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8U Q-and-A: Thinking Spring

03/31/2016, 12:45pm MDT
By Bob Mancini, ADM Regional Manager

Q: With spring hockey upon us and summer just around the corner, what is the best plan for my 8U player’s off-season hockey development?

A: This is a very good question, especially in this era of too much sport specialization at too early of an age.
 
We know that multiple sport participation at the young ages is critical to a player’s long-term development, but what does that really mean when it comes to planning what is best for a child at 8U? First, we should understand that hockey is a late-specialization sport. This means that we still have a number of years before our 8U sons or daughters, if they aspire to become the best hockey players they can be, must focus on hockey as a sport-development priority. Secondly, hockey is an early-introduction sport and you, as a concerned parent, have already taken a terrific step by having them skating and playing before age 8.
 
Think of spring hockey as a complimentary sport. While hockey may be our child’s priority in the winter season, it’s perfectly healthy for it to be a secondary sport in the spring. The American Development Model recommends playing at least two additional sports at this age, and spring is the perfect time to give a child the opportunity to do so, mixing in other sporting opportunities along with the lighter load of spring hockey.

When it comes to summer hockey at 8U, that’s a different story. It’s best to use summer as a time for 8U players to get away from hockey. Their developing bodies benefit from the break and a transition into other athletic movement patterns. Additionally, taking a break from hockey during the summertime helps re-energize 8U players' minds, which helps them return fresh in the fall, primed for a successful hockey season.


The author, Bob Mancini, is a longtime hockey coach and player-development expert. His experience includes two seasons in the NHL as an Edmonton Oilers development coach and more than a decade as a head coach in the NCAA Division I and OHL ranks.

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