SCAHA is pleased to have all our Mites be a part of Dan Bylsma's (Anaheim Mighty Ducks) new national initiative called IT PAYS this season.  IT PAYS is an acronym which stands for I Teach Positive Attitudes in Youth Sports and is a program designed to improve youth hockey for kids through education and positive reinforcement of the ideals of why kids play the game - to have fun, develop their athleticism and learn positive life lessons.

IT PAYS also has the goal of improving the reputation that youth hockey has too often acquired.  While IT PAYS has player, parent and coach's contracts similar to other programs, it is unique in that it also reports deportment - or "how you played the game" on the web.  As Dan says, "If it's true that 'it's not whether you won or lost but how you played the game that matters', how you played the game should be reported just like whether you won or lost."

The program has been financed for all the Mites in SCAHA by the LA Kings and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, who will be sponsoring tournaments and other exciting events for the teams with the best IT PAYS ratings, irrespective of won/loss records.

SCAHA is joining with other associations across the United States in this initiative which has the endorsement of the NHL, the NHLPA and the Center for Sports Parenting.  For more information on IT PAYS, go to www.HockeyITPAYS.com.