At the 8-and-Under (Mite) level, players should focus on the skill progressions listed below:
Knowledge
Players should know:
1. Rules
•off-sides
• icing
2. Common Infractions
• unsportsmanlike conduct
• body checking
• cross checking
• checking from behind
• holding
• high sticking
• tripping
3. Penalties
• minor
• major
Goal Setting
Players should:
1. Establish specific and measurable performance goals that are written, shared with coaches and parents, and revised on a
regular basis to promote development.
Example: To develop passing and receiving. Be able to execute five good passes and receive five passes (forehand and backhand).
2. Divide performance goals into two categories:
• practice
•game
Individual Hockey Skills
Players must learn and master:
1. Skating
• edge control
• ready position
• forward start
• forward stride
• control stop (two-foot snowplow, one-foot
snowplow)
• backward skating
• backward stop
• control turn
• forward crossover
2. Puck Control
• lateral dribble
• forward-to-backward dribble
• diagonal dribble
• attacking the triangle
• forehand shift
• accelerating with the puck
3. Passing and Receiving
• forehand
• backhand
• receiving (stick)
•eye contact
4. Shooting
• wrist
• backhand
5. Checking
• poke check
• hook check
• lift the stick check
6. Goalkeeping
• basic stance
• parallel shuffle
• lateral t-glide
• forward and backward moves
• stick save
• body save
• glove save
Team Play
Players must understand and learn:
1. Offense
• positional offense
•offense in the offensive zone
•offense in the defensive zone
2. Defense
• territorial defense
• one-man forechecking
• basic defensive zone coverage
Nutrition
Players should:
1. Understand the importance of proper hydration before, during and after all practices and games.
2. For evening practices and games, eat a normal breakfast and lunch; Before the game or practice, eat a light snack; After the game or practice, eat a meal.
3. For early morning games and practices, eat lightly at breakfast. After practice or the game, eat a snack.
Fitness and Training
Players should learn:
1. warm-up exercises
2. cool down exercises
3. stretching exercises
4. flexibility exercises
5. agility exercises
6. eye-hand coordination exercises
7. fun games
8. relays
Injury Prevention
Players should be introduced to:
1. Heads Up Hockey program
2. the importance of warming up, cooling down and daily stretching
Sports Psychology
Players should be taught to:
1. Understand the difference in being relaxed and tense.
2. Understand that making mistakes is common and a part of sports.
Character Development and Life Skills
Players must learn :
1. they are part of a team
2. to have respect for their teammates, coaches. opponents, officials and parents
3. team rules
4. self control and discipline
5. to always try their best
6. respect for authority
7. the importance of a strong work ethic
8. commitment to a team
