Remember, house league is not about wins and losses but about the family experience. Competitive and fun games will lead to many more returning players and a larger revenue base for the facility.
camps and lessons,” he says. “In addition, a house-league program will primarily play at one facility and usually have better ice times than the travel programs. Te convenience factor is so important.”
Tis extension of an arena’s programming can mean great things for a facility’s bottom line. By including rather than excluding players, revenue increases can be dramatic. “We always find places for players whether they are just starting out or have been playing for years,” says Scott Ross, hockey director of the Renegades house-league program in Rolling Meadows, Ill. Te Renegades are one of the largest house programs in Illinois, with 450 players spread across 33 teams.
Running house-league programs through the facility (instead of outsourcing to hockey clubs) can also help managers design efficient ice schedules. “We have control over filling in the gaps between ice rentals, and we are able to easily adjust our schedules to make sure the ice is always busy,” says Ross.
“Travel teams often have one team on the ice for practice but our house league almost always has two,” adds McCormack. Tis maximizes the number of players on the ice, thus reducing expenses. In addition, ice rentals pay out per hour, while arena programs pay out per participant. “All of the players on the ice are paying the arena for games and practices. For travel hockey, that is not the case.”
Pointers for Success
So, what does it take to run a successful league? Stay focused on the big picture.
“It is up to the professional, the hockey director, to make sure teams are fair and balanced so that the house league stays competitive,” says Flynn.
“Te biggest mistake I see hockey directors make is they do not cater to every player evenly,” says Ross. “In house-league programs, you will have players that are more talented and players that are less
talented. Some hockey directors will pay attention to the more talented players and not worry about the players with less skill. As a hockey director, you have to make sure everyone is taken care of.”
Keeping teams even and ice schedules organized requires that every staff member understand the objectives of the league. Communication is key, according to McCormack, who advises managers to talk with staff members and volunteers regarding league standards, expectations, schedules and changes. Remember, house league is not about wins and losses but about the family experience. Competitive and fun games will lead to many more returning players and a larger revenue base for the facility.
Te lynchpin of the model is a transitional plan for players looking to move on to the next level.
“It is important to have a way for house- league players to transition to travel,” say McCormack. “Have a relationship with your travel program so that you will suggest and promote some players to travel each year.”
Once the relationship is in place, then clever programs can help carve out a niche for a feeder system to local travel clubs. This pipeline can help drive business into the house league and keep travel clubs from trying to recruit house players. It is up to the director to ensure that there is transparency in the program — and that players are being honestly evaluated and placed at the proper level.
With an established infrastructure, the sky is the limit. House-league programs can offer skill clinics, day camps, 3-on-3 tournaments, or anything else imaginable. House leagues are not limited to youth levels either, and in fact adult recreation and developmental leagues are among the fastest growing demographic in the country.
As spring comes around, bringing with it preparations for a new season, why not
ISI’S HOCKEY TEAM REGISTRATION PROCESS — IT’S A SNAP!
How to get started: 1. Visit
skateisi.org/hockeyteams
2. Scroll Down to Hockey Team Registration Info for Arena Members.
3. Click on Hockey Team Registration Form and Complete.
4. Fill out either the Hockey Team Bulk Registration Form or the regular Hockey Team Registration list.
5. Fax form to 972-735-8815 or email to:
Jeff@skateisi.org
Note: All players must sign the waiver form online. You don’t need to send them to the ISI, but you must keep them on file at your office. We’ve also included a sample incident report and claims procedures online in case needed.
take a chance and add a house hockey league to your programming schedule if you haven’t already done so? It’s a sure bet for growing the sport, your facility’s revenue and the industry overall.
For more information on building your ISI Hockey Program, please visit skateisi. org/hockeyteams or contact the ISI office at 972-735-8800.
Jordan Mann is the hockey supervisor at Oakton Ice Arena in Park Ridge, Ill. He is ranked and rated through PSA with a Level 4 hockey
certification. He is also a USA Hockey Level 5 (master) coach and US Speedskating Level 2 (national level) coach. A two-time Junior National medalist in figure skating, he is the owner of Jordan Mann Skating, offering power skating clinics to hockey players. A frequent ISI conference presenter, he holds ISI University designations of Certified Arena Manager (CAM), Certified Arena Operator (CAO), Certified Arena Programmer (CAP), Certified Skating Director (CSD) and Advanced Certified Skating Director (ACSD).
SPRING 2018 25
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