New Hockey Parents
Welcome to the Athens Youth Hockey Association! Whether you have already enrolled your child in a learn to skate or learn to play program, or you are just still researching, the AYHA hopes this website will be a good starting point for your introduction into youth hockey. Being a parent of a hockey player can be enjoyable experience, especially watching your child develop and gain athletic and positive life experiences at the rink, but we know you have many questions. In addition to the highlights below, please do not hesitate to reach out to an Association member or coach for more information.
How Does My Child Start Playing Youth Hockey?
There are many pathways for young boys and girls to enter youth hockey. Some children first take a Learn to Skate class as early as the age of four, such as those offered by Ohio University or other organizations. Some children participate in a Learn to Play Hockey class between the ages of five and ten, such as those offered by the AYHA, many times without any prior skating experience. Other children even jump right into the deep-end and join a youth hockey team with no prior experience. Consider the following steps:
Hockey starts with learning the fundamentals of forward and backward skating, crossovers, turns, having fun, and most importantly - how to stop!
Ohio University offers programs at Bird Ice Arena based on the Learn to Skate USA curriculum for ages four to adult. Consider learning to skate yourself at the same time your child does! Many of our youth coaches learn to skate alongside their children.
With generous support from the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation, AYHA offers Learn to Play Hockey sessions at Bird Ice Arena for children five to ten years old. The program is a fun way to introduce children to hockey.
Your child wants to jump right into playing without prior skating experience? No problem! Our sessions teach not only stick handling, passing, and shooting, but also hockey skating skills.
The AYHA offers hockey leagues for children as young as five all the way up to high school. Teams are based on ages to maintain similar skill levels, sizes, and athletic abilities among players.
Practices and many league games are held at Bird Ice Arena, and the season typically runs from early October until early March. The AYHA strives to provide a competitive team environment that develops children of all skill levels.
What Age Division Will My Child Play In?
The AYHA follows the standard USA Hockey age divisions for each of its teams, which are open to boys and girls for all groups. Age divisions are based on a youth player’s age as of December 31st of the calendar year and include:
8U - Ages 5 Thru 8
The focus for this age division is on teaching the basics of skating, hockey, sportsmanship, and most importantly – having fun. Coaches work with players not only to develop their basic hockey skills, but also to teach players patience and sportsmanship. Positional play is not emphasized with players this young, and typically everyone has an opportunity to try goalie if they so desire.
10U - Ages 9 & 10
Practices continue to teach basic skating and other hockey skills, while also introducing all players how to play different positions on the ice. Some players may elect to begin specializing as a goalie. Parents may expect to see a wide variety of skills levels on the team at these ages. While games permit competitive contact between players, this age division is non-checking.
12U - Ages 11 & 12
Practices still focus on skating and hockey skills, but the intensity and complexity of drills and team play increases. Parents may expect to see the gap between skill levels begin to narrow amongst the players at these ages. Players begin to specialize in their on-ice positions and learn more complicated game play. While games permit competitive contact between players, this age division is non-checking.
14U - Ages 13 & 14
At this age skill levels between players narrow even further as their growth as a team improves even further, with players developing specialized skills for their preferred position during games. Body checking is introduced in practices and in games, and the speed of game play increases significantly. An emphasis is placed on team building.
High School - Ages 14 thru 18
This is AYHA's most skilled and competitive age division, with most players completing their growth and development as hockey players. Players refine their technical skills and physical abilities, with training intensity and fitness increasing significantly.
My Child is on the Ice... Now What?
When your child first steps out on the ice for the Learn to Skate program, Learn to Play Hockey program, or team practices, parents find themselves with a lot of time on their hands at Bird Ice Arena over a season.
First, dress warmly. While the temperatures in early October may still be warm outside, Bird Ice Arena can be quite chilly. Consider bringing a blanket or cushion as the bleachers are metal and get cold.
Second, consider watching short videos on the AYHA website that illustrate the American Development model for 8U, 10U, and 12U players; parents will see similarities with the AYHA practices at the rink. For each of these age divisions, each youth player learns and develops at a different rate, so comparing one player’s progress against another does not have much correlation to their eventual skill level at 14U and High School. For 8U especially, there is a lot of falling down and ice-walking instead of ice-skating at first, but over a relatively short period of time, children can become competent skaters.
Third, parents should introduce themselves to other hockey parents. Every parent at Bird Ice Arena either currently is or was a first timer at some point, and you can get a tremendous amount of information from other families. Please get to know the coaches, and do not be afraid to ask questions about the team, activities, and expectations for the season.
Finally, have fun. Enjoy the excitement on your child’s face when they succeed and offer supportive encouragement if they need it.