What is the Kiwi Ice Hockey School?
Kiwi Ice Hockey School (KIHS) includes the first two stages of Ice Hockey New Zealand’s athlete development model and covers Learn to Play, U9, and U12 age groups.
KIHS is a programme developed and supported by Ice Hockey New Zealand, and delivered in partnership with its member clubs.
KIHS is a unified brand across all regions and will be promoted by both Ice Hockey New Zealand and local clubs.
“Kiwi Ice Hockey School” is the formal name for Ice Hockey New Zealand’s standardised learn to play programme, ensuring equal player entry and development opportunities nationwide, at a youth level.
Kiwi Ice Hockey School Principles
KIHS has two driving principles:
- To foster a love of ice hockey.
- To lay the foundations for future success for the athlete.
The KIHS is the first step in our high-performance pathway, and a critical component to this is fostering a love of the sport.
To achieve this, it needs to be fun, it needs to be safe, and kids need to stay in the sport – no player ever reached their full potential by quitting at age 10. Developing the person and the athlete are both important.
Ice Hockey New Zealand and USA Hockey
Ice Hockey New Zealand has been forging a strong, innovative partnership with USA Hockey that is transforming the way players and coaches develop across the country. This collaboration leverages the extensive expertise of USA Hockey – a global leader in hockey development – to uplift coaching standards, enhance player training, and create a more dynamic and sustainable hockey culture in New Zealand.
Coach Education Programme
Ice Hockey New Zealand runs a Coach Education Programme (CEP).
The Coach Education Programme (CEP) is designed to provide coaches with the essential tools and knowledge to develop our athletes and guide teams effectively throughout a season or tournament.
Find out more on the Ice Hockey New Zealand website: https://www.icehockeynz.co.nz/coaches/