Dek Hockey is an outdoor, inexpensive, and easy-to-learn variation of ice hockey.  Players run on sneakers instead of skates.  It is played on blacktop, using a ball instead of a puck.

Our program is open to boys and girls, ages 4 to 18, divided into 5 age groups. 

No, many players each season are brand new. Some try it out amongst other youth sports for the exercise and for meeting new friends. Some try it out and get hooked for life.

Go to www.nrkyouthsports.com. Look for the dek hockey sign-up link to click on (football & cheerleading registration is listed as a separate link). You will be prompted to create an account with a username and password in Sports Engine.

Please contact the following dek hockey board members with questions. Generic questions can be sent to the nrkdekhockey@gmail.com account.

Tony Palladino - director - nrkdekhockey@gmail.com 

Ian Lawrence - associate director & treasurer - nrkdektreasurer@gmail.com 

Jay Rogiani - assistant director - personnel (including officials) - nrkdekpersonnel@gmail.com 

Paul Bankes - assistant director - planning (including registration) - nrkdekplanning@gmail.com 

Dan Colfer - assistant director - property (including equipment) - nrkdekproperty@gmail.com 

Amie Mancini - assistant director - fundraising - nrkdekfundraising@gmail.com 

All of the dek hockey board members have experience running the recent seasons at the same location.

The Norchester Red Knights is an all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit established in 1960. NRK offers football and cheerleading in the IYFL for ages 5 to 13. NRK is a “community without borders” meaning that it does not matter what school or district your child attends. The goal is to add other sport programs in the future, and to especially promote expansion for Pottstown students.

Intramural, recreational, youth dek hockey has a 30-year-plus tradition in the Pottstown area. This Tri-County region has become a hotspot, with the largest pool of players in Eastern Pennsylvania. Our dek board members, coaches, referees, and volunteers have much experience helping introduce hundreds of players to the sport over the years.

Yes, the goal is for the players to have fun, and that only happens if they play. There are playing time rules that coaches agree to and which are sent out before the season. The sport is fast-paced, and players will routinely take “shifts” on and off the rink in groups of 5.

Dek hockey is joining the Norchester Red Knights in order to achieve financial independence and to save for long-term investments and improvements that go directly back to the youth. All dek hockey funds raised will go back into the dek hockey program for expenses, just as all football funds go to football expenses. Dek hockey has its own bank account and independent budgeting and purchasing power.

Dek hockey holds two separate seasons a year. The fall season is September, October, and November. The spring season is March, April, May. Some families do both, some families do one or the other.

Each team has one practice once a week. Each team will play 8-10 regular season games on Saturdays and Sundays. Each team will be guaranteed at least 2 more games in the playoffs to end the season.

The 2024 fall and 2025 spring age breakdown is listed below.

“Teenage” - 9/1/2006 to 8/31/2010 birthdays - natural 9th-12th graders - those still in high school who have not yet turned 19 can play

“Cadet” - 9/1/2010 to 8/31/2013 birthdays - natural 6th-8th graders

“Beaver” - 9/1/2013 to 8/31/2016 birthdays - natural 3rd-5th graders

“Penguin” - 9/1/2016 to 8/31/2019 birthdays - natural 5K-2nd graders

“Chipmunk” is an instructional only program. It is for players with birthdays 9/1/2018 or later. Parents decide if they think their child is old enough to handle the program. Being close to age 4 is recommended. For those who are 5 about to turn 6 during the school year, parents can choose to have them play in the “penguin” league, “chipmunk” instructional, or both.

On the weekends, games go in descending age order. The oldest “teenage” players start in the early morning. The youngest “penguin” players play in the late afternoon.

Yes, players can indicate that they want to register in an older age division if their parents feel that they can handle it. For $ 25 extra, players can also play on two teams, in their natural age division and in the next older age division.

There will be a low-key evaluation for “penguin” division players before the season. This is simply to observe the kids and to figure out their best placements. Parents will be contacted with the date and time of this session.

The dek hockey board works to create as balanced teams as possible, to ensure competitive games. It is not an exact science, but the goal is to put every team in a chance to succeed. Players do not stay with the same teammates or coaches from season to season. This helps form a Dek hockey community, promote sportsmanship, and eliminate rivalry. The only teammate requests that are honored are siblings in the same age division are kept together.

Yes, on the registration form you can check off to try goalie full-time or part-time. However, it is not guaranteed, and it is up to each team’s coach. The goalies are divided out so each team has at least one child interested. There are community goalie pads that are available to use but which stay at the rink.

