Congratulations to the following 2020-21 CharityMania FootballMania winners.  Thank you so much for supporting the Swords!

Week 1 - $25 winner - P. Blyberg supporting the Mulvaney family
Week 1 - $25 winner - D. Powers supporting the Powers family
Week 1 - $25 winner - R. Wayne supporting the Leever family
Week 1 - $25 winner - J. Altherr supporting the Brennan family

Week 2 - $400 winner - R. Long supporting the Kuhn family
Week 2 - $25 winner - B. Abbott supporting the Osting family
Week 2 - $25 winner - C. Mulvaney supporting the Mulvaney family

Week 3 - $25 winner - L. Mills sponsoring the Sochocki family


 

Swords Families,

As we finish our 2nd week of the season, the Swords Leadership Team would like to point out some of the things that we as an association do to stay safe at the rink and what you can do to help.

Association Items:

**All of our coaches, managers, and locker room supervisors have USA Hockey Safe Sport training and have a Background Screening through Mid-Am Hockey.

**AED kits are located in each rink in the event of a cardiac arrest on one of the rinks.  They are serviced monthly by Cintas and thankfully have never been used.

**Purchasing masks for the players and coaches.  This should be delivered soon, as we are waiting on the completion of our order from the vendor.

**Communication with Mid-Am Hockey when we have questions on USAH policy.

**A good relationship with the Rink Director so that issues can be resolved quickly.

**Providing cleaning supplies for our team rented locker rooms.

Families can help by:

**Wearing masks when in the building and not on the ice.

**Not coming to the rink when ill with Covid Symptoms, Flu Symptoms, etc.

**Keeping rink doors shut when players are on the ice surface

**Parents should remain out of the bench area during practice and games.

** Players should remain off the ice and keep rink doors closed until the Zamboni doors are closed and a coach is on the ice.

If we all work together, we can have a safe and fun Swords Hockey season.

Swords Leadership team

Good afternoon Swords Families,

Below is the plan the Swords will follow for those experiencing Covid symptoms, are exposed to the virus, and/or test positive.

Swords Leadership Team

Swords Team COVID-19 Policies

Swords families: Please note that a Health Wellness check will need to be completed prior to arriving at the rink, your Team will be keeping a record of this information just in case we need to contact you – this is for contract tracing purposes. Teams are using a variety of apps to do this check.  Please make sure you know what your team is using.  Temperatures will also be taken before every game and practice.  Sports Plus does have Hand Sanitizing stations throughout the facility and they also disinfect the lobby area and locker rooms between games.

Coaches:

• Wear masks at all times throughout the facility until on the ice / bench areas. We strongly recommend that masks be worn by coaches as well when on the benches.
• Any trainers or parent volunteers that also need to be in close proximity to a player shall also wear a mask when in contact with the player(s).  We also suggest that a trainer wear gloves when dealing with an injured player as well as the mask.
• Any parent volunteer that is in the penalty box and/or the scorer’s area will need to wear a mask at all times.
• Suggest to come inside the facility partially dressed or dress your team at intervals to minimize the time players are in a locker room.
• After a game proceedings – a handshake line can still happen (agree with coaches before the game) will need to be fist bumps (players gloves on) and / or elbows.
• Get out of the locker rooms as fast as possible so they can be cleaned – No congregating or long discussions with the team after a game – the lockers rooms need to be cleaned and ready for the next team to use.

Players:

• Wear a mask at all times until helmet is on to go out on the ice.  This also includes in any locker room area or walking around the rink. Also, a mask must be worn as soon as the helmet comes off.
• Socially distance when not on the ice, even if in full hockey gear
• Before and After games please do not touch the glass or the boards – you can watch games from a distance.
• Rink Lockers rooms, maintain social distancing where you can by leaving a space between you and your teammate.
• Do not mess around in the locker room, get dressed and ready to go. Get undressed and leave.

Parents:

• Wear a mask at all times
• Socially distance where possibly around the rink
• Can sit with immediate family members in the stands but maintain 6 foot socially distance between you and the next family – Please limit the number of family members.
• You can space yourself around the rink but please do not touch the boards or glass
• Please do not congregate in the lobby before or after a game, take your conversations outside once your player is out of the locker room.

Sincerely – Swords Leadership Team

The following is the locker room assignments for practices starting Tuesday September 8th.  We have tried to space everyone one when possible.  Please practice social distancing when getting dressed and undressed for practices.

Paul Benkner has accepted the position as Vice President.  Paul has been involved in youth hockey with the Swords for the last 7 years and has been a Board member for the last 3 years.  Paul will focus on our association’s operations, leading a team that includes the Operations Manager, Treasurer, and Marketing Coordinator.  Paul will continue as a member of the Board and Executive Committee.

Jennie Tiemeyer has accepted the role as Operations Manager for the Swords.  Jennie will continue to manage our ice commitments, organizing association wide events, communicating with team managers and coaches, processing registrations and our Mid-Am/USAH committees for our teams, coaches and players, to name a few of her responsibilities.  Jennie will join the Board as an Ad-hoc Director and will be a member of the Executive Committee.

