A GUIDE TO DEVELOPING INITIATION AND NOVICE AGED HOCKEY PLAYERS IN SASKATCHEWAN

SASKATCHEWAN GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT MODEL

2016-17

A GUIDE TO DEVELOPING INITIATION AND NOVICE AGED HOCKEY PLAYERS IN SASKATCHEWAN

2016-17

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INITIATION

NOVICE

OFFICIATING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cross Ice Mandate 2016/2017…………………………………………………..……………..........3Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………..………………3Rules and Regulations……..……………..............................................................………3Coaching Requirements/Mentorship……............................................................…3Why Cross Ice?…………………….............................................................................…4Cross Ice vs. Full Ice Statistics………………................................................................4General Organization…………………….................................................................……5General Spirit of Participation and Fun and Benefits……………....................…………5Myths about Cross Ice Hockey……………………………........................................………6Hosting Cross Ice Tournaments……………….......................................................……7Cross Ice Tournament Schedule Template ..............................................................8SHA Cross Ice Jamborees……..............……..................................................…………9Cross Ice Dividers…………………........................................................................……10Conclusion……………………..................................................................................…10Cross Ice Videos………………….............................................................................…10

Half Ice Recommendation 2016/2017………………………………....…………………………11Recommended Standard…………………………………………....................................……11General Information………………………………...........................................................11Half Ice Benefits………………........................................................................…………11Rink Setup……………………………................................................................……………12Coaching Requirements……………..............................................................…………13

Overview………………………………………………........................................…………………13Benefits and Procedures……………………………………………………....…………………….....14Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….....................………15

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ALL GAMES AND PRACTICES AT THE INITIATION LEVEL SHALL USE MODIFIED ICE SURFACES CONSISTING OF CROSS ICE SECTIONS AS OF THE 2016/17 SEASON.

INTRODUCTION

RULES AND REGULATIONS

CROSS ICE MANDATETHE SASKATCHEWAN HOCKEY ASSOCIATION HAS DEVELOPED AND APPROVED

NEW CRITERIA FOR ALL INITIATION PLAYERS. EFFECTIVE FOR THE 2016-17 PLAYING SEASON, CROSS ICE HOCKEY WILL NOW BE THE STANDARD FOR AGE

APPROPRIATE PLAYERS - INCLUDING ALL GAMES AND SCRIMMAGES.

The Saskatchewan Grassroots Development Model provides age-appropriate guidelines for Initiation and Novice players as well as a curriculum to Minor Hockey Associations across Saskatchewan to work towards the common goal of helping more kids to play, excel and love the great of hockey in a positive envi-ronment.

In addition the Saskatchewan Grassroots Development Model offers guidance as to how young officials can gain valuable experience and can play an integral role with the proper guidance so all participants enjoy the game of hockey.

It is important to note that there are NO exceptions to this regulation in regards to the participation in games and practices at the Initiation level which would include ALL exhibition, regular season and tournament games.

SHA mandates that all tournament games will be played either using Cross Ice or Half Ice formats.

Associations applying for a tournament sanction MUST indicate which format they will be using.

INITIATION

INITIATION COACHING REQUIREMENTSHEAD COACHES – Must have Coach 1 - Intro to Coach & Respect in SportASSISTANT COACHES - Must have Coach 1 - Intro to Coach & Respect in SportMANAGER, TRAINER, VOLUNTEER, STICK BOY – Must have Respect in SportHOCKEY CANADA SAFETY PROGRAM (HCSP LEVEL 1 OR HU SAFETY) – 1 of the registered team officials (manager, coach, trainer or volunteer).

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IP COACH MENTORSHIP

WHY CROSS ICE? Cross Ice hockey, or hockey on a smaller surface, is an important part of age-appropriate training for Initiation and even Novice players. Using a smaller surface in Initiation hockey offers several benefits, including increased puck battles, increased puck touches for all players, puck carriers will have to avoid more players in the small areas, etc. All of these benefits are extremely important in the long-term development of each player.

Cross Ice hockey is based on a model of practicing and playing hockey across the 85 foot width of the ice surface as compared to practicing and playing lengthways along the full 200 foot length of the ice surface.

This Cross Ice practicing and playing model has been used in many leading hockey nations around the world for a number of years and has stood the test of time. It has been tested and proved that children who begin their hockey training in this environment have an outstanding hockey experience. Parents may ask the question why should my child play Cross Ice hockey? What benefits will this bring? And they may believe that they want their child playing like the professionals do, on full ice, because they want their child to experience “real hockey”.

