Nashville Predators GOAL Program registration opens Tuesday, August 18

Attention, Nashville-area parents, it's time to get those little kids out on the ice! Tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m., the Preds open up registration for the latest round of their "Get out and Learn!" program. The following was sent out by the team:

The Nashville Predators’ Get out and Learn! (G.O.A.L!) program will be begin taking applicants for its September session on Tuesday, August 18 at 9:00 a.m. Registration can be accessed through  nashvillepredators.com/goal. The next session will be held Wednesdays from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on September 2, 9, 16 and 23 @ Centennial Sportsplex, 222 25th Ave N, Nashville. Space is limited.

G.O.A.L! is a free on-ice youth hockey program hosted by the Predators in association with local ice rinks. Designed for boys and girls (ages 4-9) with no prior skating or hockey experience, the four-week program will introduce the sport of ice hockey to kids while teaching the life experiences of teamwork, sportsmanship and self-confidence through athletic participation. Since October 2006, more than 850 families have graduated from G.O.A.L!

Full hockey equipment, including skate rental, is provided free of charge. Once the four-week session is complete, there are hockey programs available at both Centennial Sportsplex and A-Game Sportsplex in Franklin for continued development.

The Nashville Predators are dedicated to supporting the development of youth hockey at all levels and recognize the need for local skating facilities to be accessible for beginners to help to grow the sport.  For more information, visit nashvillepredators.com/goal.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - this is an incredible, FREE(!) program that the Preds offer, which gives kids a chance to put on some hockey equipment and try out the game.

Perhaps more importantly, this occasion gives me the chance to roll this video back out of the closet, from when my kids participated in the program last summer: