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ADM Philosophy

Mites and U8 Development Program

Philosophy

  • FUN- hockey should be made as fun for the player as possible.
  • The kids should love to come to the rink whether it is for practice or for a game.
  • Skating skills will be the emphasis with puck skills secondary.
  • Kids should be kept active as much as possible by dividing into small groups and running separate drills.
  • Practice ice should be run like a clinic environment. Players will be split up into groups and will work in stations with similar skill players.
    • Games (toilet tag, cops and robbers, pompom pull away, ect.) should be used as much as possible.
    • Reinforcement of previous lesson and repetition are key points to acquiring the basic skills needed to advance the player.
    • Equal or balanced ice time for game situations.

Level 1

Coaches are expected to utilize the following instruction manuals for teaching skills:

  • Program Overview and Lesson Manual A of the USA Hockey CEP Level 1 Skill Development Program
  • Practice Plan Manual for Mites and U8 of USA Hockey
  • USA Hockey Small Area Games manual and DVD. (Provided to all Level 1 coaches at level 1 CEP Clinics)
  • USA Hockey Skills and Drills DVD

Coaches are expected to utilize the following practice plans & drills for teaching skills.

There are two (2) levels for the U8 program. Learn To Play (LTP) and Advanced Mite. The LTP program is intended for 1st year and new to hockey players. The Advanced Mite program is intended for the players who have progressed through the LTP program.

  • Each week has two (2) complete practice plans for each level, LTP and Advanced Mite. Coaches are expected to utilize at least 30 minutes of each practice from the provided practice plan drills. Each week has a total of 120 minutes of education. Of the 120 minutes of education, coaches are encouraged to select any of the provided drills as long as they teach the specific objectives of the week.
    • Teams with one (1) practice a week should increase skill development time from 30 minutes per practice to 45 minutes per practice. These teams should combine any of the provided education from the two (2) provided practice plans into a one (1) 45 minute’s skill session.
    • Teams with two (2) practices a week should utilize education from the two (2) provided practice plans in progression, into the mandated 30 minutes per practice.
    • Teams with more than two (2) practices a week are encouraged to repeat the education as repetition is key to improving and mastering the necessary skills.

Mites completing Level 1 are expected to understand and have mastered the following skills.

Skating Skills

  • Basic stance- proper posture of knees bent, back straight, head up, stick on ice.
  • Getting back to your feet after a fall
  • 2 foot glide
  • 1 foot glide
  • T-push
  • Glide turns
  • Hockey hops
  • Stopping, V-stop, hockey stop 1 foot, 2 feet.
  • Backward C-cut

Puck Control Skills

  • Proper grip of stick
  • Skating with the puck
  • Passing
  • Receiving
  • Shooting-forehand shot

Team Skills

  • Lean to function and be part of a team by doing drills together and interacting both on and off the ice.
  • Position-NONE

Game Format

  • All games will be 1/3 ice and use 1/3 size nets 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 depending on number of players
  • No set face-offs, puck will be thrown in by coach
  • Shifts will be 1:00 to 1:30 minutes in length
  • All players will get equal time
  • No positions will be set, emphasis will be on individual skills
  • No score will be kept