Becoming a host family (also called a billet) is something of a tradition in the sport of
hockey and a great way to get involved in the community, as well as develop some very
special bonds with the players and their families.
Q: What is a host family?
A: A family that opens their home to out-of-state and out-of-country players. For
many of them, this will be their first time away from home and they will need a stable living
environment for their move to the Philadelphia area while they pursue the next step in their developing
hockey career.
Q: How old are the players?
A: Players are between the ages of 16 and 20 with the majority of them being 18 and
19 years old.
Q: Will the players be going to school?
A: Some players may need to complete high school educations, others may be taking online
college preparatory classes, and many may hold part-time employment.
Q: How long does the player live with the host family?
A: Players arrive in mid-to-late August to begin the season and remain until the end
of the hockey season in mid-April or until the end of the school year in May or June,
depending on the player’s school situation. At Thanksgiving, they usually have 5-7 days off and at Christmas, they usually have 8-10 days off to go home and spend time with their families.
Q: What are the responsibilities of the host family?
A: When a family volunteers to house a player, they are required to provide room and
board for him. Billet families must be able to provide the player with his own bedroom
which should include a bed, dresser and closet space. A desk with chair is helpful, but
not mandatory. The family also agrees to provide nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch and
dinner) for either the player to prepare himself or eat with the billet family. Billet families
are expected to treat the players as “one of the family” and not just a “renter.”
Q: What are the responsibilities of the player?
A: Players will provide their own bed and bath linens, personal care items, cell phones,
TV, and computer. They must clean up after themselves, keep their room tidy, do their
own laundry, and follow all team and house rules, showing respect for every family
member. Players are also responsible for their own transportation to and from school,
work, and all hockey activities.
Q: Can a family host more than one player?
A: Yes! It’s often easier to host more than one player. Two (or more) players can
share transportation expenses, and often provide company for each other. If hosting
more than one player, families do not need to provide separate rooms for each.
Q: Does the host family receive compensation?
A: Yes! Each billet family receives a monthly stipend of $575 for each player living with
them. Besides offsetting the expenses a family incurs when hosting a player, this allows
our organization to acknowledge the invaluable service families provide to the individual
players and the team.
Q: What happens if the host family needs to go away for a period of time?
A: Arrangements can be made, through the Billet Coordinator, for the player(s) to stay
with another host family, a teammate, or a friend from school/work.
Q: What happens if the billet situation isn’t working?
A: Generally, billet families and players get along very well. We strongly recommend
that all billet house rules be communicated to a player when he arrives. If any situations arise,
they should be handled immediately – first within the family, and then with the Billet
Coordinator. If problems still persist and cannot be resolved, the Billet Coordinator will
make other arrangements for the player.
Q: What happens after the season ends?
A: Most of the time, billet families, players, and the player’s family develop very special
bonds and remain close long after the player has left the Philadelphia Rebels. We do our very best to ensure that this experience is rewarding for both the player
and the billet family members.
More Questions? Contact our Billet Coordinator:
Nancy Boucher
(609) 970-1666
Please contact the Billet Coordinator to fill out the short ‘Host Family Questionnaire’ used for matching up players and families.
