Rink time is a rare commodity!  The ADM recommends 2-3 hours of structured ice time, per week, for U8 kids.  The recommended hours increase gradually with age, up to  4hrs per week for our oldest kids.  Yet this is not always possible.   So here are some ways to augment your structured practices and games.  Best of all, since these suggestions involve unstructured ice time, kids can do as much as they want without risk of "hockey burnout'.

 

Public Skating 

Pond Hockey 

 

Public skating:

Falmouth Family Ice public skate Saturday and Sunday afternoons.   Directions and schedule: http://familyice.org/

Brunswick Mall (no hockey, but see "Lishness" under Pond Hockey  below)

 

 

Pond Hockey

What's better for player development than months of clinics, costs $0 per skating hour, and kids can do it as long as they want with no danger of "hockey burn out"?  Pond Hockey!

A great  movie on the benefits of pond hockey: http://www.hulu.com/watch/118204/pond-hockey .

See also the separate tab on BACKYARD RINK PLANS  

 

The Code of Pond Hockey 

Young players need to understand that there are many kinds of hockey, and pond hockey is very different from rink hockey.  Players wear significantly less protective gear.  Checking and lifted shots are not done in pond hockey.

1.  Don't do anything that might injure another player.  

2.  Keep your stick below your waist

3.  No lifting the puck (therefore, goaltenders can't sprawl)

 

 

Local Pond Hockey rinks

Lishness Rink - Brunswick (aka "The Lish")

This is a boarded rink (with goals) maintained by the town of Brunswick.  It is located just off Jordan Avenue in Brunswick - follow blue signs to the grounds of the wastewater treatment plant.  Lighted until 9PM.

 

Coffin's Pond - Brunswick

This is a flooded parking lot in the Coffin's Pond facility, maintained by the town of Brunswick.  It is located on River Road.

 

Foreside complex - Topsham

This is a set of two flooded fields at the Foreside complex with packed snow borders, maintained by the town of Topsham.  The westernmost area has lights on a timer that can be turned on at any time.  To get there from the green bridge, go up Main Street Topsham to the light at the top of the hill.   Take a right on Elm.  Go under the highway and railroad bridges and take a right on Foreside.  Go about 1 mile and the Foreside fields are on the left.

 

Goddard Pond  - Bath

Large flooded field with hockey-specific area  delineated with packed snow borders maintained by the town of Bath.  Hot chocolate stand on the weekends.  From RT 1 Bath, take High St toward Phippsburg.  Pass the elementary school and Hyde school; Goddard fields will be on the left.

 

Yarmouth Pond

This is the pond you see below road level on your way  to and from NYA.  This is a great place to take a group after a practice or game at NYA.  Rink-pond-pizza makes a great team outing.