by Paul Demers posted 10/07/2009 USA Hockey, Massachusetts Hockey (and fully supported by the Boston Bruins) are introducing a new approach to Youth Hockey – this is being called the American Development Model.
This link will get you to the USA Hockey ADM site: http://www.admkids.com/
The American Development Model (ADM) is being instituted to help retain youth hockey players and to develop all players. We are focusing our efforts on the ages of 4 to 8 years old.
The role of the ADM is to provide guidelines, standards and structure, circulate best practices, create a venue for two-way communication - not to create mandates. The building blocks are to:
- Play – Introduce skills, introduce athleticism, friendships begin, age appropriate training and practice, and fun.
- Love – Develop skills, develop athleticism, develop friendships, age appropriate training and practice, and fun.
- Excel – Focus, prioritize hockey among other activities, friendships, competition becomes more important, mastery of skills, and maintain the fun.
The following are the 8 & Under (Mites) recommendations:
- ‘FUNdamentals’ Stage
- Fundamental Movement Skills - A, B, C’s – Agility, Balance & Coordination and Flexibility
- Optimal Window is ‘Speed 1’ – Agility, Quickness, Change of Direction, <5 Sec Intervals
- Off-Ice Training – 1x per week @ 30+ min. Prior to Practice (A, B, C’s + Speed)
- Play Multiple Sports – 25% Hockey – 75% Other Sports
- Divide Players Into Top 1/3, Middle 1/3, Beginner 1/3
The implementation will be conducted by highly qualified individuals who will be supportive in anyway necessary. The individuals below are available to speak to and work directly with programs interested in adopting the ADM and the USA Hockey Grow Hockey Program with the efforts of the Massachusetts Hockey’s Mike Cheever’s Grant Program.
Keri-Anne Allan from Massachusetts Hockey is the 3rd Vice President, member of the Player Development Committee and Chair of the Long Range Planning Committee. She graduated Northeastern University playing four years for the Huskies. She is a member of the 1997 ECAC championship team, 1998 ECAC All-Star Honorable Mention and Northeastern’s Unsung Hero Award winner. Her graduate work in education was obtained at Framingham State College. Keri-Anne is a middle school teacher and has coached hockey for 11 years and is currently the head coach at Groton School.
Roger Grillo from USA Hockey is the Massachusetts regional manager. Roger is a native of Apple Valley, Minn., recently finished his 12th season as the head men’s ice hockey coach at Brown. His tenure was highlighted by three straight winning seasons (2003-05) and an appearance in the ECAC Hockey Championship weekend, the first time for Brown since 1994. Previously, Grillo served seven seasons as assistant men’s hockey coach at the University of Vermont (1990-97), where he helped coach the squad to the 1997 ECAC Hockey regular-season title and NCAA tournament appearances in 1996 and 1997.
Lori Digiacomo from the Boston Bruins is the Manager of Youth Hockey Development. Lori is a native of Temecula, CA and a graduate of Northeastern University in the class of 2006. Lori led the Huskies as captain her senior year. At the Boston Bruins, her objective is to grow the game of hockey and will be working closely with the Mike Cheever’s Grant and USA Hockey’s Grow Hockey initiatives.
These folks are available to provide information and support to your program, board of directors and coaches about this program as well as to discuss program, coaching or general hockey matters.
If you would like to learn more about the American Development Model, please email Keri-Anne Allan at
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Thank you for your time!
