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South Delta Minor Hockey Association is pleased to announce the launch of our

Player and Coach Development Program

(PCDP)

About eight months ago we reviewed the quality of our product and the experience we were providing to our members. It quickly became evident that we were not meeting everyone’s expectations. We realized we needed to offer more than what we were currently delivering. It was apparent we needed to maximize all of our resources.

Most members felt our kids were not getting the development they required or expected. They felt the value was diminishing and we were falling behind when compared to other Associations. In addition, it was felt we lacked consistency amongst our coaching staff and we were not providing them with the right tools to be successful.

Initially, additional skill sessions were introduced to fill part of the gap but were not being utilized by the entire the Association. It was clear we needed to take a step back and create a comprehensive program that would integrate development of all players within the association. Development needed to be supported through an overall plan, resources, training and mentorship. The program would need to focus on continuous improvement and a consistent method of delivery. The program would need to support the continual progression of skills year after year. Additional skill sessions would then provide an enhanced opportunity above and beyond the primary fundamental of the core program.

A Player and Coach Development Committee (PCDC) was set up to conclude on the requirements, identify the gaps and create a program that would accomplish our goal. The Director of Player and Coach Development (DPCD) was given responsibility to lead the development and implementation of this unified plan for SDMHA. The plan would provide the basis to develop hockey players and coaches’ skills while preparing them to be competitive at all levels of play.

Over the last couple of months the committee had been working hard on finalizing the plan and putting the necessary pieces into place. The program was launched in September and has three main components:

1) Skills testing and player development
2) Coach mentorship and training
3) Performance measurement and follow up

Skills Testing and Player Development

We will endeavour to design a program for specific players, teams or divisions that will enable us to achieve success in all areas.

National Skills Standards & Testing Program (NSST) will be used to create a baseline for each player and the Association as a whole. The NSST was created by Hockey Canada in 2004 as a means of measuring and providing positive individual feedback on skill development. Player’s skills will be tested three times throughout the season – September, December and March. The test can then be centralized through Hockey Canada database and player’s scores can be compared to judge strengths, weaknesses and areas in need of improvement. A player’s individual development will then be measured against the baseline to determine specific skills training and improvement. The Association baseline will be used to assess the overall success of the program and development on a team-by-team basis.

Season plans outlining the skill progression targets on a monthly basis have been created for each division. Hockey Canada has developed a DVD with season practice plans based on Individual skill progression utilizing skill stations. Coaches will be provided with the DVD, and together will work with the Coach mentors to come up with the desired practice plans. Coach mentors will come on to the ice to assist in delivering the program, to ensure consistency and understanding. There will be off ice and on ice sessions with the Coaches, which will allow the Coaches to share ideas, drills and continue to gain further knowledge, to enhance the delivery of the program.

Finally, a coaches blog and communication center  on the web site, will provide an opportunity to share drills, feedback or questions on all aspects of the game.
 
Additional skill sessions will provide a further opportunity to enhance specific skills at both the regular and advanced levels.

Coach Mentorship and Training

The success of the program can only be achieved through consistent and aligned coaching. Coaches will require training and resources to help them identify, breakdown and teach specific skills or systems.

A mentorship and monitoring program will be implemented to evaluate a coach’s performance and identify areas for improvement. The focus will be to improve coaching within the Association. We want coaches to feel more confident in their roles, better understand the steps to achieving success and enjoy their experience. Coaches will be provided with on ice assistance, guidance and direction by Association Head Coach and/or assigned Coach Mentors.

Coaches performance and development will be monitored throughout the season by the Head Coach and/or assigned Coach Mentors. Evaluations will be conducted throughout the year by means of self-assessments, peer assessments and parent/player assessments.

Performance Monitoring and Feedback

The success of the program is of utmost importance to us. We have set up specific goals and targets on a monthly and annual basis. Key Performance Indicators (KPI) have been set up for player development, coach mentorship and the overall program. A report will be provided to the Executive on a monthly basis to assess the progress against the KPIs. The program will be adjusted as required.

Additional feedback will be obtained through parent/player assessments and one-on-one feedback.

We are excited with the launch of this program and look forward to seeing the further development of players and coaches within the Association. If you have any questions, please ask. If we do not know the answer, we will find it!

Yours in hockey

Jeff Scott
President - SDMHA

Updates coming soon!