Development

Midget Development

Focus should be on enhanced skill development, combining use of multiple skills to affect team play, knowledge of the game and specific systems and strategies, sportsmanship, character development and discipline, strength and conditioning training both in and off season, self motivation and awareness, understanding the effects of a proper nutritional diet in conjunction with speed and strength training in preparation for future level of play while developing a lifelong love for the game. This organization will monitor and measure the progressive development in all of these areas during the course of a players' involvement. Goal setting will be formal and communicated to players and parents and include focus in the following areas:

Individual Hockey Skills:

• Skating skills: agility, edge control, stride, starts, stops, turns, backward skating, pivoting, balance, crossover's and under's, acceleration, lateral movement, transition skating all with a focus on quickness and power.
• Puck Control and Passing: passing from forehand or backhand, receiving with stick, skates, hands and body, finding targets in transition, lateral and diagonal dribble, acceleration with the puck, protecting puck from defenders, change of pace, toe to heel technique, attacking the triangle, indirect passes, touch passes, snap passes, aerial passes-saucer type-over the top, slip through technique, backwards puck control, keeping puck in zone
• Shooting and Scoring: wrist shot, backhand shot, slap shot, creating traffic, redirecting, tipping, triangles, getting open, fakes, snap shot and quick releases, roofing, deking, finishing rebounds.
• Checking: Use of stick for poke, lift or hook checks, use of body for angling, fore checking and back checking, introduce theory of gap control, shoulder check and hip checks, receiving/avoiding checks-puck and personal protection, strength-balance-control when checking, pinning, screens.
• Goaltenders: basic stance, balance, t-glide, telescoping, forward and backward movement, use of glove, stick and skates for saves, stacking pads, control of rebounds, puck handling, playing the angles, awareness of team situation, communicator in DZ, setting puck up for defensemen, starting attack with crisp passes.

Team Based Skills:

• Offensive Attack: positions in all zones, responsibility for position, numerical advantage, support for teammate, maintaining possession, triangle concept, face-off strategy, control of offensive blue line, playing away from the puck, cycling, PP systems breakouts and offensive zone, offensive attack concepts and systems, 5 man cycling integration, regrouping in NZ to maintain attack options, introduction of transition attack.
• Defensive Support: fore-check systems-passive to aggressive, position responsibilities for several DZ coverage's, integrated team support, backing checking principles, PK fore-checks and DZ coverage systems.

Understanding the Rules:

• Common rules: off-sides, icing, delayed calls, location of face-offs.
• Penalties: hitting from behind, unsportsmanlike conduct, cross checking, high sticking, charging, tripping, elbowing, delay of game, interference, boarding, kneeing, minors, majors and match penalties.

Character Development and Discipline:

• Being part of an organization and a team.
• Commitment to the organization and the team.
• Demonstrate high levels of sportsmanship and respect for competitors and teammates.
• Respect for teammates, themselves, coaches, the organization, the team and officials.
• Always trying to do their best, knowing that there are choices to make when joining this team.
• Introduce players to overcoming mistakes and the notion that mistakes are part of sports especially ice hockey. Focus should be on how to have fun while committing to a team.
• Continue to develop mental toughness in the face of adverse situations or outcomes.
• Being accountable for their actions at home, school, in the rink and in the community.
• Demonstrate that school activities and commitments can be met while participating on the team.
• Share responsibility with parents for being on time to practices and games.
• Preparing and supporting players as they evaluate options for future participation in hockey be it at the midget. Junior, prep school or high school levels.
• Develop and awareness of the rewards the game has provided to the player and encourage a long term view of participation and leadership in the future.

Qualified Coaches through Certification:

• Coaches will meet progressive certification levels effective for 2002-2003 season. Coaches must achieve Advanced Certification. Request for exception will be reviewed by the head of Coaches and brought to the Board of Governors for approval if appropriate. Final decisions will be made by the President of the organization and will be final.
• Organization will communicate codes of conduct and ethics for coaches, parents and players and post on the IYHO web site.
• Coaches will be accountable for developing players in an environment that is open and honest.
• Coaches will discuss nutrition, hydration, proper nutrition and off-ice training programs.
• Coaches will communicate the harmful effects of Drugs and other harmful substances.
• Confidential feedback will be solicited from parents on an annual basis.

Pee Wee Development

Focus should be on enhanced skill development, combining use of multiple skills to affect team play, knowledge of the game and specific systems and strategies, sportsmanship, character development and discipline, introduction to off ice and off season training, emphasis on pre-season enhanced conditioning and fun. This organization will monitor and measure the progressive development in all of these areas during the course of a players' involvement. Goal setting will be formal and communicated to players and parents and include focus in the following areas:

Individual Hockey Skills:

