With the overwhelming support of USA Hockey, the East Coast Hockey Conference (ECHC) is pleased to be the first regional select league to be operated under the framework of the USA Hockey’s American Development Model, ADM. The ADM utilizes Long-Term Athlete Development principles as its framework.
This new league will originate with the following select programs dedicated to the age appropriate core concepts of the ADM.
Boch Blazers – www.bochblazers.com
Boston Advantage – www.bostonadvantagehockey.com
East Coast Wizards – www.eastcoastwizards.com
New England Stars – www.nestarshockey.com
The goal is to utilize the ADM principals in for practices and games to develop players to the best of their ability. Practices and league play will be structured to limit travel, and accomplish the goals of skill development, creativity, passion and respect for the game.
One of the first things that USA Hockey did when beginning this project was to look closely at the statistics related to player development – specifically the skill development time each player has when in both a practice setting and a game setting. When viewed from the perspective of how kids learn the number of repetitions of specific skills and situations that occur in practice versus a game, we quickly learned where players have a chance to develop the most: Practice.
So a model was created that valued practices and proper training above all else. This isn’t to say that the ADM is about taking the fun out of hockey, quite the contrary. Practices can and should be fun, especially if the kids are all playing together and having a blast with a game that they love. The more they play it, the better chance that they’ll love it. And when you combine a passion for the game with increased puck time, kids will start to excel at it. Play, love, excel. That’s the ADM.
As research was conducted in developing the ADM, it became apparent that critical areas in our system were neglecting kids at a very early age. As children mature, they each progress through the same development stages. And certain aspects of these stages must be addressed at the appropriate points along the development curve in order for our children to reach their genetic potential. Maximum development occurs through age-appropriate structure and content. Without developing skills and certain physical and mental attributes at the appropriate time, the long-term prospects of becoming a truly elite player diminish each day.
For more information on the ADM please visit www.admkids.com
I completely, whole heartedly, disagree with this concept. Especially, here in Massachusetts. My kids league doesn’t play enough games. We’ve had 5 games in 3 months. 3 months!!! Don’t preach to me that the kids play too many games. I agree there aren’t enough practices. But, that is due to not enough ice time. During High School seasons, ice time availablilty drops conciderably. My sons team gets one practice a week…maybe two, But only on the weekends. Weekday ice time is completely taken until the highschool season ends in the local rinks. Burn out comes from not enough games…because the kids don’t like the practices. They like the games. They need the practice but they don’t like it. If you practice them too much they get burned out. The real reason you lose players is because it’s too expensive. Families with 3 kids playing, paying $2000 per kid is too much. Not everyone is financially secure enough to afford this kind of strain. It’s only the financially secure families that are doing the camps and playing on two or more teams all year round. The rest of us struggle to get our kids out there. Then don’t get enough games to make it worth it.
ADM only makes sense for the 1st or 2nd yr players. You can not expect a parent to spend 4 – 5 yrs supporting cross-ice ADM hockey. You are insane to think that. In fact, you will have the parent look for a more fun sport to transfer the player into. These kids are too smart & too big to be playing in circles. Secondly, shouldn`t the parents have a choice where to put their kids? We drive them, we make sure that their school work is done before hockey, we pay the bills, we know what is best to keep the child interested; we need too make the decision. Not every kid is going to the NHL. The US has too many sports to compete against and that is the reason you do not see large numbers of americans in the NHL.
No kid wants to play ADM cross-ice for more than 2 yrs. You will lose kids and the parents.
My 8yr old will NOT play ADM cross-ice.
Funny that the only Select league chosen in Massachusetts by USA hockey for this program, isn’t even a league until this very second. These 4 teams are playing indie schedules because after the Metro League disintegrated, they had no where else to go (ie: no league would take thier teams) These teams do NOT represent “select” hockey in Massachusetts. They are leftovers, pure and simple.
Not sure what the big fuss is about from the first two posters. ADM is a voluntary thing, if you want your kid to not participate find a team/league which is not involved. However part of what I think is being missed is that the program is made to re-inject fun into hockey. This means more creative/fun high tempo practices, not the same old tired drills and yes playing less hockey to improve overall athleticism and curb burnout.
I do have to say that I’m thrilled that our town program (eastern mass), has announced that we will be participating in ADM next season. As a coach, I’ve been experimenting with program with our kids over the season and they love the new practices and the cross ice. For the record, done correctly I have yet to find a kid who after playing cross ice doesn’t like it more than full ice. They handle the puck more and score more goals, what could be better. From what I’ve heard the main opponents are parents who somehow feel cheated by ADM .
I agree with the ADM philosophy. However, why would the pilot be a so-called “select team”league. Select teams have more games, practices and travel than any other teams or leagues by a LONG shot. All select teams have summer and spring leagues and camps, etc. Selects are FULL time commitment both financially and time-wise. These teams do not subscribe to any of the tenets ADM preaches. In fact, they are the exact opposite! Also, the reason hockey loses players is that it is a MAJOR commitment for a family. And, more importantly, its rediculously expensive! A stick costs a couple hundered dollars. A couple hundred dollars will cover the cost of entire season for most sports (football, baseball, soccer, basketball, etc…) The average american family cannot spend $2-3000 for their kid to play a sport. No less a family with multiple kids. Pretty simple guys. This is not rocket science.
So in a nutshell, the ADM pilot program endorses a league that costs 2-3 times the average youth hockey program, plays & practices 2-3 times as many games, travels singnificantly more and encourages year round play.
Whats wrong with this picture? Practice what you preach!!
