Anyone who has registered with USA Hockey for 2009-2010 has recently received a mailing which included a short brochure on USA Hockey’s “American Developmental Model”.

The ADM was developed jointly by USA Hockey together with the NHL. USA Hockey was troubled by the the high percentage of kids quitting hockey as they reached PeeWee and Bantam age; the NHL was concerned with the fact that, for the number of players in the US, not enough were making it to the top level.

USA Hockey describes the ADM not as a mandate sent from USA Hockey, but rather as a tool that will ensure every kid will have the same chance to succeed. The ADM utilizes Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles as its framework. LTAD principles are being utilized by over 100 different sport federations and government health ministries from countries around the globe and LTAD principles have been used in successful hockey playing nations like Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic with very positive results.

The underlying principal of LTAD is that maximum development occurs through age-appropriate structure and content. Without developing skills and certain physical and mental attributes at the appropriate time, the long-term prospects of becoming a truly elite player diminish each day.

USA Hockey’s ADM calls the 12-16 year old stage of hockey development the “Training to Train” stage. This is where the focus should be on “Building the Engine and consolidating sports skills.”

Key Assumptions in the Training to Train Stage:

· Age 12 to 16 is the optimal window for developing stamina or endurance.

· Age 12 to 16 is the critical window for aerobic training, beginning with onset of adolescent growth spurt.

· Age 12 to 16 is the optimal training window for developing speed (second speed window).

· Age 12 to 16 is the time to develop explosive power and capacity.

· The optimal window for strength training is 12 to 18 months after adolescent growth spurt.

Key Training Guidelines in the Training to Train Stage:

· Play hockey 40% of the time, play multiple sports or engage in activities like soccer, running, gymnastics, swimming, skiing or other activities 25% of the time and engage in fitness through other sports (like lacrosse, baseball, golf, track and field, etc.) 35%.

· 18 – 36 players per practice session.

· 3 – 4 ice touches per week.

· 60 – 80 minutes per session.

· 120 total ice touches.

· 7 – 8 month training and competition calendar.

· Off-ice training as appropriate to each individual’s stage of development.

· 80 - 85 practices;1-2 teams per session.

· 35 – 45 games.

· 16 skaters and 2 goalies per team.