The Little Caps organization is proud of its development philosophy and commitment to improving players the right way.  We follow the USA Hockey American Development Model because it produces results – our players simply get better.

In recent years, clubs or small groups of parents forming “super teams” and concepts like the “weekend model” have become more prevalent in youth hockey.  This tryout season, as in the past, we have fielded several questions regarding whether the Little Caps will change its development model to adopt these concepts.  We will not.  Neither is consistent with proper player development, team chemistry, or in the spirit of what youth hockey is supposed to be.

The weekend model is a matter of convenience aimed at short-term success at the expense of long-term player development.  Under this model, groups of players gather on weekends for intense practice periods, and then travel to play games before dispersing.  During the week, players are left to hire private coaches to practice on their own, or simply get no development at all.

The Little Caps model uses time-tested methods based on proper skills progressions, and a focus on optimal windows of trainability for our players.  As with any other education process, daily repetition and steady progress are the keys to success.  This method allows students time to manage small chunks of information, and through repetition master that information.  And they do it in a team setting, building strong bonds while challenging their teammates to get better, which in turn makes all team members better.  Successful schools don’t teach math cramming 6-hours of algebra into a student’s head on a Saturday, and then ignore the student for a week or force him or her to hire a private tutor to improve during the week.  The weekend model simply does not work- consistent team practices and steady player development does.  We will not sacrifice proper player development for convenience or short-term “success.”

Glenn Hefferan, USA Hockey Atlantic District President, recently released a memo sharing his views on the super-team and weekend model of player development.  Glenn’s memo points out that such concepts have nothing to do with building a team, and run contrary to Long Term Athlete Development concepts at the core of the American Development Model.  Glenn is taking the bold step to request that clubs using the weekend model or trying to form super teams be prohibited from participating in the USA Hockey National tournaments.  Glenn has support from other members of the Atlantic District and the Atlantic Youth Hockey League.

Glenn’s memo also addresses recruiting efforts used by some clubs, often in connection with the super team concept and the weekend model.  We know that several clubs contact our Little Cap families directly in an effort to lure our players out of the area or away from our Club, often targeting very young players.  They use the weekend model or the super-team concept to tempt players as young as 12 to abandon their development path.

If you, or your child, is contacted by another club trying to attract you using these concepts, we urge you to hit the pause button, and consider whether the “tempting” offer of the moment is really in the long-term interest of your son or daughter (or your family as a whole).  Our Little Cap coaches and our Hockey Director are happy to talk to you if you confront this situation.  Not all motion is progress.