Mini Mites
2013-04-22
The Mini Mites program is the next “level” up from our Hockey School program. Typically, younger players will start off in the Hockey School program and progress to Mini Mites the following season.
Mini Mites can be considered the “jumping off” program to the Recreational League or to the Representative/Select hockey programs. Participants in the Mini Mite program will generally have better skating and puck handling skills than the players who are in the Hockey School program.
The Mini Mite program is a 24 week long program that begins in late September and concludes in mid March. At the beginning of the hockey season, players will be assigned to temporary teams for the first three or four weeks. During this period, players will be put through a number of drills, led by a combination of instructors and potential coaches. This will allow the league to assess the skill level of players in an effort to balance the teams so that no team becomes the dominant team. At the end of this three or four week period, teams will be selected and will remain the same for the remainder of the season. At this time, players will be given their team sweater and socks. Also, qualified players from Hockey School, as they progress during the season, may be moved to Mini Mites.
Once the teams have been established, each team will play games against other Mini Mites teams on a rotating basis at different times each Saturday morning. Each session will run for about 75 minutes. Of this time, the first 45 minutes will be used as a ½ ice practice session where coaches will run their drills. Brampton Hockey has designed a manual of drills to help the coaches (many of whom will be coaching for the first time) run a series of drills that will focus on skill progression over the course of the season. After the practice session is complete a 35 minute game will be played between the two teams scheduled in that time slot. Each team will have two coaches remain on the ice to assist their players with face-off locations, positional play and provide encouragement throughout the game. Each line will be on the ice for 3 minutes of running time and on the 3 minute buzzer, the lines will be changed.
The program is designed to introduce children to the game environment with support from coaches on the ice directing the player. All players will be given the opportunity to play the goalie position at least once. The goalie equipment is provided for each game.