customers. We had to make sure everyone on staff talked about the camp and even if someone said 'no' we made sure they received direct mail on the camp. We had to persevere in the face of the first refusal. We offered Kool Kamp 9 weeks in the summer and most weeks were overfull rather than lack of enrollments creating cancellations. When regular customers came in, the large number of kids with camp uniforms on the ice startled them. The camp quickly filled and the summer ice was no longer slow.

The key to creating business in the summer is identifying target segments and creating a program to fulfill the targeted consumers' desires. Promote the new program to the target segment and now you are practicing target marketing. Once an ice rink gets busy in the summers with good programs, customers will come back year after year. Once you've broken the string of slow summers, your business pattern will change the rink into an exciting center point to people's lives, even in the summer!

Hit the Rinks

You’re local ice rink offers public skating, stick ‘n puck, and/or pickup hockey all week, every week. In fact, sessions for each are likely offered on multiple days and at varying times to compensate for even the most rigid schedules. They usually cost anywhere from $7 - $12 per person for 90-120 minutes of ice time depending on the activity. For those who can’t always get to the rink. There are a few other options...

Roll With It

Remember your Rollerblades? You know, those boots with wheels you bought about 15 years ago when roller hockey was all the rage? Well, dig them out of your garage and dust them off. Inline skating isn’t EXACTLY like ice skating, but it’s close enough. Find an empty tennis court somewhere and get moving. The skating alone is a great workout. You’ll quickly learn (or remember) inline skating is a lot more work than ice skating. The friction between your wheels and the surface is much greater than your blades against the ice - so it’ll kick your butt. But strengthening your stride can only help your game. As for skills, there are plenty of pucks and balls designed for all types of indoor and outdoor surfaces. Grab whatever works for you and run some stick and puck handling drills.

This is not only a smart option, but also a cheap one. There are good skating surfaces available everywhere for FREE. From tennis courts to parking lots, from basketball courts to community parks, there are tons of places to skate that won’t cost you a cent. All you have to do is look around.

Of course, there are a few drawbacks. For one, it gets HOT in the summer. Most hockey players tend to handle cold better than heat (duh, considering hockey is played on ice). So some days it may just be too hot to skate. Also, if the heat doesn’t get you, the erratic summer storms will. All it takes is one quick downpour to ruin a skating surface for several hours. So, then what?

Home Sweet Home

Many of us have a driveway, garage, basement or unfinished room we can use to knock a puck around. If you’re one of the lucky ones with this advantage, use it! You may not have a ton of room to skate. But you should be able to work on some stick action and possibly some shooting techniques. You can enhance this experience even more if you have some spare cash to invest in some excellent gear:

Shooting Pad - a flat, tiled surface designed to mimic the way a puck glides on ice. It’s an amazing tool for working on your shooting and puck handling skills in a very small space.

“Powerslide” slide board - a flat, plastic surface designed to mimic the way your skates glide on the ice - and it works beautifully. With the special booties provided on your feet, the Powerslide simulates a pretty authentic skating feel.

With both of these awesome tools, you can work on your stride, as well as lateral movement while puck handling, shooting while moving, and more - all from the comfort of your own home. HowToHockey.com has an excellent review of this product along with a demonstration video. Check it out here: http://howtohockey.com/hockey-slideboard-review-powerslide

What About You?

How do you work on your game when you’re not on the ice? Enlighten us with your comments below. Thanks!

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol set limits and timelines to retire HCFC and HFC refrigerants with the intention of slowing or stopping the destruction of the ozone layer. To those of us in the ice rink industry, this means no more R-22 after 2020. Most rinks today run on R-22, so this could be a future stumbling block. R-22 is a great refrigerant because of the low toxicity. People breathing R-22 by accident have no ill effects, unless the concentration of R-22 eliminates the oxygen in the air. For right now, though, even though R-22 for use in new machinery went out of production in 2010, R-22 is still on the market. The curtain falls in 2020 when any importation or production of R-22 for any purpose will be eliminated. Hopefully inventories of R-22 will still exist for years after 2020.

