Proposal — draftSeeded and unratified — your coach group rules on your five rungs per skill; the meeting rules on the four questions. Not a final document.

Your take-home packet — 14U skill rubric

What this is

The 14ers are building one shared way to describe what a player can do, skill by skill, from her first season through 19U. It is written as a ladder: 25 rungs per skill, 5 skills, 125 sentences in all. Nothing on this ladder is final — the coaches are the ones who decide whether it is right.

Why you are holding it

You coach 14U. This packet shows you the WHOLE ladder — all 125 sentences — because your players climb up into your group’s window and out the other side into the next one. Your own group’s window is marked wherever it appears in this packet: rung 11 to 15 (5 of 25 rungs on the shared scale).

What you are being asked to do

Read your 5-rung window on every skill and tell us, sentence by sentence, whether it is right for 14U. You can also flag anything on the REST of the ladder — the rungs above or below your window — since you can see it all here. A short form covers both; see “How to respond” below.

By when

JOHN: SET THE REAL DEADLINE DATE HERE BEFORE SENDING ANY PACKET.

If I do not hear from you by JOHN: SET THE REAL DEADLINE DATE HERE BEFORE SENDING ANY PACKET., I will take your tier’s rungs as good and move forward with what is written here.

How to respond

A short online form for 14U walks through your window, skill by skill — about 15 minutes for the required part. Your form link:

_______________________________________________

What you fill in, and what comes out the other end

Two worked examples, built from a made-up player so nobody’s real season is on this page. First, the one-page report card a family sees. Second, the off-season training sheet a player takes home. Both are generated automatically from the same rungs you are being asked to review — nothing here is retyped by hand.

Sample 1 of 2 — the parent report card

Leah — Skill Development Snapshot

Summits 12U AA

Right now, she is right with the typical band for her age group, based on her most recent evaluation.

What her coaches are focused on next: The golden age of skill - head-up hands, both-ways skating, and the first real reads.

Skill by skill

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Compete

7 of 25 · in her window · held rung 9 in March 2024

Hockey IQ

10 of 25 · in her window · held rung 11 in March 2024

Puck Control

10 of 25 · in her window · held rung 13 in March 2024

Shooting

9 of 25 · in her window · held rung 11 in March 2024

Skating

9 of 25 · in her window · held rung 10 in March 2024

12U windowrungs 7 to 11

Compete

7 of 25

Finishes the battles she starts; competes in open ice

moved up a rung since the fall evaluation

Hockey IQ

10 of 25

Recognizes an odd-player rush but is slow to react

moved up a rung since the fall evaluation

Puck Control

10 of 25

Keeps the puck away from a poke check while carrying

moved up a rung since the fall evaluation

Shooting

9 of 25

Picks corners from the slot when unhurried

moved up a rung since the fall evaluation

Skating

9 of 25

Crossovers both directions; hockey stop on both sides

moved up a rung since the fall evaluation

Sample 2 of 2 — the off-season training sheet

Where she is

Her window this season is rung 9 to 11 of 25. Filled square: her rung. Shaded: her window. Gold ring: the next rung.

25242322212019181716151413121110987654321

Skating

9 of 25 · in her window · held rung 10 in March 2024

Puck Control

10 of 25 · in her window · held rung 13 in March 2024

Shooting

9 of 25 · in her window · held rung 11 in March 2024

Hockey IQ

10 of 25 · in her window · held rung 11 in March 2024

Compete

below her window · held rung 9 in March 2024

12U windowrungs 9 to 11

skating

9of 25

Crossovers both directions; hockey stop on both sides

Below her window

puck control

10of 25

Keeps the puck away from a poke check while carrying

Inside her window

shooting

9of 25

Picks corners from the slot when unhurried

Below her window · priority

hockey IQ

10of 25

Recognizes an odd-player rush but is slow to react

Inside her window

compete

7of 25

Finishes the battles she starts; competes in open ice

Below her window · priority

Two things for the off-season

Compete

Now 7 of 25 · next 8

Today: Finishes the battles she starts; competes in open ice

What rung 8 looks like

Joins puck battles along the boards, not just in open ice

Off-ice battle work with a resistance band Off-ice
With a resistance band anchored behind her, the player drives forward against the resistance into a wall or pad, holding body position for a count.

