U7 Program Description
Purpose
GVMHA has developed the U7 Program to make a child’s first contact with hockey a safe and positive experience. U7 is a structure Learn-to-Play program designed to introduce beginners to the sport of ice hockey. The program is designed to empower children to contributing members of a team, develop self confidence, and experience a series of personal achievements.
Outcomes
- Learn the basic skills of hockey
- To have FUN and develop a passion for the sport of hockey
- To develop an understanding of basic team work.
- To create and refine basic motor patterns
- To learn the concepts of cooperation and fair play.
Age Group
U7 is designed for players 5 and 6 years of age as of December 31 of the current season.
Program Schedule
Two ice times per week
Players will have two assigned ice times per week. One weekday ice time, and one weekend ice time. GVMHA assigned ice times are half ice practices.
U7 ice times are 60 minutes in length
U7 Games
6-8 scheduled games per year
1-2 jamborees per year
GVMHA will schedule 6-8 U7 games season for the U7 teams. Home Games will be scheduled in Vernon, and Away Games will be scheduled in the North Zone of OMAHA (Salmon Arm through Winfield). Games will be played half ice in accordance with Hockey Canada’s U7 Regulations. Home games may be scheduled in the traditional practice time slots in lieu of practice.
Team Placement
Players are assessed on the fundamental hockey skills (skating, stopping) and ranked in order of ability.
The Hockey Director places the players on teams based on the rankings to create balanced teams.
Program Development Philosophy
The U7 program is the foundation for all other programs. The U7 program will have a development breakdown as follows:
• 90% Individual Technical Skills
• 10% Individual Tactical Skills
The program will utilize the following skill development philosophies:
• Progression based skill development
• Small area game play skill development
U7 Skill Outcomes
Balance and Agility
• Basic Stance
• Getting up from the ice
• Balance on one foot
• Jumping on two feet
• Jumping on one foot
• Gliding on two skates (F/B)
• Gliding on one skate (F/B)
• Lateral Crossovers
Edge Control
• Inside edge hold
• Outside edge hold
• Slalom skate
Starts and Stops
• T-start
• V -Start
• Crossover start
• Snowplow stop
• Outside leg stop
• Two foot parallel stop
• Backward stop
Forward Skating
• C-cuts (L/R)
• T-Push
• Forward Stride
Backwards Skating
• C-cuts (L/R)
• Gliding on one foot
• Gliding on two feet
Turns and Crossovers
• Glide Turns
• Tight Turns
• Outside foot C-Cuts around the circle (F/B)
• Forward cross overs around circle
Transition Skating
• Pivots – F to B
• Pivots – B to F
• J Pivot (F to B)
• Reverse Pivot (B to F)
Stationary Puck Control
• Holding the stick
• Narrow dribble
• Wide dribble
• Forehand dribble
• Backhand dribble
• Toe drag – front and side
Moving Puck Control
• Narrow dribble
• Wide dribble
• Open ice carry
• Pylon weave with puck
• Toe drag – front and side
Stationary Passing
• Forehand pass
• Forehand reception
• Backhand pass
• Backhand reception
• Bank pass
Moving Passing
• Forehand pass/receive
• Backhand pass/receive
Shooting
• Sweep shot
• Wrist shot
• Backhand shot
• Flip Shot
Individual Offensive
Tactics
• Body Fakes
• Stick Fakes
Individual Defensive
Tactics
• Shoulder checks
• Ice awareness and safety
Greater Vernon Minor Hockey Association
Community based organization that is focused on attracting family membership
through providing challenging and comprehensive hockey development programs
for our local youth. Our volunteers and employees alike will make every effort
to run our day to day program operations in a transparent, informative, fair and
inclusive manner.
