Why do I have to register with USA Hockey first?  

Waterloo Youth Hockey Association (WYHA) is a member of USA Hockey, the national governing body of  ice hockey in the United States. They provide a number of resources including; age-appropriate training  modules, practice plans, rules of play, coaching certification, background screening and insurance for all  participants. For more information, please visit www.usahockey.com  

How old does my child have to be to play hockey?  

The minimum age requirement is 4 years old. However, the recommended age for children entering the  program for the first time is 5 years old. We ask that your child can 1) Play well with others. 2) Listen to and follow instructions. 3) Conform  to a group environment (i.e. Pre-K, Kindergarten or 1st grade class room). And finally, are they physically  and emotionally ready? The earlier kids start, the longer they will be at the 6U division, which is normally a 2 year program consisting of skill progressions outlined in the ADM.  

Children who are not fully potty trained or have behavioral issues, which cross over to the ice, are not  allowed. This is for the safety of the other youth participants and coaches.  

Does my child have to be able to skate before the can participate?  

No. The 6U program is designed to teach the fundamental skills that are required to play the sport of  hockey. Skating is the most important skill and is heavily emphasized throughout the season.  

If you want to give your child a boost, consider public skating opportunities or check with the Cedar  Valley figure skating Club for “Learn 2 Skate” classes. 

Are there player evaluations or tryouts?  

No. There is a large variance of skill and ability at the House League level of play, especially 6U. We  encourage anyone from beginners on up, to play at the House level, and develop their skills and passion  for the game. Tryouts do occur starting at the 10U (Squirt) Junior Hawk Travel Division.  

Is equipment available to rent or purchase? 

Equipment is available to rent on a first come, first served basis. Additional fee required. Equipment  will be handed out about a week prior to the start of the season. Depending on availability, we can equip your hockey  player with just about everything including neck guards with exception of a mouth guard (which is highly recommended).  

No equipment is available to purchase. WYHA does not have a retail store or inventory of any new equipment.  

Will all skill levels practice together?  

Yes. All skill levels within an age group or division will practice together at the same time.  

How many teams are there at each level?  

It depends. The number of kids fluctuates year to year within the different age groups. 

Will teams play games against each other?  

No. Actual USA Hockey sanctioned games are not played at the House League level. Practices only with  random scrimmages (no clock, referees or score kept). When we do scrimmage during practices, the  kids are divided into several teams, loosely based on age and ability.  

What method or system do you use to teach kids to play hockey?  

Coaches create and implement practice plans with drill stations, scrimmages and fun activities following  the USA Hockey American Development Model (ADM), age-appropriate modules. Our focus is on having  fun, puck touches, skill development and promoting self-confidence.  

My child wants to be a Goalie!  

At the 6U there are no goalies and teams play cross ice. This is the “Learn 2 Skate & Play” phase.  

Goalies begin at 8U and play half ice with half size nets. WYHA utilize quick change goalie gear  for practices which can be put on over a skater’s normal gear. The goal is to allow different players the opportunity to play goalie if they choose to do so.

WYHA also has a Goalie coach who works with all Travel Division players on skill development.  

My child is struggling, does that mean they don’t have a future in hockey?  

No, hockey is a late development sport and there is a wide variety of skill and ability at the early levels.  Have faith in the process and know that WYHA has produced consistently competitive Iowa High School  Hockey teams including several recent regular season and Tournament Champions.  

When will my child have a chance to play real games?  

The first opportunity for actual game play is usually at the Iowa Games. Iowa Games is a weekend tournament with a “Jamboree” format with age groups similar to House League. This is not affiliated with the Waterloo Youth Hockey  Association (WYHA). We do coordinate the teams, jerseys and coaches and relay information about  dates, times, cost and registration.  

Additionally, WYHA hosts Battle of Waterloo Hockey Tournament that all age groups can sign up for. Watch for information from the Manager as the spring session approaches.

My kid is excelling/struggling at hockey, Can I move them up/down?  

Several factors will need to be reviewed and approved on a case-by-case basis. Please contact your  child’s Coach or Manager to discuss options. Ideally kids will stay in the appropriate age category and  divisions but we understand there are exceptions. We have options at the House League level.  

Travel League Teams have tryouts. There you can move up in age groups, but not down. 

When can my child be on a “Travel” team?  

The first opportunity for “Travel” comes at our 8U (Mite) Select team(s). This is open to any child in our  8U House League and is voluntary. The team(s) represent WYHA as the “Little Hawks” and compete in  Jamborees and Tournaments throughout the Midwest. The majority of games will be played against our  Iowa peers. Mite Selects will have one Team practice per week in addition to the regular 8U House League practices. You can expect 4-6 tournaments per season with approximately 4 games played per Jamboree/Tournament. Travel is required with overnight stays. 

What are the benefits of playing on the 8U Mite Selects? 

Extra ice time and coaching, introduction to the “Team” concept, competitive games, Jerseys & Socks. If  your player has their sights set on a competitive hockey journey, this is the place to start!  

How many 8U Mite Select teams will there be?  

The number of teams will fluctuate year to year. There are 3 levels of play offered at the various  Jamboree/Tournaments which are: Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner (also referred to as Red,  White and Blue). Coaches and staff will ensure players are placed on appropriate teams and entered  into the correct level of play.  

I’m interested in coaching, what are the requirements?  

Parent coaches are a vital part of any hockey program. USA Hockey mandates a designated level of  coaching certification starting with a Level 1 course. In addition, USA Hockey requires and provides age  specific training. If you have experience as a hockey player or coach, we can always use more help!  Please check out our Become a Coach page for more information. 

When will registration be open?

Fall registration will open about the first week of September. Spring registration will open the first week of December.

Registration for Fall will remain open until the Spring registration opens. However, Equipment rental option will be removed after the first practice of the session. Spring registration will close the day before the first practice.