Typical reaction to change.
Yes, the sport is expensive. Yes, this league will cost more than the current leagues that most town teams are in…as far as tuition. However, the ADM is not restricted to just this league. They just happen to be the first to adopt fully this program.
Also, think of the amount of time, and money, that goes into playing town hockey (or “select” hockey for that matter) presently. Sixty (60) games, not counting tournaments. That means a lot of gas, coin, and time is burned up traveling around the region. Add it up and you probably spend more than this league’s tuition now on gas and rink food and the like.
The ADM is 20 games at the Mite level, and adds on as you move up to Squirt etc. (News flash: The average Canadian season runs from mid-October to late Feb.) Result: More free time, and probably a good chunk of change saved to boot.
Also, the cross-ice structure is only at the Mite level. Those kids are not going to get tired of having the puck on their stick three or four times as often as in a full ice game. They will love the pace, and love scoring goals. {I wouldn’t want to be a goalie. ;o) }
Let’s face it people, they way it is now isn’t working. It doesn’t work at the bottom, and it doesn’t work at the top in this state. High school, and prep hockey is a shadow of the past. The Select league is watered down checkbook hockey. The Festivals and Satellite are a joke.
Take a gander at the NHL drafts for the past few years. Good luck finding a Mass kid anywhere near the top three rounds. That says all you need to know about the current system.
Time to have a little faith in what has worked extremely well for the Euros for years. Time to inject more skill, and more fun, into the game…not more games that only line the pockets of the folks that run the leagues.
Obviously MC’s kid is going to the NHL…pure and simple. Select Hockey has been blown out of proportion and MC is right in the middle of it. This is not about a select program but a concept. go to the D board where you belong MC.
I currently have a 7 year old that plays on an ADM team, and a quite open non ADM team, so I feel I can make an honest assessment of what works, or doesn’t for my child. First, off, for those who feel that ADM is voluntary, it may be in certain parts of the country, but it is being forced on most programs through the use of grants (yes they are paying programs to switch over) and many youth leagues are requiring it for membership into their conference. Soon you will not be able to find a mite program that is not ADM. Of the two programs, my son calls the ADM one “play time hockey” and the other his “real hockey” team. Compare the difference. On ADM he gets two 1/3 ice practices per week. He share it with A,B, and C teams and over 60 kids on the ice. They do simple drills, and participate in fun activities like obstacle courses, or kicking a soccer ball. He loses interest quickly because there are so many distractions. We have had four scrimmages in 4 months and they are all half ice. Usually one or two stars dominate the game and the rest of the kids follow around in a horde mentality. On the contrary, his other team practices 4 times a week with off ice included. Their practices are full ice and only the 15 members of the team are present. There are three coaches and they are all professionals, not dads. They focus on skills like edge control, puck handling, shooting, etc. They do run plays and drills and work on positioning. We play a scrimmage game against squirt level teams every week to practice our skills (since we can’t find another non ADM mite team in the area). The games are full ice and my son plays a dedicated defense position. They have penalties, icing, off sides, and on the fly line changes. For anyone who says that a seven year old can’t handle all of this, then they obviously don’t hold high standards for their children. My son loves these games, and he is more involved in the game (and no he doesn’t touch the puck as much, but he feels included because he is participating by playing proper positioning, and stopping the other teams break aways). Its not all about scoring for him. He gets more out of these games then watching the star on his ADM team score 20 goals a game.
My point is this. The ADM is a great model for rec leagues. It definitely makes sense for rinks to adopt because they can make more money by breaking up the ice. It will get more kids interested in hockey and will keep it “fun” for them. However, what I believe it will create is a divide in the player development. Parents and children who want more will find ways to find non ADM programs or enroll heavily in spring and summer camps to give their kids more ice time. Tier 1 squirt programs (and yes ADM will take over squirt soon enough) will create elite kids and set them on the AAA path while those following the ADM model will be left playing Rec the rest of their careers. Can a child make the jump from ADM to AAA? I’m sure its possible, but do you really think I child will develop the skills in two 1/3 ice practices a week, compared to 4 or 5? USA Hockey needs to stop forcing this model on people and allow them to have a choice. Those who want the lower intensity can choose ADM and those who don’t SHOULD be allowed to find a program that meets their needs. I really hope the ADM stops this aggressive stance.
And for those who feel I push my child too much, I can tell you that he begs to go to his non ADM practices. He loves to play hockey. I was not a hockey player, and I could care less what sport he does. He also plays soccer and lacrosse in the summer and last year placed 10th in the Ironkids under 8 national championships. My son, like many others is athletic, and when he does something he gives it his all. Why does the ADM want to hinder that passion?
Hockey is the only sport who doesn’t bring their kids along with proper development. Soccer, Football and Baseball all use modified playing surfaces/fields and equipment. They also stress working on the skill. The 1st guy is all about wins & loses so games are important to him. If you look at the ADM model indepth its a progression from cross ice to full sheets. The true purpose of it is to teach SKILL & SKATING at a younger level. Hockey the way it is taught now is a disastor. And this model should get rid of people like some who posted on this site because they won’t be able to coach anymore cause they can’t teach
I WOULD NOT PUT MY KID IN THIS 3 ON 3 HOCKEY. THAT WAS GOOD FOR LEARN TO SKATE AND MIGHTY MITES.. THE TEAM PROGRAMS PUSHING THIS FOOLISHNESS ARE TEAMS WHO CANNOT GET IN A REAL LEAUGE..THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO BRING KIDS IN. WHAT A SHAME……..