Jacksonville Icemen Guide To The Game

NOVEMBER 24, 2018

GUIDE TO THE GAME

AUTISM AWARENESS NIGHT

BEN EFIT ING

PRESENTED BY

guide to the game JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN INAUGURAL AUTISM AWARENESS NIGHT SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2018, 7:00 PM VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA BENEFITING MAKING STRIDES FOR AUTISM, INC.

We hope this Guide to the Game will make you more comfortable on the big day at the Jacksonville Icemen hockey game. There is no reason to be scared or anxious. Hockey is suppose to be fun! There are a lot of friendly people and the Veterans Memorial Arena is ready for you to have a good time! This guide to the game will help you learn what you can expect at the Jacksonville Icemen hockey game.

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GAME DAY GUIDE

I’M GOING TO A HOCKEY GAME! I WILL HAVE FUN.

the team WHO ARE THE JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN? The Jacksonville Icemen are a minor professional hockey team that plays in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).

Players come from all over the world to play for the Icemen.

The team plays their home games at the Veterans Memorial Arena in downtown Jacksonville.

MY HOME TEAM IS THE JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN. THEY WEAR BLUE AND WHITE.

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entering the veterans memorial arena GOING THROUGH SECURITY

You will have to pass through security metal detectors, which can cause a line.

Stay patient and calm; fun times are through the doors!

The metal detectors are used to see if people are bringing in items that are not allowed.

You will have to empty your pockets and the staff will look through your bag.

Don’t worry; this will be fast and simple.

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TAKE EVERYTHING OUT OF YOUR POCKETS AND PUT INSIDE THE BOWL.

entering the veterans memorial arena WHO DO I GIVE MY TICKETS TO?

When you enter the arena, you will show your ticket to the Veterans Memorial Arena SMG event staff.

They will scan your ticket and let you in. SMG's ticket staff will all be wearing blue shirts.

They will be a lot of staff throughout the game keeping people safe.

If you need help, the SMG event staff will be there!

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MAKE SURE YOU SCAN YOUR TICKET.

entering the veterans memorial arena WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PEOPLE?

The Veterans Memorial Arena holds thousands of people and can get a little crowded.

You need to pay attention to where you are going and stay with your group.

There will be many different people of different ages, sizes, and abilities.

A lot of fans will be wearing Jacksonville Icemen shirts to show they love the team.

Don’t go off on your own because you could get lost.

IF you get lost, find one of the event SMG staff in the blue or red shirts and they will help you.

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HOLD ON WHILE GOING UP THE ESCALATOR.

entering the veterans memorial arena CONCOURSE: FOOD AND STORES

The concourse is a big circle with a lot of things to do.

You will see a lot of different types of food.

Food at the arena costs money, which is why it’s important to eat before you go to the game.

Also, there are Icemen Fan shops that sell clothing and souvenirs. These cost money so you will have to bring money or you can ask your mom and dad.

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IF I GET HUNGRY OR THIRSTY, I CAN ASK MY PARENTS FOR A SNACK.

entering the veterans memorial arena GUEST SERVICES

There is also guest services that can you help you answer any questions.

There will also be a Sensory Bag Check Out table setup by Making Strides For Autism. The table will be to the right once you enter the arena.

Sensory Bags that are filled with headphones, fidgets, and other things to help you stay calm.

If you need a Sensory Bag, you can go to Sensory Bag Check Out table and check one out.

It's a limited number of Sensory Bags. So bring your own just in case they're all gone.

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GUEST SERVICES AND EMT ARE HERE TO ASSIST.

entering the veterans memorial arena HOW DO WE FIND OUR SEATS?

Your ticket tells you everything you need to know about finding your seats.

It says your section number, row letter, and your exact seat number.

In case you lose your ticket, try to remember your section number.

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SHOW YOUR TICKET TO THE GUEST SERVICES STAFF.

inside the arena FANG THE JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN MASCOT FANG is a one-year-old Husky.

In a fan vote, the name FANG received over 1,000 votes, in honor of JSO K-9 FANG who was killed in the line of duty just two weeks before.

He is very friendly and loves to say "HI" to all of the Icemen fans, but you don’t have to say "HI" if you don’t want to.

He likes to dance around!

FANG IS THE MASCOT FOR THE JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN. HE IS VERY NICE ME AND I CAN TELL HIM "HI"!

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inside the arena WHAT IS THE TEDDY BEAR TOSS? Many people will bring in stuffed animals for the Jacksonville Icemen Teddy Bear Toss, you can bring some too!

After the Icemen’s first goal, fans will throw their bears on to the ice.

You may have to move closer so you can throw your bear. Don’t worry; you will have plenty of time.

All of the bears will be donated to local children’s charities.

I CAN BRING A BEAR TO THE GAME TO THROW ON THE ICE! IT WILL BE FUN AND GO TO CHILDREN TO MAKE THEM HAPPY.

