Thank you NHA
To the Coaches, Volunteers and Families who make up the Northfield Hockey Association:
Our family would like to thank you for making hockey such a positive experience for boys and girls in Northfield. We were not what you would call “hockey people,” but when our children expressed interest, we decided to try it, although we thought it would just be a season or two. We knew that hockey is a sport that requires a little extra, from both kids and parents, in order to best use limited ice time and share equipment, especially in a small town with fewer resources.
We were wrong about that season or two. We have been involved in many youth sports, and never have we seen a program so consistently and thoughtfully managed by an all-volunteer group. The coaches are wonderful with the boys and girls, regardless of skill level. On a particularly tough afternoon on the ice we expected one of our kids to be a bit discouraged, but instead we were told, “It really makes me feel happy when my coach tells me I’m doing a great job!” The coaches encourage the boys and girls to bring their best out on the ice, and then make it better, but they never make them feel like they didn’t do well enough, even on a tough day. We have also been amazed to see how well they promote good attention skills, excellent sportsmanship, and community service, all in the context of the sport.
We have been impressed by the way NHA has encouraged program growth, by offering hockey free to Mites, and providing equipment rental for just a few dollars, so no family need feel that hockey is too expensive to try. The website’s new Trading Post is similarly helpful, allowing families to sell or swap equipment as their children grow.
We appreciate how families are positively involved, from volunteering with concessions, to just the day-to-day running to practice and helping the boys and girls get dressed. It tends not to be a “drop-off” activity, but one where families stay involved, even by just getting to know other families in the stands. A school flyer just noted that participation in organized athletics is one of the strongest predictors of academic success, along with the kind of family involvement NHA supports, and we are so glad our children are part of NHA.
Thank you for making this program such a fabulous resource in the community by promoting positive values, athletic achievement and sportsmanship. Northfield Hockey Association is a great experience for children and families, and is an all-around fun program. For this reason, our family would like to sponsor Olympic Gold Medalist Jim Craig to come and meet our young hockey players, and speak to the children, families and volunteers of the NHA about why these values the NHA so effectively promotes are important. We hope that this can be an important fundraiser for our youth hockey program, and be an experience for the kids to remember. Thank to all who have made Northfield Hockey so fun for our boys and girls.
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