This is the part of the series that we’ve been most looking forward to.  Not that the other parts weren’t important.  If you’re going to try and make things better, it helps to know what’s working and what isn’t.  After all, we don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater…

What we’re about to get into, though, is essentially why we created INHockey.net — to grow the game of hockey in the Hoosier State!  We LOVE hockey!  And we’re committed to doing everything in our power to provide more opportunities to get in the game and have your hockey experience be rewarding and memorable.  But two crazy guys and a little website aren’t going to fix it all.  Far from it!  

It’s going to require something from everyone.  Big or small, it’s going to take the entire village to raise this child.  When you read this last installment, use it to find a way that YOU can make a difference.  You might find something here that resonates with you, or you may think of a completely new idea.  Either way, if you love hockey… help it grow.

If you hadn’t guessed already, this is the first thing that needs to happen:

Solution #1 - Get Involved

Running a quality youth hockey program - and this includes high school and midg… I mean, U16 & U18… requires a small army of volunteers.  Even in those pricey travel programs, those dues only go so far.  Your local youth association can always use scorekeepers, penalty box attendants, clock operators, registration helpers, tournament workers, SafeSport coordinators … just to name a few.  With the younger age groups, extra hands are needed both on and off the ice.  There’s no such thing as too much help when it comes to tying skates, putting on gear, shagging pucks, corralling kids, wiping noses, and all the other little needs of tiny skaters.  (Seriously!  We’ve all seen “A Christmas Story”… just as soon as you get all that gear on, inevitably someone needs to go potty!)

This doesn’t mean you have to become a coach, join the board, or commit every free moment from October to March.  Just because some of us do, doesn’t mean we all do.  Work a game, bring snacks, help with a fundraiser — just do something!  Typically, it tends to be the same small handful of folks who willingly volunteer for every task under the sun.  That is, until they burn out.  Or get sick.  Or can’t make it for one reason or another.  Then what?  The old saying that “many hands make light work” was probably made up by a youth hockey volunteer coordinator.

Youth hockey is where it all starts.  This is when they learn to love the game, to become a fan for life, to want to give back when they get older.  In order to become great, you gotta start small.

Solution #2 - Help the little guys

There’s one simple wish that every youth hockey director has… more involvement by the local pro / college / high school team.  It doesn’t matter if you’re the starting center for the Indy Fuel or the third string goaltender for your high school ‘B’ team.  In the eyes of a young player, you’re a hero.  An idol.  A role model.  Just see how they look at you when you step out of the dressing room in your uniform.  It’s impossible to miss.  Unfortunately, it’s seems to be far too easy for many to ignore.

Wanna sell more tickets?  Get more involved in the youth programs.  Mom and Dad might be the ones with the cash, but it’s those little ‘puppy-dog eyes’ pleading to go to a game that really puts fannies in the seats.  My son and his teammates often enjoy watching their coach play in his men’s league.  Mind you, it’s not because of the outstanding hockey action (no offense, guys!) but because of the connection.

I know that PR departments get inundated with calls for appearances and sponsorship, and that as good members of the community they try to honor as many requests as possible.  But when youth coaches and directors comment that they get little if any support from their professional or college cohorts, there’s something wrong.  These businesses (not a derogatory term) are missing the boat.  Youth players are the foundation of the fan base!  They are the ones who beg to go to a game,  eat nearly their bodyweight in concession fare, and drag their parents to the pro shop desperate for a souvenir.  These are the kids who sign up for the teams, camps, and clinics in hopes of one day donning their favorite team’s sweater.  And someday, they become the parents of children who love and play hockey just like they did…

If we’re going to grow the game in our state, it starts at the top.  Don’t wait for the youth programs to come calling.  We need the college and pro teams to go out of their way to make connections with the youth associations.  Send players to practices, even if it’s just a ‘meet & greet’.  Give tickets for special accomplishments such as good report cards, volunteering, etc.  Send the Ice Girls to a youth game or tournament (although this may prove to be somewhat distracting to more than a few youngsters).

High School teams must be held to the same level of involvement, if not even more so.  These kids are your future prospects!  Put it this way:  If YOU don't help develop their talents and fuel their passion, what kind of players will eventually show up at your tryouts?

Yes, coaches are busy and they have day jobs and families that require their time and attention, and high school athletes tend to have scheduled jam-packed from dawn to well past dusk.  But just think of how much free time you'll have when your team folds because of a lack of talent and interest...

It shouldn't - and doesn't - require a huge commitment to make a difference.  Volunteer an hour one day a week to help out at practice.  You don't have to be Scotty Bowman to teach kids how to skate or pass; you just have to show up.  Or become an official and work the house league games.  There's not a lot of pressure at that level, and there's always a need for referees.  Plus, seeing the game from that perspective will serve to make you a better player as well.  Have your team plan an instructional camp for younger players and host it during the winter or spring break.  The parents will love you for it, the kids will have a blast, and you'll be glad you did it.

Speaking of teaching, there's an easy and affordable way to introduce kids to the sport...

Solution #3 - Get Off The Ice!

The issue with only helping the local youth hockey program is that those kids are already involved with the sport.  In order to grow the game, efforts must be made to tap into new markets and attract new fans.

As the old saying goes, "If Mohammed can't come to the mountain, take the mountain to Mohammed."  Now you can't just pack up the rink and haul it around with you, but you can take the game just about anywhere.  We're talking about Floorball.

