Mite to Midget

 

The NIHF is here to protect players and to ensure parents are receiving the service from their teams that they were promised. We are ready to work wth parents and teams to provide the best development program possible.

All players must register with their local league and your league through the NFPHL who will register your roster with the AAU for roster and insurance purposes. Leagues and Teams will pay fees to the governing bodies and thus will pass those fees onto players.

 

The league provides:

 

 

 

PROGRAMS

• Development of high-level hockey players and academics
• Encourage players to achieve athletically but more importantly as a respectful person and proud member of your community
• Weekend league games only to assist with needed study time to be a success academically
• The NCAA approach to hockey training and academics with more on-ice and off-ice training 
• The NCAA develops approximately 35% of all the players that reach the NHL and it is considered the number one path to the NHL or a successful Business Career.
• All teams providing a variety of professional development along with coach managed practices as part of their program.
• Game Exchange program so teams can play more games as they choose
• A tournament series regular season so players can compete against other equally competitive talent. We will have local  tournaments and tournaments against other AAU Teams.

 

SAFETY AND ETHICS

• The health and well-being of every player is our first concern. We have listed below some of the common practice standards that each parent can expect from the NIHF.
• Concussion and injury protocols
• All coaches will provide a police check
• Zero tolerance to bullying in any way
• Zero tolerance of any abusive behavior on or off the ice

NIHF teams will prepare a development program including tournaments, games, practices, and professional development that must be given to parents in writing. Parents it is your responsibility to understand the team’s development plan, their philosophy on team play, their coaching style, etc. before signing to play on a team. Please do not sign with a team without understanding these important criteria so your season will be fun and successful for your child.

 

THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

• Unlike Hockey Canada, teams can recruit players at any time before, during or after the season, with no restrictions based on city, region or location. There is no requirement for tryouts if a coach feels the player can play on their team, they can commit to signing them at any time for that season or the following season.

PROFESSIONAL COACHING AND TRAINING

• Our professional training facilities hired by our teams include instructors who have played at the highest levels. In addition, our coaching staff is qualified coaches who have coached or played in CANADA, USA, and EUROPE at high levels of the sport. Team staff is selected based on their qualifications and abilities to provide our players with unmatched skill development and game instruction. In addition to professional qualifications, we select great people who put the kids first. 
• All coaches must produce a police check valid within 2 years.
• All coaches must take the coaching programs offered by the AAU
• Our teams work very hard to combine fun, professionalism, and development as our key principles to success.

HOCKEY WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

• The NIHF deeply believes players should play where they choose to, and this is most important to AAA players who want to seek the best development to prepare them for higher levels of hockey. We welcome players from across North America and Internationally who feel the same way. Our program is insured and sanctioned by the AAU (American Athletic Union) as we are in full compliance with their rules and regulations as set forth by the AAU
• The NIHF and it leagues are not now nor has ever been an OUTLAW league. We operate as Club Teams and work within the boundaries of our AAU affiliation. NIHF hockey is a reliable choice over Minor Hockey Association based programs and has been a destination for many hockey families for several years now.

GIVING PLAYERS A CHANCE TO IMPROVE

• Kids just don’t become outstanding players without a plan.  Our programs embrace the train to play model that has been so successful in Europe and the USA. Skill development together with off-ice training provide kids the tools to play the game.
• The reality for most players is very different, as players are expected to improve on a 2:1 practice to game ratio common in Hockey Canada based programs. The NIHF model is based on a higher practice to game ratio and it embraces the “development” model over the “gameplay” model and has built a program around international standards that support our vision.

PROFESSIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

• The management of the NIHF has close relationships with Universities across North America to assist in promoting our players. We have been involved in Junior Hockey for many years and can assure the players with the required hockey and academic skill the best opportunity to advance on the league of their choice.

GOAL FOR OUR PLAYERS

• Attend a NCAA or CIS University with Scholarship money. Over 35% of players in the NHL today come from USA Universities and Colleges. This is the dream progression for an NIHF player as we are an education first league.
• Pursue the dream of Professional Hockey but most importantly gain an education that can serve you well your whole life