Seasonal Plan

Seasonal Training Plan

This plan shows the major development themes for the U13 6/B season. TeamSnap remains the official schedule for practices, games, tournaments and attendance. This page explains what we are generally working on each month.

Plan note: The plan may adjust as the season develops based on player progress, attendance, injuries, tournament timing, league schedule and team needs.
Parent/player version: The spreadsheet remains the coach-facing planning tool. This page displays a cleaner monthly view using Goals, Skills / Concepts, Physical Prep, Mental Prep, Team Development, and Evaluation & Assessment.

Phase: Spring/Summer Bridge Phase 1

June 2026

Goals

  • Launch player survey and baseline self-reflection.
  • Establish summer expectations.
  • Keep the team lightly connected.
  • Begin optional development habits.

Skills / Concepts

  • Goal setting
  • Shooting foundation
  • Optional development skate / dry pad placeholder
  • Team standards
  • Coachability

Physical Prep

  • Light movement
  • Shooting reps
  • Mobility
  • Other sports and active summer play

Mental Prep

  • Confidence
  • Self-awareness
  • Player voice
  • Goal-setting

Team Development

  • Parent meeting June 15
  • Player survey
  • Team culture expectations
  • Optional parent-controlled check-ins

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Player survey baseline
  • Parent survey takeaways
  • Coach observations if a development skate occurs

Phase: Spring/Summer Bridge Phase 2

July 2026

Goals

  • Maintain puck touches and movement.
  • Keep challenges optional and simple.
  • Encourage player-created drill ideas.

Skills / Concepts

  • Puck control
  • Stickhandling
  • Passing and receiving
  • Shooting while moving
  • Angles / hockey IQ
  • Drill sheet challenge

Physical Prep

  • Skipping rope
  • Bodyweight strength
  • Lunges / squats / planks
  • Balance and coordination
  • Age-appropriate plyometrics

Mental Prep

  • Positive self-talk
  • Confidence after mistakes
  • Learning the “why” behind drills

Team Development

  • Teammate connection
  • Optional check-ins through parents
  • Team bonding challenge

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Parent-controlled check-ins
  • Player drill ideas
  • Coach review of challenge feedback

Phase: Bridge to Preparation

August 2026

Goals

  • Transition from summer habits to preseason readiness.
  • Reconnect players.
  • Prepare gear, routines and expectations.

Skills / Concepts

  • Wildcat 300
  • Gear check
  • Pace and puck touches
  • Small-area play if scheduled
  • Development skate / dry pad placeholders

Physical Prep

  • Short-burst movement
  • Mobility
  • Recovery
  • Preseason warm-up habits

Mental Prep

  • Readiness
  • Routine
  • Confidence
  • Reset after mistakes

Team Development

  • Soft reconnect
  • Team standards
  • Communication habits
  • TeamSnap readiness

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Gear readiness
  • Coach observations
  • Player survey review
  • Development skate notes if applicable

Phase: Preseason Development

September 2026

Goals

  • Establish practice habits.
  • Build pace, puck touches and team structure.
  • Prepare for Oakville Harvest Classic.

Skills / Concepts

  • Skating
  • Puck control
  • Passing in motion
  • Shooting
  • Support away from puck
  • Small-area compete
  • Basic breakout language

Physical Prep

  • Warm-up routines
  • Short-burst conditioning
  • Recovery between skates

Mental Prep

  • Coachability
  • Team standards
  • Confidence with puck
  • Bench composure

Team Development

  • Inclusion
  • Dressing room expectations
  • Communication routines
  • Team identity

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Early coach observations
  • Player survey themes
  • Oakville tournament learning points
Key event: Oakville Harvest Classic — Sept. 24–27

Phase: Development / Regular Season 1

October 2026

Goals

  • Build team identity.
  • Turn individual skills into team habits.
  • Use Etobicoke tournament as a development checkpoint.

Skills / Concepts

  • Puck protection
  • Passing under pressure
  • Defensive-zone basics
  • Breakout introduction
  • Forecheck introduction
  • Compete habits

Physical Prep

  • Repeated short efforts
  • Game warm-up routine
  • Mobility and recovery

Mental Prep

  • Reset after mistakes
  • Confidence in games
  • Focus next shift

Team Development

  • Bench habits
  • Line / defence-pair chemistry
  • Social media and group-chat expectations

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Tournament review
  • Team strengths / gaps
  • Goalie workload and support
Key event: Etobicoke Pink the Rink — Oct. 16–18

Phase: Regular Season 2 / 3

November 2026

Goals

  • Strengthen regular-season habits.
  • Improve consistency under pressure.

