The Komet's IGNITION/LEARN TO SKATE program is the first stop for players who are interested in hockey but have no prior skating experience.  The program is designed for players age 3-9 and focuses on the fundamental skating skills required for hockey players.  The goal of the LEARN TO SKATE program is to remove skaters from using skating aids and prepare skaters for our DEVELOPMENT/LEARN TO PLAY program where they will focus on basic hockey skills including: skating, shooting, passing, etc.

 Players who successfully graduate from the LEARN TO SKATE program will be able to join the DEVELOPMENT program.

Teaching Curriculum:

•       Get up on ice – starting on all fours learning a basic way to get back to your feet

•       Proper hockey stance

•       March forward across ice – first steps to skating

•       Forward two – foot glide, the length of the skater’s height

•       Dip or Squat – stationary as well as moving

•       T – Push – one skate behind the other, using the inside edge of the skate to propel skater forward

•       Snowplow Stop – first steps to stopping, toes pointed together causing a “snowplow” and creating the player to stop, start by doing stationary.

•       Moving Backwards – first steps to backwards moving starting with a pigeon toed march

•       Skating forward using full strides

•       Forward one – foot glides, right and left, the length of the skater’s height

•       Glide turns, both directions – both feet on the ice using the inside and outside edges of the blades and being able to turn or glide in both directions

•       Moving snowplow stops

Skills Required to Graduate to the DEVELOPMENT/LEARN TO PLAY program*

• Get Up on Ice (without Assistance)
• Forward Stride
• Glide Turns (Both Directions)
• Moving Backwards
• Moving Snowplow Stops

*All skills must be performed without the use of skating aids. 

Required Equipment - The minimum equipment required to participate in the LEARN TO SKATE programs is:

·           Helmet

·           Elbow Pads

·           Shin Guards

·           Gloves (Hockey or Regular)

·           Skates.  Full gear is permitted and encouraged

·           A colored jersey will be provided by the program, one jersey per season

• Neck Guards are mandatory for all skaters in any Komets/Jr Komets program. 

Players in need of equipment can be sized up for equipment prior to the first day of each session.

If you will be renting gear from the Komets, please reach out to Roxanne at vpoff-ice@kenoshakomets.com to schedule a time to be fitted. 

Loaner Equipment will be FREE to borrow for the first session of our development program. All equipment rentals will require a $25 per session usage fee for each session after that as long as your athlete is enrolled in Kenosha Komets Development program.
 

 A $50 deposit is required to borrow Kenosha Komets loaner equipment that will be fully refunded upon return of borrowed gear. 

The loaner equipment is based on an honor system and survives because of donated equipment from our members.

We do not currently provide the following loaner equipment:*

·    Hockey sticks –We recommend wooden, left or right handed (straight blade) sticks for the skaters in our program.  

·       Mouth Guards, neck guards, or supporters/cups (optional) 

*The equipment “not” provided above (or any other equipment) can be purchased at sporting goods stores or pro-shops.

Please email the program director with any equipment related questions.

Please note, equipment is distributed on a first-come, first-served basis

  Loaner equipment is not guaranteed.

Membership Requirements: A USA Hockey (USAH) Membership Confirmation number is required for all hockey programs.  You'll be able to register your skater with USAH from within the Komet's registration session.

More information about the USA Hockey Membership and Registration can be found at http://www.usahockey.com/membership

Experienced with hockey and want to help coach our Development program? Please contact our Hockey Director using the contact information below.

NOTE:  All coaches are required to complete a standard background check prior to assisting on or off ice (provided by the Kenosha Komets).