FULL SPEED. IT S BEEN SIX YEARS since USA ADM PLOTS A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE SUCCESS

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FULL SPEED AHEAD ADM PLOTS A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE SUCCESS IT S BEEN SIX YEARS since USA Hockey unveiled the American Development Model as a way

spent on age-appropriate training for our kids.

Rooted in sports science and based on the principles of long-term athlete development, the ADM is a bottom-to-top approach that places the

1 FULL SPEED AHEAD ADM PLOTS A COURSE FOR THE FUTURE SUCCESS IT S BEEN SIX YEARS since USA Hockey unveiled the American Development Model as a way of changing the culture of hockey, a culture that placed too much emphasis on competition at too young an age with not enough time and energy spent on age-appropriate training for our kids. With the backing of the National Hockey League, USA Hockey set out to change the way we train our athletes. Rooted in sports science and based on the principles of long-term athlete development, the ADM is a bottom-to-top approach that places the athlete first so that each player can reach his or her potential. With a solid foundation in place at the 8 & Under level, the time has come to expand the focus to show how age-appropriate training can benefit all players from Mites to Midgets. USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER

FROM THE GROUND UP With A Solid Foundation In Place, The ADM Expand Ladder Of Development BY HARRY THOMPSON WHEN THE AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT MODEL WAS UNVEILED IN 2009, the plan was to slowly introduce

2 FROM THE GROUND UP With A Solid Foundation In Place, The ADM Expand Ladder Of Development BY HARRY THOMPSON WHEN THE AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT MODEL WAS UNVEILED IN 2009, the plan was to slowly introduce it at the grass-roots level and build from the ground up. That meant focusing on the development of hockey at the 8 & Under level. A funny thing happened as the program took root in youth hockey associations across the country. The ADM became synonymous with Mite cross-ice hockey, and the push to expand the program onward and upward took time to gain traction. The first five years were devoted to changing a culture and creating a mindset that puts the athlete s development ahead of wins and losses. Now efforts are being focused on expanding the program as players and parents are sold on what it can deliver, and they want more. With the foundation in place, ADM regional managers are looking to raise the roof by expanding their focus to the next rungs on the ladder of development. As we ve committed to this development model at the younger ages it s time to put a little bit more of the focus on making sure there s quality training and quality practices for our older kids, says Roger Grillo, the ADM regional manager who covers the New England states. If you re going to go upstairs, you have to have a furnished bedroom. You can t set the stage at the bottom and have nothing to go to. The ADM continues to gain universal acceptance as the overwhelming majority of parents have bought into the philosophy of age-appropriate training and demand to see it expanded as their sons and daughters progress up the ranks. 22 SEPTEMBER USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY USA Hockey Magazine Archives

LONG-TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT STAGES 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1.

(Bantams) LEARNING TO TRAIN 12-and-under (Peewees), 10-and-under (Squirts) FUNDAMENTALS 8-and-under (Mites), 6-and-under (Mites) ACTIVE START 6-and-under 1.

