U11 Player Pathway

The U11 Player Pathway is supported by the Hockey Canada Long-Term Player Development Model. This framework provides the guiding principles for age appropriate and skill specific programming for all players in Hockey Canada’s youth hockey system.

The U11 Player Pathway must be followed for the 2020-21 season. INFO BULLETIN 19:08 >

The U11 Player Pathway provides an environment that helps all players at the U11 age level (9 and 10 years old) to realize their full potential. Hockey Canada strongly believes that the needs of the player should be at the forefront of the programming. The U11 Player Pathway delivers numerous benefits to participants and their families. The benefits include:

• creating a positive experience during evaluations with planned pre-evaluation ice sessions;
• avoiding evaluations the first week of school; and
• allowing all U11 players to play actively for 100% of the season.

FAIR AND EQUAL ICE TIME is a key principle of the U11 Player Pathway. Fair and equal ice time is designed to ensure that all players get the same opportunity to contribute to the outcome of games, regardless of skill or ability.

• A coach’s responsibility is to develop all players to contribute.
• Shortening of the bench is not permitted.
• All players should receive as close to equal ice time as possible, including opportunities on special teams (power play and penalty killing).
• All skaters should rotate through all positions to ensure each player can try each position. (LW/C/RW/LD/RD)
• Full-time goaltenders are allowed. If a team has two goalies, they should rotate for equal playing time and the goalie not playing should be allowed to play out as a skater.

Provincial Championships

As part of the implementation of the U11 Pathway, Hockey Alberta has decided to remove Provincials from all streams (Minor and Minor Female) at the U11 division effective for 2020-21 season. This change will allow for less disruption to the end of the season’s league play, will provide more time for teams to celebrate the season with year-end tournaments, and will remove the unnecessary pressures of a ‘Provincial Championship’ from nine and 10-year old players.
 

SEPTEMBER 

Every U11 player must have a minimum of four ice sessions (prep skates) prior to formal tryouts starting. The prep skates can be single year or combined, the recommended focus is:

• Skate 1 - Skills (stations)
• Skate 2 - Offside (stations) | Sample Practice Plan >  
• Skate 3 - Small Area Games (line changes / transitions)
• Skate 4 - Controlled Scrimmage (led by coaches)

KEY OUTCOMES:

1. The prep skates are an opportunity for first-year U11 players to become familiar with the rule changes and larger ice surface.

• Playing Rules (off-side, icing, faceoffs, penalty procedure, line changes, surface size)
• Offensive and Defensive Concepts
• Spring Ice Option
• Fall Ice Option

2. The prep skates ensure a player’s first experience in the new hockey season is not a formal tryout - this gives all players the opportunity to get back on the ice in a more ‘player‐friendly’ environment. 

3. The prep skates help level playing field; not all players go to hockey schools or prep camps prior to the start of the season. 
 

OCTOBER to MID-NOVEMBER

Every team must have a period of development time following team selection and prior to the regular season starting. Skills before tactics, tactics before systems.

1. Exhibition games can take place during this phase to finalize team selection.
2. League tiering games can take place during this phase for purposes of creating meaningful competition.
3. Tournament style tiering weekends should be considered.

PRACTICE VERSUS GAMES

• ONE EFFICIENT PRACTICE gives a player more skill development than 11 games collectively.
• An ideal ratio for 9-12 year-olds is 3 practices for every 1 game played. 

A GAME BY THE NUMBERS

• A player has the puck onhis/her stick for an average of 8 seconds per game.
• A player will take an average of 1-2 shots per game.
• 99% of the feedback a coach gives a player is about when the player has the puck. Ironically, a player only has the puck on his/her stick for 0.2% of the game.

KEY OUTCOMES

• Physical: Warm Up/Cool Down, Performance Enhancers (Hydration, Nutrition, Sleep)
• Mental: Team Identity, Goal Setting
• Life Skills: Team Building, Citizenship
• Technical Skills/ Tactical/ Team: On-Ice, Off-Ice

 

MID-NOVEMBER to FEBRUARY

The period from the first regular season game to the start of playoffs.

1. Travel time for league games must be considered.
2. For longer travel times it is recommended to play multiple games or set up tournament style weekends for league play games when necessary.