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Parents Info

Educate Yourself

Throughout your child's time in hockey, it is almost a certainty that you will be pressured on how you approach the game of hockey.  From off season development opportunities to the type of equipment your player uses, other parents and program representative are going to offer you free advice on what your player should do to improve.  Not all of them will truly have you or your kid's best interest in mind.  The key to deciphering them is education.  Use the resources provided by MN Hockey and USA Hockey to build a solid knowledge base and add to it by talking with a variety of people in your association and other local hockey associations.

Parent Responsibilities: NOT LIMITED TO ITEMS BELOW

VOLUNTEER:  The Association is run by volunteers so get involved.  Do your part so 10% of the Association doesn't do 100% of the work.  

The success of PRAHA depends on adequate support from players, parents, and coaches. It will take the combined effort of all these individuals to ensure that our youth skaters have a positive and rewarding experience. These volunteers must maintain the same amount of enthusiasm in helping the program as our youth do in their skating activities.

The importance of being a proper role model cannot be over-emphasized. By volunteering time and effort for the team and maintaining a positive attitude throughout the season, we are showing our youth the benefits of volunteer involvement. In turn, this will make their experience more rewarding as they grow up, seeing their parents wanting to be more involved in the team as a whole.

Once the teams are selected, the Board of Directors and coaching staff will hold a parent meeting to explain the philosophies of the program, upcoming schedules, tournaments, and the rules and regulations for the season. They will also discuss the importance of volunteers and the need for ALL parents of the team to make a commitment of time and effort.

Score Book: Each home game and tournament game hosted by PRAHA is required to have a score keeper during the entirety of the game that can record game statics in the score book.

Penalty Box: Each home game and tournament game hosted by PRAHA is required to have worker in the penalty box.

Time Clock/Announce: Each home game and tournament game hosted by PRAHA is required to have someone run the clock and announce at games. There are instructions in each rink by the time clock. Also we have many veteran parents who are willing to help new parents learn, just ask!

DIBS Program (Concessions, R & R, Fundraising, and other opportunities)

Each family in the youth hockey program (except Little Panthers) will be responsible for staffing and assisting workers in the concession stand/gaming duties and assigned games/shift as scheduled in conjunction with the Team Manager, Tournament Coordinator, and the Concession Stand Manager.

PRAHA requires each family to fulfill a certain number of volunteer hours (DIBS) and do a certain amount of fundraising each year in order to keep registration costs as low as possible. This volunteer requirement is necessary for the association to be successful.

Please note a $500 check will be collected at the beginning of the year from each family. This deposit check will be held by PRAHA (not cashed) until the end of the hockey season. If all volunteer shifts are completed, the check will be shredded. If your volunteer shifts have not been met by April 30th, the check will be cashed. Our goal is to not cash any checks; we would like everyone to meet their volunteer requirements.

The full number of shifts must be completed. If a shift is partially completed, the full check will be cashed. If you are struggling to meet your DIBS obligations, please speak with a board member.

Total amount of DIBS for Members with more than one registered player will be calculated as follows: full DIB amount for first skater, plus ½ the full amount for the second skater, and zero additional DIBS for third skater and so on.

Not completing required volunteer shifts for a second child will result in the $500 penalty invoiced to the family, which is to be paid prior to the start of the next season or player will not be allowed on the ice. PRAHA utilizes the DIBS online tool to manage volunteer hours. All volunteer opportunities will be available through the DIBS menu. If you do not see any available volunteer hours, they have been claimed.  DIBS will be added as they become available. Please allow time for completed DIBS to show up on your profile.

Running the clock, scorebook, music, or penalty box during non-tournament games or scrimmages does not satisfy a DIBS requirement. All of these team-related activities still need to be completed and each family is obligated to share in the performance of these duties. Team managers or coaches will need to coordinate the completion of these duties.

The required DIBS per player will be determined at the beginning of each season depending on the game schedule and registration numbers. The final DIBS Numbers will be posted on the website.  Some DIBs shifts are worth more credit than others. Each DIBS shift is 1 -  3 DIBS and is determined by the length of the shift and the type of work being done.

Once DIBS have been posted to the DIBS site families should review and claim all there required DIBS throughout the season.  This will allow the Association to know if additional DIBs volunteers are needed to fulfill our position requirements.  Families should have claimed their required amount of DIBs but December 31st for the current season.  If families do not claim their required DIBS checks will be cashed.

Accountability – Once you sign up for a DIB(s), you are responsible to work that time slot. People are counting on you. If you are not able to fulfill your commitment, you must make arrangements with someone to fill your shift. You must inform your team manager or the coordinator of the event about changes. Please avoid making changes last minute to alleviate as much confusion as possible.

Seek out your manager, a board member or rink staff for additional opportunities.

FUNDRAISING:  There are 2 mandatory fundraisers held each year.  Heggies Pizza Fundraiser, each family is required to sell 10 pizzas, forms to be handed out at at the parent meeting with selling information and delivery date and time.  Annual PRAHA Raffle -Sell or buy 3 books of raffle tickets, with the drawing to be held in the month of March. We also can earn money from  shopping Amazon, use AmazonSmile and earn money for the Association.  

SKATE SHARPENING:  Is included in your registration.  Place your skates with your card inside on the undone shelf.  Skates will be moved to the done shelf once they've been sharpened.  Not a rostered player?  We are happy to sharpen your skates for $5.00.

GAME SOCKS:  1 pair of game socks are included in your registration.  See your manager if you need a pair.

"Like" us on Facebook, check out the website, attend board meetings, watch for Association emails and become familiar with the policy book for information.