3 LONG-TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT STAGES HOCKEY FOR LIFE TRAINING TO WIN 19+ Junior (NCAA, NHL) TRAINING TO COMPETE Junior, NCAA LEARNING TO COMPETE 18-and-under (Midgets/High School) TRAINING TO TRAIN 16-and-under (Midgets), 14-and-under (Bantams) LEARNING TO TRAIN 12-and-under (Peewees), 10-and-under (Squirts) FUNDAMENTALS 8-and-under (Mites), 6-and-under (Mites) ACTIVE START 6-and-under 1. Require your kids to pack and prepare their own hockey bag. 2. Always be on time for practices and games. 3. Encourage them to give 100 percent at practice and games. 4. Teach them how to tie their own skates. 5. Make sure they get the proper amount of rest and eat right. 6. Preach the importance of respecting teammates, the opposition, the refs and the game. It s gaining momentum quicker than we ever thought it would, and the people who have been in Mite programs, people who have experienced well-run ADM programs, there s no way they ll accept anything less, says Kevin McLaughlin, USA Hockey s senior director of Development who oversees the program. To be clear, the core principles of the ADM are not changing. If anything, the program s managers and local volunteer coordinators remain committed to the sports science behind the idea of long-term athlete development. All they re doing is broadening the focus to take aim at the Squirt and Peewee levels in an effort to capitalize on the golden age of skill acquisition. According to sports science, this is the time in a child s life when he or she is best suited physically, cognitively, emotionally and TIPS FOR RAISING HOCKEY PLAYERS 7. Let them dream they can be a Phil Kessel or Zach Parise, but don t give them unrealistic expectations. 8. Don t play the blame game with teammates, officials or the opposition. This goes for the players and parents. Set a good example. 9. Stress that hockey is fun. If it stops being fun, take a step back and ask why it s not and what can be done to make it so. 10. Shout out your encouragement from the bleachers, not instructions. There s a good chance they can t hear you anyway. 11. Don t car-coach after practices or games. 12. Emphasize the importance of playing other sports. 13. Tell your kids that you love watching them play. 14. Remind them to love the game, and the game will love them back. mentally to further enhance a base of skills that will set the stage for long-term success in hockey. That skill window is open between the ages of 9 to 12 years old, and we really need to take advantage of that by tailoring our practices to build on the basic skills they ve developed at Mites, said Guy Gosselin, the regional manager for the upper Midwest. We don t really need to necessarily work on the power play, penalty kill rotation or some of the tactical stuff that our culture believes we have to work on. That stuff comes later. According to ADM Regional Manager Bob Mancini, refocusing their efforts doesn t mean that they will let the foundation be ignored and crumble from neglect. Too much time and effort has gone into changing the culture at the youngest level and there is no turning back now. We can never take our eye off the ball because it s critical to give our youngest players a solid base, Mancini said. So while we continue to expand our efforts to work with older kids, we can never forget what s happening at the youngest ages because that s what forms the foundation for their future. N USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER

ADM Model Clubs The following youth hockey associations have been designated as developmental partners with USA Hockey. Admirals Hockey Club Glen Ellyn, Ill. Arvada Hockey Association Arvada, Colo.

Like a goalie screened behind a maze of bodies waiting for a shot from the point, he never saw it coming until it was right on him. And that was just fine with him.

, understood and supported the philosophy of the American Development Model, they were not prepared for what would happen once they fully bought into the program.

4 ADM Model Clubs The following youth hockey associations have been designated as developmental partners with USA Hockey. Admirals Hockey Club Glen Ellyn, Ill. Arvada Hockey Association Arvada, Colo. LIVING PROOF California Model Club Finds Success Comes Quick With ADM BY HARRY THOMPSON BEN FRANK WILL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT that he wasn t ready for what was about to come his way. Like a goalie screened behind a maze of bodies waiting for a shot from the point, he never saw it coming until it was right on him. And that was just fine with him. Even though Frank and other members of his Wildcats program, based out of Riverside and Carlsbad, Calif., understood and supported the philosophy of the American Development Model, they were not prepared for what would happen once they fully bought into the program. While people in our core leadership group were all believers in the program, we didn t expect to see results, especially on the ice, for at least a few years, said Frank, the president of the organization. Shortly after implementing the ADM, the Wildcats experienced rapid development and improvements of our players resulting in a record year for the club in players moving on through the affiliate USA Hockey Select camps. The club also enjoyed success closer to home as more of its teams went deeper into their local playoffs than ever before. Enrollment in the Wildcats spring program, which includes one weekly station-based clinic and a small area 3-on-3 game on the weekend, grew from 30 to 40 kids to almost 150 over the course of the year. But perhaps most important of all, there was an overwhelming response from players and parents who were happy with their youth Success in the Wildcats Youth Hockey Club can be measured by the smiles on the faces of the players and parents who are seeing the benefits of the ADM. hockey experience as more than 90 percent of the parents said they would return to the association and would highly recommend it to their families and friends. Becoming a model program has also brought with it a sense of pride among those in the program as seen through the sales of Wildcat sweatshirts and jackets. There s a new emphasis in the club as parents and coaches are more focused on the development of all their players rather than winning games or league championships. I know personally that it has impacted and changed the course of many lives simply within our association, Frank said. And that includes my own family. N Colorado Rampage Hockey Club Monument, Colo. Colorado Select Girls Littleton, Colo. Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, Colo. Kalamazoo Optimist Kalamazoo, Mich. Kettler Capitals Arlington, Va. Kirkland Sno-King Kirkland and Renton, Wash. Kirkwood Youth Kirkwood, Mo. Montgomery Youth Rockville, Md. Nassau County Hockey Hicksville, N.Y. New Jersey Bandits Wayne, N.J. Orchard Lake United Michigan San Jose Junior Sharks San Jose, Calif. Schenectady Youth Schenectady, N.Y. Strongsville Youth Hockey Club Strongsville, Ohio Wildcats Youth Hockey Club Carlsbad and Riverside, Calif. 24 SEPTEMBER USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS COURTESY OF Ben Frank

