| Volume 1 Issue 5 March 24, 2013 |
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IN THIS ISSUE
Parent Handbook Launched Online!
Blackhawks Host Mites at the United Center
ADM-inspired Seahawks Rule the Asphalt & the Ice
Video: Adults Play on the BIG Ice
VIDEO: Julie Chu Talks Playing Multiple Sports
VIDEO: Filling Their Emotional Tank
Just for Coaches: On- & Off-Ice Practice Plans
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New Comprehensive Parent Handbook Launched Online!
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USA Hockey recently created a comprehensive handbook for hockey parents that covers everything from skill development to safety to nutrition and beyond. It's filled with actionable insights and information that can help you and your child enjoy a great youth hockey experience. Check out the digital version by clicking HERE. The handbook contains helpful hints and important information to help create a great youth hockey experience for you and your child. The handbook explains many of the programs that USA Hockey offers our new skaters as well as those that have been involved for years. You will find sections on our latest initiative, SafeSport, designed to help create a safe environment for our children to the American Development Model and Long Term athlete Development. You are encouraged to flip through the handbook and see all that USA Hockey offers to our skaters and parents.
ONLINE PARENT HANDBOOK
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BLACKHAWKS HOST MITES AT UNITED CENTER
The Chicago Blackhawks, in conjunction with the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois and USA Hockey, hosted their annual American Development Model clinic at the United Center. Participants are drawn from AHAI's MinorHawks program, which provides an economical introduction to hockey and teamwork for kids between the ages of 4 and 8. The eight-week program, which consists of on- and off-ice training sessions, is sponsored by the Blackhawks and USA Hockey. Participants receive free rental equipment, skates and a Blackhawks jersey, along with the opportunity to skate at the United Center ADM clinic, all for a total cost of only $75. "The success of the Blackhawks and their support, specifically from Annie Camins and Matt Brooks, along with help from USA Hockey and Mike Durkin at AHAI, have made this one of the premier youth grow-the-game programs in the United States," said Jim Clare, AHAI ADM director. "The kids benefit from learning in an ADM environment, and we've also seen growth in the number of new skaters as a result of the MinorHawks program."
The clinic at the United Center included a fun, high-energy station-based practice led by USA Hockey staff, Ken Martel and Kevin McLaughlin, followed by three cross-ice games. Approximately 50 to 60 kids participated in the clinic, which preceded Chicago's game against the Carolina Hurricanes. "The MinorHawks program does a great job of welcoming new players to youth hockey and developing the fundamental skills they need to excel at the next level," said Kevin McLaughlin, USA Hockey senior director of hockey development. "It gives them a fun, skills-focused environment for learning the game. And the MinorHawks' United Center clinic is a highlight we look forward to each year. "
Introduce a friend to a MinorHawks Program near you, click HERE to see what rinks are part of this program.
VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE UNITED CENTER ON FACEBOOK
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AFFILIATE NEWS
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USA HOCKEY MITE NEWS
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ADM-inspired Seahawks Rule the Asphalt and the Ice
It started in a parking lot and ended in a state championship.
Suffice it to say, it's been quite a season for the Southeastern Connecticut Youth Hockey Association.
Relegated to the arena parking lot after maintenance problems shuttered their rink in September, the SECYH Seahawks proved to be the ultimate in adaptability. They moved six weeks of practice to the asphalt, modifying USA Hockey's American Development Model principles to fit a dry-land environment. Six months later, the SECYH squirts hoisted a state-championship trophy, on ice, at the very arena that had been closed for repairs.
"It was a challenging year, but definitely a happy ending," said Dan Williamson, coach of title-winning squirts. "And kudos to the players, the parents, the board and the president for keeping the organization together and keeping the faith."
READ MORE
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Adults Play on the BIG Ice
We discuss and debate the merits of full-ice hockey for mites, but have YOU ever tried skating on a sheet of ice that is scaled to what a mite hockey player sees when they are on a full sheet? Recently USA Hockey put the theory to test and built an oversized rink to show what it is like for a mite. The results were interesting and eye-opening for the participants. Remember, not just the ice surface was up-scaled but so were the nets. As the game was observed by many, you could see the amount of strides it took for them to navigate the ice. One could see the number of players that were not involved in the play due to the space on the ice. The struggle to make long passes and the goalies inability to cover the entire net added to their frustration. While no one claims this is a definitive test of why half-ice or cross-ice games are more appropriate, it is a real world example of what a full-ice game looks like through the eyes of a mite player.
WATCH VIDEO
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2014 Olympian, Julie Chu, Talks Playing Multiple Sports
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Bob Mancini: Filling Their Emotional Tanks
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Listen to US Olympian Julie Chu discuss the benefits of playing other sports to become a well-rounded hockey player. Julie discusses her off-season approach she used as a young skater and even today as a National Team member.
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Bob Mancini, former Division 1 College coach and player development director for the Edmonton Oilers, discusses the benefits of positive coaching. Using the philosophy of filling the emotional tank, Bob discusses the benefits of being positive with the kids.
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PRACTICE PLANS FOR ON-ICE
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PRACTICE PLANS FOR DRYLAND
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 As we have learned over the course of implementing the ADM across the state, it is all about increased puck touches and constant activity on the ice for the 8U skater. Good, quality station based practices vastly increase the amount of both for the player. Having tracked players in both full-ice practices and ADM style practices, the amount of added touches and movement for any one skater is 4 fold. So if we are to give the parents their moneys worth and the skater the development they deserve than station based practices is the best way to do both.
SAMPLE PRACTICE PLAN
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 USA Hockey provides an abundance of material to help coaches design efficient and fun dryland training for the 8U age group. We will highlight some of those exercises here each month.
Ask your coaching coordinator or hockey director where you can get the dryland deck of cards, or contact AHAI's Coach- in- Chief.
SAMPLE DRYLAND DRILL
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