Cyclones 2024-2025 Season Kickoff - August Update
Hope everyone had a great summer and great start to the school year! With the launch of school it means that right around the corner will begin our 2024-2025 Cyclones program officially! WooHOO!
Please see the below topics as an overview to the 2024-2025 season kickoff information. This may alternatively be viewed on the google doc.
CROSSBAR
- Account Access & Communication Updates
- Team Feed Messages vs Chats
- Apple iOS & Android Apps
- Family Schedules (important)
- Crossbar Help
2024-25 SEASON SCHEDULE
- IMPORTANT DATES
- Synthetic Training (starts this week for 8U/16U)
- On-Ice Training (starts Sept 14th)
- On-Ice Practice Format
- Family Events
- Jamboree’s / Scrimmages
CYCLONES COACHES & VOLUNTEERS
- Head Coaches
- Assistant Coaches & Helpers
- Team Managers & Other Volunteers
JERSEYS
- Synthetic Training & Jerseys
- On-Ice Practice Jerseys (order form to complete) - HARD DEADLINE 8/24
- Game Jerseys
- Development Players & Game Jerseys (order form to complete) - HARD DEADLINE 8/30
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
2024-2025 Cyclones Season Kickoff
To all the returning players - WELCOME BACK!
To all new players joining us for the 1st time - WELCOME TO THE CYCLONES!
To all the parents - Welcome again to long days at the rink and memories of a lifetime. As a continual reminder - all of the Cyclones updates throughout the remainder of season will take place within Crossbar. We are really looking forward to making it easier on all of us with the new system. If you have any questions or feedback please connect with Coach Andrew or Candie as they have been leading the charge on this.
CROSSBAR
Account Access & Communication Updates
If you do not have all of your parents / guardians added to your account, we would suggest going into your account and inviting the missing members. You do this by clicking on “Account” within the Cyclone Website. Once on your account, click on your player's name. On the player profile - there is an ability to add others who may have access to the account. Having all of your contacts will aid in communication and contact information.
Our Cyclones Crossbar Website: https://www.cycloneshockey.org/
Team Feed Messages vs Chats
Crossbar supports multiple ways of messaging: Website posts, Team Page posts as “Team Feed Messages”, and Chat. So folks do not necessarily get lost when messages are getting posted via the system we wanted to detail two distinct differences and where things show up.
Team Posts ONLY show up on the website. Any team posts will also automatically email the contacts added with account access.
Chats do NOT show up on the website. They are only accessible via the mobile application.
Apple iOS & Android Apps
iOS = https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crossbar-mobile/id1503178320
Android = https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.crossbarhq.crossbar&hl=en_US
Family Schedules
In Crossbar, any events will show up in the family calendar based on your families team assignments. This includes multiple players in various age groups, rec vs cyclones schedules, and players vs coaches/helpers assignments.
A really nice feature for those who are techies ... Calendar Sync!
You can go to https://www.cycloneshockey.org/calendar. In the upper right, there is a button for a "Calendar Feed". From here there are instructions for adding your entire family calendar to your favorite schedule tool (Outlook, Google Calendar, your iPhone/Android calendar) in order to stay up-to-date.
Crossbar Help
- User Resources
- Help with Mobile Application
- General Help
2024-25 SEASON SCHEDULE
IMPORTANT DATES
8/21/24 - 1st Cyclones Synthetic Practice for 8U and 14/16U
8/28/24 - 1st Cyclones Synthetic Practice for 10U and 12U
9/14 - 1st week of on-ice practices at Clearwater Ice Arena
11/29 - Hope Tournament in Wesley Chapel
Synthetic Training
As many may know, this season our Cyclones will train on natural ice at Clearwater Ice Arena as well as on synthetic ice with our Premium Sponsor - Global Synthetic Ice.
An overview guide to introduce Synthetic Ice, benefits of synthetic training, details related to schedule format / gear required, and more can be found on the GSI Cyclones // Synthetic & Off-Ice Training Google Slideshare. Please review this slideshare as it will definitely answer many of your questions ahead of time.
To maximize training results, cyclones rosters will be split into a GREEN/BLACK group and a NAVY/GRAY group on opposite week training schedules. Due to size/space limits at the training center each group will be limited to the first 16 participants of each age / color in their respective week(s). Within each training session, the participants will be split in 2 whereby ½ start on the synthetic while the others start with off-ice conditioning. Midway through the training session, the players will switch.
GREEN = 8U
BLACK = 14/16U
NAVY = 10U
GRAY = 12U
The synthetic training schedule has been added to Crossbar through the end of February.
Skate sharpening is available after each session for $10. If for some reason a player needs to have skates sharpened before and after a session, please add $5 for a total of $15.
Synthetic Training Participation
While the training is optional, it is highly recommended. The players will benefit greatly from the benefits of training on this surface as our coaches will be able to break down skill development on it in ways which just are not practical/feasible on natural ice.
On-Ice Training
Saturday, September 14th will be the 1st on-ice training for the season. The first 4 on-ice training weeks have already been added to Crossbar.
