ADM. These three letters are used frequently in hockey development circles. Most parents and coaches have an idea of what ADM represents, but what does it really mean?
The ADM, or American Development Model, is USA Hockey’s nationwide player-development program for youth hockey associations. It’s based on age-appropriate, age-specific competition and training for boys and girls, beginning with their first steps onto the ice and carrying them through age 18 and beyond. The ADM places a heightened emphasis on skill development and long-term athlete development principles, providing a blueprint for the best possible youth hockey experience.
Put simply, it’s doing what’s best for kids.
Playing the game is where kids learn that the game is, in its simplest form, fun. And if you can mix in age-appropriate training and practice with skills and athleticism introduction, kids will have even more fun.
Once a kid learns to play the game and begins to develop skills and athleticism, hockey starts to take priority among other activities. The games become more important and hockey in general becomes a bigger part of their life.
Now that they play and love the game, a higher premium is placed on excelling at it. Tougher competition and more of a focus on mastering skills play an increased role in their development.
The bottom line is players who enjoy playing the game the most are the most likely to put in additional time developing their skills and are more likely to excel as they reach older ages.
Developed by internationally renowned coach educator Istvan Balyi, and adapted to ice hockey by USA Hockey, the principles of LTAD are rooted in successful programs throughout the world.
As children mature, they each progress through the same development stages. During each of these stages, there are certain skills children are most receptive to learning. The ADM, through utilization of LTAD principles, allows us to pair best practices of hockey development with the appropriate child development stages so that we provide each kid the opportunity to reach his/her potential.
Starting at infancy, provide infants, toddlers and preschoolers with opportunities to participate in daily physical activity that promotes fitness and movement skills such as running, jumping, kicking, throwing, catching, swimming, sliding, etc, for a minimum of 60 minutes a day.
This is the stage where children must learn physical literacy, leading to an emphasis on developing fundamental movement skills and sport skills. Key focus areas include the "ABC's" of athleticism (agility, balance, coordination and speed), developing a passion for hockey and introducing basic puck control skills.
These age groups are the critical time frame for players to acquire hockey skills as it is a prime window for motor skill development. Basic skills such as skating, puck control, passing and shooting should be a major focal point.
This stage is characterized by a continued emphasis on developing hockey skills, an introduction to off-ice speed and strength training and an increase in training and competition intensity and volume.
Training volume and intensity continue to increase in the Learn to Compete stage and the focus shifts to performance in competition. Players must continue to refine technical and ancillary skills while learning to apply them and make decisions while under competitive pressure.