ADM Kids

Sometimes when you are thinking about how to successfully start something, it helps to imagine what it looks like at the end.

That worked during a recent conversation with Guy Gosselin, a Player Development Manager for USA Hockey. He was admittedly stumped, unusual for him, when asked to think about how to set the stage for a successful 10U hockey season.

So, the question was reframed: Imagine you’re at the end of a successful 10U season. What did the process look like on your way to getting there?

That unlocked Gosselin’s considerable wisdom, even if it was agreed that the definition of success might look different depending on the player.

Here were four of the guiding principles:

Players at 10U are at the outset of their “tween” years, when social relationships with friends start to take on even more importance.

It’s hard to think of better opportunities to make new friends or grow lasting friendships than through team sports.

“We talked about this a little bit recently in this clinic I was in. There were some very intelligent people there, and what we were looking for is what is the biggest win of all,” Gosselin says. “To me, it would be from a social aspect, if they made some new friends and some good friends during their 10U season.”

Every age group in youth hockey offers an opportunity for growth and development, but 10U can be a particularly significant learning age.

Players are continuing to grow and build on their core athleticism. They are also adding new elements of awareness and off-ice responsibility. Understanding that growth at the outset of a season is essential.

“In coaching education, they call it reps without repetition,” Gosselin says. “They're learning skills and habits. Players are starting to become aware of their surroundings on the ice and getting comfortable out there. We're working on keeping our head up and just different aspects of the game that are going to help you in the future.”

It’s also an age where the concept of leadership might emerge as players come to understand what it takes to be a good teammate and bring a group together.

“Some of these leadership traits are learned and some just come from within,” Gosselins says. “It’s all about understanding personalities and creating a team atmosphere. Is it OK to fail in front of your buddies? I hope so, because you learn together and you learn by playing the game.”

Because 10U is largely about development, ensuring that players are engaged and getting an opportunity to compete is critical.

“Hopefully everyone on a 10U team has very similar playing time, everyone is involved, everyone is engaged, and we all learn together,” Gosselin says. “You don’t sign up to sit on the bench. Kids sign up because they want to play.”

That responsibility falls on coaches to a large degree.

“Coaches are just like teachers. Kids will remember you forever,” Gosselin says. “Hopefully coaches can do their best to give kids a great experience.”

As 10U players embark on this season, they hopefully have great memories from previous years that they are drawing upon to keep them coming back for more.

“It’s an evolving thing and even if you ask the same question you're going to get a bunch of different answers. But why is the sport so important to them?” Gosselin says.

Some of them might have specific things they want to work on to improve. Some might have goals that are more team-oriented. But the biggest thing you can hope for at the start of the year is that by the end they will be hungry to play again next year.

“Hopefully they're excited about playing next year, and I know that's kind of cheesy. But it’s true. It’s actually simplifying everything,” Gosselin says. “Everything can feel so exact, and as adults, we can get caught up in the wins and losses, but that’s not what’s important. At 10U, they just want to be part of something exciting. Hockey is a wonderful sport, and we can’t forget that.”