ASSOCIATIONS SHARE THEIR ADM SUCCESS STORIES PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS for our coaching staff occurred last season when multiple players who most would consider the bottom

The ADM has enabled our association to decrease the gap between the best player and the least-best player tremendously from our winter to spring season. Craig MacDonald Nashville, Tenn.

Our organization is small with barely 100 kids and our ice is expensive. With the addition of ADM practices we ve been able to add more ice time for our players without added costs.

5 ASSOCIATIONS SHARE THEIR ADM SUCCESS STORIES PLAYER DEVELOPMENT ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS for our coaching staff occurred last season when multiple players who most would consider the bottom handful of players from a skills perspective scored goals in their cross-ice games. That s something that would not have occurred had we been playing full ice. The ADM has enabled our association to decrease the gap between the best player and the least-best player tremendously from our winter to spring season. Craig MacDonald Nashville, Tenn. OUR ORGANIZATION NOW RUNS three ADM station-based practices a week; two are for Squirts- Bantams, and the other is for our 8 & Under players. Our organization is small with barely 100 kids and our ice is expensive. With the addition of ADM practices we ve been able to add more ice time for our players without added costs. While our main goal is to develop the kids, we have found these practices help our coaches as well. Our ADM practice plans are put together by our most experienced coaches, which then teaches our other coaches new drills and how to develop their own practice plans. It also gives the kids the opportunity to be coached by more than just their team s coach. The ADM practices have also given us the opportunity to invite new players to our organization by offering just these skilldeveloping sessions when they may not be ready to commit or participate on a travel team. ADM practices have given us many opportunities in addition to the main purpose of developing the skills of our players. Sharon Poddick Manchester, Vt. IT WAS ANOTHER GREAT YEAR at our arena. More than 150 families participated in our 8U Learn to Play program. We continue to see growth of our players as well as tremendous support from our parents. Our end-of-the-year surveys rated the overall ADM program 4.6 out of 5. Thank you USA Hockey. Paul Fayad Detroit OUR ADM HOCKEY PRACTICE is much more than an hour of ice time. The practice keeps our kids on their toes trying to get them to do things out of their comfort zone. They are constantly being challenged in fun ways so they do not necessarily view it as a sport-specific skill, but more as games on the ice. The ice is buzzing with anywhere between 35 to 50 skaters at a time. Our Hockey Director Antoine Bergeron keeps a trophy cup called the PRIDE award, given to the hardest worker each week. At the end of practice the winner is celebrated with a big stick tap from their teammates as they exit the ice. This is where the great stories start. The cup is revered as if it were Lord Stanley. Some bring it to school for show and tell, some sleep with it, it goes on mantels above the fireplace, and some have even eaten their Cheerios out of it. Louis Costabile Lancaster, Pa. FOLLOW THE LEADER OTHER NATIONAL GOVERNING BODIES LOOK TO INCORPORATE ADM PRINCIPLES INTO THEIR OWN PRACTICES USA HOCKEY HAS ENJOYED SO MUCH SUCCESS with its American Development Model it s no wonder other Olympic organizations want to get onboard. How the principles of long-term athlete development, which are the cornerstone of ADM, can translate from the ice to other fields of play will be the central theme when the U.S. Olympic Committee hosts an ADM Workshop, Aug at the University of Delaware. More than 20 Olympic organizations, including USA Swimming, USA Wrestling and USA Lacrosse, will be in attendance to share ideas on how they can implement various aspects of the ADM into their own practices. Launched in January 2009, the ADM has provided a positive impact in such a short amount of time, focusing on developing skills based on psychological and physical growth, instead of just the age of the player. By having a better infrastructure and a better foundation it will create better, and more, athletes at the highest end, said Ken Martel, technical director for the ADM. To have a healthy sport experience, Martel said, it s a process that starts at an early age and continues on through adulthood. How do we affect kids day-to-day? Martel asked. How do we influence what goes on? That s where this meeting is going. The USOC workshop is designed to inspire other organizations to nurture their athletes starting at a young age by making their respective disciplines fun and encouraging them to play other sports so that they can develop into the best athletes they can become. The ADM integrates all of the above and includes training, competition and recovery in relation to biological development and maturation, along with offering the equal opportunity to participate in recreation or competition. Trish Bradle USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER

