Mite registration is for players birth year 2005 and 2006. Mite practice is Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:15 - 6:15 pm.
The Mini-Mites (birth year 2007 and younger) and Mites (birth years 2005 and 2006) share practice ice, and their games are either half-ice or cross-ice. Body-checking is not permitted. Mite practice develops basic skating and hockey skills in a fun environment, with a high coach-to-player ratio, and begins teaching the basics of positioning and team strategy. In addition to home games at Bird Arena, the Mite game schedule typically includes some away games in Columbus and Newark, OH, and in Charleston, WV.
At the discretion of the coaches, Mite and Mini-Mite players may be mixed in appropriate developmental groups for practices and games. With both coach and parent consent, experienced players birth year 2007 or younger may register as Mites and play a full Mite game and practice schedule.
First-year Mites may gain additional practice time by participating simultaneously in Bird Arena's Learn to Play Hockey program. Ask Registrar Valerie Young (
[email protected]) about the Ambassador program, which will partially offset your player's Learn to Play Hockey fee in exchange for you reaching out to other families to encourage them to join AYHA.
Mite players may also schedule one-on-one hockey instruction with Bird Arena. Instructors are typically Ohio University D1 and D2 players. Private hockey instruction takes place immediately prior to Mini-Mite / Mite shared practice. Contact Bird Arena for more information.