When USA Hockey introduced the American Development Model in 2010, New York State Amateur Hockey Association was one of the first affiliates to fully support the revolutionary development program.

From small area games to station-based practices to the inception of cross-ice games for players at the 8 & Under level, NYSAHA was an early proponent of the ADM and its focus on age-appropriate training and long-term athlete development.

Even with the support at the state level, a number of local associations have struggled to attract and retain 8U players for the full season due to outside influences, such as AAU, which give parents a full-ice option for their young players. 

To keep up with shifting demands, NYSAHA’s board of directors recently approved a plan that will offer a modified 8U curriculum that allows for a limited number of full-ice games at the 8U level while maintaining the ADM philosophy that will hopefully attract and retain more players.

Introducing the modified ice surface to the more mature 8-year-olds is designed to help those players make a better transition to the next level in their hockey development while also keeping them in their respective associations.

Last season NYSAHA registered 332 6U / 8U half-ice teams. However, the influence of full-ice programs in the Tri-state area, which has increased in the last couple of years, has taken its toll on membership at the youngest levels. 

Several USA Hockey 8U teams dual register with full-ice programs that either minimize their involvement with the local association ADM practices and competition, or in many cases are claimed by the association to meet our 10U player percentage requirement but never participate in 8U programing.

The NYSAHA board and its player development subcommittee thinks that players who participate in a full-ice program do not receive the proper development at their age group. Keeping players involved in a USA Hockey program will enhance individual skill development by keeping them in an environment better suited for their personal growth.

Making these adjustments will hopefully increase USA Hockey membership by retaining more 8-year-old players within the local association for the full season. 

According to a letter the NYSAHA board sent to local associations, “By offering a progressive development path with just a little flexibility at the 8U only age group our associations believe we can be more effective in keeping coaches, parents and players with the USAH development programing.”

Under the plan, players in the 8-year-old birth year would play approximately 10 games in each section of the state according to their league schedule (depending on numbers of teams in an area). The program was slated to start on or after Dec. 31, 2023 and run for eight weeks. 

Teams can opt to play full-ice games or play three-quarter ice games. All games would be played using medium-sized nets and blue pucks.

The 5- to 8-year-olds will continue to play in their respective skill groups and will continue with cross-ice and half-ice playing surfaces that have been proven in teaching concepts and enhancing skill development at a high tempo. 

One byproduct of the plan is to attract, train and retain Level 1 officials. This is especially important at a time when the number of registered officials continues to be a concern at the state and national level.

“We believe that using this program at the end of the season will set us up with a good crop of young officials for the next season,” the NYSAHA board wrote.