To help address these questions, let’s think about a child trying to skate with a puck while performing a drill the entire 200 feet from one end of the rink to the other. How long will this take? How much energy will this require? Will the player’s decision-making skills be enhanced more in the close action of the smaller Cross Ice surface or in the wide-open area of the full ice surface? In which situation will the child be more involved in the action?

SHA with the support of the Minor Hockey Association will appoint an IP Mentor to an assigned region.

Duties include; regular visits to supervise, mentor the IP Coach(s), offer Coach 1 clinics and promote the benefits of Cross Ice hockey.

CROSS ICE VS. FULL ICE STATISTICS

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GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF CROSS ICE

GENERAL SPIRIT OF PARTICIPATION, FUN AND BENEFITS OF CROSS ICE 9 More children get a chance to play hockey. 9 Hockey IQ, or understanding the principles of the game, is being developed

at a young age. 9 More children will experience a feeling of success when playing hockey. 9 The same exciting and fun environment as in a “real” game is created. 9 All children, regardless of skill level, will benefit from close/tight action on

the ice. 9 Children are excited and motivated to continue playing hockey. 9 Hockey will be more appealing and rewarding to a wider range of children

and their parents. 9 Group sizes become smaller which means learning and teaching will become

more effective. 9 The close feeling of belonging to a team will motivate a child to participate

with even greater enthusiasm. 9 More repetition/frequency in drills. 9 More frequent line changes in the game means more ice time for each play-

er. 9 Children remain active between their shifts with various activities in the

neutral zone. 9 The feeling of being an important part of the action increases because of the

small size of the rink. 9 The children have more energy with which they can improve their skills

when they are skating 85 feet across the ice surface as opposed to the 200 foot length of the ice surface.

9 More efficient use of ice time and space. 9 The size of the rink is in proportion to the size of the players. 9 The child sized goal nets are in proportion with the size of players. 9 The middle zone is available for other purposes (player’s bench, warm-up

area, skill competition) while games are played in the end zones. 9 Recommend that teams play with two or three units of four or five players

and one goalkeeper which results in each player having more ice time. 9 The use of the Blue 4oz pucks is recommended. 9 More ice time for practicing and playing is made available to more teams

within a single Association. 9 Many teams can practice and play by sharing the ice surface. 9 Drills designed according to the varying skill levels of players within the

group are easier to organize.

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9 Playing on a smaller surface allows for more puck contact resulting in im-proved puck control skills.

9 The higher tempo of cross ice games results in players needing to make quicker decisions. Cross ice enhances the ability of players do this.

9 Individual technical skills develop more quickly. 9 Scoring skills are enhanced and although child sized goal nets are not man-

datory, using these will give the players more accurate shooting opportuni-ties.

9 More repetition for goalkeeper’s which improves reading of the game, and reaction to changing game situations becomes more effective.

9 The game is full of continuously changing situations. 9 The speed in playing situations increases, which will require quicker mental

and physical reactions by the players. This is because there are no unneces-sary breaks in the game.

Myth #1: To develop understanding of positional play and off-sides, 8-year-olds should play full ice hockey.

Truth:

9 Not only can positional play and off-sides be taught with Cross Ice hockey, it can be taught more efficiently than in a full-ice environment.

9 When the puck is dropped, positional play becomes a player’s relationship to the puck, the opponent and the net. All of these elements are key com-ponents of the small-area games. By teaching these concepts in the context of small-area games (spacing, gap control, angles, support, body position-ing), players not only learn the concepts, but also learn them more efficiently thanks to increased repetitions.

9 Regarding off-sides, it can be easily taught by using a marker and drawing a line across the middle of a Cross Ice environment. This line represents the offensive blue line. And, much like positional play, it can be taught more effi-ciently through Cross Ice play, since the number of zone entries (and especially non-breakaway zone entries) is dramatically increased in a Cross Ice scenario.

Myth #2: Long Term Player Development (LTPD) fails in youth goalie development. Kids need to be identified as goaltenders and taught goaltending specific skills at young ages.

Truth:

9 Almost none of the NHL’s top goaltenders began playing between the pipes until they were at least 9 years old. Finland, which is viewed as a model for

MYTHS ABOUT CROSS ICE HOCKEY

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producing great goaltenders, doesn’t let kids play full-time in goal until age 10. Goaltending experts worldwide state that, at 8U, it’s far more important to develop overall athleticism and skating ability than goaltending technique.

9 As Kevin Woodley recently wrote in InGoal Magazine, "Most NHL goaltend-ing coaches will tell you they’d rather add some structure to a skilled athletic goalie than try to add athleticism to a technician." Thus, the LTPD emphasis on development of athleticism at young ages is ideal for skaters and future goalies alike.

