While I encourage parents and children signing up for the scrimmages, preference will be given to adult skaters. When signing up a U18 skater, please check the box indicating they are U18. U18 skaters will be indicated on the list with an * beside their name, and they will be sorted below adult skaters in the order they signed up. I had the great pleasure of playing hockey with my dad in a pickup skate for over a decade and then with my own kids and want everyone to have the same opportunity I did.
How young is too young?
Teenagers develop at different rates. I'm very reluctant to allow children younger than 14 to skate, and a child's size and skill level will be factors also. The overriding consideration will be safety and I will always err on the side of safety.
Skill level
Your child must be able to compete at the level of the adults. On any given night the skill level of the group can be quite varied. In addition, kids today get better training and can be far more skilled at the game than when most of us were kids (or adults, for that matter). Please remind children who have advanced skill levels to play at the level of the group. As adults, we all enjoy a challenge and the opportunity to learn, but nobody enjoys getting smoked all night long.