Rinks that currently have R-22 equipment should fare well as this phase out accelerates. Responsible rink owners should make sure refrigeration contractors reclaim refrigerant. Repairs should be a priority and fixed as quickly as possible to minimize the expense of refilling the refrigerant. As R-22 becomes scarcer, the price per pound will go up, similar to the way that R-134a prices quintupled in 2005 due to increased demand (Maynard, 2005).

Unfortunately, there is no known method to convert your R-22 ice rink into one of the new refrigerants used in industrial systems, like R-134a or R-407C. If you mix refrigerants, you get an azeotrope, which is a liquid characterized by a different boiling point than either of the component compounds. A different boiling point in your refrigeration system means nothing will work correctly leading to potential destruction of life or property. According to experts, even if the facility pumped out all the R-22 refrigerant, there still would be enough R-22 present in the oil left in the system to create an azeotrope.

A bright spot on the horizon is the usage of ammonia (R-717), which is far less expensive than R-22, as a refrigerant. According to a pro-ammonia website, ammonia has no global warming potential. Ammonia has an efficiency rating of 52 and R-22, by comparison, has a rating of 23 meaning that ammonia is more efficient than R-22. (The scale is not linear, which means that ammonia isn't almost twice as efficient as R-22.) The worst problem with ammonia is the toxicity and pungent odor of the released gas. Workers need to don personal protective gear when working on ammonia equipment. If an ice rink were to release ammonia by accident then they would need to inform local emergency authorities. Ice Rinks being built in densely populated urban centers might not want to use ammonia. Berkeley Iceland tragically closed due to an ammonia leak. Generally speaking ammonia has been used for the last 100 years and has an exemplary safety record.

As rink managers and owners, what steps should we take to prepare for the end of R-22?

• R-22 phase-out is not an immediate threat to the industry
• Only purchase new systems that use new refrigerants. (No R-12 or R-22)
• Use ammonia if possible in new systems, keeping in mind the toxicity effects.
• Avoid wasteful rink designs like direct systems which use a charge of 3,000 to 6,000 lbs of R-22. (Liquid overfeed is another name for this type of system)
• If you have a system with more than 1,000 lbs of R-22 make sure you have operating Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, controls mounted outside the refrigeration room, and a working R-22 alarm inside the refrigeration room.
• If you see oil on the floor of the refrigeration room, call your contractor. A leak or other mechanical problem is likely
• Leak test your R-22 system periodically using a halide leak detector. (ultrasonic leak detectors are usually too sensitive to use in ice rinks)
• Watch your refrigeration contractor to make sure he or she reclaims refrigerant.

Refrigeration makes ice rinks possible. Using refrigerants in the past led to potential ozone depletion or global warming. Ammonia, once rarely used in ice rinks, is the refrigerant of the future. As an industry, let's do all we can to prevent any further ecological damage.

Maynard, M. (2005). Price of vehicle refrigerant is overheated. United States, Washington: McClatchy - Tribune Information Services.

The Details

Baking your skates will not only help break them in faster, but also get even the most stubborn of skates to give you a more comfortable and custom fit. Many believe you need a special kind of oven to properly bake your skates. While ovens designed for this are handy and slightly easier to use, you can actually do it yourself using the conventional oven in your home.

The Recipe

Ingredients: 2 eggs, milk, butter...just kidding. All you’ll need is your skates, an ordinary baking sheet, and your kitchen oven pre-heated to about 175 degrees.

Directions:

