2008-09 Tonka Squirt Development Plan

2008-2009 Tonka Squirt Development Plan

Updated Schedule with Assigned Times

October 7 through November 3

Groups –   Players will be placed into four alphabetically divided groups.  Each group will include approximately 20-22 skaters.

Goalie Clinics – MYHA is hosting six goalie clinics from Sept 28^th to October 12.  In addition to that, Impact will have a goalie instructor at six Squirt skill clinics.

Coaching Training – Squirt coaches will be required to participate in at least six Impact Skills Clinics.  Coaches will be trained on proper skating, puck-handling, passing, and shooting technique.  Coaches will also be given a model on how to run productive ½ ice practices, with many drills and games drawn-up and, most importantly, shown how to run these drills and games effectively!

Impact Skills Clinics – Impact Hockey Training will run 8 skills clinics with a focus on individual skills and consistent teaching for every player in the program.  Impact will staff two instructors on-ice for each on-ice skill clinic, and two additional instructors will be staffed on dryland training days.  Each session will consist of approximately 25 skaters and 2-3 goalies.  4-6 Squirt coaches will also be on the ice, and the Impact instructors will interact with these squirt coaches to help them understand the “why and how” of each skill and game, and have them jump in and help run the clinic.

Small Area Games are fun and competitive for players, and are an excellent tool that coaches must use to build solid hockey skills.  These will be a big part of every clinic, so if you were visualizing the “skills clinics” to be a bunch of skating drills and cone drills with and without pucks, then you’re in for a major paradigm shift!  Check out www.masshockey.com/PDF/SmallGames.pdf.

Scrimmage Days – Squirts are only 9 & 10 years old.  It’s difficult to separate into A, B, and C levels early in the season because all skaters have had varied amounts of time on the ice.  i.e.  Some have played more in-season and off-season hockey than others.  We can develop the group as a whole by training their skills from Oct 7 – November 3, and having in-house scrimmages.  Unlike District 6 games that are run by USA Hockey Rules, these in-house scrimmages will promote “speed-up play” with less time with the puck in the referee’s hands, and more time with the puck in play.

Tryouts -  The tryouts will be held on the last 3 session days to place the players on teams for the hockey season.    

On November 1 - 3, the evaluators will grade players in each pool in order to select teams for the rest of the season.  Team breakdown for the best skill development opportunity for all players will be 1 Squirt A team, 3 Squirt B teams, and 3 Squirt C teams.  * This is an approximate number.  Exact registration numbers will determine number of teams and levels.

ON ICE SCHEDULE

NOTE: Squirt Coaches are required to attend (on-ice) at least six Skill Clinics

Squirt Development Team Schedule 2008
Note:  Please make sure to have a dark and white jersey for all ice sessions.
Date		Day	Location	Time	Activity	Skaters	Goalies	Goalie Coach
7-Oct		Tues	PAC	4:20pm-4:50pm	Dryland	A-G	A-D
7-Oct		Tues	PAC	5:10pm-6:00pm	Ice	A-G	A-D	Yes
7-Oct		Tues	PAC	5:20pm-5:50pm	Dryland	H-L	E-M
7-Oct		Tues	PAC	6:10pm-7:00pm	Ice	H-L	E-M	Yes
7-Oct		Tues	PAC	6:20pm-6:50pm	Dryland	M-Sca	N-S
7-Oct		Tues	PAC	7:10pm-8:00pm	Ice	M-Sca	N-S	Yes
7-Oct		Tues	PAC	7:20pm-7:50pm	Dryland	Sch-Z	T-Z
7-Oct		Tues	PAC	8:10pm-9:00pm	Ice	Sch-Z	T-Z	Yes
9-Oct		Thurs	VFH	5:10pm-6:00pm	Ice	H-L	N-S	Yes
9-Oct		Thurs	VFH	6:10pm-7:00pm	Ice	M-Sca	T-Z	Yes
9-Oct		Thurs	VFH	7:10pm-8:00pm	Ice	Sch-Z	A-D	Yes
9-Oct		Thurs	VFH	8:10pm-9:00pm	Ice	A-G	E-M	Yes
11-Oct		Sat	PAC	8:10am-9:20am	Ice	M-Sca	E-M
11-Oct		Sat	PAC	9:30am-10:40am	Ice	Sch-Z	N-S
11-Oct		Sat	PAC	10:50am-12:10pm	Ice	A-G	T-Z
11-Oct		Sat	PAC	12:20pm-1:30pm	Ice	H-L	A-D
		&nbs