ADM Kids

Q: Is it more important to spread out or go get the puck in 8U cross-ice hockey?

A: While watching 8U cross-ice or half-ice games, we often hear parents and coaches telling the youngsters to spread out and get open. While the process of learning to get open is important in youth hockey, at 8U, it’s even more important for these young players to feel confident about “earning” the puck. Encouraging them to be assertive, hungry and decisive in pursuit of the puck, even if it sometimes leads to “clumping,” is optimal for their skill-development progression at 8U. It not only helps them become impact players, it helps them become impact players more efficiently.

Developmentally, it’s vitally important for a young player to feel confident in going after a puck, doing it quickly, winning the puck battle and ultimately advancing the puck for his or her team. Next to scoring a goal, this is probably the best booster for a player’s confidence. This, like all skills, needs repetition in practice and games, so we recommend cultivating and encouraging that assertive, hungry, decisive puck-pursuit mindset and skill set early and often at 8U.

Parents and coaches, please encourage your 8U players to go and “win” the puck. It’s the most developmentally appropriate approach for this age group and it’ll help maximize their skill development. The ideal time for teaching puck support comes later.