Not quite the same as street hockey or floor hockey, Floorball is an adaptable and affordable version of the game you can play just about anywhere.  There might not be an ice arena within a hundred miles, but you can still create new hockey fans in the gym, or community center, or even the parking lot.

Floorball uses durable, lightweight sticks that are easy for players of any size or ability to handle.  The rules prohibit most contact and encourage passing, making it an ideal way to teach positioning, teamwork, and cooperation.  No special equipment is required, and you don't even need a goalie (although you can use one if you happen to have one around).

Because the game is so adaptable, it's a perfect fit for off-season hockey conditioning, school-based physical education curriculums, or community center programming.  Floorball provides a genuine hockey experience for everyone regardless of their access to ice.  And it's a perfect fit for pro, college, and high school teams looking for a way to connect with their community without breaking the budget.

And while we're on the subject of connections...

Solution #4 - All Together Now!

It's one thing to be competitors on the ice, but off the ice we should be working together for the good of the game.  As I mentioned in a previous installment, "a rising tide lifts all boats."

Professional hockey players are some of the toughest competitors in all of sports.  Fierce rivals from first whistle to last.  Ever wonder then why sworn enemies during the season practice together in the off-season?  It's because they have a burning desire to be the best.  And to be the best, they must learn from the best.

If the pros - whose very livelihood depends on their level of success - are willing to work together for the good of the game, shouldn't we all?  Good ideas shouldn't be guarded like secrets of national security.  They should freely shared for the betterment of hockey.

The Fort Wayne Hockey Association one group that's on the right track.  Their recently announced consolidation under one organization isn't necessarily the proper path in every location but in circumstances like theirs, it's ideal.  The Fort Wayne High School Hockey Association got the ball rolling with their cooperative effort, paving the way for the youth association and their sponsors to jump in.  As details emerge from this initiative, others would be wise to pay close attention.

Teams and organizations need to work to develop a strong working relationship from one end of the state to the other.  There needs to be regular communication amongst all the programs, with the intent of making hockey in Indiana as good as it can get.

If you hadn't picked up on the subtlety here, I'm talking about establishing our own state association.  No offense to Mid-Am, but in the big scheme of things, we're small potatoes compared to Ohio or Western Pennsylvania.  We don't blame them (much).  Those two account for four times as many players as Indiana.  But that also means our needs often get ignored.

Indiana deserves leadership whose sole focus is on us; whose very purpose is to support our associations.  If we are serious about growing the game here, we need the collective wisdom of the state's best hockey minds behind the creation of the Indiana Hockey Association.  (Yes, we thought it was a brilliant idea as well, although we prefer the name Indiana Hockey Alliance.  Feel free to use it - it's cool with us.)

Solution #5 - Invest In Infrastructure

This one's a biggie, and not an easy one to address.  But in order to grow, there needs to be more opportunities.  Yet when ice arenas have packed schedules, what other option is there?

Expansion is happening, but it's a slow process.  Trine University is building an $8 million arena for their new hockey programs, but it's their partnership with the YMCA and other community organizations that will help things blossom in the Angola area.

Indiana Ice Arenas, the facility management arm of the Indy Fuel organization, has a grand plan to add additional ice throughout Central Indiana.  Combined with the recent merger of South Indy Youth Hockey and the Jr. Fuel, hockey on the south side of Indy is poised to explode!

It's not as simple as just slapping up an arena and boom!  You've got hockey.  "Build it and they will come" only really happens in Iowa corn fields.  But someone has to build it, and there has to be someplace where it can thrive.  Still, these things take time, but fortunately for a couple communities it's happening sooner rather than later.

Now this one takes a bit of explaining, so bear with me...

Solution #6 - Support INHockey.net

Yes, we know... it's a shameless  and self-serving plug, but it's only because we've already started on some of the things mentioned above.  No, we're not building an ice arena (although we did go down that road a ways...)

But we ARE  building bridges between organizations, establishing relationships with folks across the state at all levels.  We're working with various teams and associations to develop new and unique programming .  We've partnered with Generation Floorball to bring the game to underserved markets.  We've teamed up with SportsEngine to bring the best in online connectivity to any organization.

But two guys (with families and day jobs, mind you) can't do it alone.  We need your help.

Since we can't be everywhere at once, we need teams and organizations to use us as a conduit to promote their successes and their initiatives.  Provide us with scores and stories.  Let us spread the word about your camps and clinics.  By working with us, we can  help others around the state know what's happening in your area.

Want to start a Floorball program?  We'll work with your youth organization or school district to get things up and running.  Hosting a tournament?  Promote it though our website and we'll help get the word out. 

There's a whole host of ways we can help you grow hockey in your area.  It's why we're here.  We want to be Indiana's Hockey Hub!

Our apologies if that last part sounded like a commercial, but it couldn't be helped.  We'd promote other sites or groups that are offering similar services, but to our knowledge... there aren't any.  At least, none that are dedicated strictly to Indiana hockey.

The last word...

We've covered a lot over these four installments.  Honestly though, we could have gone five, eight, ten, or more parts and possibly still not covered everything.

If there is one big takeaway -- just one thing we'd want you to get out of these pages... hockey here in Indiana may be small, but it has great potential.  Provided, that is, that you're willing to do your part.  And if you're not sure how you can help, ask around in your area.  Odds are, there's bound to be someone who can help put your talents to work.

Or you can always ask us.  We're happy to help.