From the coaches and Board members of the GHA, we are thrilled to welcome you to the upcoming hockey season. This letter is to introduce the coaches, our philosophies and approach to the game. This should provide a framework to guide expectations on the team and individual development.  At the simplest, hockey should be fun for all involved.

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Kids play sports to have fun and playing with friends adds to the enjoyment. Team sports like ice hockey, provide kids with the physical activity and challenges that they enjoy and a ready-made group of new friends to play with. We will strive to develop a team atmosphere, playing together and working towards a common goal. Development of the individual hockey player can and will occur simultaneous with team development.

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GHA is part of USA Hockey and each team will have all coaches certified for that age level. All players must be members of USA Hockey in order to practice or play games. We will follow the USA Hockey ADM model. Improving Agility, Balance and Coordination (ABC) among all youth hockey players is a main goal for the American Development Model.

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Following the ADM set by USA hockey, we will begin the season with cross ice games. Cross ice games are important for young players for many reasons. Children between the ages of 7 and 9 years old are in the first of two optimal windows for development of athletic speed. This first window is primarily one in which young athletes can develop quickness. Quickness is exemplified by short-burst, multi-directional speed. This is one reason why the cross-ice playing environment is so vitally important for development in the 8U mite/novice age category. Hockey sense or hockey instincts are what give players the ability to read and anticipate the play. The best players are the ones with the best hockey sense and just like any other skill, it can be taught. The key is to place kids in live action situations and small area games in practice. The reason the 5v5 full ice game is not a great teacher for young kids is due to a lack of timely repetition and feedback.

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In the cross-ice game, players stop, start and change direction far more often than they do in the full-ice game. At this stage, children benefit exponentially from using key skating skills that promote quickness. So the more of these stops, starts and quick changes of direction we give our kids in this stage, the better it is for their long-term development. Hockey is a sport that places a high value on quickness, especially with our older players. Between the ages of 7 and 9 is the time to take advantage of each child’s natural growth pattern to help them improve their quickness for the long run. Full ice game experience will occur later in the season. Extensive information regarding the ADM, and its success, can be found at the USA Hockey website.