Parma Hockey Mite Parent Guide

Whether your child is brand new to hockey or moving up from Mini Mites, welcome to Parma Hockey! This page is designed to help answer common questions and guide families through the Mite season. Use the sections below to quickly find information about placement skates, schedules, volunteering, tournaments, and more.

Parma's Mites will have 3-4 ice touches per week, including practices and games.

All players participate in a weekly ADM practice focused on station-based skill development. These sessions maximize puck touches, skating repetitions, and age-appropriate skill progression.

Blue teams begin cross-ice games in December. White and Red teams begin half-ice games in October. The season for all Mite levels typically ends in February.

Typical Weekly Schedule

(Schedules vary by team and level.)

• 1 ADM Practice
• 1–2 Team Practices
• 1–2 Weekend Games

Before placement skates, an email will be sent to all registered Mite families with a link to the Jersey Number Request Form. If your player needs a jersey number, please complete the form. Families will be asked to provide their player's top three jersey number choices and contact information.

PHA uses a jersey numbering system designed to minimize the chance of players with the same number being placed on the same team. As a result, your first-choice number may not be available. If none of your requested numbers can be assigned, the PHA Registrar will contact you before assigning an alternative number.

Once assigned, the jersey number will appear in Crossbar, and the PHA Registrar will confirm the assignment via email.

PHA jerseys are ordered through Pure Hockey during two ordering windows each year:

Spring Jersey Store (Late May): For returning Mites, Red 1 Mites, and players in older divisions.

Fall Jersey Store (August): For new and returning Mite players who still need jerseys for the upcoming season, including Mini Mites moving up to Mites.

When placing your order, please carefully review your player's name and jersey number before submitting. PHA is not responsible for replacement costs resulting from incorrect information entered during the ordering process.

Important Note: Jerseys ordered during the August ordering window may not arrive before preseason activities begin. If needed, contact your team manager about borrowing a PHA jersey and coordinating socks until your order arrives.

Each Mite team is responsible for raising funds to help cover expenses such as tournaments, team events, and other team activities. Team managers and coaches will communicate fundraising opportunities and expectations throughout the season.

Fundraising expectations vary by team and may include:

• Sponsorships
• Team events (car washes, wing nights, bowling nights, etc.)
• Fundraising initiatives (football squares, raffle baskets, and similar activities)

Parma Hockey encourages tournament participation at the Mite level as part of a fun and memorable hockey experience.

Tournament participation, locations, and the number of events are determined by each team's coaching staff. Coaches are encouraged to communicate with families when planning tournament schedules to help balance availability, travel, and costs.

Tournament expenses and travel expectations vary by team.

All Parma Hockey families are required to review and sign the PHA Code of Conduct during registration.

The Code of Conduct outlines expectations for players, parents, coaches, managers, and spectators and helps ensure a positive, respectful, and development-focused environment for everyone involved in Parma Hockey. Failure to follow the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action in accordance with PHA policies and bylaws.

By signing the Code of Conduct, families agree to:

• Demonstrate good sportsmanship on and off the ice.
• Treat players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and other families with respect.
• Support a positive, safe, and encouraging environment for all participants.
• Follow PHA, CSHL, USA Hockey, and SafeSport policies and guidelines.
• Promote player development, teamwork, commitment, accountability, and respect for the game.
• Utilize the 24-Hour Rule when addressing concerns with coaches, managers, or team personnel.

PHA encourages respectful, direct, and constructive communication between families, coaches, and volunteers. Our shared goal is to provide a positive environment focused on player development, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

If concerns arise, families are encouraged to follow the communication path below:

• Utilize the 24-hour rule before addressing concerns following a game or practice.
• Speak directly with the team manager and/or coach.
• If you are uncomfortable speaking with the coach or manager, contact your Board Member level representative or Conflict Resolution Coordinator for guidance and support navigating the conflict resolution process.

⭐Arrive early, getting dressed takes time at first.

⭐Label all equipment to help prevent lost items.

⭐An extra neck guard is always a good idea.

⭐Players' confidence grows every week, trust the process!

⭐Focus on effort, development, and fun rather than wins and losses.

⭐Every player's hockey journey looks different. Development happens at different paces, and that's completely normal.

⭐If you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to your coach, team manager, or a board member. We are always happy to help you navigate the hockey world!

Absolutely! Many players begin hockey at the Mite level, and coaches work to support players of all experience levels. We strongly encourage all new hockey players to start in our Mini Mite program, which runs October through February. More information can be found on our Mini Mite Page.

Teams are formed following placement skates using independent evaluations. Players are grouped with others of similar skill levels to provide the best developmental environment possible.

As players develop at different rates, team assignments may change from season to season. Returning players are not guaranteed to remain with the same teammates each year.

No. Parma Hockey does not place players strictly by birth year.

Instead, players are placed based on skill level and developmental needs to provide the best environment for growth and confidence. This philosophy continues throughout older age divisions as well.

Weekly practices for all teams begin after placement skates in August.

For Blue teams, the season begins in September with practices focused on skill development, with cross-ice games starting in December.

For White and Red levels, preseason games typically begin in October, with regular season games starting in November.

Mite players are encouraged to try all positions, including goalie. Quick-change goalie equipment is available for team use, and players typically do not specialize as a goalie until later in their hockey development. Mite coaches are encouraged to rotate players throughout the season to give everyone an opportunity to play goalie during games.

CSHL games are generally local within Northeast Ohio, though tournament travel varies by team.

Players should generally arrive 45 minutes before practices and games to allow time to get dressed and ready. Parents should confirm arrival expectations with their coach, as team requirements may vary.

We understand that families have other commitments and that kids get sick. Please confirm attendance expectations and communication procedures with your coach and team manager at the start of the season.

This is completely normal, especially for first-year players. Confidence, skating ability, and hockey skills develop at different rates. Coaches focus on creating a positive environment where players can learn, improve, and have fun.

If you notice that your player is struggling, we encourage you to have a conversation with your coach or team manager about how everyone can best support their development and enjoyment of the game.

Many players participate in spring hockey, skills clinics, camps, or other development opportunities, though these are entirely optional and up to each family. Information about Parma Hockey offseason programs, skating sessions, and development opportunities will be communicated as they become available.

Parma Hockey communicates primarily through email and team communication apps (Telegram and Crossbar) selected by your coach or team manager. Families should regularly check their email for important updates regarding schedules, registration, team activities, and association events.

If you are not receiving emails from Parma Hockey, please contact your team manager or a board member for assistance.

Per USA Hockey SafeSport guidelines, parents and relatives are not permitted in PHA locker rooms.

The only approved adults allowed in locker rooms are rostered coaches, assistant coaches, managers, and designated locker room monitors who have completed all required SafeSport training and background screenings.

These policies are in place to ensure the safety, privacy, and protection of all players.

Parma Hockey is a volunteer-driven organization, and there are many ways to get involved. Families can volunteer as coaches, team managers, scorekeepers, clock operators, and event volunteers.

If you're interested in becoming more involved, please visit our Volunteer Opportunities section above or contact a board member. We are always looking for families who want to help make Parma Hockey a great experience for our players!

We encourage families to ask questions! Your coach and team manager are often the best first point of contact for team-specific questions. For association-related questions, please contact a board member or email parmahockeyassoc@gmail.com.