Swords Families,
 

FIRST CHARITYMANIA FUNDRAISER INFORMATION

While we recognize families are in the midst of summer-- it's never too late to start thinking and preparing to fundraise for your fees! Below are the details of our CharityMania program which is our largest fundraiser.

First Fundraiser for 2021-22 season  --  Want to play hockey for free?  Just looking to reduce your fees?  You should consider CharityMania’s Football Mania Sweepstakes.  Last year, families reduced their fees by over $16,000 participating in this program and we were able to award over $5,000 in winnings to our supporting families.  So how does it work? 

CharityMania/FootballMania Sweepstakes – You sell Football Mania tickets for $20 and keep $14 of this fee or 70%.  This is not illegal gambling.  What are you selling?  You’re selling an access code to digital music and giving away a football sweepstake.  What are you giving away?  You are giving away a Football Sweepstakes which gives the owner of the ticket the opportunity to win weekly prizes based on the NFL game results.  Ticket owners can win weekly $400, $100, $50 or $25.  Also there is a grand prize of $600 and $250 at the end of the season. 

How does the ticket work?  The NFL season starts on Thursday September 9, 2021.  The ticket has all 17 weeks of the NFL season on it and each week the ticket holder gets three randomly generated NFL teams.  Basically for your three teams you add up the total points the teams score for the week.  If it’s the highest combine score for the week, the ticket holder wins $400; second highest $100, third highest $50; next 12 highest score $25.  If the ticket holder scores the lowest combine total you win $50; next 2 lowest scores $25.  So each week 18 prize winners are selected.  There is also an end-of-season grand prize of $600 for the highest valued card of the season and $250 prize for the lowest valued card of the season.  There is also a way for your team to still count even if it’s their bye week and there are tie-break rules in place as well.

What are my costs?  THERE ARE NO UPFRONT COSTS TO YOU!  CharityMania keeps $6 per ticket registered but you do not pay that amount until you SELL the ticket and it’s registered on their website.  We would like all families to sell 90% of their order as unsold tickets result in reduced winnings.

How do I participate?  Email Debbie Francis at treasurer@swordshockey.com by Wednesday, June 30th with the number of tickets you would like to order.  We will place one order for all our tickets to reduce the shipping/handling portion.  We should have the tickets in hand and ready for pick up at Sports Plus the week of July 19th.  You then sell the tickets and collect $20 per ticket (cash or checks payable to Cincinnati Swords) and the completed ticket stub which includes the purchasers name, address, phone and email.  You can sell tickets until Tuesday, August 31.  At that time, you will need to turn in your monies and ticket stubs.  We will register all the sold ticket stubs with CharityMania, pay CharityMania their $6 per ticket and credit your account for $14 per ticket.

SO how does this work?,,,,,,,,

Okay I ordered by tickets, I’ve sold my tickets and you’ve registered them.  What happens after that?  CharityMania handles it from that point on.  They calculate the winners and will notify us of any winners in our group.  They transfer the winnings to us so we can pay our winners and send thank you notes.  We will then pay the winners directly and announce them on our website. 

Linked here are the CharityMania fact sheet and a copy of a sample card. New this year due to COVID-19, CharityMania has provided a Frequently Asked Questions (click here).  Please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information.  I can be reached at .  We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to help with your hockey costs.  The more tickets we sell the more opportunities we will have for winners.  This past year we had $25, $50, $100, $250 and $400 winners!

Important Dates To Remember:

Wednesday, June 30 – place ticket order via email ( )

TBD - pick up tickets from office at Sports Plus (anticipated date between July 19-23)

Tuesday August 30th - return tickets and money to office for registration with CharityMania

 We have received our second quarter 2021 distribution from Kroger.  I checked my personal account and it has been updated so I am assuming if you are participating yours has been updated as well.  Please send me your information if you are participating no later than 5pm on Friday June 25th.  If you have not received a confirmation email from me by Wednesday, July 7th, please resubmit your information.

PLEASE NOTE:  OUR NUMBER TO TT350.  

Below are the directions for determining your Kroger funds.  Please follow them as stated below and if you run into any problems, please contact Kroger directly.  Please try to confirm that the amount has changed from your last submission as they do not date the information posted and it is difficult for me to check everyone's past balance.  These funds can be used for any 2018-19 program.  

1. Go to www.krogercommunityrewards.com.
2. Log in by clicking on "Sign In" about 2/3 down the page.    DO NOT log in by the “Sign In” at the top.
3. Enter your email address and password.
4. The next page that comes up should read View Your Rewards Detail (click on this).
5. The bottom box of information is labeled “Community Rewards”.
6. Highlight the information in the entire box and copy it.  You can do this by highlighting and RIGHT clicking your mouse and selecting copy or you can do this by highlighting and clicking CTRL C on your keyboard.
7. Once you copy the information, open your email and where you would type text, paste the Community Rewards information.  Can be done by putting your curser in the text box and either RIGHT clicking your mouse and selecting paste or by clicking CTRL V on your keyboard.
8. In your email subject line, please type Community Reward, YOUR NAME, YOUR SKATER’S NAME and send the email to me at treasurer@swordshockey.com.

