NSDMH U7 Parent Information Package

Welcome to hockey!

Starting hockey is a big step—for children and parents alike. You do not need to know hockey to help your child get started. Your player does not need to know how to skate. Our coaches are there to guide them, and we want families to feel comfortable asking questions.

Our U7 program focuses on fun, learning and helping children enjoy coming to the rink. Children can start as young as four, and everyone arrives with different abilities and levels of confidence.

Equipment and getting ready

Children must wear full hockey equipment, including a neck guard, for every session. Neck guards are one of the most commonly forgotten pieces, so please check that yours is packed before leaving home.

Skate aids are not used.

Parents are welcome in the dressing room to help children get dressed, tie skates, buckle helmets and get ready for the ice and also helping them after each session.

We would ask to limit the number of people in the dressing room to one guardian as it can become crowded very quickly. 

NSDMH will provide each child with a jersey and a pair of hockey socks at the first session. If you miss that session, speak with a coach when you first attend and we will arrange your jersey and socks.

Some families find it easier to put on part of their child’s equipment at home, especially for early morning sessions. This is optional. Your child must still fit properly in their car seat, with the harness fitting as intended.

Gear gets misplaced very easily. Kids tossing very similar/the same equipment onto the floor etc. It helps to put an identifier on a tag if available. If a coach or rink attendant finds something left from a session, it will get placed in the NSDMH equipment cage or the lost and found. A Coach may also hold it and send a message on GrayJay if they knew it came from their group. Water bottles are all very similar, use permanent marker and put your players name on the bottle to help keep track.

Please allow enough time to have your child ready for the start of the ice time so coaches can begin the session on time.

What to expect in the first few sessions

For our youngest and newest players, the first goal is simply to feel comfortable getting onto the ice.

A few tears, some hesitation and the occasional upset and tears are normal. For some children, this lasts beyond the first few sessions. Please do not worry if your child needs more time than others.

You will see coaches encouraging children, helping them onto the ice and using toys such as balls and bowling pins or towing them with a stick to make the experience fun. These activities help children build confidence while learning to move on skates.

Children may also need breaks. A coach may give one child a moment to rest while helping another nearby. This is a normal part of working with young beginners. Some four-year-olds have had enough after about half an hour, particularly early in the season.

Progress takes time. We often see a big improvement by Christmas, with many beginners getting onto their feet and moving around more confidently. Each child develops at their own pace.

What practices look like

During the first few sessions, children will generally take part in activities together as a larger group. The focus is on getting comfortable, moving around and having fun.

As children become more confident, coaches will introduce stations. Small groups rotate through different activities, simple drills and games.

The practice format will evolve throughout the season as children develop. Coaches will adjust activities to suit the children on the ice.

How we group the children

NSDMH generally has three U7 groups. When organizing them, we consider:

• Age and ability.

• The number of children in each group.

• The availability of volunteer coaches.

Groups are flexible and may change as the season progresses. U7 is a developmental program, and grouping is intended to give children suitable activities and support.

Our priority is to help children learn, have fun with their friends and want to keep playing hockey.

Coaches and volunteers

Each session will have a lead coach supported by other volunteer coaches. Our program depends on people giving their time to help the children.

Anyone interested in helping on the ice can complete a coaching application and will be required to certify according to HNS and HC requirements which are found on the HNS website. For new coaches approved by the board, there is a grace period to become certified until Dec 1st. If you have not completed required certifications, you will not be allowed on the ice after Dec 1st until you do complete certifications. Some required courses do not remain open all year and you may loose the ability to complete. Once approved by the board, do not leave certification to the last minute.  Please speak with a coach or contact the association office for information about applying. Our NSDMH certification coordinator will be in contact with approved coaches with more information on certitifcations.

Ice times and locations

U7 ice times are normally on weekend mornings, with two sessions each weekend scheduled at Emera Centre Northside where coaches have easy access to our program equipment. We may also use the Sydney Mines Community Centre for makeup ice.

Occasionally, a tournament, a CBRM event or another arena booking will affect our regular schedule. We will do our best to identify these weekends in advance so families know when to expect a change.

When ice is available, we try to arrange makeup sessions.

Always check the posted schedule for your child’s group, including the time and location. We will do our best to notify when there is a change from normal programming. 

Where parents should be during the session

Parents are welcome to help children get ready in the dressing room. Once the session starts, we ask parents to watch from the stands and keep the bench area clear for players and coaches. We may close the bench doors and tunnel door to stop kids from wandering off the ice.

If your child needs your help, a coach may call you down.

Safety and behaviour

We understand that U7 players are young and still learning how to participate in a group. Coaches will help them understand expectations and how to play safely.

If a child acts in a way that is unsafe, they may be brought to the bench for a break. A coach may also ask a parent to come down from the stands to help address the behaviour.

The goal is to help the child understand what happened and keep everyone safe.

Communication and questions

NSDMH has moved to GrayJay and plans to use it for program communication as well as scheduling. Once your player is registered and placed into a U7 group, you should see that group populate on the GrayJay mobile application "GrayJay Teams". These groups and schedules are now visible on our website as well.

These should be visible to you now. If it is not, or you don't see your player on the roster on the website, please reach out to the office.

You can also contact the association office using the email address or phone number listed on our website.

Carla Carmichael, our administrator, is in the office Sunday through Thursday.

Coaches can help with questions about on-ice activities and your child’s participation. The office can help with registration, fundraising and general association questions.

Registration costs and the ticket fundraiser

First-year players receive a registration discount. Our introductory programming, including U7, also has lower registration fees than our full programming, which begins at U11.

The NSDMH ticket fundraiser is an essential part of funding our programs and helps keep registration costs down. Every family is required to participate in selling tickets.

The ticket fundraising policy will be included with this package. Please review it for the full requirements and your family’s responsibilities.