About Us
For additional information contact:
webmaster@middleburyhockey.org
This site is funded by Friends of Middlebury Hockey,
PO Box 835, Middlebury, VT, 05753-0835 USA
Purpose of MAHA
The purpose of MAHA is to organize, manage, and promote youth hockey in the general region of Addison County, Vermont, under the auspices of the Vermont State Amateur Hockey Association, Inc. (VSAHA) and USA Hockey, Inc.
MAHA is guided by the following core values of USA Hockey, Inc.:
- Sportsmanship
- Foremost of all values is to learn a sense of fair play. Become humble in victory, gracious in defeat. We will foster friendship with teammates and opponents alike.
- Respect for the Individual
- Treat all others as you expect to be treated.
- Integrity
- We seek to foster honesty and fair play beyond a strict interpretation of the rules and regulations of the game.
- Pursuit of Excellence
- At the individual, team, and organization levels. Each member of the organization, whether player, volunteer or staff, should seek to perform each aspect of the game to the highest level of his or her ability.
- Enjoyment
- It is important for the hockey experience to be fun, satisfying, and rewarding for the participant.
- Loyalty
- We aspire to teach loyalty to the ideals and fellow members of the sport of hockey.
- Teamwork
- We value the strength of learning together. The use of teamwork is reinforced and rewarded by success in the hockey experience.
MAHA Coaching Philosophy
MAHA strives to provide a fun but challenging educational environment for it's participants. We achieve this by constructing practices that put participants in small game situations that focus on play the puck/support
hockey. These small game situations are any competitive situations that take place in a confined space with set parameters. Examples are: 1 vs 1 inside a circle, 2 vs 1 keep away in a confined space, or 3 vs 3 on cross ice.
A typical one hour practice will have skill development activities that focus on a theme, e.g. skating, puck skills, defensive support, offensive support, etc. These activities will put the participants in competitive, high-speed situations that complement the remainder of the practice, that focuses on small games.
A Director of Coaching supports MAHA coaches. A pool of existing or former high school and college coaches are available to assist with problems and the player/coach development needs of the program.
Code of Conduct
Parents and players are reminded that your actions represent MAHA. Please treat all players, coaches, officials, and parents with respect and dignity. All members are reminded of USA Hockey's Zero Tolerance for Verbal Abuse Rule, which addresses disputes and comments or gestures toward officials.
Over the past 25 years, MAHA has developed a reputation for sportsmanship, both on and off the ice. In the interest of pursuing these MAHA ideals it is the decision of the MAHA Board to institute the following written policies regarding behavior, expectations, and the consequences for disregarding these standards.
Policies
Players' Code of Conduct
- On and off-ice players are required to display the proper respect due to officials, opposing players and coaches.
- Profanity, abusive language, and improper gestures will not be tolerated on or off the ice.
- Players are expected to treat facilities, both home and away, with respect. This includes making sure locker rooms and team bench areas are cleaned after each game or practice and following all rules specific to each facility.
- Players are expected to pay attention to their coaches during practices and games. Asking questions is always encouraged, but disruptive talking and horseplay are not conducive to learning and will not be tolerated.
- It is a rule of amateur hockey that any player receiving five penalties in a game is disqualified from the remainder of that game and in some severe cases, the next game. MAHA adheres to this regulation and also adds that any blatant display of unsportsmanlike conduct can lead to disciplinary action as outlined in Section 7.
- Any player receiving a gross misconduct or match penalty is disqualified from the game it is received in and is ineligible to play until the MAHA board has held a hearing regarding the situation. The minimum consequence for such a penalty is a two-game suspension.
- Blatant disregard of the above can lead to one or more of the following consequences:
- Sitting out shifts during a game or on the bench during practices
- Beings sent off the ice for the remainder of the game or practice
- Suspension from further games or practices until a satisfactory resolution is agreed upon by the player and the coach. A Board member may be requested by any involved party to mediate.
- Violations of sections 5 and/or 6 will require, in addition to any other consequences, that the player write a one page paper on sportsmanship. Two copies are to be turned in; one to the players coach, the second to the Chair of MAHA. A player will not be allowed to resume practice or play until this requirement is completed.
The above rules are not intended to suggest in any way that the MAHA Board feels that there are serious behavior problems among our players. Rather, it is intended to convey, in writing, our programs expectations for fair play and sportsmanship.
Players should remember the hockey is a team sport. All team members should strive to create an atmosphere that is supportive, a work ethic that allows all to learn and progress, and a commitment to teamwork and sportsmanship.
Parents' Code of Conduct
All families will be required to sign the following form, which will be distributed at your first team meeting.
