After (seemingly) a lifetime of involvement in youth hockey, I have a confession to make: I have never been a team manager. While spending the better part of 12 seasons as an administrator in our local association (and even longer involved in the game), I wore many hats and worked with countless team managers over the years – but always told my kids (and anyone else that asked why I wasn’t a manager) that I was giving other parents the “opportunity” to be involved.
And, as my daughter just said to me, “you almost made it.” This year, my youngest is playing 18U and the coach caught me in a moment of weakness – alas, I can now add Team Manager to my resume. The upside is this – while I am a new manager, I’m not NEW new. And now, I get to quite literally practice what I/we preach here at the Think Tank.
So, I figured with the season kicking off for many youth organizations, this week’s blog post should be an assist to our beloved managers, without whom – as I was just told in an email – “there are no teams” (identity withheld to protect the innocent). Without further ado, here we go with:
Top 5 Things a Youth Hockey Manager Can Do to Start the Season
A youth hockey team manager plays a big role in helping shape the team’s culture, setting the tone for the season, and ensuring that players, coaches, and parents are aligned with the team’s goals. Working closely with the coach and then helping to communicate the team’s expectations & accountability structure can help foster team unity by creating an environment where everyone thrives both on and off the ice. Here are the top five things a team manager can do to ensure a great season:
1. Administrative Organization, Logistics, & Team Finances
The team manager generally handles the logistical and administrative tasks, allowing the coach to focus on player development and game strategy. This can include managing registration, ensuring all paperwork (like medical forms, waivers, and player agreements) is completed, and organizing team rosters. They also might schedule practices, games, and team events, coordinate travel arrangements, and manage communication with parents and players. Every organization has their own processes for registration and payment, but regardless of the process, the team manager is involved in some way, either directly or indirectly.
More often than not, the team manager oversees the logistical aspects of running the team, such as organizing equipment, securing ice time, and ensuring that uniforms are ordered and distributed. For home games, managers are generally tasked with ensuring there are clock operators, scoresheet volunteers, penalty box parents, and that referees are scheduled. This logistical support ensures that practices and games run smoothly, freeing the coach to focus on preparing the team.
The team manager often handles the financial aspects of the team, including collecting fees, managing the budget, and coordinating fundraising efforts. By managing the team’s finances, the manager ensures that the coach doesn’t have to worry about the financial side of the season.
2. Communication Liaison
The team manager acts as the primary point of contact between the coach, parents, and players. They ensure that everyone is informed about the season’s schedule, team expectations, and any updates. This helps reduce the coach’s workload by minimizing the need for them to handle these communications, allowing them to concentrate on developing the players on and off the ice. The manager is also the primary point person between their team (coaches, players, parents) and their club/organization; all roads go through the team manager.
3. Expectations and Team Culture
At the start of the season, the team manager collaborates with the coach to set the tone for team culture. This includes helping to communicate the behavior expectations, team goals, and standards for accountability as set forth by the coaches. The manager often facilitates meetings with parents and players to ensure everyone understands and is aligned with the coach’s vision for the season.
4. Organize Team-Building Activities & Facilitating Parent Involvement
Team-building activities off the ice are just as important as practice on the ice. Organize events that allow players to bond outside of the competitive environment. This could be anything from a team dinner to a fun outing like laser tag or a movie night. These activities help build camaraderie, making it easier for players to trust and support each other during games. Stronger relationships off the ice often translate to better teamwork during competition.
The team manager helps organize parent volunteers for various roles, such as team fundraiser, scorekeeper, videographer, stat-tracker, or snack coordinator (for younger ages). By coordinating these roles, the manager ensures that the coach has a solid support system, allowing them to focus on coaching rather than managing these tasks.
5. Celebrate, Reflect, and Learn – Together
Creating a culture that celebrates successes and learns from setbacks is crucial for long-term growth. Encourage your parents and players after each game, win or lose, to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. The car ride home is NOT for parents to be coaches – it’s for parents to help their player reflect, reset, learn and move forward – win or lose; Celebrate not just the victories, but also the efforts and progress made. This approach helps to instill a growth mindset, where players understand that every experience is an opportunity to learn and improve. By encouraging your parents and players to adopt these habits, you’ll foster resilience and a collective commitment to the team’s goals.
Bottom Line
The start of the season can be stressful for everyone involved, and the team manager serves as a sounding board and source of moral support for the coach. A successful youth hockey season is about more than just winning games; it’s about building a strong, positive team culture. By establishing behavior expectations, promoting accountability, encouraging open communication, organizing team-building activities, and celebrating together, a team manager can help create an environment where everyone can develop and succeed.
