IN THIS ISSUE

Aspen Institute Salutes USAH, NHL in Recent Report

The Dirty Little Secrets About Mite Hockey

World-Class Commonalities Boost U.S. Kids

Youth Hockey Grows from the Ground Up in Georgia

Video: The Effect of Praise on Mindset

Video: Changing the Game in Youth Sports

Just for Coaches: On- and Off-Ice Practice Plans

STAY CONNECTED

Volume 2 Issue 4

March 24, 2015

ASPEN INSTITUTE SALUTES USAH, NHL IN RECENT REPORT

By USA Hockey - USA Hockey's American Development Model received special recognition from The Aspen Institute in its recent

Sport for All, Play for Life report, earning praise as an exemplary program for fostering participation, age-appropriate development and physical fitness in youth sports. The National Hockey League was also lauded for its role in support of youth hockey initiatives through its funding and partnership with USA Hockey.

The report is part of Project Play, an ongoing effort initiated by The Aspen Institute to encourage a culture of good health among youth in America. This Wednesday (Feb. 25), 300 leaders from across the country will convene in Washington, D.C., at the 2015 Project Play Summit to propel forward recommendations from the report. The event culminates an 18-month effort aimed at re-imagining youth sports in America to provide children with more access to play and more positive play experiences.

USA Hockey Executive Director Dave Ogrean and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will be among the featured panelists at the Project Play Summit, which will be staged at the Newseum.

We support the efforts of Project Play in bringing entities together to focus on avenues that will result in all children having the opportunity to play sports," said Ogrean. READ MORE>>

ILLINOIS ADM NEWS

THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS ABOUT MITE HOCKEY

By John Dunne, AHAI President

Since USA Hockey introduced the American Development Model (ADM) five years ago, Illinois hockey has been a hot bed of discussion. The main topic of discussion is about full-ice hockey for mites. Should there be or not be full-ice hockey for the 8U level? The discussion has usually been at the administrative level between Clubs, Hockey Directors, USA Hockey and AHAI. While AHAI and USA Hockey have tried to educate the clubs, along with its membership, on the benefits of the ADM and small-area training, Illinois has held fast to allowing full-ice games for older 7U and 8U mite players. I think it's time the members, or the parents of the players, at this level understand the real background of the mite discussion over the last few seasons. The goal of this letter is for you the member to be able to make your own decisions on what is the best development for your players. As expressed later in this letter, the clubs, along with USA Hockey and AHAI, want to provide the best possible product and support the members' wishes.

Facts and information about the current mite landscape:

FACT: The American Development Model (ADM) is the most effective way to develop the long term athlete, specifically hockey players. Please do the research. The ADM is not just about 8U hockey; it is about developing the skills of players at each level to help them prepare for the next levels. READ MORE>>

ADM ACROSS AMERICA

WORLD-CLASS COMMONALITIES BOOST U.S. KIDS

YOUTH HOCKEY GROWS FROM THE GROUND UP IN GEORGIA

By USA Hockey

Commonalities shared by USA Hockey's American Development Model and the very best sporting clubs around the world are no accident. They were built into the ADM to give our children a truly world-class development opportunity.

One club with a blueprint similar to the ADM is Germany's FC Bayern Munchen. The soccer powerhouse carved out a niche at the game's apex through exemplary player development, becoming a model for success at the highest level. Trophies? Bayern Munchen needs a bigger case. READ MORE>>

By Mike Scandura, USA Hockey

As president of the Columbus Hockey Association in Georgia, Clyde Glenn has taken particular satisfaction in watching kids grow through the learn-to play program.

"There was a little kid who wasn't a great player," Glenn said. "I remember the first day he fell down and was crying. A couple of years later the kid was a good squirt travel player.

"We also had an older boy come in that was 12, and by the end of the year he was a good skater. His family became attracted to our travel program. READ MORE>>

ADM MULTIMEDIA

EFFECT OF PRAISE ON PERFORMANCE (PART 2)

CHANGING THE GAME

IN YOUTH SPORTS

In this edition we reconnect with Dr. Carol Dweck as she continues her research on the effects of praise on children. For many years, educators, coaches and parents alike have been relying on praise to encourage and motivate children to work harder, to build confidence and approach challenges with vigor. As an educator and coach, I myself have fell into this trap of constant praise and often wondered whether it had a positive, neutral or negative impact on performance. READ MORE>>

On April 26, 2014 John O'Sullivan had the honor of presenting a talk at TedX entitled "Changing the Game in Youth Sports." The power of the TED platform, and its international recognition as a brand that brings "ideas worth sharing" to the forefront of conversation, was such an incredible platform to be able to present the 14 minute version of the Changing the Game Project mission. READ MORE>>

JUST FOR COACHES

PRACTICE PLANS FOR ON-ICE

PRACTICE PLANS FOR DRYLAND

The ADM Newsletter will include a variety of new practices plans that cover both 8U and 10U practices. We encourage the coaches to use them, adjust them for their practices, or just use some of the concepts contained in the plans as each club has different limitations as to how much ice they have or how many teams are on the ice. Click HERE for Practice Plan.

The ability to win one-on-one battles makes you an asset to your team, but being able to get around TWO defenders who are trying to take the puck away will turn you into a game-breaker and a possession monster!