| How can our players get out of this rut?
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With USA Hockey's American Development Model, players are introduced to body contact at 8U and gradually familiarized with progressive amounts of it as they progress through each level of play. At 14U, full body-checking becomes legal. But what about the 12U level? Where should a 12U player be in terms of comfort and skill with body contact?
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Q: I want my goalies to start handling the puck more. Are they too young for that? What should they work on?
A: No, they aren't too young. In fact, goalies should be handling the puck outside of the crease in games and practice even at 8U and certainly at 10U, 12U and beyond.
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| Competition
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| While competition is a big part of youth sport, what competition means to adults and to kids isn't always the same. At 12U, coaches and parents need to keep kids focused on process over outcomes. It is the effort and striving that teaches the real lessons.
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