Learn to Skate & Learn to Play Programs (Athens Youth Hockey Association | Athens Ohio | Bird Arena)

PrintLearn to Skate & Learn to Play Programs
LTP Hockey for Fall 2024! - UPDATED 07/17/2024
2021-LTP3.jpgIn partnership with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the AYHA is pleased to offer a Fall 2024 LTP program at Bird Ice Arena for children ages five through ten (age as of October 22, 2024).  Created jointly by the NHL Players’ Association and the National Hockey League, LTP is a program that provides a unique opportunity for families to join the hockey community and for participants to develop fundamental skills to help them succeed both on and off the ice.  This program is a fun, affordable environment for children to experience hockey for the first time with Columbus Blue Jacket staff and AYHA coaches.


2021-LTP5.jpgAdvance registration is required, and space is limited.  You can register your child for the Fall session at the following CBJ link until October 21, 2024:

Learn to Play Hockey Registration

As part of the $135 registration fee, all of the necessary hockey equipment (a $500 value) is provided for each youth player, and they get to keep the gear upon completion of the program. 

Each class is on Tuesday evening from 6:00pm to 6:45pm at Bird Ice Arena for the following dates.
  • October 22 & 29
  • November 5, 12, & 19 (no class on the 26th for Thanksgiving week)
  • December 3, 10, & 18
As part of registering using the above link, you will first create a parent account and then an account for your child.  Once registration is complete, you will receive an email confirmation with details on how to order your child's equipment, including step-by-step video instructions on how to size each piece from the equipment provider, Pure Hockey.

Upon successful completion of the program, Learn to Play participants can move directly into the AYHA 6U/8U/10U leagues for the remainder of the AYHA season!


LTS Program - 07/17/2024: OU has not updated their LTS offerings for the Fall. Check back for more information in September.
2021-LTS.JPGLearn to Skate is offered by Ohio University, which maintains a corps of excellent college student figure skaters to teach classes for children as young as three years old all the way up to adults.  The program is based on the Learn to Skate USA curriculum, which includes Snowplow Sam Levels 1 through 4, Basic Levels 1 through 6, and JR Blades / Free Skate.   New skaters will learn the fundamentals, such as forward and backward skating, turns, crossovers, and how to stop.  To learn more about the different levels, please visit https://www.learntoskateusa.com.

Snowplow Sam and Basic classes meet once a week for six weeks and are 30-minutes each, while the JR Blades / Free Skate sessions are 1 hour each. 

There is an open house event and two Fall 2023 sessions to choose from (dates and times subject to change by Ohio University):
  • Oct 5 – Fall Open House (6:30-7:30pm)
  • Fall 2023 Thursday Sessions: Oct 12th - Nov 16 (6:30pm or 7:30pm)
  • Fall 2023 Saturday Sessions: Oct 14th - Nov 18th (10:15am or 10:45pm)
Registration for a session is $90, skate rentals can be added to the registration fee if needed, and parents can select either rental figure skates or hockey skates when they arrive at Bird Ice Area.  To register, visit Ohio University's RecShop.

defn-blue-puck.JPGBlue Puck Drop-In is also an informal opportunity to try hockey, but with the children wearing their full Learn to Play hockey gear.  It is also an opportunity to drop off new skates for sharpening at Bird Ice Arena, as unsharpened skate blades do not have proper edges, which makes it difficult to skate or even stand (arena staff are currently offering a 3-day turnaround on skate sharpening).

Updated 2024-07-17.