BECOME THE NEXT SAVANNAH GHOST PIRATES PLAYER!
The Learn to Play (LTP) “Little Ghost Pirates” hockey program is an exciting first step in your players hockey journey. The primary focus of the LTP class is to create a fun, positive learning environment for children to allow them to grow and fall in love with the game of hockey!
The LTP program will focus on creating high activity sessions with lots of action and challenge. For the best learning conditions the program is designed for lots of opportunities for kids to learn by “doing” and learn through play. By making hockey class super active and fun, kids will be fully engaged and gain the necessary physical and cognitive skills to excel and fall in love with the game of hockey.
Arrival Time
Please check in 30 minutes prior to your start time at the front table. Once checked in players will receive a name tag that should be placed on the front of their helmet.
Equipment
We encourage all participants to wear Full Hockey Protective Gear but at minimum players must wear skates, hockey gloves and helmet with a facemask.
Resources
USA Hockey Player/Parent Guidebook
USA Hockey Video - How to dress a hockey player
In Learn To Play 1 - The primary focus is on Skating and Puck Control with the goal of merging these two skills together so the player gains more comfortability moving around the ice with the puck.
In Learn to Play 2 - The primary focus is on Puck Possession and Puck Pursuit. Puck possession is the ability to carry the puck and make good decisions with the puck. Puck Pursuit is the ability to pursue the puck and get it back while utilizing change of speed skills of skating, turning and stopping.
In Learn to Play 3 - The primary focus is on overall game play with the introduction of teamwork, passing and shooting. Players will still engage in all the above skill sets of LTP 1,2 but will now work towards game ready play and work on the physical and cognitive decision making skills that help in game play
What are they doing on the ice?
All programming is based on sport science and the Windows of Trainability. Focusing on age appropriate training and motor skill acquisition. It’s proven the more players are “doing” the more they will learn the physical and cognitive parts of the game. All practices are USA Hockey approved and focus on the five fundamentals of a good practice: Fun, High Activity, Decision Making, Game Like, Challenging/Competitive.
Why Hockey?
IT'S MORE THAN A GAME.
Hockey develops life skills that build a foundation for a child's confidence, pride, focus and responsibility.
LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS
Starting with the bonds created in the locker room to the relationships formed on the ice, hockey creates friendships that last a lifetime.
SET UP FOR SUCCESS
Hockey's unique structure ensures that your child learns to love the game while promoting a healthy lifestyle, social wellness and mental well-being.
HOCKEY IS FUN
The encouraging environment hockey provides helps kids grow as both hockey players and people.
Frequently Asked Questions
A player with no experience in skating should attend the Try Hockey for Free or the Learn to Skate program to start their hockey journey. Players that have some skating experience will be evaluated by our Hockey Staff and can move right to Learn to Play.
Yes, all players should be wearing full protective equipment. Learn more about hockey gear options
Participants can be in each LTP level anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks depending on the starting point and experience. The more the child gets on the ice the faster they will pick it up. Development is not a straight line, so having patience to focus on the health and happiness of the child ultimately will pay off in the long term.
All programming is based on sport science and the Windows of Trainability. Focusing on age appropriate training and motor skill acquisition. It’s proven the more players are “doing” the more they will learn the physical and cognitive parts of the game. All practices are USA Hockey approved and focus on the five fundamentals of a good practice: Fun, High Activity, Decision Making, Game Like, Challenging/Competitive.
Great questions, we have “mapped” it out for you with the “Player Pathway”.