Once we have confirmation from the rink on the remaining ice requests - they too will be added to Crossbar. Our aim is to have these on Saturday’s when possible in order to have a scheduled “off day” on Sundays. On tournament weeks, we may have a training session(s) during the week preceding the event if scheduling permits.
On-Ice Practice Format
Unlike previous years where all of the players of an age group practiced together, this season that will change. We will move to more of a station based training program. The practice jerseys this year are reversible. Prior to the start of on-ice training sessions, your coach will assign your player the jersey color side to wear throughout practices. Please have your player stick to this assignment until or unless otherwise noted.
The jersey assignments will be utilized to properly group the players into groupings for the stations in order to maximize skill development for all players respective to their level.
Family Events
Throughout the 24-25 season, we would like to make a conscious effort to have more family time. This may be potlucks at the rink on long practice / game days, events at a park, individual team building events away from hockey. More information on the first of these will be sent out in the near future. The goal is to try and have 1 event per month.
Jamboree’s / Scrimmages
There will likely be opportunities throughout the season for the respective tournament teams to scrimmage against other programs. Given some of the other programs do not start until after our Cyclones program does - the scheduling of time / location of these are unknown. For the 10/12/14/16U programs these scrimmages will likely carry an incremental fee to cover the ice rental wherever the games take place.
High level discussions have taken place with Nest Academy, Lakeland Mocs, Kissimmee Bulldogs, and TGH Bull Sharks. More info as it becomes available.
CYCLONES COACHES & VOLUNTEERS
Head Coaches
Contact information for each of the HC’s is (or will be) available on your team page.
8U - Coach Trevor
10U - Coach Andrew
12U - Coach Lee
14/16U - Coach Carlos
Assistant Coaches & Helpers
With the schedule quickly approaching, the HC’s will be connecting with all which were interested in helping in some way on a plan.
As noted above, there is a desire to work in more of a structured practice plan based on stations. Each week, a day or two prior to practice a practice plan is anticipated to be sent out so that the helpers may skim ahead of time to know what the respective stations will be. That way when we arrive at the rink and get onto the ice we are able to maximize as much of the 60 minutes as possible.
The goal in each of the stations (and practices) will be to balance high end skill development commensurate with each player's skill level along with a high level of fun. This on the ice translates to game situation based training on things like transitions, battle drills, races, and anything with a high level of compete.
Team Managers & Other Volunteers
If you indicated you are interested in volunteering as a team manager or in another volunteering role then either Candie Knight or your head coach will get in contact soon.
In addition to helping manage the team communications regarding tournaments/games/events, the Team Manager role will also help to manage the “team page” in Crossbar.
Thank you in advance for any/all your efforts!
JERSEYS
Jersey orders will soon be placed for both the reversible practice jerseys as well as the game jerseys. If you had a jersey from a previous season, you will still need a new one this year as the design / colors / etc have changed.
Synthetic Training & Jerseys
Many players find wearing body pads and hockey pants too warm/hot when training in the training center. It will be player preference if they wish to wear either of those pieces of gear and thereby any jerseys. By far and large, most players are anticipated to train in their cyclones t-shirts or other dry-fit / sport shirts along with shorts.
On-Ice Practice Jerseys
The practice jerseys and game jerseys are not the same manufacturer. Additionally, the practice jerseys are not the same as in previous seasons. The players will wear the GW (Gamewear) brand of reversible practice jerseys for the 24-25 season. Many players may have GW branded jerseys from other hockey or training programs.
IF you know your players size for a practice jersey THEN please complete the form below.
DEADLINE
-- Practice Jersey Sizing Form --
IF you do not know your players size THEN please see Candie Knight or someone at the Cyclones table on 8/23 or 8/24 as part of the Fall Rec Season Kickoff. A couple sample practice jerseys of various sizes will be available for your player to try on.
IF a replacement practice jersey is required throughout the season THEN it will be $40 per replacement added as an invoice to your account.
Game Jerseys
Players should have already been sized for the game day uniform during Cyclones tryouts.
IF you or your player missed sizing during the tryouts THEN please see Candie Knight on 8/23 or 8/24 as part of the Fall Rec Season Kickoff. Sample game jerseys of various sizes will be available for your player to try on.
What is included in my offer?
- Tournament players will receive game jersey’s as part of their program fees.
- Development players do not receive game jerseys by default. They are available for purchase for an additional $140.00 however. Any 8U, 10U, 12U, 14/16U development players who may wish to play in scrimmages, jamborees or tournaments as the season goes on will need to purchase these.
Development Players & Game Jerseys
Let us know if you need to add the game jersey add-on to your 2024-25 program. Once we have sizing information we will create an invoice within Crossbar which will show up in your account separate from your season program fee(s). Complete the form on the link below to finalize your game jersey order.
DEADLINE
-- Dev Player GAME JERSEY Order Form --
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
As noted previously, neither the house Rec Program nor Cyclones will continue to use the Teamer app. If you still have Teamer - it may be removed.
As we move forward with both the Rec and Cyclones Rec Select programs, we will have more information available on any additional training, ice time or ways for your player to improve their game should you/they wish to.
Thank you to all!
Can’t wait to see you on the ice!