GSC - Travel Team
Manager Handbook 2020-21
Overall Description and Season Responsibilities:
● Communication with parents regarding season start up, weekly schedules and changes to schedule, tournament details, special events
o Weekly email with events for upcoming week
o Special emails as needed or requested by coaches or GSC hockey
● Support for coaches-talk to them at start of season to finalize how/what you will be doing
o Coordinate getting team jerseys, practice jerseys, socks (and pucks for first practice, if needed)
o Any other messages they would like to send to team
● Developing team roster sheets and stickers-templates provided
● Contact with other team’s managers-game confirmation, sticker and score sheet exchange-usually the team scheduler confirms the games unless there are special circumstances
● Collecting score sheets and entering scores into CHC website-talk to your team scheduler-they often take on this responsibility-but you should be able to go in to your team then results then edit the scores
● Coordinating Jersey distribution and return with players
● Ensuring time keeper volunteers are in place at the appropriate rink in advance (CPCT, Hommocks)
● It’s best to keep a team binder with pockets and tabs: official roster, score sheets, Lake Placid and/or Tournaments.
● Tournament Registration and coordination as needed
o Rosters, coordinating entry fee and details, hotel and meals
NOTE:
● Scheduling is typically done by the team scheduler and not by the manager
● Roster decisions are handled by the coach and not the manager
GSC Website Log in
· All managers have admin rights over their team on the GSC website. To log in with admin rights, use your email address and your personal password that you would use for any other functions on the site such as registrations, etc
· You can use this site to email the team but please note that it will not show the cc list so if someone else on the team wants to email the team, they cannot “reply all” to that email. Also, I have found that in many cases, parents want additional the messages sent to emails that may not be entered in League Athletics so just make sure you figure out what works best for your team.
USA Hockey/Safesport
· All managers must register with USA Hockey and forward their confirmation #s to Brent Brower at
. Please also copy me at lpratley@greenwichskatingclub.org. There is no charge to register.
· Go to: USAHockeyregistration.com. Choose “Register Now”. Then choose Ice Manager/volunteer and follow the prompts. It takes less than a minute.
· This year, all managers should also complete Safesport, an on line module that has typically been required for coaches and staff. Here is the link for safesport. You must first have your USA Hockey confirmation # in order to begin the training module. https://training.teamusa.org/store/details/8
Jersey Distribution and Collection
- Jerseys will be ready for hand out to team managers in early September, before the first practice. Games will most likey be scheduled after October 1st, though there may be a few exceptions
- A list of jersey #s and sizes will be included. We will also email you a copy of the list.
- Once you hand out jerseys, please return this list to lpratley@greenwichskatingclub.org so that we can keep a master list .
- You will use this list at the end of the season as players return their jerseys.
- Families will be charged $150 per jersey if they do not return them or if they are damaged beyond repair. If your team elects captains and players elect to add the “C” or “A’ to their jersey, they MUST NOT iron it on. It may be sewn on and should be removed before it is turned in. Please remind your players of this if the coach decides to elect captains!!
- Managers should send out an email to the team, asking them for their top 3 number choices based on the overall list you are given.
- Returning players to the same team should have first preference to keep their # or choose another
- Second year players should then get preference to keep their number or choose another
- Keep in mind that the player’s number from the previous season may not be included in your jersey options so you will need to manage with the #s you are given. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE SPECIAL JERSEY # REQUESTS! If the jersey # is not included in the team’s box, the player will have to choose a different #.
