My grandson just went through the evaluations for Novice 7-8 hockey. They have about 15 teams in divisions 1-8. He was selected for Division 1. They play Division 1 teams from other organizations around the city.
When I came back from Austria in 2009 he came to the camp Gaston and I do in Jasper each July. He was walking on his skates with one hand on the stick on no skating stride. Of course he couldn't skate backwards or stop.
At the camp he is on the ice for 3 one hour sessions each day alternating between 2 skating and one hockey and 2 hockey 1 skating. He made div. 4 last season and learned to stop during the year.
He came again this summer and really improved his stride, backward skating and playing with two hands on the stick. He is very competitive by nature; so hockey is a great sport for him. He played soccer in the spring and early summer and not spring hockey.
So if a child wants to play and gets some solid instruction in active practices he/she can improve really quickly.
My grand daughter did the figure skating camp that Gaston has at the same time and loved it. She is 5.
I have gotten a few questions about the Jasper camp so I am attaching last years brochure. It is just a small and friendly camp. Players range in age from 6-16 and the older ones, some help the younger players and they do the games with players or similar ability. We do a short one also Dec. 27-29. The key is they get a lot of ice time and the skills are always put into game situations and the skating skills are taught by Gaston who has a Doctorate in body mechanics, was Swiss champion, coached at the Olympics and was a feature skater for Ice capades and holiday on ice. He does the hockey with hockey skates on and the figure skating in figure skates.
Tom,
I agree with your statements about how quickly kids can learn when they are given proper instruction! When they apply themselves and are active, their learning is accelerated in comparison to boring, stand-around-between-turns practices. (I encourage kids to handle a puck while waiting in line... pass with a partner; off the wall; toe drags, etc.)
I have seen incredible gains in a short time in my skill academies because we spend less time talking and managing and more time doing. More skating, puck control, shooting and decision-making games under the auspices of healthy competition add to the learning and enjoyment of all!
A bit of time is needed at the front end to do a skill analysis (timed and videoed), to teach the kids a basic "Hockey 101" (or Total Hockey to Make a Complete Player) and to explain the "Rules of Engagement" for the games... then we are off to the races!
Let's talk about the camp Dec 27-29th. Do you need any instructors?
Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."