• Skating skills: agility, edge control, stride, starts, stops, turns, backward skating, pivoting, balance, crossovers and unders, acceleration, lateral movement, transition skating.
• Puck Control and Passing: passing from forehand or backhand, receiving with stick, skates, hands and body, finding targets in transition, lateral and diagonal dribble, acceleration with the puck, protecting puck from defenders, change of pace, toe to heel technique, attacking the triangle, indirect passes, touch passes, snap passes, aerial passes-saucer type-over the top, slip through technique, backwards puck control, keeping puck in zone.
• Shooting and Scoring: wrist shot, backhand shot, slap shot, creating traffic, redirecting, tipping, triangles, getting open, fakes, snap shot and quick releases, roofing, deking, finishing rebounds.
• Checking: Use of stick for poke, lift or hook checks, use of body for angling, fore checking and back checking, introduce theory of gap control, shoulder check and hip checks, receiving/avoiding checks-puck and personal protection, strength-balance-control when checking, pinning, screens.
• Goaltenders: basic stance, balance, t-glide, telescoping, forward and backward movement, use of glove, stick and skates for saves, stacking pads, control of rebounds, puck handling, playing the angles, awareness of team situation, communicator in DZ, setting puck up for defensemen, starting attack with crisp passes.

Team Based Skills:

• Offensive Attack: positions in all zones, responsibility for position, numerical advantage, support for teammate, maintaining possession, triangle concept, face-off strategy, control of offensive blue line, playing away from the puck, cycling, PP systems breakouts and offensive zone, offensive attack concepts and systems, 5 man cycling integration, regrouping in NZ to maintain attack options, introduction of transition attack.
• Defensive Support: fore-check systems-passive to aggressive, position responsibilities for several DZ coverage's, integrated team support, backing checking principles, PK fore-checks and DZ coverage systems.

Understanding the Rules:

• Common rules: off-sides, icing, delayed calls, location of face-offs.
• Penalties: hitting from behind, unsportsmanlike conduct, cross checking, high sticking, charging, tripping, elbowing, delay of game, interference, boarding, kneeing, minors, majors and match penalties.

Character Development and Discipline:

• Being part of an organization and a team.
• Commitment to the organization and the team.
• Demonstrate high levels of sportsmanship and respect for competitors and teammates.
• Respect for teammates, themselves, coaches, the organization, the team and officials.
• Always trying to do their best, knowing that there are choices to make when joining this team.
• Introduce players to overcoming mistakes and the notion that mistakes are part of sports especially ice hockey.
• Focus should be on how to have fun while committing to a team.
• Develop mental toughness in the face of adversity.
• Being accountable for their actions at home, school, in the rink and in the community.
• Demonstrate that school activities and commitments can be met while participating on the team.
• Share responsibility with parents for being on time to practices and games.

Qualified Coaches through Certification:

• Coaches will meet progressive certification levels effective for 2002-2003 season. Coaches must achieve Advanced Certification. Request for exception will be reviewed by the head of Coaches and brought to the Board of Governors for approval if appropriate. Final decisions will be made by the President of the organization and will be final.
• Organization will communicate codes of conduct and ethics for coaches, parents and players and post on the IYHO web site.
• Coaches will be accountable for developing players in an environment that is open and honest.
• Coaches will discuss nutrition, hydration, proper nutrition and off-ice training programs.
• Coaches will communicate the harmful effects of Drugs and other harmful substances.
• Confidential feedback will be solicited from parents on an annual basis.

Mite Development

Focus should be on skill development, knowledge of the game, sportsmanship, character development, and fun. This organization will look to achieve progressive development in all of these areas during the course of a players involvement. Goal setting will be formal and communicated to players and parents and include the following:

Individual Hockey Skills:

• Skating skills: agility, edge control, stride, starts, stops, turns, backward skating, balance, crossovers and unders.
• Puck Control and Passing: passing from forehand or backhand, receiving with stick and skates, lateral and diagonal dribble, acceleration with the puck, protecting puck from defenders.
• Shooting and Scoring: wrist shot, backhand shot, creating traffic, redirecting, triangles, getting open, fakes.
• Checking: Use of stick for poke, lift or hook checks, use of body for angling, fore checking and back checking.
• Goaltenders: basic stance, balance, t-glide, telescoping, forward and backward movement, use of glove, stick and skates for saves.

Team Based Skills:

• Offensive Attack: positions in all zones, responsibility for position, numerical advantage, support for teammate, maintaining possession, triangle concept.
• Defensive Support: regaining possession, position responsibilities for basic DZ coverage, integrated team support.

Understanding the Rules:

• Common rules: off-sides, icing, delayed calls.
• Penalties: hitting from behind, unsportsmanlike conduct, cross checking, high sticking, charging, tripping, minor and major.

Character Development and Discipline:

• Being part of an organization and a team.
• Commitment to the organization and the team.
• Respect for teammates, themselves, coaches, the organization, the team and officials.
• Always trying to do their best, knowing that there are choices to make when joining this team.
• Introduce players to overcoming mistakes and the notion that mistakes are part of sports especially ice hockey. Focus should be on how to have fun while committing to a team.

Qualified Coaches Through Certification:

• Coaches will meet progressive certification levels effective for 2002-2003 season. Coaches must attain Associate and Intermediate level certification.
• Organization will communicate codes of conduct and ethics for coaches, parents and players and post on the IYHO web site.
• Coaches will be accountable for developing players in an environment that is open and honest.
• Confidential feedback will be solicited from parents on an annual basis.