This document will explain the overall purpose and function of the South St. Paul Youth Hockey Association Mite Development Program.

• Provide an enjoyable introduction to hockey for players of all abilities
• Teach the fundamentals of skating, balance, agility, and puck control
• Stress participation, fun and individual skill development
• Provide a healthy environment for fun and learning

• Along with the hockey skills that are being taught, the Mite Development Program is committed to developing the life skills identified in the Philosophy section.

• Participants will be taught the proper way to perform skills. Practice makes permanent, not perfect. By learning to perform skills correctly, players will eliminate the formation of bad habits.

• Muscle memory is developed through repetition. Skills must be practiced repeatedly until performing each skill becomes second nature. The more times players practice the fundamental skills, the more success they will feel which translates into fun.

• Limited “games”. Full-ice game situations are not the best way to develop skills and often end up not being as fun as people hope. Instead, the Mite Development Program will employ various cross-ice and small area games which are shown to develop individual and teams skills, promote creativity, increase involvement, and provide more opportunities for players to touch the puck.

• Play for the love of the game.
• Respect the opponent.
• Work for the good of the team.
• Play within the rules of the game.
• Be generous in victory and graceful in defeat.
• Always conduct themselves with honor and pride.
• Love the game.

• Train coaches how to teach skills properly.
• Provide resources for coaches to use in planning practices and teaching skills.
• Hold meetings prior to the season to explain the program and what is expected of coaches.
• Provide a mechanism to support coaches throughout the season and keep them on track and enthused about the program.
• Encourage coaches to stay the course – skill development is the single most important aspect of the program.
• Develop a coaches’ curriculum that will give all coaches access to a wide variety of drills and exercises that will help them teach the specified skills.
• Promote USA Hockey’s Coach’s Code of Conduct
  • Hockey is fun.
  • Honest representation and skills should decide the final outcome of games.
  • Both players and opponents are to be respected and complemented.
  • Rules and regulations are to be respected and followed by all participants.
  • Officials are to be viewed as honest arbitrators.
  • Winning is a consideration, but not the only one nor the most important one.
  • Hockey is for all to enjoy.
  • Set an example of good behavior.

• Ensure that your player is at practice on-time and ready to skate.
• Communicate directly with coaches whenever you have a question or concern.
• Conduct yourself in a positive, healthy way by following USA Hockey’s Parents’ Code of Conduct.
  • Players require a good example as opposed to criticism.
  • Help make your child’s participation rewarding for all participants.
  • Be understanding and supportive of the coach and the officials. The coach is a volunteer and is giving his/her personal time, at his/her expense, to help provide a positive experience for your child.
  • Support and assist the program in a positive manner.
  • The parent is the most important example to which a child can relate.
  • Be everything you want your child to be.

Each returning skater in the SSPYHA Mite Development Program will participate in a preseason evaluation. The purpose of the evaluation is to ensure that all players are placed at the appropriative level based on their ability. New skaters will begin at level 1.