1. Grab one of your skates and loosen the laces all the way down with the tongue wide open, so you can slip your foot in very easily.
2. Place the skate on your baking sheet.
3. With the oven now pre-heated to 175, TURN IT OFF and place the sheet with your skate on the middle rack. Most skates should bake for 6-8 minutes. But check the box your skates came in. There may actually be a suggested time indicated on the label.
4. After 4-5 minutes, open the oven and feel the boot. If it’s soft enough that it can be shaped, it’s ready. If not, leave it in for another 2-3 minutes. Be sure not to leave the door open too long while checking. You don’t want the temperature in the oven to drop significantly.
5. Once soft enough, remove your skate from the oven, have a seat, and slip your foot in. Then begin tightening your laces from bottom to top as smoothly as possible. Meaning, try not to strain the eyelets too much. This can damage them.
6. Once laced up, sit tight for about 15 minutes. This will allow the boot to cool and mold successfully to the shape of your foot.
7. If you want to increase the width at all, feel free to stand up during this 15-minute cooling period. However, DO NOT walk around. This can both strain the eyelets and mis-shape the boot.
8. After 15 minutes, unlace the skate and remove your foot. Then re-lace the skate, set it in an upright position and let it sit for 24 hours. This will complete the cooling process.
9. Now go back to the beginning and bake the other skate.

If it’s so easy, why doesn’t everyone do it?

Some skaters like breaking in their skates the old-fashioned way - by skating, skating, skating. Others don’t want to risk screwing up the baking process and possibly ruin their skates. It’s understandable, I suppose. Though not a difficult process, one needs to be careful when baking. If it’s done incorrectly, this process can result in the pre-mature breakdown of your skates. So pay attention at all times and follow directions closely!

Seeing is believing

If you’re more of a visual person (like me), you might find a video demo more helpful than this article. There are tons of videos online demonstrating this process. The best I’ve seen can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqRt701oZQ.

Many rink owners and operators wonder if painting the rink is too big to be accomplished in-house, or if outside contractors should be hired. Painting I've always done in-house, but there are times when it makes sense to hire outside contractors. Here's a few bullets of when a rink should hire a painting contractor:

• You're a seasonal rink and you need to be up and running yesterday
• You have a new management staff
• The contractor is already in town and you don't have to pay the whole travel charge
• When the contractor is cheaper than in-house labor

Most of the time those special conditions don't exist, so we wind up painting the rink ourselves. Such a large job can create organizational problems if left to the last minute. Here's a few ideas to help organize this job:

• Buy ice paint early and have it on site a few weeks ahead of time so you can easily fix any shipping problems that might take extra time
• Rent equipment, or check in house equipment early (including leak-checking the hoses!)
• Make a list of tools and materials needed, check it twice and then make sure those items are at the rink prior to painting
• If you paint yearly, keep painting tools in one spot away from rink team members who would tend to scrounge an item or two for some other project
• Order Logos early - no matter if you use cloth, vinyl or paper stencils
• Check with USA Hockey for markings they would like this year. Markings can change a lot
• Always use natural rubber hoses so no marks are left on the ice
• Always have garden hose rubber rings on hand so you can make sure the hoses don't drip
• Co-ordinate with your building engineers, or your refrigeration company, to check your compressor system. Painting puts a lot of stress on the refrigeration
• Don't use last year's paint unless there is a problem

With painting, haste truly does make waste.

To keep the staff motivated, we usually have pizzas ordered in for lunch and serve soda from our Snack Bar. The staff seem to like the food and everyone taking a break at the same time. Making painting a special event helps make sure everyone wants to do it the next year too. Sometimes a user group likes to come and paint. Check with liability experts to see if you can afford to accept their help.

A little knowledge can go a long way. Area rink manager organizations and ice paint companies sometimes have ice painting seminars. National organizations offer a four day seminar in ice painting too. These seminars help area personnel learn the ins and outs of ice painting leading to a much better experience when accomplishing this needed task in house.

This year, we had twenty three people painting. Such a large group is unmanageable by one person, so we split the group in two with one person overseeing each group. Things went smoothly and the paint went down quicker than ever. A usual paint crew should be no more than a dozen people. We were flooding before we even knew it.
Here is a picture of our rink, once painted. Curling makes for busy lines and a lot of detail work. It is nice to have this done for this year. As we put away our painting equipment, we took notes on what went well and what needed work to make sure we remember the good and the bad next year. We also took photos to help see exactly how everything went down.

Painting is over for this year. We are looking forward to a busy year of programming for all our customers and user groups. Nothing like the crisp, clean lines of fresh paint, or the satisfaction of accomplishing the job in-house.