Three sets of six, twice a week. · from Coach John, 2026-09-03
Net-front battle, two on one
Two attackers work for position in front of the net against one defender, who has to identify and take away the most dangerous option while battling for body position.

Six repetitions per group, rotating the defender. · from Coach John's practice plan, 2026-01-15
Corner battles
Two players are sent into the corner on a dump-in and battle for possession, coached on body position and using the body to separate the opponent from the puck.

Six battles per pair, most practices. · from Coach John's practice plan, 2025-11-05

Cue from her coaches: Body before puck.

Shooting

Now 9 of 25 · next 10

Today: Picks corners from the slot when unhurried

What rung 10 looks like

Snap shot from a set position; release is quicker than a full windup

Goalie warm-up shooting in stride
A passer feeds the shooter in stride from the wall; the shooter takes a shot on net off one or two touches without stopping the puck first.

Eight to ten reps per skater at the start of practice. · from Coach John's practice plan, 2026-01-05
Off-ice shooting pad, target corners Off-ice
On a synthetic shooting pad or in the driveway, the player shoots at taped-off corner targets on a net or wall, calling the corner before each shot.

Twenty-five shots per side, two to three times a week. · from Coach John, 2026-09-03

Only 2 drills in the library for this step so far.

Cue from her coaches: Make the goalie’s life hard.

Drills come from Association drill book (not yet received; entries below are seeded from practice plans). · Drill tags are seeded, not yet ratified by the coaches. · The skill ladder is a draft the coaches will ratify. · Priorities chosen from her scores.

Sample built from demonstration data

Four things this room needs to settle

These are not about any one rung’s wording — they are about how the whole program runs. Talk them through at the meeting, or note your own view on the form.

1

Two evaluation windows a season, or three?

The plan as built runs two windows (roughly a season-opening baseline and a season-end score). A third, mid-season window asks for one more round of coach forms and buys two things: a coach can correct course inside the season, and every player carries three data points instead of two.

2

The actual dates

Not just months — real weeks, so a form can be opened and closed on a calendar every coach already has. This decides when the evaluation window(s) open, when they close, and when the training sheets go home.

3

Does a second coach ever score the same players?

That overlap is the only honest way to tell a strict coach’s scores from a generous one’s. Never required for every player — just enough overlap, on purpose, to calibrate.

4

The association drill book

We do not have a copy on file yet. Every team drilling from the same book is most of the point of the training sheet’s drill picks. If you have a copy, digital or paper, that is the single most useful thing you can hand back with your feedback.

The whole ladder, one shared scale

Every age group’s window overlaps the next by exactly one rung, so a top player finishing one group’s window plays like a bottom player starting the next. Your row is 14U.

Age tier	B window	A window	AA window
10U	1–5	3–7	5–7
12U	5–9	7–11	9–11
14U	9–13	11–15	13–15
16U	13–17	15–19	17–19
19U	17–21	19–23	21–23

The full ladder — all 5 skills, all 125 sentences

Every rung, every skill, stays on the page. The rows marked YOUR WINDOW are the ones we are asking you to rule on for 14U.

The right-hand column shows where each rung sits on the shared age ladder in general — the age group whose A-level players are typically expected to reach that rung by the end of a season. It is not a verdict on any specific team: an AA group sits above its own row here, and a B group sits below it. Your own group’s real window, at your own level, is the shaded YOUR WINDOW rows above — not this column.

