Why You Should Billet

Billet. This word doesn’t mean much to those outside of the junior hockey landscape, but to those in it, they understand how much this word means. To the families of players, it is an extension of them, a home for their child, the second family that, for all purposes, adopts their child for seven months of the twelve. For the player, it is their home away from the rink, the familiar in a place of unknown, and possibly a lifetime connection that they will create.

The definition of billeting at its purest is simply a family that provides a home for an out-of-town hockey player through a place to stay and meals. In reality, it is so much more than that. Being a billet is a two-way relationship that, if executed properly, becomes a family to the player and could be one of the most rewarding experiences possible for an established family based on a variety of circumstances. Whether you are an empty nester with an extra room or a large family with many small kids, there is a kid out there who could be the perfect fit for your home.

As a junior hockey coach over the last five years, I have seen so many special billeting situations that are still basically a family today. I have seen players come in and fill a hole for a family who may not have children in the household anymore, and they take care of him as if they were their own with meals every day. I have also seen foreign players come to the United States for the first time and experience their first American Thanksgiving and first American Christmas with their billets. The most rewarding times, though, have been seeing players become big brothers for the families with children. Watching players play street hockey and Xbox for hours with kids, or seeing players take the children Trick-or-Treating while dressing up in matching costumes, teaching the kids to skate, or attending their extracurricular activities. These are just some examples of the magical moments a billet family can provide regardless of their type of family.

Billeting is not a one-size-fits-all formula. That is why we do our best to match each player to each individual billet. Often billets will take more than one player as many players prefer to have a teammate as well. Players are held to incredibly high standards at the home by me and our organization; they are asked to make their beds daily, have a set curfew, do their own chores, and contribute in any possible way. For billets, all we ask is that the player is treated as family and not simply someone renting a room in your house. These are kids who might be away from home for the first time, and the only family connection they have is with you. Their parents and family trust you to look out for them for more months than they will actually spend at home on a yearly basis.

When properly executed from both sides, billeting can be one of the most rewarding experiences for both the player and the host family. Just like any family, it takes work on all sides; but we all know that the work is what makes it so special.