HOCKEY EXCELLENCE SKILL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Ask yourself the following examples of things to consider:

SKATING STRIDE PERFECTION:

  • Are your skating mechanics perfected to the point you will be able to play to your best potential (95% are not-see basic reminders). It is very sad
    and obvious how great talent is so often denied it’s true potential due to insufficient focus on skating technique perfection. Our Sumo system will
    teach and continually reinforce perfect skating execution. It is believed that NHL players lose up to 20% of their skating efficiencies by the end of
    a season due to very little focus on maintaining skills with the need to be sure team play is set.

  • Do you skate with sufficient knee bend (V-diamond)?

  • Are you working harder to get from points a to b because of poor technique? How many strides does it take you to get there? Additional strides,
    means less efficient mechanics.

  • Do you snap through to full 45 degree extension, snapping through the toe and fast low return 100% under the body?

  • Do your arms aggressively propel you in the direction of traffic?

  • Have you really broken down your skating mechanics on video? You can make dramatic changes to your game by seeing what your can do to
    improve all the components.

EXPLOSIVE SPEED & ACCELERATION:

  • Do you focus on maximizing explosive speed (acceleration-direct-off turns and crossover/under) every session? Acceleration is a mental and
    physical commitment that differentiates average and great players. The person that wins the race to the puck…has more fun! Twenty foot races
    in each of the 3 zones is the name of the game. Do you work on a systematic technique (starting with the duck walk) to ensure increases in
    speed? This is a “learned” skill!

EDGEWORK PERFECTION:

  • Can you twist, turn, manipulate and dance in traffic with and without pucks? Most slow down dramatically due to poor edgework. All skills sessions
    will include challenging edge training.

  • How is your edge angle and weight distribution? Our staff will help you analyze your edge markings on the ice and work with you to perfect your
    edgework.

CHECKING FUNDAMENTALS:

  • Are you checking knowledgeable (the 21 safe step by step points) so that you never lose a 1 on 1 battle? There is a whole system to excelling at
    the art of gaining puck possession.

STICKHANDLING:

  • Do you have a “quick stick” and stick handling dexterity to excel at high levels? The average stick speed is very slow. When and how do you make
    moves in one and one situations? Are you doing so with the ultimate plan of either getting a shot or buying time and space for a teammate, using
    the 5 foot rule?

SHOOTING TO SCORE:

  • Do you have the shooting technique and fundamentals to score? Using your arms as a lever and transferring weight inside and outside foot in
    stride and in traffic. If you do not focus and practice this every time on the ice you will not master it? Do you have instant release from passes
    from all areas and angles on the ice? Watch a typical warmup, rarely are even the simple points above followed. Most shots are no challenge for
    a goalie…and rarely do players practice as they would be pressured in a game situation.

OVERSPEED:

  • Although players are pushed to “work harder” are you taking the skill elements you have been committed to mastering through consistent and
    regular perfect reputation and then taking those skills and applying them way outside your comfort zone in small areas in game like situations?


CYA's new skill development program, overseen by Randy Jordan, will offer skill training sessions designed to perfect the above
components of your game. Randy and his excellent experienced staff of Sumo System experts will be conducting unique regular “skill
mastering” clinics for all CYA girls players. The U16 and U19 teams will incorporate these sessions into their weekly schedule. The U12
and U14 teams will have the opportunity to schedule bi-monthly weekend sessions at the Hoffman Estates Ice Arena.

Using the very successful rotating 3 zone  process that keeps all players fully engaged and focused players will be able to tangibly
realize their improvement through predetermined game related skill testing, called combines. Perfect practice of the fundamentals (it is
said that it takes 10,000 perfect repetitions of a skill to make it a conscious habit, 100,000 to make it automatic) being applied to regular
testing internalizes goal setting with very rewarding results. Results have been staggering since the “combines” testing and video has
become a teaching staple. Players now focus on the small (but critical) things to reach goals that substantiate their efforts. Furthermore,
it allows team coaches to be able to commit whatever team related time is necessary, always knowing that the skills will be continually
maintained by a skill focused group of experts.

THE WEEKLY SKILL PLAN: For example…note the 3 zone idea as per the below. This cannot be done without the number of trained and focused
instructors, such as is set up at the Hoffman Estates Rink. After a very effective dynamic warm up 15 to 20 sessions in each zone keeps everyone
moving, with 100s of puck touches and continual challenges.

Zone 1:

  • Up to 6 combines tests
  • (1 on 1, 2 on 2 etc) small war zone shark tank battle
  • Checking
  • Video

Zone 2: without and with pucks

  • Stride perfection
  • Edgework
  • Acceleration-gear change
  • Lateral
  • Pivot
  • transition

Zone 3:

  • Goalie training
  • Shooting
  • Passing
  • Stickhandling
  • Overspeed
  • 1 on 1
  • Situational training

The Hoffman Estates manpower ability enables this highly focused training system to be run efficient enough that although teams will be expected to be
involved every other week, super passionate players can come out weekly without any reduction in activity and training ability. The bottom line…if you
personally want to be challenged to be the best you can, and have more focus on the small things that make a difference FOR YOU IN THE LONG RUN,
you will improve dramatically, win , lose or draw in the CYA program. College coaches do not care if you were on a winning team if you independently do
not bring big things to the table. We will give you the platform to perform those “BIG THINGS.”