Winning the Race to the Wrong Finish Line

Ken Martel – USA Hockey Director, ADM – Player Development

U.S. Youth Hockey Facts: Declining Retention Retention of critical youth players had been in decline 2000 to 2008 20%+ only played one season before dropping out (MA 40+%) 43% of players drop out by age 9 60% of players drop out before Peewees (11-12) 50,000 player drop in core (boys) 2001-2007 IIHF Survey of Players (2011) – Olympic Participants 2010 NATIONAL FEDERATION REGISTRED PLAYERS RINKS POPULATION Total Senior Jr./Youth Female In-door 1. Canada 572,411 18,488 468,096 85,827 2,486 34,030,589 2. 500,579 132,866 302,104 65,609 1,800 313,232,044 3. Russia 63,580 2,050 61,000 530 340 138,739,892 4. Minnesota 52,333 7,099 46,351 12,250 194 5,303,925 5. Sweden 62,003 17,875 41,053 3,075 342 9,088,728 6. Massachusetts 43,445 3,381 40,064 8,550 134 6,547,629 7. Finland 65,251 25,324 35,167 4,760 246 5,259,250 8. 46,389 11,806 34,583 5,264 158 19,378,102 9. Michigan 51,404 19,186 32,394 4,429 127 9,883,640 10.Czech 100,668 75,671 22,828 2,169 157 10,190,213 Republic 11. Germany 28,932 8,624 18,128 2,580 175 81,471,834 12. Switzerland 26,166 11,219 13,775 1,172 158 7,639,961 13. Slovakia 8,280 2,072 5,896 327 47 5,477,038 14. Norway 6,177 1,968 3,709 500 41 4,660,539 15. Latvia 4,424 2,930 1,417 149 17 2,204,708

National Team Development Program • Standing U17 & U18 Teams • U18 WC - boys – 6G, 2S, 1B in last 9yrs. • 36% of 2010 Olympic Team • 14 year Laboratory – Increased training – Changed competition schedule – Managed recovery schedule – Athletes 1st • Larger pool >>> must change what is done at 6 to 14 “Tier 1 Elite Hockey League”

• Squirt AAA (10U), Illinois – Translates to 16U AAA – Sample Year (2001) – 63 Squirts on 4 Tier 1 Teams – 5 years later – 40 Still play hockey – 63.5% – 23 Are out of hockey – 36.5% – 12 Continue to play at advanced level – 19% • 80%+ of the Midget AAA players in Illinois took a different path • 81% of current T1EHL (10U to 18U) born in first half of the year data from 2008-09 playing season What does our structure really develop? Practice History Profiles of Elite Players

Study on NHL players • Deliberate play and multi-sport development early • North American Players • European players similar - but with wider deviation in organized games and practice

Soberlak, P. & Cote, J. (2003) The Developmental Activities of Elite Players. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 15 (1), pages 41 – 49. Late Developers? • It is the norm…more than people realize • 2010 US Olympic Team – 50% of our very best. – Ryan Kesler - – - Ryan Malone – Ryan Miller - Brian Rafalski – Tim Thomas - Jon Quick – David Backes – Ryan Callahan Multi-sport athletes – Patrick Kane What is the American Development Model?

The ADM is Player Development: Based upon Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) principles, grounded in sports science, physical education and child development practices. It includes non-sports specific and sport specific best practices from hockey countries around the globe, but with very American practicalities. The ADM is age appropriate competition and training for our kids. Skelleftea, Sweden Population: 40,000

Soccer is the most popular sport in the community… …not hockey

2009-10: U17, U18 & U20 National Team Players

- 300 Players in club – Open to all, (No Cutting Kids) - Ice is only in 6 months a year - Multi-sport, late specialization approach - Parent or volunteer coached until age 14 7 & Under players skate 2 times a week 10 & Under players skate 3 times a week 12 & Under players skate 4 times a week Sequencing of Development

• You can’t speed farm… (Mike Boyle – NT Strength & Conditioning Coach)

For the age group sports coach patience is a huge key

Multi Sport Athletes • Develop agility, balance, coordination and speed • Sliding sports – Skating, skiing, snowboard, skateboard, roller hockey • Ambidextrous sports – Swimming, gymnastics, martial arts • Individual Sports – Self reliance • Team sports – Invasion sports like hockey…cognitive development – Soccer, lacrosse • Hockey can’t do it by ourselves Talent ID vs. Motivation ID State of our sport…

“The difficulty lies not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones..”

- John Maynard Keynes LTAD…All in The Stakeholders

• Identify the poker players and their real motives – Not all have player development placed 1st • Create partnerships • Incentivizes behaviors – Support your Champions! • Create demand for what you are selling ADM Implementation Plan 1. Establish Partnership with the NHL ADM Implementation Plan 1. Establish Partnership with the NHL ADM Implementation Plan 2. 7 Regional Managers (1 Female Specific)

Michele Amidon – Female ADM ADM Implementation Plan

3. Start at the youngest age group and work up – Record growth past 3 years – Over 107,000 8U Players – 21% increase ADM Implementation Plan 4. Establish best practices at each age

Competition structure dictates everything – What is done in practice – How often – Season length – Cost – Administrative policies ADM Implementation Plan 5. Educate local leaders and build support ADM Implementation Plan 5. Educate local leaders and build support – Michigan Amateur Hockey Association Report – Survey Results • Parents supportive of the new MAHA Red Wings Premier Hockey Program initiative with 89.3% saying their player enjoyed the hockey season this year • 90.5 % felt their player's skill improved over the course of the season • 2,454 families that participated in the Red Wings Premier Hockey Program this year ADM Implementation Plan 6. Utilize elite players and coaches to deliver messaging ADM Implementation Plan 7. Work on changing legislation, by-laws, playing rules that work against player development ADM Implementation Plan 8. Update Coaching Education Program ADM Implementation Plan 9. Create parent partnership – Parent Community web site – E-newsletter – Targeted e-mail By age – Informational resources ADM Implementation Plan 10. Partner with model clubs…raise the bar – Small number of clubs – 100% committed to ADM – 12U and Younger – Expertise and resources ADM Implementation Plan 11. Transfer applicable, National Team Programming to a more localized level Mistakes

• Follow the money… – Target facilities – Entrepreneurs – Address competitive structures outside USA Hockey All in…