Myth #3: Cross Ice practices don’t provide enough skating, especially long skates.Truth:

9 Forty to fifty percent of every practice plan is skating-focused.

9 The Cross Ice environment requires children to take an equivalent number of strides to what an adult takes when covering a full ice sheet. It’s simply scaled for a child’s leg length.

9 Skating form deteriorates over long distances. Age-appropriate skill devel-opment emphasizes development of proper skating form and an increase in quality strides. But most importantly, what separates players at advancing lev-els of hockey is their ability to turn, stop, start and change direction. These are the skating skills that are vital to becoming a successful hockey player – and these are the skating skills emphasized with small-area games and Cross Ice hockey.

9 Tournament rules MUST meet Saskatchewan Hockey Association regulations.

9 All participating Teams MUST be governed by the Saskatchewan Hockey Association.

9 For a 45 minute ice allotment, games will consist of two (2) twenty (20) min-ute straight time periods.

9 For an hour ice allotment, games will consist of two (2) twenty-five (25) min-ute straight time periods.

9 Teams will NOT change ends after each period.

9 Coaches are encouraged to be on the ice.

9 Time-outs are NOT allowed to be called by any team.

9 TOURNAMENT FORMAT: Initiation - In an eight (8) team format. See Below.

9 There will be NO overtime played.

HOSTING CROSS ICE TOURNAMENTS

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Æ The SHA has labelled which is Rink 1 and which is Rink 2. Æ The middle of the ice surface can be used for skill development for the

players not playing in the game. Æ Associations that have cross ice dividers - you will notice a gap in the centre

where there is no divider. This serves as easy access for the players to enter and exit the game.

Time Teams Rink Pool9:00am-9:45am Team 1 vs. Team 2 1 A

9:00am-9:45am Team 3 and Team 4 2 A

10:00am-10:45am Team 5 vs. Team 6 1 B

10:00am-10:45am Team 7 and Team 8 2 B

11:00am-11:45am Team 2 vs. Team 3 1 A

11:00am-11:45am Team 4 and Team 1 2 A

12:00pm-12:45pm Team 6 vs. Team 5 1 B

12:00pm-12:45pm Team 8 and Team 7 2 B

1:00pm-1:45pm Team 3 vs. Team 1 1 A

1:00pm-1:45pm Team 2 and Team 4 2 A

2:00pm-2:45pm Team 7 vs. Team 5 1 B

2:00pm-2:45pm Team 6 and Team 8 2 B

Time Teams Rink Pool9:00am-10:00am Team 1 vs. Team 2 1 A

9:00am-10:00am Team 3 and Team 4 2 A

10:00am-11:00am Team 5 vs. Team 6 1 B

10:00am-11:00am Team 7 and Team 8 2 B

11:00am-12:00pm Team 2 vs. Team 3 1 A

11:00am-12:00pm Team 4 and Team 1 2 A

12:00pm-1:00pm Team 6 vs. Team 5 1 B

12:00pm-1:00pm Team 8 and Team 7 2 B

1:00pm-2:00pm Team 3 vs. Team 1 1 A

1:00pm-2:00pm Team 2 and Team 4 2 A

2:00pm-3:00pm Team 7 vs. Team 5 1 B

2:00pm-3:00pm Team 6 and Team 8 2 B

CROSS ICE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE TEMPLATE

45 Minute Ice Allotment 1 hour Ice Allotment

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SKILL STATIONS

9 Taught by SHA Instructors.

9 Practice Plans taken from Hockey Canada’s Development Model.

9 All of the skill sessions will use Blue 4oz pucks.

9 HAVE FUN!!

CROSS ICE GAME

9 Games will be 20 minutes. 9 Games can be played 5 on 5 or 4 on 4. The amount of players will vary de-

pending on each team. 9 There will be NO face-offs after a goal is scored, or after a line change. In

both instances a puck will be shot in the corner to resume play. 9 The goal of the NO face-offs during the game is to ensure the players skate

as much as possible during the 20 minutes.

9 Each game will be played with a Blue 4oz puck.

9 NO permanent goalies. 9 NO specific skater position. 9 NO KEEPING SCORE.

SHA CROSS ICE JAMBOREES

The Saskatchewan Hockey Association released a new program called Cross Ice Jamborees. A Cross Ice Jamboree is a half day event that consists of four Initia-tion teams developing their skills in various skill stations as well as a chance to play Cross Ice Games.