PROOF IS IN THE PLAY ADM Video Shows The Benefits Of Cross-Ice Hockey ADVOCATES OF CROSS- ICE HOCKEY have long believed that playing the game on an ice surface appropriate to the size of younger

With the help of the Detroit Red Wings, USA Hockey put a group of Mite-aged players from the Little Caesars organization to the test by monitoring their activity on different sized rinks.

6 PROOF IS IN THE PLAY ADM Video Shows The Benefits Of Cross-Ice Hockey ADVOCATES OF CROSS- ICE HOCKEY have long believed that playing the game on an ice surface appropriate to the size of younger players will help them develop their skills while having fun in a competitive environment. Now they have data to back up those beliefs. With the help of the Detroit Red Wings, USA Hockey put a group of Mite-aged players from the Little Caesars organization to the test by monitoring their activity on different sized rinks. The players were divided into two teams and played a cross-ice game, a half-ice game and a full-ice game. With the help of Quantum Pro Hockey Analytics, a company that monitors the Red Wings during their home games at the Joe Louis Arena, USA Hockey was able to provide some solid statistical muscle behind the principles that are the cornerstone of the American Development Model. The hot topic in the NHL right now is analytics, the statistics behind the game, said ADM Technical Director Ken Martel. We re looking for ways to drill down in our sport and statistically measure all the things that are happening so we have a better understanding of how the sport is played. The data showed that players touched the puck twice as much while playing cross-ice than on a larger surface. There were also twice as many passes and shots on goal, along with twice as much body-contact and puck battles. Goalies also faced considerably more shots-per-minute versus playing fullice hockey. USA Hockey posted a short video on its ADMKids website and on its YouTube channel in addition to ing it to parents of 8 & Under players to show the benefits of cross-ice hockey as an effective tool for developing skills. Any time we can make decisions that are based on data that has fact behind it, I think is fantastic, said Sean Lancaster, a parent of a Little Caesars player. N Any time we can make decisions that are based on data that has fact behind it, I think is fantastic. SEAN LANCASTER, HOCKEY PARENT RINK REALITIES ADM MYTH 1: The ADM stifles youth goalie development. Kids need to be identified as goaltenders and taught goaltending-specific skills at a young age. TRUTH: Goaltending experts worldwide say that at the 8 & Under level it s more important to develop overall athleticism and skating ability rather than goaltending technique. ADM MYTH 2: To develop an understanding of positional play and offsides, 8-year-olds should play full-ice hockey. TRUTH: When the puck is dropped, positional play becomes a player s relationship to the puck, the opponent and the net. By teaching the key concepts in the context of small-area games (spacing, gap control, angles, support, body positioning), players not only learn these concepts, but also learn them more efficiently thanks to increased repetitions. 26 SEPTEMBER USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Patrick McDermott; Michael Martin

$PLAYER DEVELOPMENT 8U HOCKEY GETTING OF WHAT S GOOD //////// PUCK TOUCHES \\\\\\\\ 2x //////// PASS ATTEMPTS \\\\\\\\ 2x //////// SHOT ATTEMPTS \\\\\\\\ //////// PASSES RECEIVED \\\\\\\\ 6x 5x$ skating, especially long skates. TRUTH: It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of every ADM practice is focused on skating.

skating, especially long skates. TRUTH: It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of every ADM practice is focused on skating.

7 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT 8U HOCKEY GETTING OF WHAT S GOOD //////// PUCK TOUCHES \\\\\\\\ 2x //////// PASS ATTEMPTS \\\\\\\\ 2x //////// SHOT ATTEMPTS \\\\\\\\ //////// PASSES RECEIVED \\\\\\\\ 6x 5x //////// PUCK BATTLES \\\\\\\\ O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X O X 2x //////// CHANGES OF DIRECTION \\\\\\\\ 2x //////// GOALIE SHOTS/MINUTE \\\\\\\\ 4x ADM MYTH 3: ADM practices don t provide enough skating, especially long skates. TRUTH: It is estimated that 40 to 50 percent of every ADM practice is focused on skating. Age-appropriate skill development emphasizes development of proper skating form and an increase in quality strides. What separates players at advancing levels is their ability to turn, stop, start and change direction. These skating skills are emphasized with small-area games and cross-ice hockey. ADM MYTH 4: The ADM removes competition from 6U and 8U programs. TRUTH: Competition is at the heart of the ADM, but it emphasizes age- and developmentallyappropriate forms of competition, such as two players competing for a loose puck, rather than an overemphasis on who wins and loses. USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM SEPTEMBER

