Hawks Skills Development Program
All sessions are full and we're excited about the overwhelming interest in this new program.
Starting this season, the Hawks will offer more opportunities for all athletes to enhance their skills. This includes specialized sessions for our most advanced players, as well as opportunities for all other players, ensuring no one is left behind.
The Hawks Skills Development Program is designed to enable players to reach new heights by refining fundamental skills and maximizing new skills development to improve their overall development in hockey.
Why Skill Development Matters:
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Proper skill development is essential for excelling in the game.
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By mastering the fundamentals, players build a strong foundation that enables them to focus on advanced skill development, elevating their performance and achieving excellence on the ice.
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Skill development isn't just about learning techniques—it's about building the confidence and capability to execute those skills under pressure, ultimately leading to success in the game.
Program Focus:
Our Skills Development Program is tailored to help players reach their full potential by honing critical hockey skills. The program emphasizes individual skill development while incorporating elements of team play. However, the primary focus will be on enhancing the following key areas:
- Skating: Learn total control of your edges and elevate your skating.
- Shooting: Master various shots to maximize power and accuracy.
- Stickhandling: Focus on total control while deking and maintaining full stride.
- Agility: Maneuver in tight corners with the puck effectively.
- Goaltending: Excelling at angles, body position and movement.
This program isn't basic training; it's about building the skills and confidence needed to perform at the highest level when it matters most.
Goaltender-Specific Sessions:
In addition to the Hawks Skills Development Program, we will be offering dedicated goaltender sessions aimed at developing our goalies. These sessions will be exclusively for goaltenders within the Hawks organization. Exact times, number of sessions, and other details are currently being finalized.
The Hawks Skills Development Program Structure:
To ensure all athletes have the best chance to grow and develop, we are aligning our Skills Development Program with the principles of Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development. This theory suggests that athletes develop most effectively when training alongside athletes with similar skill levels, as it allows for appropriate challenges and more focused learning opportunities.
As a result, we are splitting the program into two streams.
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Stream #1 is for the top two teams in each division, providing these players with additional ice time to focus on advanced skill development.
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Stream #2 is for teams in other tiers, ensuring that all players within the Hawks have access to development opportunities tailored to their current skill level.
Meet Your Instructor:
We are fortunate to have Terry Maslyk lead our 16-session Skills Development Program. With over four decades of coaching experience, Terry’s impact on the world of hockey is profound. His journey spans minor hockey to Junior A and includes significant contributions to Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence. Terry’s dedication to skill development and his extensive experience make him the perfect mentor for our young athletes.
In addition to Terry, we will have 6 coaches from within the Hawks on the ice to provide additional support for your child.
Program Details:
Start Date: Sessions will begin in the first week of October 2024 and continue through the first week of March 2025.
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Length: We will have 16 sessions from October to March.
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Cost: There will be an additional fee for participation, which will be determined shortly. The fee will be approximately $20-$25 a skate, which is extremely competitive considering many similar programs run at twice that cost.
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Sign-Up Process: Please register here if you are interested in your child attending these sessions:
CLICK HERE
More information will be released next week regarding the exact dates and times.
We are excited to see our players grow and excel through this program. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Shaun Maslyk - vpevaluations@hawksathletics.ca
