USA Hockey has released the official dates for its national recruiting program, the 2 & 2 Challenge.  The program includes two national Try Hockey For Free days which will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2016, as part of the NHL’s Come Play Hockey Month, and on Saturday, February 25, 2017, in coordination with Hockey Weekend Across America. 

The 2 & 2 Challenge and its related programs have played a significant role in spurring growth in hockey across the country. When the program was initiated in 2009-10, there were 91,622 8 & Under (8U) players in the United States. Youth hockey has grown 17.6% since then to reach over 107,000 8U players. The 2 & 2 Challenge has shown it can fuel growth in mature hockey markets, as well as emerging ones, including a increase of over 1,500 8U players (9.4%) in Minnesota.

Associations that commit to the 2 and 2 Challenge follow a systematic year-long plan of utilizing grassroots marketing tools and national events in an effort to add two additional new players and retain two more players compared to the previous season.  The plan consists of a combination of retention, acquisition and conversion programs that work in concert to grow hockey.

The retention phase of the 2 & 2 Challenge will kick off this season on August 23rd as USA Hockey will send digital invitations to all of last year’s 8U players to sign up again for hockey. Then, pre-recorded phone calls will be sent out in early September, and finally, each participating association will host Welcome Back Week on September 19 – 25.

The most well known components of the 2 & 2 Challenge are the national Try Hockey For Free days which are organized and promoted by USA Hockey, the NHL and its member clubs. These try hockey days frequently introduce over 10,000 kids to hockey on a single day.

This year’s fall Try Hockey For Free day will be November 12th. The date is held each year during the NHL’s Come Play Hockey Month and is intended to serve as a final recruiting effort for the current season after most kids have already signed up for hockey.  

February 25th will be year’s second Try Hockey For Free day. By holding another national try hockey event during the winter, associations have an opportunity to capitalize on the heightened interest in the game by families outside of the typical hockey community during that time of year.

The final component of the 2 & 2 Challenge is the conversion phase. By holding a low cost, low commitment program following each Try Hockey For Free day, associations provide a gradual transition into hockey for parents and players which increases the likelihood of them joining hockey.

USA Hockey provides youth associations across the country with support throughout the 2 & 2 Challenge program. Highlights of the available resources include national marketing in coordination with the NHL, jerseys, goodie bags, online registration tools, best practices for organizing the events and local marketing tools.

For more information or to register your youth hockey association, visit www.2and2Challenge.com.