ADM Kids

Kids mimic what they see. On their first trip to the rink, young players stare wide-eyed at the “big boys and girls” zipping around the ice. They immediately want to play that type of hockey; they want to go fast, too.

At 8U, each step becomes more stable, each stride a bit stronger. Now, they really are ready to go faster. That’s because 8U players are primed for two major windows of trainability:

1. Speed and Quickness
2. Flexibility

“By the time kids are 7 and 8 years of age, they’re far enough along physically that they can actually do some more athletic things,” said USA Hockey ADM Technical Director Ken Martel. “Because of that, it’s important that we’re developing their athleticism, agility, balance and coordination beginning at 5 and 6. After that, speed, quickness and flexibility are the things we need to exploit.”

Here are five ways to ensure your 8U player is benefiting from this window and getting the most out of their development:

Multi-directional Movements: A missed pass, a turnover in the zone or a breakaway to the opposite net has the game moving all over the ice. Players need to be able to move with it, sometimes forced to make split-second turns or transitions.

“(When talking about speed), we’re not talking about the length-of-the-ice speed, but multi-directional speed,” said Martel. “It’s one of the reasons we play cross-ice. In a smaller area, it’s the change of direction that’s important. On the big sheet, kids don’t change direction as much.”

Small-area 3-on-3, soccer, or a game of keep-away will help kids get used to moving and reacting to the game and puck location. The more 8U players practice their turns and edge work, the quicker and more comfortable they’ll become.

Bursts of Speed: Hockey is a game played in short shifts with quick eruptions of speed. The ability to burst to open space or toward the net is a crucial skill for players.

“At 8U, it’s about those short bursts of speed, the change in direction and agility,” said Martel. “By working on those short bursts, players build up their legs and get stronger in their speed.”

Set up a relay race for players to emphasize speed in a fun, competitive environment. Use cones or tires to work on both speed and edges.

Tag: It’s one of the best games for 8U players in this window of trainability – and one of the most fun.

“Playing tag on the ice is a great game for kids,” Martel said. “There’s balance, agility and a visual component where they have to read an opponent and react. Players are getting all the skills they need to learn at this age to go along with it: quickness, skating, dodging out. It all directly relates to the game. If you’re the puck carrier, what are you trying to do? You’re trying to get away from people and move around your opponent.”

There are several versions of tag to keep the game interesting. It also offers a plethora of advantages for developing 8U players for other team sports outside of hockey.

Learn the Motions: Moving around on skates is a difficult skill. Mix in hockey-specific techniques and it’s no wonder teaching flexibility in motion is important at 8U.

“Flexibility affects range of movement,” said Martel. “Developing flexibility at these ages helps build a broader capacity, not just while they’re 8, but later on as they grow.”

Players need to focus on basic movements to get their bodies built athletically. Small-area games and high-quality reps are the best for this type of development. The more comfortable players are in making those common hockey motions and movements, the better off they will be in the long run.

Keep Them Moving: Speed and flexibility are best built by simply moving, bottom line.

“As (boys and girls) are growing, they get flexibility and overall athleticism through activity and just doing things,” said Martel. “We need to keep them away from being sedentary.

“As long as kids are actively moving, there is value.”

Whether they are playing hockey, lacrosse, baseball, soccer, or biking around the neighborhood with friends, keeping them active is the best way to help develop your young athlete for the future.