- Do not force your children to participate in sports, but support their desire to play their chosen sport. Children are involved in organized sports for their enjoyment. Make it fun.
- Encourage your child to play by the rules. Remember, children learn best by example, so applaud the good plays of both teams.
- Do not embarrass your child by yelling at players, coaches or officials. By showing a positive attitude toward the game and all of its participants, your child will benefit.
- Emphasize skill development and practice and how they benefit your young athlete. De-emphasize games and competition in the younger age levels.
- Know and study the rules of hockey and support the officials on and off the ice. This approach will help in the development and support of the game. Any criticism of the officials only hurts the game.
- Applaud a good effort in victory and in defeat, and enforce the positive points of the game. Never yell or physically abuse your child after a game or practice. It is destructive. Work toward removing physical and verbal abuse in youth sports.
- Recognize the importance of volunteer coaches. They are important to the development of your child and the sport. Communicate with them and support them.
- If you enjoy the game, learn all you can and dedicate time as a volunteer.
The above rules are not intended to suggest in any way that the MAHA Board feels that there are serious behavior problems among our players. Rather, it is intended to convey, in writing, our program's expectations for fair play and sportsmanship.
Spectators' Code of Conduct
- Display good sportsmanship. Always respect players, coaches and officials.
- Act appropriately; do not taunt or disturb other fans. Enjoy the game together.
- Cheer good plays of all participants, avoid booing opponents.
- Cheer in a positive manner and encourage fair play; profanity and objectionable cheers or gestures are offensive.
- Help provide a safe and fun environment; throwing objects on the ice surface can cause injury to players and officials.
- Do not lean over and pound on the glass; the glass surrounding the ice surface is part of the playing area.
- Support the referees and coaches by trusting their judgment and integrity.
- Be responsible for your own safety and remain alert to help prevent accidents.
- Respect locker rooms as private areas for players, coaches and officials.
- Be supportive after the game, win or lose. Recognize good effort, teamwork and sportsmanship.
USA Hockey Zero Tolerance Policy
In an effort to make ice hockey a more desirable and rewarding experience for all participants, the USA Hockey Youth, Junior and Senior Councils have instructed the Officiating Program to adhere to certain points of emphasis relating to sportsmanship. This campaign is designed to require all players, coaches, officials, team officials, administrators and parents/spectators to maintain a sportsmanlike and educational atmosphere before, during and after all USA Hockey-sanctioned games.
Thus, the following points of emphasis must be implemented by all On-Ice Referees and Linesmen:
Players:
A minor penalty for un-sportsmanlike conduct (Zero Tolerance) shall be assessed whenever a player:
- Openly disputes or argues any decision by an official.
- Uses obscene or vulgar language at any time, including any swearing, even if it is not directed at a particular person.
- Visually demonstrates any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision. Any time that a player persists in any of these actions, they shall be assessed a misconduct penalty. A game misconduct shall result if the player continues such action.
Coaches:
A minor penalty for un-sportsmanlike conduct (Zero Tolerance) shall be assessed whenever a coach:
- Openly disputes or disputes any decision by an official.
- Uses obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to anyone at any time.
- Visually displays any sign of dissatisfaction with an official’s decision including standing on the boards or standing in the bench doorway with the intent of inciting the officials, players or spectators.
Any time that a coach persists in any of these actions, they shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.
Officials:
Officials are required to conduct themselves in a businesslike, sportsmanlike, impartial and constructive manner at all times. The actions of an official must be above reproach. Actions such as "baiting" or inciting players or coaches are strictly prohibited.
On-Ice officials are ambassadors of the game and must always conduct themselves with this responsibility in mind.
Parents/Spectators:
The game will be stopped by On-Ice officials when parents/spectators displaying inappropriate and disruptive behavior interfere with other spectators or the game. The On-Ice officials will identify violators to the coaches for the purpose of removing parents/spectators from the spectator’s viewing and game area. Once removed play will resume. Lost time will not be replaced and violators may be subject to further disciplinary action by the local Governing Body.
- Use of obscene or vulgar language in a boisterous manner to anyone at any time.
- Taunting of players, coaches, officials or other spectators by means of baiting, ridiculing, threat of physical violence or physical violence.
- Throwing of any object in the spectator’s viewing area, player’s bench, penalty box or on the ice surface, directed in any manner as to create a safety hazard.
MAHA Board of Directors' Meeting Minutes
Download the Board meeting minutes below (under "Attachments").
MAHA Bylaws
The MAHA Bylaws is an multi-page MicroSoft Word document. Download the attachment below.