|
|
|
|
Welcome to Andover Hockey Association’s 2010-2011 season. AHA continues to be one of the largest youth hockey organizations in the state with approximately 500 boys and girls participating in the program, that will total 18 co-ed teams between the Mite and Bantam levels, five girls teams, four high school age boys and girls teams, three initiation (i.e., learn to skate, learn to play hockey and Fall 3vs3 cross ice) programs in 2010-2011. While many of the other town programs struggle to remain viable, AHA continues to maintain solid membership, which is a reflection on the quality of the program and the dedication of the many volunteers who are committed to making the program the best it can be. AHA represents the best that town programs can offer: a top quality and competitive hockey experience in an equal play environment, a manageable travel commitment, a convenient and first class practice facility, and a venue for players to develop new, and foster existing, relationships with friends from Andover.
Andover Hockey Association continues to strive to improve upon what is arguably the highest quality town program in the region. These efforts have paid dividends; the program is coming off another strong season in 2009-2010 that included 3 State Champions (PeeWee 2, PeeWee 3 and Squirt 3) and 9 first or second places in the Valley League, more than any other program competing in the Valley League. The AHA girls program continues to grow such that, like the co-ed teams, the girls program is now one of the largest in the state. Some of the highlights of the AHA program are described below.
In 2009-2010, AHA co-ed and Girls U10 continued to compete in the expanded Valley League schedule that provided teams with a 45-game schedule. AHA will again participate in the expanded Valley League schedule in 2010-2011. In terms of the Girls program, the older level Girls teams (i.e., U12 & U14) will participate in the Middlesex Yankee League, which was selected for its quality of competition, and will be supplemented with either participation in the new Valley League Girls League or an independent schedule. AHA believes that this combination of leagues and competition puts the Girls program in the best position to develop players, enjoy success, and continue grow into one of the region’s most formidable programs.
In terms of player development, AHA has selected Dynamic Skating to mange our supplemental skills program for the Mite through Bantam age players (boys and girls) for the 2010-2011 season. Dynamic Skating has a 34-year history of teaching the most important aspects of skating to players at every level of hockey. The program will run from September to November and is free of charge to AHA players. AHA Goalie Skills for the 2010-11 season will once again be run by Brian Daccord's Stop-It-Goaltending. However, due to overwhelming feedback by AHA Goalie members, AHA's Hockey Committee has decided to alter its Goalie Skills format for the 2010-11 season. Rather than having all Goalies take part in Goalie Skills together on the ice at Phillips on Sunday mornings in September and October, AHA has decided to move the Goalie Skills to Stop-It-Goaltending's facility in Woburn. This move will allow us to leverage a small group environment at Stop-It's Goaltender Development Center and by creating Goalie Groupings by age; we are striving to provide each AHA goalie with more personalized instruction. In addition, Goalie Skills will begin later in the season in an effort to avoid Fall conflicts.
AHA’s Initiation program (Learn to Skate/Learn to Play Hockey) was again one of the crown jewels of the program. The Initiation Gold program has proven to be extremely successful at meeting the goals of developing our youngest participants’ ability to skate while at the same time making their first experience with hockey a fun and challenging one. Likewise, the Initiation Blue enjoyed a very successful campaign with four 15 player in-house teams. The focus of this Learn to Play Hockey program is the development of the players in a structured but less intense environment than the travel teams. The Blue program has incorporated the small game concept, which involves fewer players on a smaller ice surface (i.e., cross-ice), which has been endorsed and strongly promoted by USA Hockey. Small games have been shown to enhance player development while at the same time increasing the children’s enjoyment, as players are more “involved” in the game with increased “touches” of the puck, more scoring, and improved/quicker decision-making skills. AHA’s experience with the small ice approach has confirmed the benefits of the program, so we will again be utilizing small games as part of the Initiation Blue player development strategy in 2010-2011. The quality of players coming out of the AHA Initiation program has firmly validated AHA’s strategy relative to the development of its youngest players.
AHA endeavors to maximize it players’ development in a fun environment, and balance the fostering of the competitive spirit with good sportsmanship, discipline, and fairness. We believe that our balanced philosophy has produced a recipe for success. With the scores of dedicated and qualified volunteers, the coaching support system in place, the quality of our practice facilities (Phillips Academy), we firmly believe that AHA is one of the best town hockey programs in the state that rivals most select programs. We sincerely hope you enjoy your 2010-2011 season!
|
|
