irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $86KREFEREES - FEES RELATED TO REFEREES.
- #2 $34KREGISTRATION FEES - FEES RELATED TO LEAGUE & TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
14U Winter Invitational Tournament
Annual midseason tournament featuring a four-team division where each team plays three round-robin games followed by placement games
House (Snowbelt) Teams
Developmental hockey teams for players not selected for travel teams; teams divided into A (advanced) and B (developmental) levels within age bands
Initiation Program / First Strides / Mini-Mite
Entry-level hockey program for young children introducing basic skating and hockey skills in a developmentally appropriate setting
Referee Program
Recruits, trains, and schedules referees for games; ensures adherence to NYSAHA and USA Hockey rules
Travel (Tournament Bound) Teams
Competitive youth hockey teams organized by age group that participate in sectional and state tournaments; players selected through annual tryouts
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Youth Sports Access and Equipment Support 2 activities
- Financial support for team participation in tournamentsCovers 50% of entry fees for travel teams that qualify for state tournaments, reducing financial burden on families and supporting competitive advancement.
- Provision of hockey equipment and uniforms for youth playersProvides youth hockey uniforms, including official jerseys and matching socks, for teams. Offers free jerseys to players at the IP/6U/Mini-Mites level to reduce barriers to participation.
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Youth Ice Hockey Development 2 activities
- Organization and hosting of youth hockey games, practices, and tournamentsOrganizes 20 to 30 games per season, primarily on weekends, and schedules weekly practices (1–2 times per week) for youth teams. Hosts USA Hockey-sanctioned tournaments, including the 14U Winter Invitational, which guarantees four games per team and features round-robin play and finals. Schedules all ice time for house and travel teams.
- Youth hockey programs for boys and girls across multiple age groups and skill levelsOperates youth ice hockey programs for participants ages 3 to 19, including beginner levels (IP/6U/8U), house (recreational) teams, and competitive travel teams (Tier 1 and Tier 2) for both boys and girls. Programs include First Strides, First Goals, and birth year-based travel teams from 10U upward, offered at Onondaga Nation Arena in Nedrow and Meachem Rink in Syracuse, NY.
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Transparent Governance Meetings 1 activity
- Administrative governance and member engagementHolds monthly board meetings open to active members, with minutes from the 2024–2025 season published with a one-month delay to protect voting integrity.
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Youth Soccer Development Programs 1 activity
- Implementation of coaching and player development standardsImplements an association-wide system of coaching methods and age-specific guidelines to ensure consistent skill development, teamwork, and age-appropriate play across all programs.
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Youth Sports Conduct Enforcement 1 activity
- Player safety and conduct managementEnforces a formal concussion protocol requiring immediate removal from play, medical evaluation, parent notification, and clearance before return. Adheres to conduct rules from NYSAHA, USA Hockey, and VYHA, with automatic suspension for possession of weapons, alcohol, tobacco, or non-prescribed controlled substances, and a disciplinary process with escalating consequences up to dismissal after three offenses within two years.
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Youth and Community Sports Officiating Development 1 activity
- Referee services and officiating support for games and tournamentsRecruits, trains, and schedules referees for youth hockey games and tournaments. Uses certified USA Hockey officials for tournament play and ensures dissemination of updated rules to coaching staff, referees, and off-ice officials.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$384K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$365K95%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$17K
expenses
Total expenses$399K
Program expenses98%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$335K
Cash$315K
Investments$0
Liabilities$97K
Net assets$237K
Liquid reserves9.5 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +7.9%
relationships · 25
Who they work with
- Atlantic Hockey Federation Network — Will join the Atlantic Hockey Federation for the 2025-2026 season.
- Bob Owen Partner — Assistant Coach for the 12u - Badeau team.
- CNY Bobcats Partner — Partners with CNY Bobcats to host Tier 2 girls' hockey teams.
- CNY Bobcats Partner — Partners with the CNY Bobcats to provide Tier 2 girls' hockey teams.
- City of Syracuse Department of Parks and Recreation Partner — Collaborates with the organization to provide youth ice hockey programs.
- Department of Parks and Recreation for the City of Syracuse Partner — Cooperates with VYHA in providing youth ice hockey programs
- Eric Badeau Partner — Head Coach for the 12u - Badeau team.
- Garth Coviello Partner — Assistant Coach for the 12u - Badeau team.
- Grace Roberto (Mitala) Partner — Assistant Coach for the 12u - Badeau team.
- Jadon Lee Partner — Assistant Coach for the 12u - Badeau team.
- Jamie Moran Partner — Team Manager for the 12u - Badeau team.
- Jim Frazee Partner — Team Manager for the 12u - Badeau team.
- John Dunn Rink at Meachem Park Partner — Hosts youth hockey practices and games.
- Mallory Burdick Partner — Assistant Coach for the 12u - Badeau team.
- NYSAHA Government — Member organization whose rules VYHA enforces among players.
- NYSAHA Network — Provides eligibility requirements, rules, and coaching mandates followed by VYHA
- National Girls Hockey League Network — Tier 1 girls’ programs are members of the National Girls Hockey League.
- New York State Amateur Hockey Association Network — Affiliated with the New York State Amateur Hockey Association.
- Onondaga Nation Arena Partner — Hosts youth hockey practices and games.
- SponsorVYHA@gmail.com Partner — Point of contact for sponsorship partnerships supporting Valley Youth Hockey Association programs.
- USA Hockey Government — Governing body whose rules VYHA requires players to follow.
- USA Hockey Government — Sanctions the 14U Winter Invitational tournament and provides certified officials.
- USA Hockey Network — Affiliated with USA Hockey.
- USA Hockey Network — Provides eligibility requirements, rules, and coaching mandates followed by VYHA
- vyha.numbers@gmail.com Partner — Email contact point for jersey number assignments and support, indicating an internal coordination role.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Accessible Entry with Low-Cost, No-Travel Programsmethodology: accessible_entry_pointBy offering a low-cost, low-commitment, no-travel hockey program, the organization increases accessibility and reduces barriers to entry for families and new players, because financial and logistical constraints are primary deterrents to youth sports participation.
- Game-Based, Full-Equipment Introduction for Safety and Immersionmethodology: game-based introduction with full equipmentBy introducing hockey through fun, game-based activities while requiring full equipment, the organization promotes both safety and early immersion in the sport, because experiential learning combined with protective standards fosters confidence and reduces injury risk.
- Precaution-First Concussion Safety Protocolmethodology: precaution-firstBy mandating immediate removal from play and requiring medical evaluation and clearance for suspected concussions, the organization prioritizes long-term athlete health over short-term participation, because early and strict intervention reduces the risk of serious injury and models responsible youth sports culture.
- Public-Partnership Delivery to Expand Program Reachmethodology: public-partnership deliveryBy operating youth hockey programs in partnership with the City of Syracuse Department of Parks and Recreation, the organization leverages public infrastructure and resources to deliver structured sports activities, because collaborative delivery increases access and sustainability.
- Skating-First Foundation for Skill and Confidence Developmentmethodology: skating-first foundationBy using skating instruction as the foundational skill, the organization builds player confidence and hockey proficiency early, because mastering fundamental movement on ice enables safer, more effective engagement with the sport.