The Atoms Program is designed for beginning hockey players (boys and girls) ages 5 and 6 that want a fun, educational and slightly competitive experience. The coaches and parents meet early in the season to determine how many games they wish to play and whether there is interest in one or several tournaments. Typically the Atoms play between 10 and 20 games with one hour practices six times per month.
Atoms is about learning the basics: passing, shooting, skating and teamwork. Practices involve such things as power skating and small game scrimmages. To maintain the player's interest level while instilling skills, many "fun drills" are utilized such as tug-of-war, sharks and minnows, obstacle courses, etc. Our desire is to offer a fun program that teaches the players fundamental skills they often do not realize they are even learning.
Other facts you should know about the Atoms Program:
- Home games are played at the Talbot County Community Center
- While there is little emphasis on winning/losing, goals are displayed, many players are competitive and competition is fun! In other words, while we do not seek a "championship" Atoms team, the practices are designed to teach hockey skills that the players can use in their games in an effort to play their best.
- Typically, games are scheduled within 1-1.5 hours of Easton (your team may decide however to pursue an out-of-state tournament such as in Virginia or Pennsylvania)
- Icehawks jerseys are purchased by parents (some teams decide to have names on jerseys and some do not)
- All games have referees
- Penalties are called and enforced
- This is a non-check league
- Slap shots are not allowed
- Ice time is equal other than during penalties and in certain instances for disciplinary reasons
- Teams typically have 11-13 players
- Typically several players rotate at the goalie position
- All players need to have basic skating skills to participate in the Atoms program (i.e., they need to be able to go forward, stop and turn with some degree of proficiency). If your child does not have this prior skating experience but does want to play ice hockey, we encourage enrollment in the Jamie Webb Initiation or Learn to Skate Programs offered by the Talbot County Community Center.
- Each player receives a yearbook at end of season
- Each player and family attends year-end banquet
