As you know USA Hockey has placed great emphasis on growth and retention of the 4-8 year old players. I am forwarding an email and attachment from Kevin Erlenbach at USA Hockey. The report is a 12 year history of acquisition and retention of new 4-8 year old players. The report is an analysis of National, PVAHA and Local Association numbers. The message we have been getting from USA Hockey is that the 4-8 year old player trends have long term implications for the health of ice hockey.
First the good news. There was a 2.5% growth of 4-8 year old players within USA Hockey for the 2008/09 season over the 2007/08 season. The peak number of 4-8 year old players within USA Hockey was during the 1998-1999 season. The 2008/09 number of 4-8 year old players is down approximately 7,500 from the peak numbers during the 1998-99 hockey season.
The PVAHA number of 4-8 year old players for the 2008/09 season was up 11.6% over the 2007/08 season. That represents a total of 173 additional 4-8 year old players over the 2007/08 season. Our 2008/09 registration for 4-8 year old players (1,663) was a 12 year high for the Affiliate.
The bad news as I read the report is that our Affiliate retention numbers for the 2008/09 season over the 2007/08 season are below national averages. For example:
17.5% of all 4 year olds returned as 5 year olds - National Average 32.0%
37.3% of all 5 year olds returned as 6 year olds - National Average 52.5%
51.3% of all 6 year olds returned as 7 year olds - National Average 67.8%
63.3% of all 7 year olds returned as 8 year olds - National average 76.2%
Older players Retention Rates
PVAHA Squirt retention rate 2008/09 season - 74% National Average 85.6%
PVAHA Peewee retention rate 2008/09 season - 83.8% National average 91.2%
PVAHA Bantam retention rate 2008.09 season - 85.6% National average 93.6%
We are doing a good number in the Affiliate bringing new players into the sport, but for some reason a higher number at each age group within our Affiliate are leaving the sport.
USA Hockey is promoting a 2 & 2 National Challenge for players in the 4-8 year old age groups in an effort to improve the national player registration numbers for long term growth of hockey. Each local association is being asked to acquire 2 more players than last season in the 4-8 year old age group and also to improve retention of 4-8 year old players by 2 additional players. The total Affiliate goal for the 2009/10 season would be to end the season with a total of 1,807 4-8 year old players. That would be a total increase of 8.7% (+144 players).
The changes USA Hockey is trying to make through the American Development Model tie into the emphasis on growth of hockey at the base. What is it that we should be teaching at the younger age levels? Should competition be de emphasized at the youngest age levels best for player development and growth of the sport?
Hopefully each of our associations can look at these numbers and both grow and retain new players in the 4-8 year old age range.
PVAHA Report