ADM Kids

Q: What’s the best way for my 8U player to develop skating speed?

A: This phase in an athlete’s long-term development is all about speed, and the best way to build it is with an old-fashioned favorite. Why? Because at this age, the speed window of trainability is wide open, and kids’ bodies are especially receptive to speed training that emphasizes quickness.

Providing a heavy dose of short-burst, multi-directional movement is essential for this age group. And what makes 8U kids move the quickest with short-burst, multi-directional speed? Chasing something or being chased. That means pursue-and-elude games are great for developing skating speed in 8U players.

Coaches at 8U should plan practice sessions with many chasing principles in play. Parents, too, should play chasing games with their 8U kids. At this age, children love the opportunity to catch up to a ball or tag a coach, a parent or a player. You will get kids’ full effort in this attempt to get something or get away from someone. 

Sports science tells us to work on quickness at this age. Chasing or being chased is a great way to get young players moving their fastest while also setting the foundation for a higher gear in the future.