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Retention - Welcome Back Week

A National Program to Retain More of Your Youth Hockey Players September 17-23, 2018

WHAT IS WELCOME BACK WEEK?:

Only 60% of youth hockey players are still playing by the time they are 9 years old. For an organization to truly experience growth, they need to focus on inviting previous players back to the rink. 

The most effective and efficient way to get more families to return to the rink is a personal phone call inviting them back. 

During the week of September 17 - 23, 2018, USA Hockey is looking for associations to gather volunteers to personally call and invite families back for another season. Reaching out with a personal invitation will dramatically increase retention.

PARTICIPATING ASSOCIATIONS WILL:

  • Invite them back for another season of FUN!!!
  • Provide registration details for sign-up
  • Provide local practice/game scheduling information
  • Restate the local association's commitment to:

    USA Hockey's Three Promises 

  1. Promise of FUN 
  2. Promise of guidance, assistance on and off the ice 
  3. Promise of improvement and achievement  

ASSOCIATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

  • Coordinating volunteers to make phone calls to families who have not yet signed up for the 2017-18 season

USA HOCKEY PROVIDES:

  • Email reminders to unregistered families
  • Broadcast phone message reminder from a Women's National Team athlete or NHL player
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • List of players that need a personal phone call

TIMELINE:

Tuesday, August 21st

  • Email reminder to 8 & under players that need to register for the new season

Thursday, September 6th

  • Recorded :30 phone message from a Women's Olympian athlete or NHL player goes out to previously registered participants
  • Participating associations run a list of 8 & under eligible players from last season that need a call in their portal

Monday, September 17th - Sunday, September 23rd

  • Collect your volunteers and have personally invite families back to the rink
Johnny Gaudreau

Johnny Gaudreau

Sample Voicemails

Women's Olympian athlete Nicole Hensley and NHL player Johnny Gaudreau welcomed kids back to hockey last season with a phone call.

In total, 42,312 registration reminder calls were sent out for the 2017-18 season.

Nicole Hensley

Nicole Hensley