FAQ - Mites
MITES
Bemidji Youth Hockey Association (BYHA) defines “Mites” as all boys and girls teams before Squirt/10U. This includes Termites, Mite 1, Mite 2, 6U and 8U.
SCHEDULE & TIME COMMITMENT
When does the hockey season start?
The season will run from mid-October/early November until mid-March. BYHA also offers options hockey in the fall (September Hockey, October Hockey) in addition to post-season hockey in the spring (Spring Hockey).
HOW WILL I RECEIVE COMMUNICATION ABOUT THE TEAM and Practices?
There will be a parent meeting, typically held in October, to provide an overview how our Mite program works. We will use the email you registered with to send all communications through our website platform, SportsEngine. The individual teams also use the SportsEngine app for you to chat and send messages.
When are the practices?
All mite level teams typically have 3 practices per week; Mon/Wed or Tues/Thurs practices in the evenings and one weekend day practice Saturday mornings. Saturdays are “game day” where teams will scrimmage or play fun games. Each session is usually 60 minutes long. Practice times vary but may start as early as 4:00PM on weekdays and 7:30AM on Saturdays.
Do I need to arrive to practice early?
We recommend players arriving at least 20 minutes before their practice begins. This gives them enough time to get dressed in the locker rooms and ready about 5 minutes before practice starts. Ice time is very expensive, so we want players to be ready to start on time.
Do I Have TO BE AT EVERY PRACTICE?
Attendance and participation are strongly encouraged at all sessions, however, it’s also important to prioritize academics and other family obligations.
Is there any travel required in Mites?
Termite / 6U – No Travel
Mite 1’s – Up to 2 jamborees. These generally fall on a Saturday or a Sunday in January or February.
Mite 2 / 8U – Up to 2 jamborees plus 10-15 full ice games.
A hockey “jamboree” is a low-key full participation event where players have an enjoyable and learning experience in a non-competitive environment. Teams typically play several half ice scrimmages during the day.