Amateur Hockey Association Illinois

The Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois is pleased to announce the creation of a Cross Ice Grant Program. The Cross Ice Grant Program is designed to aid AHAI Affiliates and their home rinks in promoting the growth of ice hockey through the implementation of a cross-ice hockey program.

The Cross Ice Grant Program will be administered by AHAI’s Tier II Committee and applications will be subject to the approval of the AHAI Board of Directors. The Cross Ice Grant Program will remain in place through the 2010-2011 season, but may be extended for an additional season at the discretion of the AHAI Board of Directors.

Cross Ice hockey is based on a model of practicing and playing across the width of the ice surface rather than lengthwise along the full length of the ice. The Cross Ice model for practice and play has been used in many of the leading hockey nations in the world for a number of years and is catching on in the U.S. as a more efficient way to use ice time and space and give children a greater feeling of success when playing hockey. By shrinking the playing surface, the Cross Ice model allows for players to increase the number of times they touch the puck, increase puck possession time and increase speed in playing situations — all of which translate into quicker development of the individual skills necessary to keep young players excited and motivated.

Cross Ice hockey programs offer Affiliates and their associated rinks the opportunity to draw more new players to the game (and retain more players in the younger age brackets) at a fraction of the cost of a traditional season based on full-ice usage and the costs inherent in underutilizing a full sheet of ice. Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded to successful applicants. AHAI will reimburse grant applicants for half the cost of the rink dividers (up to $2,500) required for Cross Ice hockey rink divider systems, or if the rink already has rink dividers, funds to purchase starter equipment packages. All applicants will be required to provide a full detailed report describing their cross-ice programs within three months after disbursement of their Cross Ice Grant.

Cross-Ice Grant Criteria

Cross Ice Grants are available to AHAI Affiliates working in conjunction with an associated [S.T.A.R.] ice facility and authorized representatives from both parties must co-sign the Cross Ice Grant application. In order to be eligible for a Cross Ice Grant, the AHAI affiliate and its associated ice facility must meet these criteria:

• Provide a description of the intended Cross Ice program;

• Provide a complete and detailed line item budget of the intended Cross Ice Program;

• Provide confirmation that the ownership of the rink-divider system has been agreed to by the AHAI Affiliate and the associated [S.T.A.R.] ice facility;

• Provide confirmation that arrangements for the storage of the rink-divider system has been agreed to by the AHAI Affiliate and the associated [S.T.A.R.] ice facility;

• Provide for the registration of all Cross Ice participants with USA Hockey (i.e. complete Individual Member Registration forms); and

• Provide a post-program accounting within three months after disbursement of the Cross Ice Grant.

How to Apply for a Cross-Ice Grant

Applications for a Cross Ice Hockey Grant are available through AHAI’s website at www.ahai.org under AHAI Programs. All Applications must be signed by (i) an authorized representative of an existing Affiliate in good standing with AHAI and (ii) an authorized representative of an ice facility associated with such Affiliate [and in good standing with S.T.A.R.].

There is no deadline for Applications, but Applicants should allow at least 30 days (from the date the Application is received by AHAI) for the review and processing of an Application. If an Application is incomplete, the Applicant will be notified and additional time may be required to process such Application. Applications, and the materials submitted in connection therewith, will not be returned.

AHAI Affiliates applying for a Cross Ice Grant must detail the intended use of the Grant. Any misuse of Cross Ice Grant funds will be referred to AHAI’s Rules and Ethics Committee.

AHAI, through preferred vendors, will purchase all cross ice dividers for this program. Shipment of the dividers will be sent directly to the ice rinks involved. If the designated rink already has rink dividers, starter equipment packages will be ordered through AHAI's preferred vendor and these starter equipment packages will be delivered directly to the participating ice rink.

The names of the organizations to whom Cross Ice Grants are disbursed will be published and Applicantsauthorize AHAI to use their names, likenesses and organizational insignias in conjunction with any advertising, publicity or other promotional materials (USA Hockey, AHAI, Rink and Youth Association Logos will be printed on the Cross Ice rink dividers).