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| Of all the fundamental skills involved with learning ice hockey, skating is unique. It's as basic as running is to other sports, but also something of an art form as it is a completely foreign form of locomotion to be mastered. The 8U level is a critical time for the development of skating skills, and Dan Jablonic, a regional manager for USA Hockey's American Development Model, has several tips. |
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Q: Whose puck is it at 8U?
A: Even at this early age, it's very beneficial for players to learn that there is one puck used in games, and if they want to play with it, they need to develop the ability and hunger to race to a puck, compete for the puck, and ultimately, protect it from the opposition.
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From child's view, parents find full-ice hockey no fun
To demonstrate how a full sheet of ice looks to an 8U child, USA Hockey put adult players on an extra-large rink with giant nets to simulate the feeling. Not surprisingly, the adults found the big-ice games tiring, difficult, boring and scary. See how adult players' eyes were opened to the American Development Model recommendations of cross-ice hockey and small-area games.
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| Zones |
Breaking up the ice surface at 8U to fit the size of the players is an important developmental tool for learning. Game play at 8U ideally segments the ice into three zones to allow for three simultaneous games.
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