There's still a lot of open work slots available in DIBS. LTS families do not have work assessment hours or concession hours for the year. Please feel free to help out the association by signing up on DIBS for hours if you would like to get involved. Please ask questions. Just click on the word DIBS above and it will take you directly to the page.

1. Practice walking around and getting up and down at home in skates with skate guards. Helps build strength, balance, and coordination.

2. Get your skates sharpened. Once every 2-3 weeks to keep a good edge. This will help a learning skater. If they have a dull edge, it will make it much more difficult to learn to get up and use their blade to dig into the ice. You can get your skates sharpened downtown Menomonie at the bike shop, in Eau Claire at Riverside Bike and Skate or at Scheels(which is free) if you are in town there. Or Contact Russ Bahr (mini mites coach) who charges a one time yearly fee per family to get them sharpened as much as you want. (This is what I do since I have a whole herd of kids playing hockey and it saves lots of my own time)

3. When you are tying your kids skates, make sure they are good and snug. If you can squeeze the sides of the skate and the laces move, they are too loose. If you need help with this or any of the equipment just ask one of the coaches at the next practice.

4. I know it's tough to see, but most kids will make it through the tears after a few practices and they get used to being on the ice away from mom and dad. Just remember it's mostly frustration from having to learn to walk on a small blade on a slippery surface, being a little cold, and being in an unfamiliar place. Hopefully, everyone will be getting up and walking/gliding on their skates in the next few weeks.