Dallas Ice Jets

So the coach has asked you to be team manager. Now what?

First, the basics.

Each team manager is given an Ice Jets handbook with guidelines for establishing team administration quickly and efficiently.  This will give you instructions for gathering player information (jersey number, apparel sizing, birth certificate, and required USA Hockey paperwork) and contact details (player and parents’ mobile numbers, email addresses). You’ll also find instructions for submitting your roster to the registrar, enlisting team volunteers, assembling a team book, ice scheduling, setting up your team website page, budgeting help, and more in the handbook.

Additionally, much information can be found online via these useful links:

USA Hockey

Most players already have current USA Hockey memberships. But they may not have the paperwork. It’s really easy to get a duplicate copy. Go to https://www.usahockeyregistration.com/duplicate_request_input.action and put in player last name, birth date, and zip code. A confirmation and member number will be sent to the email used when registering online. Parents can either print and give you a copy, or email the file.

USA Hockey forms (consent to treat, code of conduct) are also on the Ice Jets website, http://www.icejets.com/page/show/43409-documents

Background screenings

All coaches and team volunteers who are with the players on a regular basis must have background checks. The Ice Jets use NCSISafe.  http://www.ncsisafe.com/  To see if your coach or volunteer has a completed screening, go to TAHA, http://taha.pucksystems2.com/page/show/24271-background-screening  and look at the Excel file, “Background screenings” at the top.  Information for getting background screenings completed is also in your team manager’s handbook.

TAHA travel permits

If your team is traveling out of town, you’ll need to complete a travel permit for TAHA. Information and form is here, http://taha.pucksystems2.com/page/show/24289-forms

Beyond the logistics of organizing a team’s season, the manager has many roles.

Be a facilitator

A team manager is someone who helps parents and players understand common objectives for the team without taking a particular position in the discussion. This means not discussing with parents player ice time, line combinations, perceived poor officiating, unfair scheduling, whatever. The best team managers facilitate and administrate a team with the utmost professionalism without getting caught up in the negative energy that can sometimes snowball to the detriment of the team.

Be a communicator

Each week send an “Ice Jets this week” email reminding players of practice times and games. Also include any new information you might have from the previous week, such as tournament or travel plans, photography shoots, team building activities, Ice Jets events or activities, and so forth. It is also a good opportunity to thank parents who help you, whether it is for bringing water bottles, providing sports drinks or energy bars to the kids, organizing hotel accommodations, or monitoring the locker room, for example.

When you have late-breaking changes, text players and parents via a group message system on your mobile. Follow-up with an email and also post to the website. It’s important to have information readily available in a variety of channels and modes.

In addition to weekly emails, keep your team page current. Encourage parents to use it as a resource for the most up-to-date information. Include as much information as you can – team news, party planning, tournament announcements, school information – and photos and videos of your team.  If your team has done something noteworthy (volunteering in community, tournament results, for example) ask that a tweet be sent for those who follow @icejetshockey on Twitter to note the accomplishment. The Ice Jets also have a Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ice-Jets-Hockey/208605783138

Be an ambassador

When you are scheduling games or working with other associations, please be prompt in your responses and attentive to the communication from other team managers. You are, as team manager, representing the Ice Jets. We value our relationships with other organizations and ask that you do the same. The road of respect goes both ways.

People to know

The Ice Jets are blessed with many volunteers who help the organization and its members. If you have questions about team management, here are three longtime managers who are available to help:

Allison Box allisonbox@sbcglobal.net 214-215-1705

Kim Dzumba kmdzumba@gmail.com 214-674-0927

Cindy James texasjamesgang@verizon.net 817- 907-8437

If your question is related to payments or financial information, contact Tamye Fallon, Ice Jets business manager. Tamye’s email is hckymom142@yahoo.com and her mobile, 951-218-2128.

Please use these resources whenever you need help. It’s a rewarding job being a team manager, and it takes time and dedication. The best of team managers can make a bad season better and a good season great.