Basics Program Overview

The Basics program is a non-contact class for the beginning hockey player who has limited ice-skating or ice hockey experience. It is suitable both for novice ice skaters with no hockey background and for roller hockey players making the transition to ice. Basics provides a fun, safe place to learn the rudiments of the game and to develop skating proficiency. Graduates of the program are generally ready to enjoy playing on a House team or to try out for a travel team.

A typical Basics program consists of ten, one-hour sessions over a period of ten weeks. The club minimizes the equipment expense for this introductory program by providing each player with a helmet, gloves and a hockey stick free of charge. The Redwood Empire Ice Arena provides skates, also free of charge. Parents may want to consider having their players wear roller hockey elbow and kneepads to help protect against falls. The intent of the equipment-lending facility is to let the players have a chance to enjoy the sport and get the feel of the gear before they invest in a set of their own.

The instructors in the Basics program are coaches trained in the USA Hockey Coaching Education Program and certified by USA Hockey. In addition, the coaches often use veteran travel team players to assist with instruction and to demonstrate techniques.

The focus of the program is on learning hockey skills for which skating proficiency is the foundation. It is helpful to participants to have some confidence on their skates before enrolling, but all skaters are welcome. Regardless of a player's skating proficiency, the club encourages them to simultaneously enroll in the group hockey skating lessons offered by the Redwood Empire Ice Arena. We have found that even a few sessions of professional skating instruction are a great confidence-builder and increase the player's enjoyment of the game.

'See the registration forms for costs, which includes weekly skate rental from the rink and a jersey to keep. If equipment is borrowed from the club a fully refundable deposit of $75 is also required. Please contact Lori Spence at srjhc@yahoo.com or call (707) 539-6635 with questions regarding registration or for any other information about the program.

(Note: BASICS PLAYERS must register with USA HOCKEY prior to getting on the ice. To do so, go to USAhockey, click on the box marked "Online Registration" and you will be guided through the process. Have a Visa or Mastercard ready. Print out the confirmation receipt and attach it to the registration packet. Contact Angela Walter (Registrar) at www.IFLYAA89@aol.com with any questions