Active Start & U10 Descriptions
Active Start/Learn to Play (4 to 6 years old)
- Approximately one ice time per week, usually the same time/day every week.
- Introduction and primary focus: skating, ring handling, passing, checking, shooting and small area games.
- Emphasis on active involvement, participation and FUN!
- Introduce the concept of informal games in 1/2 or cross-ice format.
- Season: Post Thanksgiving to early/mid-March.
FUNdamentals (6 to 9-year-olds) - Three Stages
**Levels and placement are determined by player evaluations
U10-Step 1 (As of 2019-2020 season)
- 1-3 ice times per week will include a combination of practice and games depending on the league game schedule.
- Fundamental skill development focus including skating skills, ringette skills and basic goalie instructions for ALL players
- Emphasis on active involvement, participation and FUN!
- Half ice/cross-ice games focus on basic concepts, rules and flow of the game.
- The game format should be structured to maximize "time on the ring" for each player.
- Coaches on the ice during games for the first half of the season.
- Timed shifts with shift changes on the "buzzer."
- Strive for team travel to remain relatively close to home.
- Tournament participation permitted
- Season: Mid-September to March.
U10-Step 2
- As above plus...
- No coaches on the ice during games.
- No timed shifts - shift changes on the fly.
- Continue to consolidate skating and ring skills and understand game concepts.
- Tournament participation is limited to 2 tournaments in addition to the home tournament.
U10-Step 3
- As above plus...
- Full Ice Games
- Begin to refine skating and ring skills and have a comprehensive understanding of the game.
- Maturity of the athlete indicates readiness for Learn to Train early.
- Tournament participation is limited to 2 tournaments in addition to the home tournament.