What does it take to have a successful Youth Hockey Program??  All families taking an active role within the program!!!

Mason City Youth Hockey is a non –profit youth centered organization.  As such, we rely on everyone involved in hockey to volunteer their time, talents, and treasure to support our children and help keep hockey a viable youth sport choice in North Iowa.  With the numerous and varied projects and jobs that are required to support youth and high school hockey as well as the Outlaws the following duties are required for the 2009-2010 hockey season:

Concession workers for Outlaw home games:  Money made from concession sales at Outlaw home games is kept by Mason City Youth Hockey Association. This financial agreement with the Outlaws requires MCYH to staff the concession stand for all Outlaw home games. The Board of Directors has looked at hiring staff to work the concession stand for the Outlaw games, however, this would considerably reduce our needed profits and at the same time it would undermine the volunteering nature of Mason City Youth Hockey. Therefore, the Board of Directors is requiring each family sign up to work two games this season.  You may choose to work two Outlaws games or one Outlaw game and one Mohawk game. The sign up sheet for these games will be at registration and you will be required to sign up for those two games prior to registering your child or children.

Many hands make light work:  For the past few years the number of parents volunteering to help in some way throughout the hockey season has been dwindling.  Without all of us pitching in to help with the various projects, games, arena responsibilities, etc…, we cannot keep our hockey program going.  We know that everyone is busy; unfortunately, this has become a cultural norm in our country. We believe that the more people that help out means that there is less work for everyone. The Board of Directors continues to explore different ways to help with this situation including mandatory volunteer hours with a buyout option for those who wish not to help out. As always Board members are open to any and all suggestions for other volunteer programs that have been successful.  However, if everyone just pitches in this will not be necessary.

Training: A required way that everyone can help out is to work at hockey games through out the season.  It doesn’t matter what level of hockey your player is at, each game requires parents to work in the concession stand, run the time clock, keep a score sheet, or announce the game.  Once the season starts and your player is drafted to a team your family will be assigned to be responsible for these positions. A schedule will be posted in the lobby of the arena with each game and who is required to work that game.  If you are not available for the game you are assigned it is your responsibility to switch or to find someone to fill in for you. A lot of new skaters and hockey parents have joined our association in the past few years and we are hoping for the same this year.  Training will be offered in the various jobs listed above in the beginning of the season.  If you miss this training contact a board member or youth hockey director to arrange for someone to show you how to perform these jobs.  Also, we are always in need of parents to help with the concession during practices.  Hockey is one sport where it’s really encouraged that the parents stay and watch your child practice and get to know other hockey families.  Instead of dropping your child at the door, please come in and see if your help is needed and see what your child has been learning.

Fundraising:  If your child is a first year hockey player, you can choose to opt out of the fundraiser (held in January) but if your child is a returning player, the fundraiser is mandatory or you can take the buy out and pay $100 to MCYH in place of selling items.  The fundraiser money helps purchase items like jerseys, the speaker and sound system, pay officials, and to off set the daily upkeep of the arena.

 Thank you in advance for your help!  

 Parent Responsibilities:

• Ensure your child attends practices and games
• Ensure your child is appropriately dressed/geared for practices and games
• Volunteer to work the concession twice for Outlaw games- Sign up at Registration 
• Volunteer to work the concession during all house practices- includes Learn to Skate and Initiation- Please share this responsibility with all parents and if you don’t know how, ask and someone will show you what you need to do.  If the window is down ask arena staff if you can work it for the practice.
• Volunteer to work the scoreboard, stats, penalty box, and concession during all house games
  **A schedule with assignments will be posted on the bulletin board in the lobby for all Icehawk and Superhawk house games and house tournaments so please check it to see when you are signed up to cover.  Games will not start unless these positions are filled!!  It’s your responsibility to find someone to cover for you if you can’t make it for that game.  If you don’t know how to work that position, ask the coach to have someone help you out or ask another parent who’s done it before.  We all have to learn sometime!! 
•  Attend the mandatory orientation meeting for your child’s skill level
• Fundraising:  If your child is a first year hockey player, you can choose to opt out of the fundraiser (held in January) but if your child is a returning player, the fundraiser is mandatory or you can take the buy out and pay $100 to MCYH in place of selling items.  The fundraiser money helps purchase items like jerseys, the speaker and sound system, pay officials, and to off set the daily upkeep of the arena.   

ARENA LOCATION

The North Iowa Ice Arena is easy to find. It's located on the North Iowa Fairgrounds, on the west edge of Mason City. If you're coming on I-35, take the Highway 122 exit east to Mason City OR the Avenue of the Saints Exit, from there take the Eisenhower Exit, go north and that will take you right to the arena.

3700 4th St. SW
Mason City, Iowa 50401

Area Lodging
There are several lodging facilities in the Mason City-Clear Lake area.