Congratulations on becoming a first-year hockey team manager! Managing a hockey team can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it can also be overwhelming if you don’t have a plan in place. Here are some tips to help you survive your first year as a hockey team manager:

1. Establish communication channels: It’s important to have clear and consistent communication with coaches, players, parents, and more. 

    • Coach 

You will be working with the coach to build team camaraderie and you want to know the coach’s preferred way of communicating. Your coach may have a specific way they want you to communicate their wishes with the team. It can be helpful to set up a schedule of when is good to talk about the team’s or coach’s needs or directives. Have an agreed-upon turnaround time for decisions and replies.

    • Parents

Set up an email list and group chat so everyone is on the same page. Share with your team parents what the chain of command is with the involvement or communication with the coach-to-parent protocol. More about getting the parents involved in number 4, Delegating…

    •  Teams you are playing
      • Home Games – Verify the opposing team has all the information they need for your home games. Time, rink location, and any other important information.
      • Away Games – Verify the rink location, time of the game, if you need penalty box attendees, and any other important information.
        • Parking
        • Snack Bar or other food options, might be a great time for a team meal after the game
    •  Tournaments 
      • Initial Tournament Registration
      • Sharing forms and stats: including USA Hockey Roster, rooming list, and team game stats
      • Things to do in town and places to eat during the tournament

 

  • 2. Keep track of schedules and game details: Make sure you have access to all the necessary information about game schedules, locations, and any special requirements -equipment, uniforms, and transportation.

 

3. Be organized: Keep all team-related documents and information collected in a single place, whether it’s a physical folder or an online storage system. This will help you stay on top of things and ensure you can quickly access any information you need while you are at games, practices, and tournaments.

4. Delegate responsibilities: There are so many things you are responsible for in providing a great hockey season. Create a team list of volunteer opportunities and share it with the team. You’ll be surprised to find out who the shutterbug and videographers will be.

    • Scorekeepers
    • Penalty Box Attendees
    • Team Photographer/Videographer
    • Fundraising Crew
    • Fun Committee – finding things to do for the team at home games, summer get-togethers, away games, and tournaments

5. Coordinate transportation: Encourage carpooling and connecting families driving from the same areas.

6. Assist with fundraising: If your team needs to fundraise, be an active participant in the process. Help organize events and keep everyone informed about progress toward fundraising goals. Check with your team parents to see who may have great fundraising ideas or connections.

7. Build team morale: Foster team spirit by organizing team-building events or social activities. Encourage players and parents to support each other both on and off the ice. Many hockey teammates become great lifelong friends and you can be part of facilitating this incredible hockey bond.

8. Manage game-day logistics: Make sure all game-day logistics are in place, including scheduling referees, setting up the rink, and arranging for any necessary supplies -water bottles, snacks, first aid kit.

9. Be prepared for emergencies: Have a plan in place for dealing with emergencies, such as injuries or inclement weather.

10. Ask for help: Be bold and ask for help from other team managers or coaches. They may have valuable insights and advice to share.

These tips will help ensure your first year as a hockey team manager is a success. We know it’s a big commitment and we are grateful for the hockey team managers! You are a special part of your team. Good luck, and have fun!

We hope you have an awesome hockey season! 

Want more tips on having a great hockey tournament experience, follow us on Social Media. We share what our tournament attendees have to say and our tournament experiences and tips daily. With 30 years experience of organizing youth hockey tournaments, we are the go-to for a great tournament experience. We look forward to having your team participate in a Showdown Tournament!