Registration is the first touchpoint families have with your organization. A smooth, professional registration experience sets the tone for the entire season. This guide covers best practices for youth hockey registration.
Payment Options & Pricing
Payment Plans
Youth hockey can be expensive. Offering payment plans makes your program accessible to more families and reduces the financial burden.
Recommended Payment Plan Structures
- 3-Payment Plan: 50% upfront, 25% at month 2, 25% at month 3
- Monthly Plan: Equal payments spread across 4-6 months
- Full Payment Discount: 5-10% off for paying in full
Early Bird Pricing
Early bird discounts incentivize families to register early, helping you plan for the season and secure ice contracts.
- Offer 10-15% discount for registrations before a deadline
- Create clear deadline dates and communicate them widely
- Consider tiered early bird (earlier = bigger discount)
Family & Sibling Discounts
Multi-player families are the backbone of many programs. Make it affordable for them to register all their children.
- Second child: 10-15% discount
- Third+ child: 20-25% discount
- Family cap: Maximum total regardless of children count
USA Hockey Integration
All players in USA Hockey-sanctioned programs need valid USA Hockey registration. Here's how to handle it smoothly:
Option 1: Collect confirmation numbers
Ask families to register with USA Hockey first, then enter their confirmation number during your registration. You can validate numbers against USA Hockey's database.
Option 2: Allow late submission
Let families register without the USA Hockey number, but require it before roster finalization. Send reminders to those missing numbers.
Option 3: Bundle the registration
Some associations include USA Hockey registration in their fees and handle the registration on behalf of families. Simplest for parents but requires more admin work.
Age Verification & Division Placement
Proper age verification ensures competitive balance and safety.
- Collect birth date during registration
- Automatically calculate age division based on USA Hockey rules
- Require birth certificate upload for verification
- Flag players requesting to play up or down
Important: Birth Year Rules
USA Hockey uses birth year (not age) for division placement. A player born in 2015 plays in the same division regardless of their birthday within that year. Make sure your registration system handles this correctly.
Sample Registration Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should we open registration?
Most associations open registration 2-3 months before the season starts. This gives families time to plan and allows you to project team sizes for ice contracts.
Should we require USA Hockey numbers upfront?
Best practice is to allow registration without the USA Hockey number, but require it before the player can be added to a roster. This reduces friction at signup time.
How do we handle financial assistance requests?
Create a simple application process with clear criteria. Many associations partner with local charities or have scholarship funds. Keep the process confidential.