If you are someone who has multiple people helping you out, you may want to contact them and ask them for their log in and password information so you can get the information.  That is clearly up to you.  I can take the information from you or from them.

Here’s some general information Kroger’s passed along with their information email that the check was going to be coming soon.

We cannot enroll or create online accounts for supporters over the phone.  If you have a supporter who is experiencing issues with their online account please have them contact our dedicated online support team at 1-866-221-4141.

If they have forgotten their email address, need to update their Kroger Plus Card information or change their alternate I.D. (the phone number they use at the store) please have them contact our loyalty department at 1-800-576-4377, option 4, then option 3 to update.

If your supporters do not see the Community Rewards message at the bottom of their receipt, please have them contact us at 1-800-294-4438 option #2.  We will contact the appropriate personnel to have the problem corrected.  Supporters may also call us for previous cycle donation amounts or to double check that they are enrolled.

The Lady Swords plan to have a U10, U12, and U14 Tournament Team this season. We are looking forward to welcoming any interested girls to the program. Below you will find our 21-22 Season Guide. Please direct any questions to ladyswords@swordshockey.com or you can join the Lady Swords Facebook Group by clicking here.

FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY!

Eastside Motivators has a fundraising opportunity for you! They are looking for volunteers to work consessions at the Reds, Bengals, and FC Cincinnati games.

Please contact Stephanie Norris at stephnorr@aol.com with any questions.

2021-22 U8/ADM FALL/WINTER PROGRAM

ADM Program History and Principles:

USA Hockey launched the American Development Model (ADM) in 2009 providing a detailed blueprint for optimal athlete development.  By giving your child the ADM experience, you’re positioning them for long-term success.  It’s proven programming, built on qualitative and quantitative research from leading hockey nations, sports scientists, coaches and educators. 

As the basis for youth hockey in the US, the ADM provides:

1. Age-specific, age-appropriate skill development.
2. An opportunity to efficiently learn and refine essential skills without an over-emphasis on winning games at the younger age classifications.
3. A sensible practice-to-game ratio.
4. High-performance practice and game programming that emphasizes skill development, competition, engagement and FUN.
5. Structured training programs for coaches and qualified adult leadership.
6. A philosophy that reduces burnout and disenchantment.

USA Hockey also has an ADM specific webpage and it can be accessed at www.admkids.com.

2021-22 Cincinnati Swords ADM Program Specifics:

Our program provides players with both ADM structured practices as well as half ice team practices.  Players will learn new hockey skills and learn to be a member of a team.

For the 2021-22 season, the Cincinnati Swords will be emphasizing the USA Hockey ADM principles.  There will be a focus on skater development and FUNdamentals.  This is the time when a foundation is laid for future success.  Fun competitions will also be introduced through a team environment.

Ellen Metz will continue her role as ADM Commissioner and Learn to Play Hockey Program Director.  Ellen comes with a strong hockey background, is a Level 4 certified coach and is also a preschool teacher.  She has worked with youth on and off the ice at all age levels from mites through high school. 

Our ADM sessions will run from the beginning of September through late February/early March and include an on-ice session for players to work on their skating skills, stickhandling, puck control and positioning.    Additionally, there will be weekly “team” practices on shared ice with another team.  We anticipate these sessions being held on Mondays and Fridays but will not be able to finalize until after the older team tryouts. 

We will again take the first 2 weeks of the season (both Mondays and Fridays) to work with the players and get to know them.  We will not form teams until after these two weeks.  There will be a two-week schedule where we rotate the players and after we set teams, there will be a set schedule based on team placement.

Finally, we will have weekend sessions that will be a combination of practices and games.  All game sessions will be cross-ice pursuant to USA Hockey and MID-AM policies.  For these games, teams will have cross ice scrimmages with other local associations.  The season will cap off with an end of season tournament.  Teams will also receive an additional tournament event as part of their fees.

Financial Information: 

A final cost will not be available until after the evaluations but we anticipate it will be in line with last year’s fee of $1150, with a $500 deposit by May 15, 2021.  Please be sure to review the refund policy which is posted on the website and also included in your registration.  Your fee includes:

18-20   60-minute half ice team sessions

18-20   90-minute full ice ADM sessions

8-10     weekend game/practice sessions

League Fee/League Tournament

Additional Tournament

2 Jerseys w/Name & Number & Sock

End of Season Award

Administrative/Membership Fee

Registration for our Fall/Winter Programs will open on April 1 when USA Hockey makes the 2021-22 membership available.  You must have a 2021-2022 USA Hockey membership number to register for the U8/ADM Fall/Winter Program.  To register, please go to www.swordshockey.com and click on Register Online on the left-hand side. 

We are very excited about the upcoming 2021-22 season.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Ellen Metz at or Jennie Tiemeyer at .

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