Yes, on the registration form you can check off to volunteer to coach. A coaching spot is not guaranteed, and all placements are determined by the dek hockey board.

Before coaches step on the dek, a criminal background check and a child abuse check are required in Pennsylvania. Before the season, instructions will be emailed out on how to obtain these checks, and how to send the completed information back to the league at nrkdekhockey@gmail.com for its database.

The four required pieces of player equipment are helmets, gloves, elbow pads, and leg pads. Leg pads must cover the knee (meaning not soccer shin pads). Helmets must have a full face cage. Protective cups are suggested.

On the registration form, check off if you wish to rent equipment. There is a small fee with each rental, and the equipment must be returned in good condition at the end of the season. There is a limited amount to lend out, and this option is used more by those in the youngest levels or by those brand new to the sport and unsure of their long-term commitment.

If you rented equipment in registration, you will get an email from nrkdekproperty@gmail.com before the season with instructions on hand-out dates and times.

Yes, many players get their own equipment. Stores like Schuylkill Valley Sports, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Pure Hockey, and Mix Sports have gear, as well as other sites. In order to save yourself money, it is important to look for “street hockey” gear, not “ice hockey”, which is more expensive. Be careful when ordering sizing, as “junior” is usually for the smallest size players. A cost-effective brand for gloves, elbow pads, and leg pads is “Mylec” (sometimes labeled “MK”). The best concussion-certified helmets are Bauer or CCM.

Players are required to obtain their own stick. The above guidance holds true for sticks, in that it’s best to look for “street hockey” not “ice.” The shaft of the stick may be wood or composite, but the blade will be a tough plastic called “ABS”. Ice hockey sticks are expensive and will get worn down by the street hockey surface.

Yes, NRK is looking to increase its inventory of equipment, so any gently used equipment of all sizes is welcome, both player or goalie gear. Please email nrkdekproperty@gmail.com for instructions on how to drop off.

While any sport carries risks, dek hockey is not as physical as some other sports. The equipment, including the helmet, is supposed to help protect players from errant stick blades or balls. Unlike ice hockey, there is no body checking in dek hockey, as players are supposed to play the ball not the opponent’s body. This is why ice hockey shoulder and chest pads are not allowed or needed. Standards for stick penalties, including high sticking, are also stricter. There are 2 referees on the dek to call penalties and to help teach the kids the proper rules. The league follows the International Street & Ball Hockey Federation rule book, with a list of house rules of our own specially modified for youth. Parents are informed of and sign a concussion protocol at registration, as well as a medical waiver of liability and permission for emergency treatment.

If your child plays in the regular league, the fee is $90. If your child is in the “chipmunk” instruction for the youngest players, the fee is $65. Registrants can pay all at once or can pay with a deposit and then in automatic bi-weekly installments through a credit card or bank account.

The NRK google form to request aid to cover fees (not including the deposit) is at https://tinyurl.com/nrkfinancialaid

It is important for us to promote financial transparency about where your fees are going. Dek board members and coaches are all volunteers. But each season requires about $20,000 to $25,000 in expenses. This includes but is not limited to: insurance, rink rent, registration site, player equipment, goalie equipment, nets, balls, medical supplies, referee fees, porta potties, dek resealing and maintenance, etc. Players also receive a performance-style team t-shirt to wear during all games and to keep after the season.

No, this is an intramural program with the games and practices held locally in the Tri-County area.

We have rented the West Pottsgrove Elementary school dek from the Pottsgrove School District for 2024 and 2025 practices and games. It is located on 25 Grosstown Rd in Stowe.

We have quoted with companies and budgeted for resealing the West dek as soon as it is permissible through the school district.

We are hoping in the future to be able to rent other larger rinks for some game use, and we will share any updates.

The dek hockey program will be looking at running fundraisers, researching business sponsors, and applying for grants to help grow financially. The goal is to save enough to purchase new boards and tiles for West Pottsgrove. The money raised will be dedicated to dek hockey only.

Anyone can donate at our PayPal, by searching for "NRK Dek Hockey" or going to tinyurl.com/paypalnrkdekhockey.

Before the seasons (by late August to the fall and by late February for the spring) we are happy to take team sponsors from any local businesses, organizations, individuals, or families. For $250, a company get can their name on a team's jerseys, and logo printed on banners at the rink, as well as featured on our social media. Any one interested should email nrkdektreasurer@gmail.com

Donors of any type will receive a tax-deductible receipt

Please join the Facebook page at facebook.com/nrkdekhockey. This is where the news updates will be posted.