November 20, 2007 Association Presidents & TAHA Representatives: An update of TAHA activities is long overdue, so please find below some newsworthy items in bullet format to review and take action where appropriate. If anyone has questions, please forward them along. Happy holidays and safe travels to everyone… • New website - TAHA recently launched its new website at www.tahahockey.org, much to the efforts of webmaster Tanya Brewer. The site is full of old and new information, including a list of upcoming events, so everyone is encouraged to visit and see for yourself. All of the support documents for topics listed below resides on the website. • Association contacts - Please find attached the latest contact list for all TAHA associations registered with USA Hockey. The list is also posted on the website under the top tab "Associations", and has easy-to- use sort features. A rep from each association is strongly encouraged to review their association contacts and provide me with new or corrected contact info. • Hockey Weekend Across America - Feb 15-17, 2008, has been designated by USA Hockey as a way to celebrate our game and all involved in the sport, as well as provide opportunities for those who haven't played hockey to try it. More info is available by going to www.usahockey.com and clicking on "Hockey Weekend Across America" icon in lower right. • 24-Hour Hockey Game - has been scheduled by USA Hockey to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation. Feb 29-Mar 1, 2008, has been designated for each state to participate. The concept is fairly straightforward, each of the lower 48 states will play a 30-min runtime game, with Alaska and Hawaii each playing a 30-min runtime "overtime". A running score will be kept at usahockey.com with one team being the "Stars" and other "Stripes". The designated start times for Texas and Oklahoma is 2:30am and 3:00am, respectively. Any teams wanting to play a 30min game in the wee hours of the morning should contact me directly. More info is also available on www.usahockey.com by clicking on the "IIHF 100 1908-2008" icon in the lower right. • Association Grants - are available for new and creative ideas to "grow" the game of hockey, commensurate with the goal of USA Hockey. Membership for the 2006-07 season was nearly 570,000, which is down slightly from the year before. New ideas to foster growth of new players, youth to adult, should be submitted to Ted Skinner before Wed, Dec-19, to be considered by TAHA. Grant amounts may vary from $500-$2000 to help Associations implement their ideas this season. • Sportsmanship - Complaints of youth game scores such as 20-1, 18-2, and so on have been fielded this season. Candidly, I see absolutely no benefit to any team running up the score on another team, nor any coach who pushes their team to do so. I strongly encourage teams and coaches to exercise good sportsmanship at all times, regardless of how good you are or think you are. Technology like PointStreak is a wonderful tool, but lets not get carried away with goals and assists for sake of teaching sportsmanship and life lessons. • Match Penalties - A total of 19 match penalties have been called in Texas since June. Of this total, 9 have been 601.g penalties for abuse of officials (adults & HS), 4 were not enforceable (incorrect scoresheet, incomplete incident reports, etc), 3 for kicking, and 3 for intent to injure. All matches were called on players. Again, I encourage players and coaches to respect the game, its rules, and others who play the game. • Coaching Certification - As far as I can tell, only 1 coaching certification class is left in 2007 in Texas & Oklahoma (level 3 in OKC on 12/2). For those coaches who need level 4, the only class left is in Brewster, NY on 12/7. Teams with coaches who need further certification need to either travel to other states or renew online (level 3 only). One-time temp cards are available, but only for those who haven't exercised this option before. • ACE Program - TAHA reps should review the attached contact list and provide any updates on your ACE Coordinator contact. TAHA's ACE Coordinator Angie Schneider distributes invaluable information at least monthly, so it would be extremely to each association for the right person to get the information so he or she can quickly make distribution. • Coaches Not Wearing Helmets - Reports continue to come in about coaches not wearing helmets on the ice during practice. No person is above the rules, and the USA Hockey rule for ALL coaches on the ice to wear helmets has been in place since last season. Putting aside the fact that helmets are for their own safety, all coaches should lead by example and follow the rules, which apply to all coaches of house, youth, high school, and girls teams. • Background Screenings - So far for the 2007-08 season, a total of 596 coaches have been registered in Texas & Oklahoma, as compared to less than 500 coaches that background screenings have been received on so far. Associations need to get their screenings in as soon as possible in order for coaches to be included on their approved 1T rosters. • Standards of Play - USA Hockey has created a new video that clarifies the new standards of play rolled out last season. Coaches and players are encouraged to visit www.usahockey.com and click on the Standard of Play icon in lower right to view for yourself for free. • Skills & Drills DVD - Coaches and players are also encouraged to consider purchase of the new Skills & Drills DVD available on www.usahockey.com by clicking on the icon on the lower right of the homepage. Cost of the DVD is $50 ea or $400 for 10. I've seen the video myself, and find it to be well worth the money. Ted Skinner President - TAHA Home: (281) 395-2484 Office: (713) 296-3719 Cell: (713) 201-9150 Fax: (713) 513-6089 Email: TESkinner@MarathonOil.com