WHAT IS MILTON’S IP (Initiation Program) PROGRAM?
- A comprehensive Initiation (IP) Program for the development of young children as hockey players.
- The main focus is on Development and Fun.
- Aim is to have participants and instructors continue in the game.
- U5 (4 year old) program is run weekly by a development group to ensure a standardized start for each of our youngest players.
· The program follows the OMHA U9 and below IP (Initiation Program ) Player Pathway, including skating skills sessions and stick/puck & hockey sessions.
WHAT DOES IT CONSIST OF?
- The IP program is a Hockey Program for players 8 and under (U9 and below)
- MMHA is sanctioned by Hockey Canada and as such follows their programming OMHA recommendations for ages U9 and below.
- The program is a "Cross Ice" or “Half Ice” program and consists of skating, skills development and hockey stick/puck skills development along with scrimmages for U7 and below and games for U8 and U9.
- U5: approx. 30 hours (typically Saturdays and alternate Sundays)
- U6: approx. 30 hours (typically Saturdays and alternate Sundays)
- U7, U8 and U9: approx. 38 hours (typically Saturdays and Sundays)
- As of mid-January, U9 teams transition from Half Ice to full ice hockey
- Your child does not need to know how to skate to join this program! Ideally, they can stand on skates. For the younger ages (4 and 5) it is a great alternative to other skating programs!
REGISTERING FOR OUR PROGRAM
Registration opens annually in the spring. Our season starts in October and runs to end March with a culminating Day of Champs celebration. Families can register on the front page of our website.
Exact schedule times will be determined once registration closes and will be posted before season start. Please visit the website schedule.
ARE ALL INITIATION PROGRAMS THE SAME?
MMHA provides a Hockey Initiation Program that is sanctioned by Hockey Canada. We ensure that all of our Head Coaches and all on ice volunteers have the required qualifications as mandated annually by the Ontario Minor Hockey Association. These required qualifications include at minimum, two mandatory courses and an OHF approved current police check with a vulnerable sector screen.
Our U5 program is facilitated weekly by an outside development group, standardizing the start for these new players. Further, this also allows for coach mentoring, as skills are passed onto the coaches and volunteers , so as they move up into other hockey streams the proper player development continues. All outside development groups must be approved by the Ontario Hockey Federation and also require current police check with vulnerable sector screening.
Our U6-U7 players also benefit from outside development groups through the season, again helping to continue the standardized start for our youngest players.
Our U8-U9 players benefit from outside development groups along with free weekly goalie development and a goalie equipment loaner program. We encourage all teams to rotate their players in the goalie position and access the free weekly development and equipment programs.
MORE ON MMHA VOLUNTEERS FOR THE INITIATION PROGRAM
All volunteers have completed at minimum two online courses, Rowan’s Law (concussion) instruction and have provided the Ontario Hockey Federation with a current approved police check with a vulnerable sector screen.
Head Coaches are required for each team. Head Coaches have completed additional training including a Hockey Canada approved clinic that includes running a "typical ice session" refining Teaching Skills, Skills Analysis, Leadership, Communication, Growth & Development, and Lesson Organization.
Trainers are required for each team. As the safety and equipment personnel, they have completed additional training in the prevention, recognition and management of hockey-related injuries. The course is the only sport-specific risk management, injury management and safety education program in Ontario
Other than development groups we retain to facilitate our teams, all on ice Instruction Personnel are volunteers and are not paid Instructors.