The Island Colonials House League is designed to teach the fundamental skills of ice hockey and basic concepts of team play. It serves as an alternative or developmental stepping stone to the higher-level Arctic Foxes. Programs are offered at the Mini Mite (ages 4-6), Major Mite (7-8), Squirt (9-10) and Pee Wee/Bantam (11-14) levels. Full ice hockey equipment is required.

Players must have skated in the Learn to Play Hockey program and passed Hockey II or the equivalent at another rink, or participated in a recreational or competitive house league program. All players must be registered with USA Hockey.

Fees include nearly 50 hours of ice time over 20 weekends, an end of the year party, holiday party and a parents and kids game. Each player receives a high quality jersey with name and number, matching socks, an individual participant trophy and five stick time passes.

Mini Mite Program
The Mini Mite program (ages 4-6) is for youngsters born in 2000, 2001 and 2002. A maximum of four teams of 10 players each have a joint practice run as a clinic by the coaches. During practices, the individual skills of skating, passing, stick handling and shooting are emphasized. Games are played half-ice. The parity system is used to ensure equal ice time and that players of similar age and ability are on the ice.

Major Mite through Bantam Programs
The Major Mite program (ages 7-8) is for youngsters born in 1998 and 1999; Squirt (ages 9-10) in 1996 and 1997; and Pee Wee/Bantam (ages 11-14) in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995. We expect to field four Major Mite, two Squirt and two Pee Wee/Bantam teams. Teams consist of 15 players at the Major Mite level and 16 at the Squirt and Pee Wee/Bantam levels. Teams have approximately 14 games and 22 on-ice practices.

Schedule
Play begins the weekend of September 30-October 1 weekend and runs through March 10-11. Games and practices do not take place during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Martin Luther King Day weekends. Mini Mites and Major Mites play all games at the RMU Island Sports Center . Squirts and Pee Wee/Bantam teams play approximately eight away games at nearby rinks. Home ice slots range from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Approximately two-thirds of home ice slots are played on the Open Air Stadium Rink. Squirts and Pee Wee/Bantams may play up to two Friday evening slots. Away games are almost exclusively on the weekend and during the opponent's scheduled ice slots.

Fees
$545 for Mini Mite; $695 for Major Mite, Squirt and Pee Wee/Bantam. You may pay the entire fee at registration or choose our flexible payment plan below. Families with two children in the league receive a 10 percent discount on the second child's (lower) fee.

Please note the above fee does NOT include the $35 USA Hockey Membership Fee which must be paid prior to joining the program.

USA Hockey Membership
All skaters must be registered with USA Hockey and must be done via the internet. Go to www.usahockey.com and click on "online registration". Once you have completed the registration process you will be e-mailed a confirmation page with a 14 digit confirmation number. We need this number to enroll you in the Island Colonials program.

You can either forward the confirmation e-mail to us at arturo@rmuislandsports.org, bring a printed copy with you when you register for the house league, or mail the printed copy along with your class registration.

The fee is $35 for all players born 1999 and earlier, but there is no charge for those born 2000 and later. However, ALL players must register with USA Hockey, even those who do not have to pay.

This membership fee is good from September 1, 2006 through August 31 st, 2007 .

Skating Up
All players should register for their proper age level. With this in mind, it is our policy that youngsters should skate at a level which best challenges them. A very limited number of players will be able to "skate up".

After the first couple of ice sessions we may ask players to skate up a level if:

1) Their ability merits such a move.

2) We have room at the next level for them to play.

Children who skated up last season are allowed to continue to do so this year.

Ice Time Policy
The Mini and Major mites use the parity system which ensures equal ice time and the players are on the ice with other youngsters of similar ability. The Squirts and Pee Wee/Bantams change on the fly and follow the policy below.

Every player is given a regular shift. If the coach has three lines he must run them 1-2-3 throughout the game. No power play or penalty killing units are allowed. However, during the final four minutes of a close game, the coach shall play which ever skaters he chooses. The coach may sit a player for disciplinary reasons.

Since we are making a commitment to the players, we also ask for a commitment from the youngsters to make practice so he/she can continue improving with the rest of his/her teammates.

If a skater is continually missing practices, the coach may elect not to play the skater during key times of a game, but only after talking with the parents and determining if a child does not have a valid reason for missing practices. Valid conflicts may be with school, religion classes or other sports or club activities.

Goalie Policy
We supply goalie equipment for all levels, except for a pee wee or bantam goalie who has already played one full year as a full time goaltender.

At the Mini Mite level we do not worry about positions and different players are given a goalie stick each shift to be "the goalie."

At the Major Mite level all players are encouraged to try goalie one time. Once all players have had their chance between the pipes, the coach selects two or three players who will rotate in goal for the balance of the season.

At the Squirt level each team should have two players who take turns playing goalie and skating positions.

The Pee Wee and Bantam teams each carry one full time goalie.

Car Pools
If you need to car pool with someone, please specify that person's name on the registration form. We limit car pools to two households, including your own, from the same geographic area. Siblings will be placed on the same team.

