Winning the race to the right finish line

It was in 2018 when a report revealed how USA Hockey recognized that in order to survive, grow, and improve, youth hockey needed to change. Similar to other youth sports, retention was on the decline.

This is a difficult mission, as the people involved tend to be products of past programming which worked for them. However, the fun was getting squeezed out with the escalation of skill training amid the preponderance of youth coaching.

The 2024 U.S. Youth Championships on June 23-25 provides event coaches to support competitors, but the registration list also includes nearly 30 private coaches. An arms race for kids? More powerboats for this ‘green sport’? Where is the limit to ensure a healthy future?

USA Hockey has been forward thinking when it comes to long term athlete development and age-adjusted formats, and it seems to be working. For the story from their light bulb moment, click here.