We are very excited to introduce a development plan for the 2012 age group for the 2020/2021 winter hockey season. Players from around the Greater Vancouver Area will be invited to play in our HPL Top Performers Development Program that will focus on skill and player development, in support of building not only better hockey players but also better athletes.
The Program
The players selected to the Top Performers program following selections will be placed into 4 training groups of 12. The HPL Directors will balance four groups evenly to ensure that all development sessions and game play is balanced and competitive to bring out the best in every player.
Each player will have two hours of development a week run by HPL Skills Directors. There will be four coaches on the ice for each session. The sessions in September through November will see the kids work in sub groups of 5 to 6 players on the ice with a coach for 15 minutes per skills station. The kids will leave the ice each night having had worked on improving 4 different skill sets. In December and January the kids will keep the same training structure on Thursday evenings and on Friday evenings the program will introduce two of the four coaches working on small area games and team play concepts. The other two coaches will still be teaching individual skill development stations. The month of February the kids will spend 30 minutes each practice on full ice game concepts. The other 30 minutes will continue to be used to teach and improve individual skills.
The kids will also have 12 Half Ice games that is one game every Sunday in September to December. The kids will then transition to 8 Full Ice Games (one game each Sunday) in January and February.
Every 2012 player in the HPL Top Performers Development program will have 75 hours of hockey for the season. Additionally, all players will have access to open ice on Wednesdays at Planet Ice Coquitlam to go out on the ice and have fun with friends.
Players will receive a game uniform and a practice uniform. Both will have their logos on them again adding to the team feeling. This is an important feeling to us that some sports are losing right now. We will once again have a big group party around the holiday break. Each team will also have an activity/team bonding event before the season starts to get to know each other.
The program starts the week after Labour Day Weekend and will run until the first weekend in March. There will be no ice times scheduled on the Thanksgiving and Family Day long weekends.
Training Ice Times
Thursday Evening Planet Ice Coquitlam
Approximately 5:30pm 2012 Skill Dev Group 1
Approximately 6:45pm 2012 Skill Dev Group 2
Friday Evening Planet Ice Coquitlam
Approximately 5:30pm 2012 Skill Dev Group 2
Approximately 6:45pm 2012 Skill Dev Group 1
Sunday Afternoon Planet Ice Coquitlam
2:00pm Hockey Game Example Team 1 vs 4
3:30pm Hockey Game Example Team 2 vs 3
The schedule provides parents consistency for the fall and winter to plan additional activities around their hockey program. We believe this is much healthier for kids and families to not have the stress in their lives of a schedule that is all over the place.
Currently, HPL is working towards hosting a jamboree tournament that will again add to the feeling of being part of something special for the kids. We will need some volunteer work from parents to help make this tournament event very special for the kids.
All games, practices, multi sport activities and team events will be scheduled on TeamSnap.
Multi-sport Activity Development
Participating in multiple sports can provide cross-training that will improve certain physical and mental skills for all athletes, including hockey players. Multi-sport athletes display improved health and wellness, motivation, confidence, and creativity.
All players in our HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program will participate as team in one multi sport activity each week. In addition, they will also have one weekend during the season where they will compete against the other teams in a multi-sport tournament. We will be consulting with an outside group to develop our multi-sport program.
HPL will continue to work with industry experts, and use the Canadian Sport for Life model, to maximize the benefits for all the athletes attending our programs. We want to be leaders in the development of Physical Literacy & Fundamental Movements.
The Multi Sport development will take place on Sundays either before or following their hockey games. The training will take place in Burnaby and the same two teams playing against each other in the hockey game will participate in the multisport development together.
Coaching Staff
Each team will be assigned a professional Head Coach. This coach will be selected and approved by the HPL Directors, and will be required to sign a contract that will outline HPL coaching expectations, and ensure the highest level of standards, ethics and conduct are upheld by each coach.
Coaches will be expected to attend all games, skill development and team organized events.
The coaching staff will be required to conduct a mid season interview with each family and an end of season evaluation. This evaluation will help players identify their strengths and opportunities for improvement exiting the winter program.
Goalie Development
Our HPL Winter Level Minors Development Program will provide one goalie development session a week. The date, time and location of this session is not yet determined.
The Costs
The cost of the HPL Winter Level Program would be an HPL Team Fee of $2995 for the season. Each game is 1 hour and 15 minutes long of half ice 4 on 4 hockey each Sunday. That will then transition to full ice hockey games with single games each Sunday. All games for the 2012 age group are on Sundays at 2:00pm or 3:30pm. Team fees also cover the cost of officials, coaches, and gate openers.
Each team will have one earlier and one later training time each week to make the traffic commute easier on all families. Every player will have an ice time on Thursday and Friday evening.
Each family will also have an HPL Player Fee of $295. That fee looks after the cost of a practice and game uniform, a Christmas party, your child’s insurance coverage, a team photo and individual photo.
The HPL Player Fee first deposit will be due in full before April 1st, as well as a first deposit on your team fees. Team fees will be made in four payments the first made before April 1st, August 15th, November 15th, and Feb 15th. Those payments will all be made on our HPL Website.
Player Commitments
Each player will have until March 31st to commit to the HPL Top Performers Development Program. Families will be required to pay their HPL Player Fee at that time.
Commitments will work on a first to commit basis. Every player/family looking to commit to the HPL Top Performers Development Program will be reviewed by the HPL Directors before acceptance.
The Lifestyle
The seasonal development schedule offered by HPL allows for every family to have more time as a family. With no hockey over long weekends, a longer Christmas holiday break, and a consistent game/development ice schedule, families can have a happier and less stressful hockey season. We have been told by many of our current HPL families that the consistency of our program scheduling has been a welcome and appreciated benefit beyond the on-ice hockey development.