Coaches and Managers Wanted!
Volunteer head coaches, assistant coaches and team managers are always welcome. Interested volunteers should attend the proper coaches and managers meeting listed below.

Coaches and Managers Meeting
Scheduling and lesson plan meetings are held throughout the season. The following are the first meetings scheduled for the 2006-07 season:
Mini Mites
Monday, Sept. 25, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Major Mites
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 7:45-9:15 p.m.
Squirts, Pee Wee/Bantam
Thursday, Sept 28, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Coaches' Training Seminars
All league coaches must attend the USA Hockey Level 1 Seminar. (We reimburse you for the fee.) Level 2 and 3 seminars are also available; certain fees apply. Register for these seminars online at www.usahockey.com. Seminars scheduled as of August 12th are:

Mandatory Parents Meeting
A Parents Information meeting is designed to help you learn more about the ISC Hockey programs.
Topics included are calendar for the year, player position policies, a discussion about referees, Zero Tolerance Policy, Power Skating, Skills Clinics, your ice schedule, practice and game slots, your USA Hockey Membership, coaches and managers background checks, jerseys and other equipment, plus our rating and drafting policies.

It is required that one parent from each family must attend one of the meetings below in order to have your child play in the Island Colonials League. Those who attended previously do NOT have to attend.

These meetings have been scheduled around our public skating sessions and your children will be allowed to skate at the session at no charge while you are in the meeting.

Refund Policy
Once you pay your deposit we are holding a place for you in the house league. Refunds will ONLY be given from that point on for Medical reasons, or if a replacement player is found. If you have a medical situation you should immediately notify the hockey director in writing.

If you need to pull your child out of the program for the balance of the season, for a medical reason, you will receive a pro-rated refund, based on the number of slots skated, jersey and other administrative costs.

If you need to pull your child out for other reasons, a pro-rated refund will be given if another youngster replaces your child and assumes the balance of your fee.

Partial refunds will not be given if your child only needs to miss a part of the season, we continue to hold a spot for your child, and he/she returns later in the year.

Player Drafts
Player drafts will be held the week of October 9 th - 13th. Players do not have to attend the draft and will be called by the coach as to their team. We use the first couple weekends to teach skating and hockey skills as well as evaluate the players for the draft. The goal of the draft is to create equal teams at each level.

2006-2006 Fall Island Colonials Youth Ice Hockey League

Registration Form

Name _________________________________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________________________________

City __________________________________________ St. _______ Zip __________________

DOB __________________

Home Phone ( _______) __________________________________________________________

e-mail ________________________________________________________________________

Cell Phone ( _____ ) _____________________________________________

Please check division for which you are registering:

[ ] Mini Mite 4-6, born 2000, 2001, 2002

[ ] Major Mite 7-8, born 1998, 1999

[ ] Squirt 9-10, born 1996, 1997

[ ] PW/Bantam 11-14, born 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

Please make check payable to RMU Island Sports Center and mail to:

RMU Island Sports Center

c/o Bob Arturo, 7600 Grand Avenue , Pittsburgh , PA 15225

USA Hockey Membership Confirmation number _______________________________

[ ] A copy of my USA Hockey Membership confirmation is attached.

Carpool Requests:

My child needs to carpool with _________________________________ (maximum one family)

I am interested in begin a . . . . .

[ ] Head Coach

[ ] Assistant Coach

[ ] Team Manager

My name is _________________________________________________________________________

Please remember to attend the coaches/managers meetings the week of September 25 -28.

Payment Plans

Robert Morris University Island Sports Center

WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

I, the undersigned, acknowledge the inherent risks involved in any sporting activity, particularly the sporting activity that I intend to participate in at the RMU Island Sports Center . Accordingly, in consideration of being allowed to participate in Skating/Hockey (the "Activity") and intending to be legally bound, I, the undersigned, do hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors and/or administrators agree to the following:

1. I attest that am physically fit for the Activity. I will assume my own medical and emergency expenses in the event of an accident or other incapacity or injury resulting from or occurring in my participation.

2. I agree that prior to participating the Activity, I will inspect the training/competition area and all equipment to be used, and if, through my inspection, I determine that anything related to the Activity is unsafe, I will immediately notify an official of the RMU Island Sports Center of this unsafe condition and will not participate in the Activity until this condition is corrected.

3. I hereby waive, release, discharge and covenant not to sue, Robert Morris University, RMU Island Sports Center, its affiliates, agents, associates, officers, directors, owners, employees and representatives (collectively "releasees") from demands, losses or damages, including without limitation, any injury, death, or damage to property that may be suffered by me whether caused or alleged to be caused in whole or in part by releasees or any other party's actions or inactions, or otherwise, and agree to indemnify releasees from any and all third party claims caused in whole or in part by my actions.

I acknowledge that I have read and understood all the above.

____________________________ ________________

Participant Date

I, the undersigned parent or legal guardian, have read the above waiver and release and agree to its terms on behalf of my child and myself. I understand that by signing below I am giving up substantial right on behalf of my child and myself.

_______________________________ _________________

Parent or Legal Guardian Date

(if Participant is under 18)