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT WHAT S THE RUSH? deep. The best developmental line exists when our kids have both adversity and success. As the old saying goes it s not a sprint, it s a marathon.

8 PLAYER DEVELOPMENT WHAT S THE RUSH? deep. The best developmental line exists when our kids have both adversity and success. As the old saying goes it s not a sprint, it s a marathon. There are hundreds of interesting developmental success stories in our game. One of my high too fast only sets our kids favorites is Tom Preissing, the up for a big fall. former defenseman with the There is something to be San Jose Sharks. said for playing at the level Tom began what many would where you have a chance to consider his advanced hockey handle the puck and make plays training with a full four years of with confidence. If a player is high school. This was followed always forced to play over his by three years of Junior hockey or her head, the skills they seem and then a solid four-year stint to develop most are the survival at Colorado College where skills of get it out or get it during his breakthrough senior The More Players And Parents Try To Speed Up The Process The Farther Behind They re Likely To Get BY KEN MARTEL THERE SEEMS TO BE A TREND in sports, especially in youth hockey, with our players and parents wanting to advance to the next level as quickly as possible. But what does the next level really mean for a Squirt, Peewee or Bantam? As parents of young players, we need to slow down and focus on what really matters. Hockey provides an outlet to help our kids grow and learn some great lessons, such as the values of hard work, teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership. Because the developmental curve varies widely, it is rare that the best Mite player ends up being the best Midget player. No matter how hard adults push, nature sets its own speed limits on development that we can t jump over, eliminate or expedite. It is as if we are trying to climb the ladder of success at breakneck speed, but sometimes attempting to climb too THE BENEFITS OF PLAYING OTHER SPORTS BEING AN ATHLETE FIRST and playing a variety of sports at this age will pay huge dividends down the road for every hockey player. Playing other sports will help with refining motor skills, balance, agility, coordination, and spatial awareness. It will also help reduce the risk of overuse injuries. When young children play only one sport year round they use the same muscles over and over again and become susceptible to injury. Playing multiple sports will not only use different muscles, it will help players become more well-rounded athletes. Contrary to what some might think, playing hockey year-round won t put you ahead of the competition. Hanging up the skates and taking a break from the rink will recharge a child s batteries, keep them fresh, fit and ready to go when the puck drops on a new season. year Tom set the NCAA singleseason goal scoring record by a defenseman (23). Add it up and that equates to 11 years of prime time development between the ages of 14 and 25. Toss in another eight years of youth hockey and Tom played almost two decades of hockey before he skated in his first NHL game. He would go on to play more than 300 games in the NHL and 100 more in Europe before hanging up his competitive skates a couple of years ago. The best coaches at the highest levels don t talk about winning; they talk about the process. The American Development Model is all about the process. It is a comprehensive plan of development that starts from the ages of 8 & Under and goes all the way through adulthood. Where will today s 12-yearold be by the time he reaches his late teens? The truth is that nobody knows. What parents, coaches and players need to worry about is today, and doing the right things that will help them down the road. By being patient today, tomorrow will take care of itself. Too many people get ahead of themselves and place way too much importance on hockey achievements between the ages of 6 and 12 instead of being patient and understanding the significance of training and appropriate development during puberty. While the number of Americans in the NHL has consistently grown over the years, the odds of making it are not much better than winning the lottery and being struck by lightning on the same day. What matters most is the journey. It s all about the hours, days and years spent with family and friends and playing a sport we love. N Ken Martel is the technical director of the American Development Model. 28 SEPTEMBER USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTO BY Patrick McDermott

The meaning of these

GREAT MOMENTS ARE BORN FROM GREAT OPPORTUNITIES. The meaning of these words hasn t changed since Herb Brooks used them to motivate the 1980 Miracle on Ice team. Today, we have a great opportunity to change