Skating — 14U’s window: rung 11 to 15 (5 of 25, marked below)
Rung	What a player at this rung can do	Age ladder (A pace)
1	Skates upright; glide-only turns; falls on tight stops	below 10U
2	Stops with two feet on one side; still falls on the other	below 10U
3	Controlled two-foot stops and glides in both directions	10U
4	One-foot glides hold balance for a few strides	10U
5	Backward wiggling starts to travel; backward skating gains real control	10U
6	Leans into inside edges through a turn without losing speed	10U
7	Inside-edge control; crossovers one direction at easy speed	10U+12USEAM RUNG
8	Crossovers begin on the second direction; hockey stop works to one side	12U
9	Crossovers both directions; hockey stop on both sides	12U
10	Turns tighten on both edges but speed still bleeds off	12U
11YOUR WINDOW	Tight turns at speed without gliding; wins short races off the first three strides	12U+14USEAM RUNG
12YOUR WINDOW	Forward-to-backward transitions complete without a stutter step in open ice	14U
13YOUR WINDOW	Backward crossovers generate speed in both directions	14U
14YOUR WINDOW	Lateral crossover cuts stay sharp when a defender closes the gap	14U
15YOUR WINDOW	Forward-backward transitions under pressure without slowing	14U+16USEAM RUNG
16	Edges stay loaded through tight turns at full speed	16U
17	Edge work creates separation in game situations	16U
18	Holds top-end speed through most of a shift	16U
19	Sustains top pace across full shifts; changes direction at full speed	16U+19USEAM RUNG
20	Acceleration off either foot beats the first stride of a defender	19U
21	Wins races to loose pucks from a standing start most nights	19U
22	Repeated high-speed bursts hold up for a full shift without fading	19U
23	Acceleration and agility dictate the pace of a shift	19U
24	Skating disguises intent; defenders misread her first step every time	beyond 19U
25	Skating is a weapon at full pace; beats pressure and closes gaps at will	beyond 19U

Puck Control — 14U’s window: rung 11 to 15 (5 of 25, marked below)
Rung	What a player at this rung can do	Age ladder (A pace)
1	Carries the puck only when unpressured; eyes down	below 10U
2	Carries the puck a short distance with a defender nearby	below 10U
3	Stickhandles in place; eyes mostly down	10U
4	Stickhandles while walking forward without losing the puck	10U
5	Carries the puck at a slow skate on a straight line	10U
6	Carries the puck through a slow turn while staying balanced	10U
7	Carries at moderate speed on a straight line; occasional glances up	10U+12USEAM RUNG
8	Carries the puck with more glances up than down	12U
9	Controls through simple traffic; head up half the time	12U
10	Keeps the puck away from a poke check while carrying	12U
11YOUR WINDOW	Protects the puck with body position under light pressure	12U+14USEAM RUNG
12YOUR WINDOW	Wins a puck battle along the boards under contact	14U
13YOUR WINDOW	Uses a quick edge move to create separation from a defender	14U
14YOUR WINDOW	Carries the puck through contact without losing control	14U
15YOUR WINDOW	Carries at full speed with head up; beats a single checker	14U+16USEAM RUNG
16	Uses a fake to beat a defender instead of relying on speed alone	16U
17	Protects and moves the puck under real pressure in games	16U
18	Turns a won puck battle into a controlled offensive play	16U
19	Handles in tight spaces at game speed; wins most one-on-one battles	16U+19USEAM RUNG
20	Holds the puck under pressure long enough to draw a second defender	19U
21	Changes tempo with the puck to control the pace of play	19U
22	Manipulates a defender's positioning to create an open passing lane	19U
23	Controls the game through possession; rarely stripped	19U
24	Controls possession at a faster pace than most opponents can match	beyond 19U
25	Possession is a given at full pace; creates under double pressure	beyond 19U

Shooting — 14U’s window: rung 11 to 15 (5 of 25, marked below)
Rung	What a player at this rung can do	Age ladder (A pace)
1	Pushes the puck toward the net; no wrist snap	below 10U
2	Adds a wrist snap to the push; puck lifts off the ice	below 10U
3	Wrist shot with weight transfer from a standstill	10U
4	Catches a pass and releases the shot in one motion while standing still	10U
5	Wrist shot from a slow glide; feet still mostly square	10U
6	Wrist shot off open hips and an inside edge, gliding forward	10U
7	Wrist shot in stride, on net from close range	10U+12USEAM RUNG
8	Shoots from the slot in stride; aims for the net, not a corner	12U
9	Picks corners from the slot when unhurried	12U
10	Snap shot from a set position; release is quicker than a full windup	12U
11YOUR WINDOW	Quick release in stride; snap shot on net under light pressure	12U+14USEAM RUNG
12YOUR WINDOW	Releases the shot before a closing defender can block it	14U
13YOUR WINDOW	Shoots accurately off the weaker foot when the play demands it	14U
14YOUR WINDOW	Finds a shooting lane around a screen in front of the net	14U
15YOUR WINDOW	Shoots off either foot; beats screens with placement	14U+16USEAM RUNG
16	Varies the release point to make the shot harder to read	16U
17	Release deceives goalies; scores from mid-range in games	16U
18	Finishes off the rush with a quick release under pressure	16U
19	One-timers and catch-and-shoot at game speed	16U+19USEAM RUNG
20	Draws extra defensive attention because of the shot threat alone	19U
21	Scores from multiple release points; goalies can't anticipate the shot	19U
22	Beats screens and traffic from distance, not just in tight	19U
23	A scoring threat from range every shift	19U
24	Goalies adjust their positioning before she has even shot	beyond 19U
25	Finishes at full game speed; release, power, and placement all travel together	beyond 19U

