How does skill development keep our kids safe on the ice?
  The vitamin in the mashed potatoes  
 
Young baseball players don't play on a Major League-sized diamond. Youth soccer players don't use a full-sized field. The reason? Their still-growing bodies aren't suited for playing surfaces designed for adults. It seems obvious, but while those sports (and others) figured it out long ago, some in youth hockey left the answer to better player development hidden in plain sight.
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  Q: I am concerned about whether 8U players ever reach top speed when playing cross-ice. Will that hurt their future development? Should I be concerned?

A: It's great timing that you ask this question, as there was a study done recently by Hockey Alberta that disproved the belief that 8U players can't reach top speed in cross-ice hockey. The study results also shed light on the actual application of top speed in hockey.

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Kids take the mic at 2017 World Juniors training camp
The U.S. Junior National Team shared its World Junior Championship training camp with local youngsters who dream of someday wearing the red, white and blue.
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Balance
A key component of athleticism is balance. At the 8U age classification, developing the ABCs – agility, balance and coordination (along with speed) – is essential to building a foundation for future athletic success. So how do you develop balance?
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30-year-old rookie proves there’s no need to rush kids’ development »

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