Two teams will play the Cross Ice game for 20 minutes, while the other two teams will be working on skill development at various stations. After the 20 minutes is complete the four teams will switch; the two teams that were playing the game will move to the skills, and the two teams that were doing the skills will move over and play the Cross Ice game. Each team will get a total of three - 20 minute Cross Ice Games, and six - 10 minute sessions at the skill stations.

For more information on how to host a Cross Ice Jamboree please contact Matt at mattm@sha.sk.ca

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CROSS ICE DIVIDERS

CONCLUSION

VIDEOS

The Saskatchewan Hockey IS NOT making Cross Ice dividers mandatory for As-sociations to purchase, but they can be very useful and come in many different forms. They are used to help stop pucks from crossing into different “zones”. They also form a barrier that define where kids should be concentrating their efforts.

Without Athletica Sport Systems Border Patrol Foam Dividers coaches are left to choose whatever is handy to divide up the rink. Now, an 85 or 100 foot section of Border Patrol can be set up safely and easily by one person in just a couple of minutes. And they get put away just as quick when practice is over.

The Border Patrol foam pads are covered with a tear-resistant vinyl, and can be outfitted with ad ‘windows’, offering an opportunity for revenue.

These dividers also double as a “bench” where kids can sit and listen to instruc-tion, or be set up on the ice as barriers which creates an obstacle course for puck-handlers.

If Minor Hockey Associations are looking to inquire about the Cross Ice dividers for their rink they can contact Paula Sealey at psealey@athletica.com or check

out the link below for more information. http://www.athletica.com

For young players in the “full-ice game model” of development, the youngest players would require 180 games and the older youth players would require 80 games to enjoy 60 minutes of actual puck possession time to execute their stick-handling, passing, pass receiving and shooting skills.

Professional and international players would require 60 games to ensure 60 min-utes of puck control skill development. Many players never touched the puck in the game, especially in youth hockey. By giving children the opportunity to participate in Cross Ice practicing and playing, their enjoyment of hockey as well as their hockey skills will be greatly enhanced.

SHA Cross Ice Video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=KrQ_rYQNXPQ

Hockey USA Analytics Video: https://youtu.be/CB_Ygapyl7c

A Childs View Video: https://youtu.be/cXhxNq59pWg

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THE RECOMMENDATION IS ALL GAMES AND PRACTICES AT THE NOVICE LEVEL USE MODIFIED ICE SURFACES CONSISTING OF HALF ICE SECTIONS FOR THE

2016/17 SEASON.

RECOMMENDED STANDARD

NOVICE HALF ICE BENEFITS

GENERAL INFORMATION

HALF ICE RECOMMENDATIONTHE SASKATCHEWAN HOCKEY ASSOCIATION HAS DEVELOPED A RECOMMENDED

STANDARD THAT ALL NOVICE PLAYERS PLAY HALF ICE HOCKEY INCLUDING ALL GAMES AND SCRIMMAGES FOR THE 2016-2017 SEASON.

9 More efficient use of ice time and space.

9 The size of the rink is in proportion with the size of the players.

9 If used, the child sized goal nets are in proportion with the size of players.

9 Recommend that teams play with two or three units of four or five players and one goalkeeper which results in each player having more ice time.

9 Regular 6oz pucks may be used.

9 More ice time for practicing and playing is made available to more teams within a single Association.

9 Many teams can practice and play by sharing the ice surface.

NOVICE

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Saskatchewan Hockey Association.

9 More children get to play hockey while progressing into half ice format.

9 Hockey IQ, or understanding the principles of the game, continues to be devel-oped at a young age.

9 The same exciting and fun environment as in a “real” game is created.

9 Both more and less gifted children will benefit from close/tight action on the ice.

9 Children are excited and motivated to continue playing hockey while progress-ing into half ice format.

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9 Hockey will be more appealing and rewarding to a wider range of children and their parents.

9 Group sizes become smaller which means learning and teaching will become more effective.

9 The close feeling of belonging to a team will motivate a child to participate with even greater enthusiasm.

9 The feeling of being an important part of the action increases because of the small size of the rink.

9 The children have more energy with which they can improve their skills when they are skating on 100 feet of the ice surface as opposed to the 200 foot length of the full ice surface.

9 Playing on a smaller surface allows for more puck contact resulting in im-proved puck control skills.

9 Decision-making skills are enhanced as more decisions must be made more frequently at a higher tempo.

9 Individual technical skills develop more quickly.

9 Scoring skills are enhanced since the players have more shooting opportu-nities.

9 More repetition for goalkeeper’s which improves reading of the game, and reaction to changing game situations becomes more effective.

