ADM Kids

Q: How can I tell if a program will ensure that my children will love hockey and reach their full potential?

A: It’s that time of year again, when days are getting shorter and we all sense that the season for lacrosse sticks, soccer balls and baseball bats is coming to a close. It’s almost time to lace ‘em up and skate into a new hockey season. As you begin evaluating potential 2014-15 hockey programs for your children, it’s important to remember that all organizations are not created equal. Before signing your son or daughter up for the coming season, there are a couple of things to consider before deciding where your child will play.

As parents of young players, it’s important to know your child’s hockey career will not be made in one season; however, it could be lost in one season if they don’t enjoy their first hockey experience. So, your primary goal should be finding an organization that incorporates fun and development into its youth hockey, valuing these elements over winning. Healthy competition is always encouraged, but with the goal of smiling faces and sweaty heads after the games or practices.

The principles of USA Hockey’s American Development Model, and the programs that put these principles into action, help parents find a place for their son or daughter that encourages skill development and a love of the game at the same time. ADM programs not only help ensure that players receive an age-appropriate, age-specific experience for development, they also help keep our sons and daughters in the game, loving the game. Statistics show that ADM programs increase player-retention rates, which only happens by creating happy hockey players.

At the 8U level, the ADM recommends one to two on-ice practices weekly plus a game competition in a cross-ice game format. Programs that offer this ADM format should be your top choice, since they emphasize age-specific skill development and fun above all. Benefits of these include: more puck touches and shots, incidental body contact to help instill proper technique, and assurance that the age-specific Windows of Trainability have been optimally utilized for your child.

Windows of Trainability are incredibly important. Sport science shows that proper development at the right time is essential for ensuring that each player is able to reach his or her full athletic potential over the long term. For example, explosive speed can only be maximized at an early age; whatever speed isn’t developed within that window is much more difficult or impossible to gain at a later age. Therefore, Speed Window 1 is a crucial milestone in a youth hockey player’s ladder of athletic development. In the cross-ice game, players make maximum use of Speed Window 1 through short, explosive races and bursts, as well as a fun dryland training component, which USA Hockey details here.

Another component of the best youth hockey experience is practice structure. To simultaneously meet our goal of developing both a love of the game and skill, the practice format should be station-based, which helps make your child’s experience is a pleasant one. Why is practice format so important? In part, because station-based practices eliminate long lines during drills, dull laps and lengthy lectures, assuring that players get the most out of every practice. For example, players are capable of getting an estimated equivalent of seven years’ development through participation in one season of station-based practices versus the traditional one-team, full-ice practice (ADMkids.com). This estimation is based on activity analysis that measured the number of shots and passes made, as well as time each player spent with the puck on his or her stick.

Ultimately, factors such as cost, distance to the rink and where a child’s friends are playing may also affect a family’s choice in hockey program. These are all valid factors to consider, in addition to the skill-development side of the decision. But for 8U players, some factors shouldn’t be among the considerations. For example, it’s less important to base your decision on how “good” the team will be and whether your child is playing with the best players in town.

At the end of your evaluation, you’ll find that a program offering age-appropriate, age-specific development, as well as a group of coaches who have a passion and love for teaching the game of hockey to 8U players, will give you the most assurance that your children will love hockey and reach their full potential.