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the game WHAT HAPPENS AT THE START OF THE GAME? HOW LONG IS THE GAME ?

The beginning of the game can be very loud.

If you don’t like this, you can close your eyes and cover your ears or you can ask an adult to take you outside.

Someone will also sing the national anthem. It won’t be too loud, but you can cover your ears or you can sing along.

The games usually last 2.5 hours.

A hockey game has three periods that are twenty minutes each.

There is an 18-minute break after the first and second period.

There are a lot of pauses and timeouts during the game that cause the team to stop playing.

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the game WHAT IS ON THE SCOREBOARD? The Jacksonville Icemen have a huge scoreboard that hangs from the middle of the ice.

It will show videos of different commercials and show videos of all of the fans around the arena.

It may show you and your family!

THE JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN HAVE A HUGE BOARD THAT HANGS FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE ICE.

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the game WHAT ARE ALL THE DIFFERENT SOUNDS? WHY IS EVERYONE SO LOUD? You will hear music playing throughout the entire game. It can be loud, but maybe you will hear your favorite song!

During the game, fans will cheer and clap if the Icemen make a good play.

If the Icemen score, a loud horn will play. When this happens, a lot of people stand up and cheer.

If it’s too loud, you can cover your ears, wear headphones, or go for a walk on the concourse.

The Icemen love to hear their fans get loud.

I CAN CHEER FOR THE JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN!

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during the game WHERE CAN I GO FOR A BREAK?

Sometimes a hockey games can be overwhelming, It’s okay to take a break!

Making Strides for Autism will have a sensory room filled with weighted lap pads, bouncy balls, and other objects you can use to help you calm down.

If you need to take a break, tell your mom and dad and they can bring you to the sensory room in section 118-121 on the concourse.

When you feel better, you can go back to the game.

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WEIGHTED LAP PADS AND SENSORY BAGS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP ME CALM DOWN.

during the game WHERE ARE THE RESTROOMS? Restrooms are located on the main concourse.

If you need to use the restroom, ask your parents or group chaperon to take you.

Ask the people in your row to stand up so you can get out.

Never go to the restroom by yourself or leave without your parent or group chaperon.

NEVER GO TO THE RESTROOM BY YOURSELF OR LEAVE WITHOUT YOUR PARENT OR GROUP CHAPERON.

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during the game WHAT IF I GET LOST?

If you get lost, stay calm!

You can tell any member of the SMG event staff and the will help you.

You can show them your ticket and tell them your name and they will help you find your parents or group.

Guest Services is a safe place to go if you get lost.

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TELL ANY MEMBER OF THE SMG EVENT STAFF AND THEY WILL HELP YOU.Â

leaving the game WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO LEAVE? After the game, everyone is trying to leave at the same time so it can be noisy and crowded.

Make sure you stay will your parents or group and stay close to an adult you came to the game with so you do not get lost.

IT CAN BE CROWDED, SO I NEED TO STAY PATIENT AND CALM.

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game tips WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE GAME! For Parents: Bring any visual supports and Augmentative and Alternative Communication you many need.

Bring headphones, a weighted blanket and whatever else you need to comfort and keep your child calm.

The arena will have some, but they may not have enough for everybody.

For Children: You will have to wait in a line and go through a machine. It will not hurt, stay calm.

When the game starts, it will be dark and loud. You can close your eyes and cover your ears, wear headphones, or ask for a break.

You may need to speak louder at times to ensure that everyone can hear you.

If you don’t understand what someone says it is ok to ask them to repeat themselves.

If you get lost, you can tell the people in the blue shirts! It is important to stay calm so they can find your mom and dad.

BE OUR GUEST SENSORY ROOM The Sensory Break Room is located behind sections 118-121 on the concourse. Parents MUST accompany children at all times while using the Sensory Break Room!

SERVICE DOGS Trained guide dogs or service animals are permitted to assist guests inside the arena.

Project C.H.A.N.C.E. will be onsite with 3 services dogs to help children decompress, if experiencing sensory overload. The services dogs are located next to the Sensory Break Room.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR AUTISM Slainte Chiropractic will be onsite next to the Sensory Room providing information about the benefits of chiropractic for autism.

ARENA ADA ACCESS www.jaxarena.com/p/visit/287

THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS WITH AUTISM ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS GUIDE Brittani Argott, MA, BCBA Carrence Bass, CEO. President Keri Parker, RN Megan Stewart, MS CCC-SLP Paul Argott, PHD, BCBA-D Victoria Martensen, ESE Teacher, M.Ed

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thank you to our Event sponsors

PRESENTING SPONSOR

Created by: Making Strides For Autism, Inc.'s Friends With Autism Initiative.

"We Connect the Community to Autism.", www.makingstridesforautism.org Photos by: Mike Jackson Photography, www.mikejackson-photography.com and the Jacksonville Icemen AUTISM AWARENESS GAME DAY GUIDE