Jamie Asquith has accepted a position on the Board as an Ad-hoc Director to support our association with commitments and communication to Mid-Am, USA Hockey, and our league activities.  Jamie has been working the Swords Board as a volunteer for the last 2 years, serving as a liaison to Mid-Am.  Jamie will be a member of the Executive Committee.

Chris Sample has accepted a position on the Board as an Ad-hoc Director.  Chris has been involved with the Swords for many years and has volunteered in many Swords initiatives from tryouts to facility improvements, try hockey events, and back to hockey activities.  Chris will be a member of the Executive Committee.

Good Afternoon Coaches/Managers,

We know you have quite a few questions about the upcoming season.  While we do not have answers to all of them yet, we do want to share information we receive with you regarding playing in non-sanctioned USAH games and tournaments.  Since we will not be getting approved rosters until the State of Ohio allows for contact sports to play games, we are aware that some teams have asked about playing in games/tournaments with private insurance.  After contacting Mid-Am Hockey, they have provided the following advice/guidance about doing so.

IMPORTANT: Please read the information below. 

If a USA hockey registered team chooses to participate in an unsanctioned event/tournament they must participate without any connection to the USA hockey team. So this means they cannot use their USA hockey team roster, team name, team jerseys and colors, or any other reference to the USA hockey registered team and association. Additionally, you are correct that the USA hockey medical and liability insurance is voided. So the coaches and player families take on full responsibility for anything that may happen. It is important to note that the tournament may or may not have insurance coverage for teams and participants.

It is also important to know that if a team is found using any of the above listed items or anything else connected with a USA hockey registered team MidAm can and will investigate and sanction accordingly. This can include coaches, association administrators (if found to be aware/complicit) and possibly the team (restricted/denied participation in sanctioned events).

Finally, MidAm discourages teams from being involved in unsanctioned events, but we also recognize that all our participants are free to make their own decisions and adjust to the current situation in the manner they determine is fit and appropriate. We do want them to make informed decisions.

Gui Bradshaw

MidAm Hockey

State of Ohio VP

If you plan to play in a non-sanctioned event, please notify the Swords Board so we know that the team complies with the Mid-Am requirements.

We will continue to update all of the teams as more information about game play becomes available.

Swords Board of Directors

Please note as part of the tryout registration, families agreed to the Swords refund policy.  While we do understand that COVID-19 presents the Swords and our families with a certain amount of uncertainty, we believe the current rink policy and our refund policy will be followed and includes:

1. Rink closure per Sports Plus (level 3 emergency or State of Ohio mandate) – Sports Plus will only close in the event of a level 3 emergency or by a State of Ohio mandate.  If they do not close, we are obligated to pay for our commitment.  If the rink closes, we will be able to stop payments to Sports Plus and work on refunds based on time closed, etc. 
2. Injury/Illness – if a player misses more than 1/3 of season and we have doctor’s confirmation of diagnosis we do a pro-rated refund.  COVID-19 diagnosis would fall under illness. 

Beginning this year for the 2017-18 season, all skaters, at least one parent and all coaches (head, assistant, on-ice helpers) must comply with OH Senate Bill 252 (Lindsay’s Law).  Below is general information about the bill and the requirements.  Even if you do not live in Ohio, if you are participating on a Swords team, you must complete the requirements. 

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Lindsay’s Law: Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Youth Athletes

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

A Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, cutting off blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.  Sudden cardiac arrest is fatal if not treated immediately, most often by a defibrillator.

Who is Lindsay?

Senate Bill 252 is named for national heart health advocate and former Miss Ohio Lindsay Davis who suffers from a heart condition and has since dedicated her career to raising awareness of this potentially fatal condition.

"Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student athletes," said Davis. "At any moment I could have died because coaches and teachers had no idea this was even a possibility for someone who looked as healthy as I did at that age."

Lindsay’s Law

Lindsay’s Law, Ohio Revised Code 3313.5310, 3707.58 and 3707.59 went into effect in 2017.

In accordance with this law, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio High School Athletic Association, the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and other stakeholders jointly developed guidelines and other relevant materials to inform and educate students and youth athletes participating in or desiring to participate in an athletic activity, their parents, and their coaches about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest.

The following resources were developed to implement Lindsay’s Law:

For parents/guardians and youth athletes:

• Required video
• Required SCA Informational Handout
• Required Signature Form

For coaches:

• If you are a coach for an interscholastic sport and are licensed by the Ohio Department of Education, please visit their website for information about their training requirements around Lindsay’s Law.
• If you are a coach in a community program, please use the following resources:
  • Required video
  • Required SCA Informational Handout

ODH Contact Information

Ohio Department of Health
School Nursing Program
246 North High Street, 7th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215

Telephone: 614-466-1930

Email:     

Page Updated: 7/10/2017