Player Pathways

The 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:

  1. To foster a love of ice hockey.
  2. 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.

Technical & Tactical

Skating
Puck Control
Shooting & Passing
Offense vs. Defense

Psychological

Safety
Support
Encouragement
Enjoyment

Physical

Agility, Balance, Co-ordination
Range of motion
Range of movement
Multi-sport participation 

Social / Emotional

Fun
Team
Friendships
Family

Active Start and FUNdamentals

Ages 4-9 Female
Ages 4-9 Male

  • Skating: Mastering agility, balance, and coordination on the ice is crucial for every hockey player. It’s the foundation of the game and a skill to keep improving.
  • Puck Control: Controlling the puck is key to having an advantage in the game. The better your puck control, the more opportunities your team has to succeed.
  • Shooting and Passing: Shooting and passing go hand-in-hand and are learned through fun, game-based activities. These skills are essential for teamwork and scoring.
  • Offense vs. Defense:
    • Offense: When your team has the puck, everyone works together to score.
    • Defense: When your team doesn’t have the puck, everyone helps to regain possession.
  • Safety & positive support: Safety & positive support are non-negotiable. Our athletes need to feel that they are safe in the environment we provide, providing positive support is critical at this stage. If the kids love what they do, they will do what they love. Source
  • Encouragement: Encouragement is key to fostering a love of ice hockey. Athletes that feel encouraged in the environment we provide will continue to play and improve.
  • ABC’s: Agility, balance and coordination are foundational to all athletes in all sports. At this stage, the athlete will be learning to move around on the ice with skates on and learning a variety of range of motion and range of movement techniques, largely through the use of games. A strong foundation of ABC’s will set the athlete up for success as they move through the different stages of development. Source
  • Multi-sport participation: Participating in multiple sports will ensure the use of a large range of muscle groups and ultimately lead to an increase understanding of their bodies. In this sense, multi-sport participation will further their ABC’s and start to develop a well-rounded athlete.
  • Integration into a team environment: Everyone wants to feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, this is no different for kids. A positive team environment is one of the top 3 things kids identified as being fun in their sporting environment. 
  • Enjoyment: Our focus at this stage in the athletes development is on creating a burning love for our sport. If the kids love what they do, they will do what they love. 

Summary:

The Active Start & FUNdamental stage is primarily about sports being fun! By focusing on basic movements through play-based activity, you will develop the joy the children have for physical activity and playing ice hockey. 

None of the elements at this stage are more important than the other, but combined, they are very important. If the kids love what they do, they will do what they love.

Read more about the importance of fun in sport here: https://balanceisbetter.org.nz

Learn to Train

Ages 9-11 Female
Ages 9-12 Male

  • Skating: Players continue refining their agility, balance, and coordination, with a greater emphasis on speed, edge work, and transition skating. Skating efficiency is key to keeping up with the pace of the game.

  • Puck Control: Advanced puck-handling techniques, including quick stickhandling, dekes, and protecting the puck under pressure, become critical for offensive success.

  • Shooting & Passing: Players develop more accuracy and power in shooting, with a focus on different shot types (wrist shots, slap shots, backhands). Passing skills progress to include saucer passes, one-touch passes, and timing plays.

  • Introduction to Four roles:

    • Offense with the puck - skate, handle the puck, protect the puck

    • Offense away from the puck - skate, be ready for a pass, support the puck carrier

    • Defence at the puck - skate, stick on stick, angle

    • Defence away from the puck - skate, mark a player, stick in passing lane

  • Confidence & Resilience: Players are encouraged to take risks, learn from mistakes, and develop resilience in the face of challenges. Growth mindset is key to improvement.

  • Positive Support & Mental Preparation: A supportive environment continues to be vital, while also introducing basic mental preparation techniques such as focus, composure, and pre-game routines.

  • Advanced ABC’s (Agility, Balance, Coordination): Players refine their movement skills with more complex skating drills and off-ice training that enhances core strength, flexibility, and endurance.

  • Strength & Conditioning: While still centered on bodyweight exercises, players begin to build strength, endurance, and mobility that translate directly to their on-ice performance.

  • Multi-Sport Participation: Encouraging continued involvement in multiple sports to develop athleticism, coordination, and injury prevention while improving overall performance.

  • Teamwork & Leadership: Players start understanding their roles within a team, learning how to support teammates and contribute to team success. Leadership skills are introduced in small ways.

  • Accountability & Respect: Emphasizing personal responsibility, sportsmanship, and respect for coaches, officials, and teammates as players become more competitive.

  • Love for the Game: Enjoyment remains a priority, ensuring that players stay passionate about the sport and continue progressing in a positive, encouraging environment.

Summary:

This is the period of accelerated learning of coordination and fine motor control and is the critical stage for acquiring hockey skills.

Before the growth spurt begins, players have the best opportunity to learn and start mastering fine motor skills that can be combined with other abilities. In most cases, what is learned – or not learned – during this stage will significantly impact the level of play achieved later.

Players should begin transferring skills and concepts from practices to games. Group interaction, team building, and social activities should be emphasized. A balanced approach between practices and games will support continued development and mastery of key hockey skills.

Next Steps