U8 Advanced Development Program
Team Structure
U8 ADP is a team-based program with players selected for the season. At U8 teams are composed of 18 players each.
Season Structure
The ADP season structure is based on the best practices outlined in Hockey Canada’s U9 Player Pathway, and moves through distinct phases:
ADP Season Timeline
Preparation / Evaluation - 2 preparation skates to help players get back on the ice after the conclusion of the season, followed by 2-3 evaluation skates used to evaluate players and select teams.
Development - Heavy focus on skills development, with ice time dedicated to station-based practices, power skating, and small area games. This phase includes “Game Days” for internal competition as part of early season player development.
Regular Season - Teams participate in the Tri-County Minor Hockey League, which offers tier-based competition at U8 and U9. (U8 and U9 ages are no longer part of “rep” hockey.) U8 games are all played in a “half ice” format that shrinks the playing area and provides players with more puck touches, constant quick decision making, and engaged play with/without the puck.
End of Season - The final month of the season typically includes a season-ending league event, as well as an opportunity for teams to travel to a festival/tournament.
Practice Format
The ADP skill development program includes station-based skills practices designed to emphasize the most critical foundational skills needed for young players: edgework and balance, puck handling, compete, and hockey IQ/awareness.
ADP practices vary from tier 1 to tier 2, with tier 1 having 2 solo skills practices per week and tier 2 having 2 shared practices per week (for shared practices 2 ADP teams are on the ice for a skills session). Practices are structured with a low coach to player ratio. This format has a number of benefits, including:
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Plenty of repetitions for young players learning skills.
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A focus on the individual skills and habits that are critical to establish with young players at these ages.
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Efficient use of all ice resources.
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Maximized value for all participants (costs spread across a larger group).
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Consistent practice plans and professional coaching across groups.
U8 skills practices are run by the University of Guelph Men's Varsity Ice Hockey program, featuring University of Guelph coaches as on-ice instructors. Parent coaches help to organize the groups and supplement on-ice instruction.
Power skating sessions are taught by a specialized power skating coach, with a focus on proper instruction of skating technique, correction, AND repetition in drills.
Preparation and Evaluation Skates
To be considered for participation in the Advanced Development Program, players must be registered for ADP Player Evaluation Skates that take place in September.
To register for these skates you will need to purchase a Player Evaluations Pass online.
Register through our website online in April.
Preparation Skates - 2 separate 1-hour practices designed to give young players who may not have skated following the conclusion of the season a chance to get a feel for the ice again. No evaluations take place during these skates.
Evaluation Skates - 2-3 separate 1-hour sessions designed to evaluate player skill levels for the purpose of creating ADP teams at the U8 and U9 ages.
Registration
Those interested in the U8 ADP program should follow these steps to register:
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Register for the U8 age group in Guelph Minor Hockey as all U8 players do. Players are not eligible to register for ADP evaluations unless they are already registered with GMHA for the coming season.
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Register for the ADP Preparation and Evaluation skates.
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If selected for an ADP team, register for the ADP Program and pay the ADP Fee using instructions provided by GMHA.
Goals for ADP
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Create a fun and positive learning environment.
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Have qualified instructors overseeing development in a low coach/player ratio.
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Build a foundation of the most important habits and skills needed to continue advancing in competitive hockey.
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Ensure that athletes are practicing and playing with other similarly skilled players.
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To be a representative (rep) hockey initiation program that bridges the gap to rep hockey at the U10 age group.
Program Costs
All players in the U8 Advanced Development Program must register for the Guelph Minor Hockey U8 season and pay the base registration fee for the age group.
Those players who go on to participate in the Advanced Development Program will also be required to pay an additional "ADP Fee" for the season that covers ice-time, professional coaching, and game play that goes above and beyond the base U8 offerings (U8 House League).
The specifics of the U8 program and the fee will be provided as part of a special information session so that families can decide if they would like their player to participate.
**Please Note: Program pricing, and structure are subject to change annually. This is a rough guideline of what to expect in terms of a breakdown for the season**
ADP Within Guelph Minor Hockey
The Advanced Development Program (ADP) acts as a bridge from the Skill Development program and House League to Representative (Rep) hockey. ADP takes the existing development structures used in other GMHA programs and enhances the model to offer a more competitive and challenging environment.
