The Sauk Rapids Youth Hockey Association is run by volunteers.  Without our volunteers, there is no hockey season.  There are multiple ways to get involved within your team and the association.  Please reach out to any board member if you are interested in helping out.  Some volunteers will need different types of training and certifications before they can begin.

If you are a board member, team manager, or locker room monitor, you must complete the following steps before beginning your position. 

Step 1- Register with USA Hockey as a volunteer (free).  You will be given a USA Hockey identification number that you will need to complete steps 2 and 3.  A new identification number is needed every year.

Step 2- Complete a background screening on the USA Hockey website ($30 fee).  You will need your driver's license and USA Hockey identification number on hand.  A background screening will be valid for two seasons.  It typically will take about a week to process.  Remember, you must be cleared before you begin.

Step 3- Complete SafeSport training.  This is also found on the USA Hockey website.  Again, be sure to have your USA Hockey identification number on hand.  New trainees will need to complete the entire course.  A refresher will follow every year after.

Once you have completed all the requirements, send a copy of your USA Hockey identification number to the SafeSport Coordinator.  The SafeSport Coordinator can answer any questions you have about the process.

Our concessions stand runs almost daily.  It also requires the most amount of help.  This is a great way to complete your required volunteer hours.  Training sessions will be scheduled as we approach the season so keep an eye on your email for dates.

Concession stand shifts will be posted in the "dibs" section on the website.  Below are instructions on how to sign up!

1.  All volunteer hours will be listed under the "DIBS" section of the website.  "Team" duties such as scoreboard, gamesheet, and penalty box do not count towards your volunteer hours.

2.  Families should use ONE log-in for claiming all DIBS items, this will ensure that all your hours bundle together and will be easier to track your totals.

3.  Families hiring other workers should sign up that worker under your family account, listing the name and phone number of the person working for you.  You are responsible to make sure they work the shift for you.  Work together with them to schedule a shift they can cover.

4.  Only in extreme emergencies are you able to "cancel" a shift that you have claimed.  Once you click on a shift, it is your responsibility to work it.  The penalty for not working is outlined under the "volunteer" tab on the website. You must make every effort to find a replacement and must contact the scheduler to discuss the need to cancel.  DO NOT request to cancel through dibs. 

5.  When you sign up for a shift, please DO NOT request to "Mark completed".  There are sign-in sheets that are used to verify that you completed your shift and the tracking sheet SEE BELOW will periodically be updated by the scheduler.

6.  Each shift claimed must have the name of the person working the shift.  If you are claiming more than one shift at the same time, do not just put one worker's name down for all the shifts claimed.

If you have questions, please email Connie Pesta at pestaconnie@gmail.com 

Volunteer Opportunities that you can sign up for are listed under the "DIBS" tab.  SRYHA provides a variety of opportunities to complete volunteer requirements throughout the entire year, so you can choose what best fits your abilities and availability.

It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to complete the mandatory hours before the end of the season!  Volunteer hours for the current season run from June 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

• ALL available hours for the concession stand, tournament workers, summer events and any other opportunities where volunteer credits are given, will be posted on the website and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. NO priority weeks will be give to any teams!!  Families are responsible for checking the website and managing their time/volunteer hours so that the required hours are completed before the end of the season.
• For the 2022-2023 season, a minimum of 16 HOURS of volunteer work must be done for each skater.  This is a minimum, you can always help out and do more when needed.
• Families will be charged $75/hour for all hours not completed.  This must be paid immediately at the end of the season.  Players will not be allowed on the ice until paid, if not paid prior to the start of the following season.  You are not considered a member in good standing if you have any outstanding bills due to SRYHA.
• A $25/hr fee will be charged for missing a scheduled shift or for cancellations you make that do not get covered.
• Shifts times are subject to change or be cancelled due to possible changes in ice schedules.  Credit for hours are only given if you work the shift or if your shift is cancelled on the day scheduled to work due to inclement weather/hazardous travel.
• It is the responsibility of each family to complete their required amount of volunteer hours.  There is no Buyout option.  Hire someone to work, if you are not able to work, but the hired worker must be an approved worker and complete a training session if they have not worked concession stand before.
• You are able to hire someone to work your hours for a minimum of $7.50/hr.  Families choosing this option, should make arrangements with the worker themselves and pay them directly.  SRYHA is not able to hire workers.  You are held accountable to the policies, should that worker not show up or cancel their shift.
• The person whose name is listed on the sign up, must be the person working the shift.  If you are signing up multiple family member to work shifts at the same time, list each workers name on the specified shift, not just the family name or the name of the person claiming the dib item.   
• Hours must be designated to a player at the time they are worked.  You cannot "sell"  your hours at a later date.
• Families working over their required hours cannot give away their hours to another family if there have been unfilled shifts throughout the season.  You must designate who the hours are being worked for at the time of claiming them.  The family you are working for should sign up through their account and put your name as the worker for the shift.
• SRYHA will keep a list of non-parent workers who are approved to be hired to work the concession stand.  To be placed on the list, the worker must contact SRYHA concession scheduler or manager and complete a training session before their first shift.  Any parent of a SRYHA player is also approved to work the stand and can be hired to work once their own volunteer requirements are fulfilled.
• Workers must complete appropriate training prior to working the concession stand.  Please review handbook for specific policies.
• ALL workers age 13-17 must be signed up to work with their own parent or another adult who has agreed to be responsible for that worker.  You must make sure the adult has agreed to supervising this child before signing the  child up.  DO NOT sign up a child under age 18 to work and assume there will be an adult willing to supervise them.
• Tournament workers and summer event workers must be 18 years of age or older, unless otherwise noted.  You should only sign up for these jobs if you are knowledgeable of the job to be done.  (i.e. Do not sign up to do timeclock or scorebook, if you have never done them before).

SRYHA leases the Concession Stand from Sports Arena East as a means of fundraising for the Association.  Staffing the concession stand is the responsibility of each parent and is considered mandatory volunteer hours by SRYHA.  Workers must know how to properly operate the concession stand.

NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 13 IS ALLOWED TO BE INSIDE THE CONCESSION STAND AREA!! This is for liability insurance reasons, MN Department of Health licensure, SAE contract and for their own safety.   Please follow this rule!    

• Be a parent of a SRYHA player, who has completed their own volunteer requirements and the required training if they have not worked in the concession stand before, or
• Anyone age 18 or older who is not a parent of a player, has completed a training session prior to working their first shift and is approved by the concession stand manager to be hired, or
• Children ages 13-17 who are working with their parent or another adult who has agreed to work with the child and have been properly trained and approved by the concession stand manager to be hired.