Sep 19, 2021 | Josh Bedard | 274 views
KJR U8 Program Overview
U8 Program Overview
Development is at the core of our U8 program,
with the focus on developing skills so each player will experience success in
practices and games. Looking at how kids learn, and the number of repetitions
of specific skills and situations that occur in practice versus a game,
practice and half-ice games is where our players will have a chance to develop
the most.
As such Hockey Canada and the Ontario Hockey Federation has mandated that U8 hockey be delivered through a progressive, learn-to-play teaching curriculum that is age-appropriate and skill-specific for 7-yearolds. By following such a curriculum players will develop and refine fundamental movement skills (skating, turning, acceleration), manipulation skills (shooting, puck control, passing) and overall motor skills (balance, coordination, agility) in a fun and safe environment that promotes skill development through self-confidence.
To meet the player pathway mandated by Hockey Canada and the Ontario Hockey Federation, KMHA will be tiering all 7-yearolds registered for the 2021-22 Season. The top thirty-six 7-yearolds will take part in our U8 Jr. Ranger program. These players will practice together during the week and split off into two equally skilled Jr. Ranger teams of 18 (Team White and Team Blue) to play in half-ice games against each other and other Alliance minor hockey associations throughout the season. Each team will be divided into skill-based lines; with like-skilled players from each team playing against each other.
Seasonal Structure
The 2021-22 hockey season will be divided into three phases. These phases are identified by Alliance Hockey as the Development Phase, Regular Season Phase and Season-End Festival.
1: Development Phase – September 2021 to mid-November 2021
- Player evaluations focused on skill development.
- Approximately 18 ice sessions over an 8-week period focused on technical skill development.
- Locally scheduled exhibition matchups (6 maximum).
2: Regular Season Phase – mid-November 2021 to late-March 2022.
- 20 game season over 18 weeks. Divisional game play against other Alliance Hockey Associations. Both the Jr. Ranger Blue and White teams will play in the central division against each other, Cambridge, Stratford, Waterloo, and Woodstock.
- Approximately 30 practice sessions focused on individual technical skill development and individual tactics.
- Allowed 2 additional exhibition matchups.
- Allowed to participate in 3 Jamborees/ Festivals.
3: Season-End Festival – early-April 2022 Alliance Hockey will host an MD Festival (Location TBD).
- All Alliance Hockey Teams (including teams from the west and central) will participate in the year-end festival.
- Teams will play against teams from another division that they would not have seen during the regular season. Each team will play 4 games.