Hi,
My son has almost completed the chart for 3 sets for what 10 weeks. I can't remember how many weeks it goes for but he has one week left and I know he has completed over 20,000 reps. A.J. is only 8 and a big kid for his age. He is about 52" tall and weighs about 80 pounds. His strength is average for someone his size and age and the heaviest ball is a real challenge as is moving it two feet.


At this age you can be very flexible with the system. You have lots of time and opportunity to develop his motion slowly. You can leave the Level 1 ball out of his set for now. See our FAQ and Observation sections for more on this. Concentrate on motion using Level 2-4.


We have about 400 feet of artificial ice in our work out room along with dasher boards along 3 sides. He is able to skate some but mainly shoot pucks and stick handle in this area. We have put down a mat that my wife uses for Yoga so it is fairly thin but adds some resistance to the balls. I think this works well.


This is GREAT and is a perfect setup for our system. We use it to stickhandle and pass while combining it with a shooting drill. Break up his routine by doing the following:


1) Stickhandle Level 2 only (maybe 6-8 times) then snap (not a wrist shot...a snap only) off 6 pucks. Reapeat a few times. Also do this for a quick snap backhand. This will help to get the puck up top in the net.


2) You and him pass the Level 2 ball 10 ft apart. Use the proper form. Stick out in front to receive the pass and cradle it back. No SNAPPING the pass. Its SWEEP SWEEP SWEEP. Do this for a few reps and shoot a few wrist shots. Repeat this same thing prior to the slap shot and backhand.


3) Passing only. Do passing above with the Level 2 ball and switch to a puck. You will be amazed at what happens both on and off the ice.


If I had any suggestion about the process is that there is no way for me to tell if A.J. is better? I can watch him which I do most times and it appears that he is quicker and stronger than before. He feels like he is stronger if you ask him and he has started to work harder now that he appears to be getting stronger.However I wish there was a test that he could have been given before he started and one when he finishes the sessions. Even if it is done with a stop watch it would be helpful if there were protocols that were set up for the testing before and after.


Testing is very much an observation. I have rarely found anyone who uses the correct motion, especially on the heavier balls. This is easy to see improvement in.Remember that at 8 yrs old theres not much you can do to develop muscle strength. Concentrate on motion and technique. So when he gets older and its time to develop strength he will have the motion and technique. Use the technique he has learned to do some simple skating and stickhandling cominations. I suggest Sean Skinners tapes of stickhandling fakes and dekes. It'll be fun and develop his next area...proper faking. Something that is lacking at all levels of Hockey. Speed comes after motion and strength develpment and is a simple thing to see. Video of before and after is the best testing and proof that the system works.


When he finishes next week he is doing a 5,000 puck challenge from a company called betterhockey.com out of Maine. This is similar to your program but the kids should 5,000 pucks over a 10 week period and record what they shoot each day. Last year the top kid shot 50,000 pucks and A.J. shot 25,000 which was 4th best. When he starts shooting I was planning on cutting down the number of days he does KwiK-Hands to 3 or 4 but move the repetitions up to 4 or 5. Do you have a recommendation to the number of days verses the number of reps. Is it better to do more days and fewer reps or fewer days and more reps?


The puck challenge is great...Dr Steele also uses our system for his kids. As I said earlier. You have lots of time because age is on his side. Keep the stickhandling down to 3 times a week. 1 system set at 20-30 reps max and add the passing to the mix. You have something that High School players dont have. Lots and lots of time......Theres no need to push!


Overall both A.J. and I like your program and we both think it is helping him.


Thats good to hear.....wait till you see the improvment you see over the next few seasons.


Thanks,
Scott Klein