Parent Duties / Parent Code of Conduct
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Required Parental Involvement:
It takes participation from everyone to ensure the season is a successful one.
Aside from being respectful, positive and encouraging from the stands parents are also counted on to help the game days run smoothly.
Time/Score Keepers - see Parent Schedule
- The home team must provide time and score keepers for each game.
It is expected that all parents will take a turn.
- An official Time Keeper/Parent Coordinator position per team has been established by MTMHA (volunteer fee will be refunded). It will be the Coordinator’s responsibility to schedule parents to work the clock and fill out the game sheets.
- Should anyone know of a high school student(s) looking to fulfill their Community Volunteer Hours requirement, MTMHA will acknowledge time/score keeping as credit earned toward their hours.
Gates - 50/50 Tickets - see Parent Schedule
- There will be a gate fee to attend league games. MTMHA will provide a gate person for each home game.
- There is a requirement for each travel team to sell 50/50 tickets at each home game. Again, all parents are expected to participate. A schedule will be provided by the Time Keeper/Parent Coordinator. The gate person will collect the 50/50 money. The winning number should be announced in the stands and must be posted in the lobby on the bulletin board.
Hockey Mother Representative / BINGO Participation
- Each team requires a Representative to attend the Hockey Mother meetings (Volunteer fee will be refunded).
Hockey Parents Make The Difference:
Keep in mind that, above all, the motivating factor for most children who enter an organized sports program is their desire to have fun. With a supportive attitude and a fundamental understanding of the "basics" of hockey, everyone will come away from their sports experience with a positive feeling.
In The Stands
Parents can take the fun out of hockey by continually yelling or screaming from the stands. Parents should enjoy the game and applaud good plays. The stands are not a place from which parents should try to personally coach their kids. Kids often mirror the actions of their parents; if they see mom or dad losing their cool in the stands, they’ll probably do the same on the ice.
Car And Home
Some parents not only spoil the fun for their kids at the ice rink, but also in the car, believing this is the perfect place for instruction. Parents should try to keep things in perspective. There's more to life than hockey, and the car and home are not places to coach. Parents need to remember that they are not the coach, and the most difficult kind of parent is the one who coaches against the real coach. It's unfair to put children in a position of having to decide who to listen to - their parents or the coach.
At Practice
Parents have to remember that if a child wants to improve, they have to practice - not just play. Even if a child is not the "star" player for a team, practice stresses the importance of teamwork, establishing goals, discipline and learning to control your emotions, all of which are important lessons children can use both in and away from sports.
Support Your Child
There are many benefits that are derived from playing hockey. Kids learn good sportsmanship and self-discipline. They learn to work together, how to sacrifice for the good of the team, how to enjoy winning and how to handle defeat. In the process, they also learn important lessons about physical fitness and personal health.
The degree to which your child benefits from their hockey experience is as much your responsibility as it is theirs. In order for your child to get the most out their season, it is important for you to show support and offer encouragement while maintaining a genuine interest in the team.
Always Be Positive
Parents serve as role models for their children, who often look to adults for advice, direction and approval. Never lose sight of the fact that you are a role model, and strive to be a positive role model. As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is show good sportsmanship at all times to coaches, referees, opponents and teammates.
The best way to help children achieve goals and reduce their natural fear of failure is through positive reinforcement. After all, no one likes to make mistakes. If your child does make a mistake - and they will (remember, they’re just kids) - keep in mind that mistakes are an important part of the overall learning process. Strive to be supportive and point out the things they do well.
Make your child feel like a winner.
Let The Coaches Coach
Avoid placing an exaggerated emphasis on winning. The most important aspect of your child's hockey experience is for them to have fun while developing physical and emotional skills that will serve them in life. A healthy, risk-free environment that emphasizes the importance of fair play, sportsmanship, discipline and, most importantly, fun will be invaluable for your child as they continue to develop a positive self image.
Remember that your children are PLAYING hockey. It is important to allow them to establish their own goals and play the game for themselves. Be careful not to impose your own standards or objectives.
