U7

CLICK on this link for a list of required   PLAYER EQUIPMENT 

CAMROSE MINOR HOCKEY U7 PROGRAM

• Focus on kids having fun by improving basic hockey skills

• Emphasis on skating

• Introduction to team concept

• Half-ice for Year 1 and Year 2 

• Game days- No regular goalies- Players rotate through all positions, including goaltender, each shift.

• Same ice time each week

• Structured program

• Qualified Coaches/Instructors

• Parent volunteers

The CMH U7 program is designed to introduce the players to the game of hockey. There are 2 groups of U7 which are divided into Year 1 (U7 Minor - 5 year olds) and Year 2 (U7 Major  - 6 year olds or those that have completed U7 Minor). 

Core to the program...

• The U7 Program is a progressive, learn-to-play teaching curriculum. Children learn through participating in practice drills and informal modified games.
• The program consists of four phases of instruction, designed for any entry-level hockey player, which introduce the skills of skating, passing, puck control and shooting in a progressive, one-step-at-a-time manner.

U7 Program Objectives

• A comprehensive program for the development of young children as hockey players.
• The focus is on skill development and fun without the pressures of winning.
• It aims to create participants and instructors who will continue in the game.
• The motto is Fun, Fitness and Fair Play.

For Parents: 

Hockey Canada developed the U7 Program IS to make a child's first contact with hockey a safe and positive experience. It is a structured, learn-to-play hockey program designed to introduce beginners to the game's basic skills. It enables participants to become contributing members of a team effort, develop self-confidence, and experience a sense of personal achievement. These goals are achieved in an atmosphere of fun and fair play.

Recognizing the necessity to provide a positive experience for the beginner hockey player, the Initiation Program builds upon a number of values providing a qualitative experience, which include:

• Providing a safe environment in which to be introduced to hockey's fundamental skills.
• Developing an understanding of basic teamwork through participation in structured activities and adapted game-like situations.
• Introducing participants to the concepts of fair and co-operative play.
• Refining basic motor patterns and building self-confidence.
• Providing an environment that challenges individuals positively and rewards the participants for their efforts.
• Provides opportunities to experience a number of activities related to the building of a lifestyle of fitness and activity.For Coaches: 

For Coaches:

The Instructors Manual was designed to give coaches the necessary information needed to teach hockey skills to beginners.

The areas discussed include leadership, communication, teaching skills, and lesson organization. Each of these components contain valuable information when it comes time to implement each of the Lesson Manuals.

The U7 Program manuals are a compilation of ideas from top hockey people across the country. Prior to printing, the lesson plans were tested in several provinces in communities with widely-differing circumstances, and found to be very effective.

The Lesson Manuals consist of four phases, each with eight on-ice sessions. These lessons map out easy-to-follow lesson plans. Beginners progress throughout these ice sessions to the point where they can start playing hockey and enjoying it.

• The National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) Coach 1 - Intro Coach program has been updated to deliver instruction on age-appropriate programming.
• Resources such as Hockey Canada Drill Hub and the Hockey Canada Network - a best-in-class skill-development resource geared to coaches - features information on the purpose of cross-ice hockey and how to run effective on-ice sessions for the five- and six-year-old Initiation age group.

Cross Ice: 

Hockey Canada believes that hockey should be, first and foremost, fun for all participants. A big part of delivering on that is ensuring the programming is age-appropriate.

Cross-ice/half-ice hockey has always been part of the U7 Program, but has not been implemented in the same way in every community - beginning this fall (2017-18 season), cross-ice/half-ice is mandatory at the U7 Level.

Cross-ice/half-ice hockey at the U7 age effectively right-sizes the playing surface for young players:

• You don't put five- and six-year-olds on a full-size soccer pitch, or expect them to play basketball on a full-sized court with no height adjustments - hockey is no different.
• Cross-ice/half-ice hockey allows young players the opportunity for more puck-touches which promotes greater opportunity for skill development (puck-handling, shooting, skating, coordination) and decision-making.
• Players on cross-ice/half-ice have been shown to receive five times more passes and take six times more shots than when they are on a full-sized rink.
• Small-area games are used at all levels of the game - including senior national teams and the NHL.

The benefits of cross-ice/half-ice hockey go beyond player development; the special boards and bumpers allow minor hockey associations to alleviate pressure around scheduling and ice-time availability by safely allowing multiple practices and games to take place on one rink at the same time.

There will be a coach chosen for each of the 2 teams in both U7 Minor and U7 Major  It is an expectation of CMH that all U7  coaches will work together to develop all players on the ice and collaborate on skill stations and game play. The main focus is development, not competition. With that, the coaches will also be responsible for the direction of parent helpers in practices and games. Many parent helpers are needed and encouraged to help out on-ice with practices/games and on the player benches or running the clock on game days.  

HAVE A FUN-FILLED, EXCITING SEASON!

CMH Executive

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENT FOR INITIATION

Full gear is required for this program and consists of the following which can be obtained from any sporting goods store:

Helmet with cage

Neck Guard

Shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards, can

Hockey Stick

Skates

Hockey Jersey  (any  kind just in case you forget the team jersey)

A jersey and socks will be provided by CMHA with the jersey to be RETURNED at the end of the season.  The hockey socks are yours to keep.