9 The game is full of continuously changing situations.

9 The speed in playing situations increases, which will require quicker mental and physical reactions by the players.

NOVICE HALF ICE RINK SETUPHere is an illustration of how the rink would look during Novice half ice games.

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COACHING REQUIREMENTS

OVERVIEW

NOVICE (All levels – Male & Female Teams)

HEAD COACHES – Must have Coach 1 – Intro or Coach 2 - Coach Level, Respect in Sport & Checking

ASSISTANT COACHES - Must have Coach 1 – Intro or Coach 2 - Coach Level & Respect in Sport

MANAGER, TRAINER, VOLUNTEER, STICK BOY, GOALIE COACH – Must have Re-spect in Sport

GOALIE COACH CERTIFICATION – Must have 1 registered coach with this certifi-cation

CHECKING CERTIFICATION – The Head Coach must have, #8.01.01.g

HOCKEY CANADA SAFETY (HCSP LEVEL 1 OR HU SAFETY) – 1 of the registered team officials must have this (manager, coach, trainer or volunteer.)

9 This Officiating Guide is not a mandate to use officials during half ice games played at the Novice age group.

9 Ultimately, it is still up to the local Minor Hockey Association and the coaches involved to do what they feel is best for their program within the Saskatchewan Grassroots Development framework whether that includes using officials for Novice half ice games or using the coaches as ‘refs’.

9 Either is acceptable. For those Associations that want to work together with local officials to invest in the future of officiating in their respective area, this Guide will provide them with the information and resources to successfully do so.

9 The use of an official is not something that has to be an entire season, either. A hockey organization may decide to add a little spice to the program for the second half of the season or maybe only use officials for their game days occurring on weekends.

OFFICIATING HALF ICE HOCKEY

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BENEFITS OF USING AN OFFICIAL FOR HALF ICE GAMES 9 For the officials, the benefits are numerous and will play a critical role in the

future development of younger officials.

9 Having a younger official skate during the designated game days provides a valuable opportunity for these newer officials to put on their sweater, pick up their whistle and go out and learn some basics of officiating in a positive atmosphere.

9 They will drop some pucks, work on their skating skills, learn to position themselves out of the way of play while establishing the best possible view of the play and make some minor decisions (goals, etc.) that will give them confidence and experience they can’t get at a seminar.

9 This format also provides an excellent opportunity for a more experienced official to mentor the new official and assist them in honing their skills while either skating with them on the ice or watching from the stands and talking after the game.

9 Most importantly, the official will have fun while preparing to advance to full ice games with more confidence and better skills.

9 On the player side of things, having an official on the ice for the half ice game will give the feel to both the players and the parents that a real game is taking place.

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9 There is no absolute right way to handle every possible scenario and as long as the official knows what the expected protocol is prior to the game, it should not be a problem to adjust and keep the game moving.

9 Face-offs - In most cases, each new shift or beginning of a period will start with a face-off in the vicinity of the centre area for the space being used.

9 Goals – When the puck enters the goal, the officials can simply signal a goal and work to get play going again quickly.

9 Frozen pucks – When play needs to be stopped for a goalkeeper freezing the puck, for a player falling on the puck, the puck is frozen along the boards or the puck leaves the playing area, the official can either conduct a face-off in a designated area or can throw another puck off to the side to allow play to continue.

9 Penalties – Very seldom will there be a situation that occurs that require the official to stop play for a penalty.

BENEFITS OF USING AN OFFICIAL FOR HALF ICE GAMES

OFFICIATING PROCEDURES FOR HALF ICE GAMES

9 For the officials, the benefits are numerous and will play a critical role in the future development of younger officials.

9 Having a younger official skate during the designated game days provides a valuable opportunity for these newer officials to put on their sweater, pick up their whistle and go out and learn some basics of officiating in a positive atmosphere.

9 They will drop some pucks, work on their skating skills, learn to position themselves out of the way of play while establishing the best possible view of the play and make some minor decisions (goals, etc.) that will give them confidence and experience they can’t get at a seminar.

9 This format also provides an excellent opportunity for a more experienced official to mentor the new official and assist them in honing their skills while either skating with them on the ice or watching from the stands and talking after the game.

9 Most importantly, the official will have fun while preparing to advance to full ice games with more confidence and better skills.

9 On the player side of things, having an official on the ice for the half ice game will give the feel to both the players and the parents that a real game is taking place.

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Saskatchewan Hockey Association:To Lead, Develop and Promote Positive Hockey Experiences