IN THIS ISSUE

A Letter to Parents from the American Hockey Coaches Association

Expat Detroiter Drives Winning Ways in West

ADM Keeps Greenwich Blues Moving

SQUIRTS: What to Expect in this Fall

Video: Colorado Selects Girls Model Program

Video: Louie Belpedio's Amazing Empty Net Save!

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

STAY CONNECTED

Volume 2 Issue 5

April 23, 2015

LETTER FROM THE AMERICAN HOCKEY COACHES ASSOCIATION

Dear Hockey Parent,

We applaud and support you in doing what's best for your child. We know that providing a positive experience for them is what drives you, and it's also what drives every decision made by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association. That's their commitment to amateur hockey. Above all, they will always put the kids first. As part of that commitment, they support USA Hockey's American Development Model and so do we as the Officers and Governors of the AHCA.

USA Hockey launched the ADM and its high-performance programming for all age classifications of youth hockey in 2009. This age-appropriate, age-specific competition and training model is based on comprehensive research from hockey experts, sport scientists and child development specialists from the United States and around the world. The AHCA embraces this model and we encourage parents to continue supporting their child's hockey experience through the ADM.

We know that participation in youth hockey programs can sometimes be overwhelming for parents. Some feel, in order for their young hockey player to develop, they need to be playing in an environment that more closely resembles what they see in the NHL, i.e., full-ice play, systems and an emphasis on playing and winning games rather than skill development. READ MORE>>

ILLINOIS ADM NEWS

SQUIRTS: WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT THIS FALL?

By Jim Clare, AHAI ADM Chairman

As we approach the summer months and clubs are preparing for Fall, the question has been asked, "what can we expect for the Squirts in USA Hockey?" The answer is very simple, there is NO change to Squirt programming within AHAI or USA Hockey. ALL squirt league games will be played full-ice (obviously many clubs use small area games for practice or development). ALL games will be played with a black puck. There is no one within AHAI or USA Hockey advocating to do anything different. Any rumors or false information that is out there should be ended with this article.

AHAI will have its Squirt State Championship, NIHL, NWHL, and other USA Hockey Leagues will have their tournaments and championships as always. The benefit of being a part of AHAI at the Squirt level has not changed; Certified Coaches, Insurance, State Championship, oversight for officials, R&E assistance, assistance when needed from AHAI and being a part of long-standing hockey organization to name a few.

A Key concept from USA Hockey that will be discussed at the AHAI Annual Meeting is High Performance Development. This will be an important concept you will hear more about at all levels of the ADM, especially Squirt. Stay tuned for more information and attend the AHAI Annual Meeting to learn and discuss High Performance Development.

One key benefit of AHAI and USA Hockey as your child advances through the age levels is access to player development opportunities and camps. There is a Pee Wee Regional Championship each year, The Midwest Pee Wee Tournament of Champions, held in Wisconsin that includes most of the States that surround Illinois. These opportunities for development and advancement are taken advantage of by hundreds of players in the state that are part of AHAI, both girls and boys.

We look forward to seeing all our Squirts this Fall, as well as all age groups throughout AHAI and USA Hockey.

ADM ACROSS AMERICA

EXPAT DETROITER DRIVES WINNING WAYS IN THE WEST

ADM KEEPS GREENWICH

BLUES MOVING

By Jayson Hron, USA Hockey

A decade ago, hockey leaders in western Michigan changed course. Convinced that higher cost didn't always equal higher return, they hatched a plan to give kids the biggest bang for their parents' buck. It wouldn't be about shouldering fancy bags or chasing mythic exposure. Instead, they'd pour everything into player development and measure success by the kids' athletic progress.

"We expected about 30 players at first, but we ended up with 80," said Joel Breazeale, a master-level Michigan CEP instructor who helped launch the program. "I asked the coaches, 'How are we going to do this with all these kids?'" John Alonso had a plan. "We'll just split the ice into stations and make it happen," he said. READ MORE>>

By Mike Scandura, USA Hockey

Greenwich Blues Youth Hockey Association Director Brett Farson isn't inclined to sit idly by during practices. "This is my third year as hockey director and my first as mite director," said Farson, of his affiliation with the Connecticut-based association. "I'm on the ice running all the ADM practices with the mite coaches. "Far and away, the goal for our mite program is individual skill development and keeping the players active for 50 or more minutes out of the hour. Positional play and systems are taught at the older age levels in our program."

The Blues have designed a program that aims to maximize the hockey skills of each participant, build self-esteem and teach good sportsmanship within the context of a competitive travel program. READ MORE>>

ADM MULTIMEDIA

COLORADO SELECTS

GIRLS MODEL PROGRAM

LOUIE BELPEDIO'S AMAZING EMPTY NET SAVE

Watch how the Colorado Selects Girls Program put the ADM to use to develop the first all-girls program in Colorado. Their Hockey Director explains what has led to their success and the things they are doing to develop their girls.

Check out this amazing empty net save by Miami of Ohio Redhawk and Skokie, Illinois, native, Louie Belpedio!

"I just didn't want them to score so I figured I'd leave it all out there. I don't know, you got to give your all and your teammates will do the same for you and that's exactly what we did the whole game." - Louie Belpedio | Skokie, Illinois | Miami RedHawks

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.

We have focused on off-ice drills for players. Let's watch some coaches going thru some off-ice drills themselves. These are some drills you can use for your young skaters as well. Try it!