USA Hockey Helps Squirt Players to Learn to Train

usa_hockey_logo_post1 Keeping players ages 8 to 12 motivated to train can be a daunting task for even the most motivational parents and coaches. Additionally, the stress of regular training can be very taxing on growing bodies. Because of this, as part of their American Development Model, USA Hockey has created the Learn to Train program for this age group. The program creates guidelines and outlines special considerations to ensure that young players not only have fun while training, but are also doing so in a safe manner.

USA Hockey’s American Development Model has created specific guidelines for player developmental stages. The following article outlines the Learn to Train stage, which focuses on girls ages 8 to 11 and boys 9 to 12.

The objective of the Learn to Train stage is to refine overall sport skills and develop sports specific skills.

General Description of the Learn to Train stage - This is the period of accelerated learning of coordination and fine motor control and is the critical stage for the acquisition of hockey skills. At this stage participants are developmentally ready to acquire the sports skills that are the cornerstones of all athletic development.

In late specialization sports such as ice hockey, early specialization can be detrimental to later stages of skill development and refinement of the fundamental sports skills. Participants should develop a solid base in a variety of sports in each of the physical literacy environments (e.g. swimming, athletics, gymnastics & skiing/ skating). Club to club competitions should be introduced but they should not be the main focus of the program.

USA Hockey’s key focus for this stage:

Continue to develop physical literacy

Continue to participate in three complimentary sports

Participants at this stage should learn solid basic skills in skating and puck control

There is no need at this stage to specialize at a specific skater position, however goalies may begin to focus on their position

Editor’s Note: For more information on USA Hockey’s Learn to Train Stage, please click here (pdf).

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USA Hockey Puts Fun Into Hockey for Young Players

usa_hockey_logo_post Any parent can tell you that in order to keep children ages 6 to 9 engaged, it is important that an activity include an element of “fun.” Using that as a basis, USA Hockey has come up with several steps to ensure that young hockey players are having fun while learning the game of hockey. The following article outlines USA Hockey’s FUNdamentals program, which provides a guideline for hockey programs to more effectively reach and teach young players.

The objective of the FUNdamentals stage is to refine fundamental movement skills and begin to acquire basic sports skills. This is the time when a foundation is laid for future acquisition of more advanced skills.

General Description of the FUNdamentals stage:

This is the stage where children learn physical literacy; the interrelationship between

movement skills and sport skills.

The skills that children acquire during this stage will benefit them when they engage in any activity regardless of their level of participation.

By-passing the acquisition of ‘basic and specialized movement’ and ‘sport skills’

during the FUNdamentals stage is detrimental to a person’s future participation in physical activity and sport (A, B, C’S = Agility, Balance, Coordination, Speed;

gymnastics, swimming, running, gliding; throwing, striking, kicking).

Basic sport skill development in this stage should be well structured, positive, and one in a FUN and social environment.

All programs should be structured with proper progression, and monitored regularly by trained certified coaches, volunteers and parents.

USA Hockey’s key focus for this stage:

Help ensure our participants gain physical literacy

Develop a passion for hockey in all our children (keep kids & families in the game)

Encourage participation in a variety of complimentary sports to help our children

Maximize their ability to reach their genetic potential in hockey

Develop on-ice balance, coordination, agility and speed

Introduce basic puck control skills

Editor’s Note: For more information on Hockey FUNdamentals, please click here

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USA Hockey Introduces American Development Model

The American Development Model (ADM) provides age-appropriate guidelines and curriculum to hockey associations across America to help more kids play, love and excel in hockey.

Once the kids are on the ice and playing, the game itself can only take them so far. To love hockey, they first have to play it. And to excel at it, they need to play it and love it. To love the game of hockey, kids first have to play it in an environment that brings out their passion. One that encourages them. The more the love the game, the more they’ll play. And the more they play, the better they’ll get.

There need to be reasons to love the game. And if all they’re doing is playing hockey 365 days a year, there’s a good chance the game they’re supposed to love becomes more of a chore than a passion. That amount of exposure too early on can put undue stress and pressure on them and give the kids plenty of reasons not to love hockey.

Play - Playing the game is where kids learn that the game is, in its simplest form, fun. And if you can mix in age-appropriate training and practice with skills and athleticism introduction, kids will have even more fun. And to keep it fun, there should be a low priority placed on winning and losing and a high priority placed on just introducing the game to a young kid.

Love - Once a kid learns to play the game and begins to develop skills and athleticism, hockey starts to take priority among other activities. Skills become more refined, their physical and mental makeup is stronger and the friendships they developed early on continue to grow. The games become more important and hockey in general becomes a bigger part of their life.

Excel - Now that they play and love the game, a higher premium is placed on excelling at it. Tougher competition and more of a focus on mastering skills play an increased role in their development. Hockey starts to take a larger priority over other activities. But, above all, the game is still fun and the friendships that were forged back in Mites are as strong as ever.

The bottom line is that if we can give kids reasons to stick with the game, we can unlock their potential and help them excel at the game they play and love.

Editor’s Note: For more information on the American Development Model, please visit: http://www.admkids.com/

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USA Hockey Announces New Development Model

We’re extremely pleased to share the news of the revolutionary American Development Model that will be available for local associations to utilize beginning with the 2009-10 season. The ADM was endorsed by the USA Hockey Board of Directors at the recently completed Winter Meeting and has also been endorsed by the National Hockey League.

The American Development Model furthers our growth and development efforts as it will provide our member associations — for the first time ever — an optimal development blueprint for youth players that will lead to a better experience for our current players and also help attract new players to our sport.

As Mike Mullally, the president of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, recently remarked, “This is the best thing to come out of USA Hockey in the last 25 years.”

The ADM includes, as a component, a high performance club program. While implementation of the ADM is highly recommended, its implementation will be required for those clubs wishing to apply to become a high performance club.

There are many details to follow in regard to the ADM and high performance club program and you can expect the following in terms of education:

Jan. 26	An executive summary of the American Development Model posted on http://www.usahockey.com/adm/
Jan. 26	Detailed materials on the American Development Model posted on http://www.usahockey.com/adm/
Jan. 26	Detailed information on the high performance club program, including criteria and the application process.
Jan. 28	A blog at http://www.usahockey.com/adm/ at which you can ask questions and view on-going dialogue about the American Development Model and high performance club program

In addition, a frequently asked questions document will be posted at http://www.usahockey.com/adm/ on Jan. 26 and will be added to on a regular basis.

It’s hard to put in words the excitement and buzz that has been and will continue to be generated by this new initiative. It will take time for local associations around the country to educate their constituents on the merits of adopting the American Development Model, but there’s no doubt that the principles of the program are indeed right for kids.

Editor’s Note: From Ron DeGregorio, USA Hockey President

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USA Hockey Parent Awareness

Below is a link to the USA Hockey Parent Awareness PowerPoint. We recommend all parents take the time to read through this PowerPoint. Click Here to view the USA Hockey Parent Awareness PowerPoint (.ppt)