ADM Kids

The 12U age level can be a tricky time for a hockey player. Some kids have started hitting growth spurts, while others are waiting their turn. Those size and growth discrepancies can play a big role in the outcome of a hockey game or season.

The important thing for players and parents alike to remember, however, is that everything will balance itself out.

Tom Newton, longtime assistant coach at Michigan State, says that the focus at the 12U age group should be a player’s skill development and an increased understanding of the game.

“I think you have to have patience with the player, and make sure that their game is developing, not their outcomes,” Newton said. “Make sure he’s becoming a more dynamic skater, that his mobility and his skills are continuing to improve, because those are the things that are going to push him on and allow him to excel later in his career.

“Just be patient, and work on the fundamentals and work on learning the game, learning the proper way to play it – learning to play with the puck and without the puck.”

Speed and Intelligence

For players that are suddenly staring upward at their competition, Newton said not to worry.

“The ideal situation for a hockey player is that he grows late, because if he’s small as a young player, he’s forced to play with speed and he’s forced to play with intelligence, because he can’t bail himself out with size and strength in his age group,” Newton said. “The key for players that do grow early and do have size and strength is that they don’t rely only on size and strength to establish their game, that they rely on their ability to move, their ability to play the game, and to use their size or strength to their advantage, not to just maintain a level of play.

“I think it’s creating the situation where the player is forced to play the game and move his feet and protect the puck and make plays, not just go around or bang people for the sake of banging people.”

Developing Hockey Sense

When asked his advice for those smaller players, Newton said it’s all about outsmarting the opponent.

“You have to learn to see the ice and get yourself into situations where you’re not vulnerable,” he said. “You don’t want to get into situations where you’re pinned into the boards, you need to use your quickness and your intelligence to escape those hits and that will serve you well, because once you get some strength and size, the playing field levels out somewhat. You’ll be a better player for it in the long run.”

Fast Growers: Don’t Get Complacent

Conversely, the bigger players need to make sure they are still developing their quickness and not relying purely on their size to out-muscle others.

“The big player has to learn how to move his feet, play the game with speed, and that’s going to make him or her an elite player,” Newton said.

The most important thing, of course, is patience. The results on the ice are not as important as the child’s development and enjoyment for the game.

“You can’t rush size, you can’t rush strength; it’s going to happen when it happens,” Newton said. “You can continue to work on your game, and that’s what should be done for all players, no matter if they have size or not.”