The ABC’s of ADM – Part 2

Do you know how many times the average 6 to 9 year old touches the puck during a game or how the NHL is getting involved with USA Hockey’s American Development model? The following article, which is part two of the ABC’s of ADM series (letters I to R), provides answers to these questions and much more.

I is for Implementation -Support from around the country has been overwhelming as many local associations, affiliates and districts will begin phasing in the ADM at the Mite level starting with the 2009-10 season.

J is for Jamborees – Cross-ice or half-ice jamborees can be included in a Mites’ season schedule to showcase each players’ skill development and add interest for parents.

K is for Kingston – A 1976 study by George Kingston found that the average player at the 6- to 8-year-old level touches the puck  for only 20.7 seconds over the course of a 60-minute full ice game. This study has been repeated and proven with similar results  over the years.

L is for Long-Term Athlete Development - The cornerstone of the ADM, forming the foundation for developing athletes. It integrates training, competition and recovery programming with relation to biological ages and maturation.

M is for Multiple Sports - Players are encouraged to play other sports to improve their physical literacy and overall athleticism by taking a mental and physical break from the rink.

N is for NHL – A generous grant from the National Hockey League will provide the financial backing to get the ADM off the ground and moving forward.

O is for Off-Ice Training – Conducted once or twice a week, before or after on-ice practice, to focus on agility, balance, coordination and speed.

P is for Periodization – This means dividing the calendar year into intervals for preparation, competition, rest and recovery.

Q is for Quality Over Quantity – A basic principle of the ADM is to make better use of the time a player spends on the ice, mainly through skill-developing practices, rather than increasing the number of games played during a season.

R is for Regional Managers - There will be six regional managers strategically located around the country to implement the principles of the ADM by providing full-time staff support and guidance to youth hockey associations in their area.

Editor’s Note: For more information on USA Hockey’s American Development Model, please click here.