- Also note jersey sizes. If there are particularly smaller or bigger players on your team, that may affect what jersey # they can wear, based on what you are given
- At the end of the season, collect all jerseys and practice jerseys and document return based on roster
- Its easiest to collect jerseys at the final game of the season
- Please remind your families that there is a $150 charger per game jersey for those not returned
Team Roster Cards and Stickers
● Once you have finalized the jersey #s, you can start working on the team roster cards and stickers
● You will need 4 stickers for every game to be used on the score sheets
● Include coaches name and certification #s (CEP #’s). You may ask the coaches for their #s and if they don’t know them, you can look them up on USA Hockey http://www.usahockey.com/page/show/893024-cep-list
● Team roster stickers sample provided-you can replace the names and #s with those from your team
● You will need a package of 2” x 4” blank sticker sheets, 10 per sheet
● We will also post a link for the official USA hockey roster for your team once all of the USA Hockey #s are finalized. You can find the rosters on our website under Hockey/USA Hockey Rosters
● Contact card for parents sample included in email-these are the “old school way” -printed credit card size so that parents can keep them in their wallets for quick reference. You can also do these electronically. Its really whatever works for you and your team.
o If you choose the print version, you can print them yourself and either laminate them at home or at Staples
Weekly emails (sent out Sunday night or Monday morning)
· SUBJECT: ALWAYS use the same header, whatever you choose, i.e. "U12 hockey weekly" or “Squirt A This Week” (this helps recipients find or file if needed)
· Include the schedule for the week including practices and games with start and end times
· Away games: include the link for directions and or any necessary or helpful info (maybe parking info or GPS address if rink is tricky to find, etc)
· Add notes when applicable ("Chelsea - need score keeper...)
· Look ahead 2 weeks in case something different is coming that you want to mention. i.e. “Reminder: Lake Placid Tournament starts on Thursday!”
Pre-Game every week
· For every game, the Team Manager should bring the team binder and make sure it has:
o blank score sheets (provided in GSC office for home games)
○ Roster stickers (prepare in advance)-you will need 4 per game
○ We also recommend that you make a folder with extra blank score sheets and stickers to give to coach in case you are not at the game when pre-game sticker exchange takes place
· Rink & Game Planning - Different weekly requirements depending upon the rink:
○ Brunswick Rink: no scorekeeper is provided so you will need two volunteers. Bring a score sheet
○ Chelsea Piers Rink: no scorekeeper is provided so you will need two volunteers. Bring a score sheet
○ Mamaroneck - no scorekeeper is provided so you will need two volunteers. Bring a score sheet
○ Dorothy Hamill – GSC General Manager will confirm scorekeeper who will be a rink employee so you do NOT need parent volunteers. Bring a score sheet
○ GSC – scorekeepers are provided.
Score Sheets-CHC Score sheets
· CT Hockey will be using a four-part score sheet again this season.
o White and yellow copy to winning team
o Pink copy to losing team
o Gold copy to referees to take when needed
· All managers should keep a copy of every score sheet in their team binder. The State tournament directors will sometimes review the binder prior to the first state game.
· Score sheets are to be submitted to the division director, listed below by age group.
o For all ages except for Mite cross-ice, the winning team is responsible for submitting the score sheet (if it’s a tie game, the home team submits)
o All Mite cross-ice score sheets are to be submitted by the home team regardless of the outcome.
· There are three acceptable ways to submit score sheets to division director:
· Email of a scanned original
· Email of a cell phone photo of the original. (Note: Texting photos of score sheets will not be accepted).
· Mail in the white sheet.
PLEASE NOTE:
• All email submissions must be clear / legible, and full size
• A Division Director may request a re-scan, or an original if necessary to resolve any confusion or discrepancy.
Score Sheets-CGHL
· Post your scores on the GSC site-there is no paperwork that needs to be sent in
· Keep a binder or file with all score sheets in case there is a discrepancy at the end of the season
Lake Placid—Due to construction in Lake Placid, there are no tournaments in Lake Placid until January 2022. We are planning to send all 8 boys teams (SQ, PW, Bantam) to Lake Placid for the January 27-30 tournament. Here is what you need to know:
· GSC has a central tournament organizer (Lorin Pratley) that will secure the tournament dates, hotel, etc
· You will receive an email sometime near the beginning of the season that includes the Lake Placid information for you to send to your team
o Lake Placid registrations will again be handled on line. The system only allows one email per player so please contact your team to alert them that they will be receiving an email invite. Ask them for their preferred email address for this invite.
