Rotating postions

[defense]

As we were talking player development especially at the younger levels I had this idea. I was also wondering if coaches had thought of it or used it or if any teams are currently using it:
If at the squirt level especially, possibly peewees too, we are trying to achieve player development and later team development, and we want good well rounded players, why do we set them in a position for long periods of time? Maybe stuff has changed but when I played squirts, we were set in our positions, defnitely forward and defense and most of time wings and centers as well as left defense and right. Obviously goalies are goalies so leave it alone right? but what if a kid wants to try? What if we rotated positions at younger levels on a scheduled basis?? say by periods or games. At squirts sure you can start to see who is a forward and defensemen most of the time, but how many middle kids in squirts really know what they want to do?? and how many top end players were studs on the squirt team??? I think having the kids play all positions in a rotation would be good in at least to asspects: obviously a forward would learn to play better defense, and a defenseman would learn a little offense. Second: How many squirt or peewee defensemen do a lot of puck handling?? how many squirt of peewee forwards do a lot of breaking up odd man rushes??? if a player plays in one position in those formative years, he is less likely to gain other skills as quick.
Just an idea....

[badgerhockey]

Because if they did this the the Nhl bound hockey parents would scream if the kids lost a game,because of the switches.Then they would call for the coaches head.

[goinbardown]

Well at squirt I know that teams just switch every 7 games, but then your good kid basically only lines up at D and then skates it up everytime. I have also seen where teams have a "Tournament Lineup" which is for the team to be most successful but then during district league games they switch it up.


I think the 2nd one is the best because everyone makes districts and all the parents can say the change didn't cost the team a championship

[3 boys]

I believe rotating at the squrt level is a great thing. Winter hockey is about 4-5 months long, what we do is each month switch position. The kids get a feel for that position for a whole month long, I believe they retain more about the position they are playing b/c it is constant for games and practices.. As for district playoffs in march, those 4 months were tryouts for what position the coaches believe they played the best at and would help the team thew most. Just our opinion.