Hockey IQ — 14U’s window: rung 11 to 15 (5 of 25, marked below)
Rung	What a player at this rung can do	Age ladder (A pace)
1	Follows the puck; positioning by instruction	below 10U
2	Recognizes her assigned position without a reminder every shift	below 10U
3	Holds a taught position; watches the play	10U
4	Engages in the play instead of only watching from position	10U
5	Recognizes when a teammate needs support and moves toward her	10U
6	Reacts to the puck changing sides without a coach's cue	10U
7	Anticipates simple plays in her own zone	10U+12USEAM RUNG
8	Finds an open passing lane when a teammate has the puck	12U
9	Supports the puck carrier; basic give-and-go awareness	12U
10	Recognizes an odd-player rush but is slow to react	12U
11YOUR WINDOW	Reads odd-player rushes correctly most shifts	12U+14USEAM RUNG
12YOUR WINDOW	Holds her read under pressure instead of panicking and guessing	14U
13YOUR WINDOW	Tracks plays developing away from the puck, not only near it	14U
14YOUR WINDOW	Anticipates where to be before the puck carrier decides	14U
15YOUR WINDOW	Positions to intercept; makes the simple right play under pressure	14U+16USEAM RUNG
16	Reads the play fast enough to weigh more than one option	16U
17	Sees the second play; passes to where teammates will be	16U
18	Factors the score and time left into her decisions	16U
19	Manages game state, time, score, and matchups within her shift	16U+19USEAM RUNG
20	Manages her matchup, not just the clock and score	19U
21	Directs teammates into better ice without needing a whistle	19U
22	Adjusts the team's structure mid-shift when the read demands it	19U
23	Quarterbacks structure; teammates play better on her line	19U
24	Reads the opposing team's tendencies and exploits them before they adjust	beyond 19U
25	Reads the game at full speed; consistently a play ahead	beyond 19U

Compete — 14U’s window: rung 11 to 15 (5 of 25, marked below)
Rung	What a player at this rung can do	Age ladder (A pace)
1	Engages when the puck comes to her	below 10U
2	Moves toward loose pucks nearby; no battle yet	below 10U
3	Chases the play; avoids contact	10U
4	Stays in small puck battles instead of skating away	10U
5	Battles briefly for loose pucks before giving them up	10U
6	Keeps competing after the first bump or nudge	10U
7	Finishes the battles she starts; competes in open ice	10U+12USEAM RUNG
8	Joins puck battles along the boards, not just in open ice	12U
9	Battles on the boards when first to the puck	12U
10	Back-checks when reminded; wins occasional races to loose pucks	12U
11YOUR WINDOW	Wins her share of contested pucks; back-checks unprompted	12U+14USEAM RUNG
12YOUR WINDOW	Finishes checks and battles through contact without taking penalties	14U
13YOUR WINDOW	Wins loose-puck races against players her own size	14U
14YOUR WINDOW	Compete level does not dip in the final minute of a long shift	14U
15YOUR WINDOW	Consistent motor across all three periods	14U+16USEAM RUNG
16	Elevates her compete level late in periods	16U
17	Raises battle level in close games; blocks shots	16U
18	Holds her own on the boards against bigger players	16U
19	Wins most board battles against bigger players	16U+19USEAM RUNG
20	Wins puck battles against older or more experienced players	19U
21	Changes momentum with a single shift of relentless effort	19U
22	Teammates raise their compete level when she plays	19U
23	Sets the team's compete standard every game	19U
24	Sets the compete standard even against the toughest competition	beyond 19U
25	Relentless at elite pace; changes games through effort alone	beyond 19U