o once you have all of the addresses, you are ready to start the invite process
o please go to http://www.canamhockey.com
o use the following credentials to log in: Login ID is: lprat622@gmail.com and password is: gowings and then hit the button near the top that says My CAN/AM. REMEMBER TO LOG OUT WHEN YOU ARE DONE!
o once on the next screen, please find your team and click on MANAGE ROSTER-this is the screen that you use to add each player’s name and primary email. Also, please enter the coaches names and email addresses. I will send a separate email to the coaches letting them know how to proceed and I will try to deal with that part of the process as much as that as possible. Just enter all of your players and coaches and then hit SEND INVITES
o please stay on top of your parents. Can/Am wants everyone 60 days prior to the tournament. It’s a good idea to send an email letting everyone know to look for the invite from CanAM.
· While in Lake Placid, teams typically schedule a team dinner at a local restaurant for one of the nights-either Friday or Saturday
o If you are not familiar with the restaurants that are team friendly, you should ask your families for recommendations-there will be plenty!
o The challenge with scheduling this dinner is that you will not have your game schedule until 1-2 weeks before the tournament. The restaurants are very familiar with this dilemma and will certainly work with you
o There is also a team pizza party included in the tournament registration. You will receive more information on this and other details of the tournament about 1 week prior to the tournament start date.
Organizing Events and Team Parties-I am hoping we are able to have team parties like we did pre-Covid. Assuming we can, here are the guidelines.
● Each team has a food budget of up to $250 per team for ONE team party.
o This can be used for a pizza party, holiday party or a meal planned around a tournament.
o Managers or a team representative should organize and pay for the food and then submit receipts to Emily Sternberg for reimbursement.
· There will be other events and team meals that will require you to split a bill among players/families.
o The manager or team representative may pay the entire bill and then provide receipts with a detailed breakout of who should be charged what amount to Emily. She will add it to their monthly bill. If you can provide the list alphabetically, that is best and don’t forget to list your team name (SQA, SQB, etc)
o PLEASE make sure that the families know you are doing this to limit the # of questions to Emily. Also, please keep in mind that alcohol purchased during team meals can really add up and can cause inequities in the bill and how much people pay. When possible, it is best to have the parents run separate tabs for alcohol, or in the case of Lake Placid dinners, limit the alcohol to a pre-selected beer and wine and then have other alcohol paid for separately.
o Please send the billing to Emily in a timely manner to reduce questions and surprises on bills. Please copy me on the email so that when she has questions for me, I have some of the details.
· Most teams also enjoy a holiday gathering in December
o The holiday party with a team grab bag is usually scheduled during the week around a practice. (It is more difficult to hold the party on weekends around games as the upstairs tends to be more crowded and the grab bag adds an element of rowdiness!).
o To schedule your party, please email Lorin Pratley. We want to make sure that there is minimal overlap on the parties but with 14 teams trying to celebrate within a 1-2 week span, it is inevitable.
o It is easiest to either use your team party budget or get parents to volunteer to bring food.
o If you want to include a gift exchange for the players, we recommend gifts of around $15-$20
o Many teams choose to give a small gift to the coaches at this time as well. Typical gifts this past season were GSC pro shop items such as the navy ¼ zip for the men, logo cooler bags, etc
● Overnight Games
o Contact hotels to see if you can secure a group rate and then send info to parents via email with exactly what they need to do
o Organize team meals as appropriate or possible
● Some teams also organize an end of the year party, if timing allows
o Sometimes this is a dinner at states or just an informal gathering at GSC for the final home game, etc
· This year, we will again hold “Bantam Night” which will be held towards the end of the season. The event includes a cookout and 2 Bantam teams playing home games, as well as the rose ceremony for each team. Bantam managers will coordinate. There will also be a similar event planned for the girls U14 team.
Team Pictures
● Typically GSC schedules a photographer to take team and individual pictures.
· You will need to coordinate and remind players leading up to that night
· More info to follow later in the season once the photographer is scheduled
Contact Card Sample