Skills / Concepts

  • Edge control
  • Wall play
  • Puck retrievals
  • Defensive coverage
  • Regroups
  • Transition habits

Physical Prep

  • Compete conditioning
  • Recovery habits
  • Injury-prevention reminders

Mental Prep

  • Role acceptance
  • Staying positive
  • Handling feedback

Team Development

  • Leadership moments
  • Teammate support
  • Inclusion check-in

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Monthly coach review
  • Player confidence notes
  • Team systems progress

Phase: Regular Season 3 / Holiday Reset

December 2026

Goals

  • Maintain skill growth through holiday period.
  • Avoid burnout.
  • Reconnect after any time off.

Skills / Concepts

  • Shooting off passes
  • Net-front play
  • Tips / rebounds
  • Puck retrievals
  • Offensive-zone support

Physical Prep

  • Maintenance
  • Recovery
  • Light movement during breaks

Mental Prep

  • Mid-season reset
  • Confidence
  • Positive self-talk

Team Development

  • Team social / holiday connection
  • Review team standards
  • Keep players included

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Mid-season coach notes
  • Review team progress vs goals

Phase: Regular Season 4 / 5

January 2027

Goals

  • Build structure for late-season competition.
  • Prepare for playdowns / playoffs.
  • Possibly attend sleepover tournament if finalized.

Skills / Concepts

  • Breakout variations
  • Regroups
  • Faceoffs
  • Special teams basics
  • Defensive-zone details
  • Forecheck consistency

Physical Prep

  • Recovery
  • Short-burst conditioning
  • Injury prevention

Mental Prep

  • Composure in close games
  • Confidence under pressure
  • Team-first roles

Team Development

  • Leadership group / captain process
  • Tournament bonding if applicable
  • Mid-season player check-ins

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Player development review
  • Goalie development review
  • Systems checklist
Key event: TBD sleepover tournament placeholder

Phase: Playdown / Playoff Preparation

February 2027

Goals

  • Prepare for meaningful games.
  • Improve execution under pressure.
  • Maintain development-first approach.

Skills / Concepts

  • Defensive details
  • Puck battles
  • Clears
  • Net-front play
  • Special teams
  • Late-game situations

Physical Prep

  • Shift length discipline
  • Warm-up consistency
  • Recovery between games

Mental Prep

  • Pressure management
  • Staying calm with officials
  • Next-shift mindset

Team Development

  • Trust
  • Bench composure
  • Clear communication

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Playdown / playoff readiness
  • Game review
  • Coach observation

Phase: Playoffs / March Matchup

March 2027

Goals

  • Compete with structure.
  • Finish season strong.
  • Celebrate team identity and growth.

Skills / Concepts

  • Situational play
  • Special teams
  • Faceoffs
  • Defensive-zone execution
  • Transition under pressure
  • Late-game habits

Physical Prep

  • Recovery
  • Tournament management
  • Injury prevention

Mental Prep

  • Confidence
  • Resilience
  • Composure

Team Development

  • Pride
  • Team identity
  • Sponsor/community visibility
  • Year-end planning

Evaluation & Assessment

  • March Matchup review
  • Playoff/playdown review
  • Player growth observations
Key event: Leaside March Matchup — Mar. 19–21

Phase: Playoff / Season Closure

April 2027

Goals

  • Finish playoffs / Provincials if applicable.
  • Reflect on the season.
  • Complete year-end feedback and celebration.

Skills / Concepts

  • Maintenance
  • Game execution
  • Review of key habits
  • Optional spring skill transition

Physical Prep

  • Recovery
  • Time off
  • Other sports

Mental Prep

  • Reflection
  • Growth mindset
  • Pride in progress

Team Development

  • End-of-season player survey
  • Year-end event
  • Thank volunteers / sponsors
  • Budget reconciliation

Evaluation & Assessment

  • Repeat player self-rating survey
  • Compare preseason / postseason self-perception
  • Coach review
  • Parent/team feedback