Oshawa Minor Hockey is committed to the Hockey Canada and Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) Long Term Player Development (LTPD) models. Long-term Player Development is the Hockey Specific response to Sport Canada’s Long-term Athlete Development model. Oshawa Minor Hockey strives to provide a hockey environment that encourages players to develop to the best of their potential.
A Hockey Practice by the Numbers:
The following facts and figures relate to a 60-minute practice session.
- 1 efficient practice will give a player more skill development than 11 games collectively.
- Each player should have the puck on his or her stick for 8-12 minutes.
- Each player should have a minimum of 30 shots on goal.
- Players will miss the next over 30% of the time in a minor hockey practice.
- Coaches should try to run 4-5 different drills / games / activities each practice. More is not better; execution of what you do is development.
- No more than 5 minutes should be spent in front of a teaching board each practice.
- If you have 15 players on the ice, strive to keep 9-10 players moving at all times.
A Hockey Game by the Numbers:
The following statistics were recorded during a 60-minute Peewee level hockey game:
- Players will have the puck on their stick for an average of 8 seconds per game.
- Player will take an average of 1-2 shots per game.
- 99% of the feedback coaches give players is when they have the puck. Ironically players only have the puck on their stick for 0.2% of the game.
- 1 efficient practice will give a player more skill development than 11 games collectively.
Hockey Canada link for Age Specific Player Development -
Click here for link
Discover (Male and Female | Ages 0 - 4)
This is an important period for acquiring fundamental movement skills (running, gliding, jumping, kicking, catching...) that lay the foundation for more complex movements, thereby preparing children for a physically active lifestyle. Hockey Canada encourages children to begin skating at an early age through Discovery Hockey programs.
Fundamentals 1 (Male and Female | Ages 5-6)
The focus is on the development of physical literacy. Fundamental movement skills should be mastered and motor development emphasized, and participation in many sports/activities is encouraged. For optimal skill acquisition, the basic hockey skills of skating and puck control are introduced through the Initiation Program. FUN competitions are also introduced in a team environment.
Fundamentals 2 (Male and Female | Ages 7-8)
During this period players continue to develop motor skills and coordination. Practices sessions should be held twice a week during the season. Ongoing participation in compatible sports is strongly encouraged. The Novice Skills Program is designed to promote the continued development of physical literacy, fitness, and the basic skills required to play hockey.
Learn to Play (Male 9-10 | Female 8-9)
This stage is the beginning of the most important window to develop the fine motor skills on an individual technical skill basis that leads to utilizing these skills into individual and team tactics later on. During this phase, prior to the beginning of the growth spurt, players have the best opportunity to learn and begin to master fine motor skills that can be used in combination with other skills. In most cases what is learned or not learned in this stage will have a very significant effect on the level of play that is achieved later on. Players should be able to begin to transfer skills and concepts from practices to games.
Learn to Train (Male 11-12 | Female 10-11)
This is the most significant period for development. This is the window of accelerated adaptation to motor coordination. Group interaction, team building and social activities should be emphasized. A reasonable balance of practices and games will foster the ongoing development and mastery of essential skills in hockey.
Train to Train (Male 12-16 | Female 11-15)
The focus during this stage is on building an aerobic base, developing speed and strength and further developing and consolidating sport specific technical skills with an increased emphasis on hockey and a reduction in the number of other sports played. This phase will also include the introduction and development of individual and group tactics. Social and emotional considerations are addressed by placing an emphasis on team-building, group interaction and social activities.
Train to Compete (Male 16-17 | Female 16-18)
During this stage players will participate in training with a focus on position specific technical and tactical preparation. There is as emphasis on fitness preparation and the development of position specific technical and tactical skills under competitive conditions. Important objectives are the development of aerobic capacity, power, self awareness and independence. The player may be introduced to international competitive experience at the end of this stage.
Train to Win (Male 18-20 | Female 18-22)
During this stage the player’s physical, technical, tactical (including decision- making skills), mental, personal and lifestyle capacities are fully established and the emphasis in training has shifted to the maximization of performance. High performance sport specialist support is optimized, as is fitness and medical monitoring. Modeling all possible aspects of training and performance.