About Coach Sarah
Coach Sarah grew up playing hockey with the Aurora Tigers before joining the Panthers organization early on in her career. She then played with the North York Storm and Willowdale Red Wings before the collegiate level. At the collegiate level, she played NCAA Division III at New England College for four years where she recorded 130 total career points. She was named ECAC East All-Academic Team twice, ECAC Rookie of the Week three times, ECAC East All-Tournament Team, New England College Rookie of the Year, and New England College Most Valuable Player and led the team as Captain her senior year.
Coach Sarah graduated from New England College in 2010 with a degree in Education with a concentration in Special Education. She is currently a Complex Needs Mental Health teacher in York Region. Coach Sarah brings over 30 years of playing experience. This past season Coach Sarah has lead the U13A Team, as well as supported one of the U18 teams, lead all of the House League Skill Development Sessions, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for CYGHA. She is passionate about empowering young women and girls through the game of hockey to build confidence, develop as a hockey player, and create a welcoming environment that is inclusive of all. Sarah believes in the importance of giving back to the game that has given her so much. She is excited to welcome your child onto the ice this season!
U15A Development Plan 2025/2026 Season
In following Long-Term Athlete Development Model (LTAD), U15 age athletes are entering into the “Train to Train” phase of the Long-Term Player Development Model (LTPD). At this stage, players are refining advanced technical skills, enhancing individual and team tactics, developing position-specific competencies, and increasing their capacity for structured competition. Physical literacy continues to be important, but athletes are also now introduced to structured off-ice training, mental preparation, and sport-specific decision-making. Our U15A development plan follows the Hockey Canada Player Development Pyramid, the OWHA Development Guidelines, and integrates the Central York Girls Hockey Association (CYGHA) skills rubrics. The focus is on holistic development—physical, tactical, cognitive, and emotional—to prepare players for future success at the AA level and beyond.
TEAMGOALS:
· Foster a love for the game while maintaining a high-performance mindset.
· Support each athlete in reaching their individual potential through skill development and hockey sense.
· Develop structured team systems while emphasizing adaptability and creativity.
· Prioritize individual skill refinement in game-relevant situations.
· Increase game awareness, communication, and anticipation through small area games and video sessions.
· Build a strong, accountable team culture rooted in respect, work ethic, leadership, and commitment.
· Develop resilience, focus, and a growth mindset in high-pressure moments.
· Promote physical literacy, proper off-ice habits, and injury prevention strategies.
· Ensure each athlete understands their role and path for development
· Continue to develop player's passion for the game of hockey.
· Have fun
During the U15 stage of development, my coaching staff and I shift the focus toward refining advanced individual technical skills while placing a greater emphasis on individual and team tactics, position-specific development, and game situational awareness. These skills remain the foundation of each player's growth but are now applied in more complex, high-pressure environments that mirror game conditions. We also recognize the continued importance of multi-sport participation for overall athletic development, coordination, and injury prevention.
In alignment with Hockey Canada’s Player Development Pyramid, it's critical that athletes continue building on their technical base while developing the tactical awareness and team play concepts necessary for higher levels of performance. At the U15 level, players are expected to apply individual skills within the context of structured team systems, while adapting quickly to game flow and making decisions under pressure.
We incorporate small-area games, controlled scrimmages, and video review to promote hockey IQ, creativity, and problem-solving. These elements ensure players are not just technically proficient, but also tactically intelligent and mentally prepared for competition.
The season is divided into three distinct phases:
Prep/Evaluation and Development Phase
Regular Season Phase
Playoff/Tournament Phase
Each phase involves a targeted focus—starting with conditioning and foundational skill work, building toward full team system implementation, and culminating in competitive readiness for playoffs. While the emphasis may shift slightly throughout the year, the consistent thread remains: developing well-rounded, intelligent, and resilient hockey players ready to take the next step in their hockey journey.
The fundamental skills essential for U15 level players build on the foundation developed at earlier stages and focus on the refinement and execution of skills under pressure, within game-specific and position-specific contexts. At this level, players are expected to perform consistently in competitive situations while also continuing to expand their individual capabilities and tactical awareness.
The CYGHA Panthers U15A program utilizes a comprehensive skills rubric that aligns with Hockey Canada’s player development guidelines. This rubric is a critical tool in ensuring that players are progressing in all key areas—technical, tactical, physical, and mental—while being prepared for advancement to the AA level or beyond.
When designing practice plans, the skills rubric serves as the guiding framework. It helps ensure balanced and intentional development across all areas, and supports ongoing individual assessments and targeted feedback. Practices are purposefully structured to layer skill development throughout, leading into small-area games or situational drills that encourage players to apply their skills under pressure. These game-like environments support the evolution of hockey IQ, promote fast decision-making, and challenge players to adapt to unpredictable and evolving scenarios—mirroring real game demands.
This approach ensures that players not only develop their technical abilities but also become smarter, more resilient athletes capable of contributing meaningfully in a team system.
Off-Ice Training Goals
Off-ice training becomes more structured and specific at U15. Our goals are to improve:
Speed and acceleration
Agility and balance
Strength (age-appropriate, bodyweight and resistance-based)
Core stability and mobility
Injury prevention through flexibility and movement prep
Sessions are built in alignment with Hockey Canada’s off-ice training progression for female athletes, focusing on age-appropriate load, rest/recovery, and mental resilience. Players are taught proper warm-up/cool-down routines and the basics of athletic nutrition and hydration habits.
A baseline testing session at the beginning of the year provides data for individual improvement goals, which are revisited mid-season and post-season
Safety continues to be a foundational component of player development at the U15 level, where the speed and physicality of the game increase significantly. Ensuring a safe environment means intentionally designing drills that promote situational awareness and safe play, while reinforcing body control, proper contact techniques, and respect for teammates and opponents. Players are explicitly taught how to engage physically in a controlled, responsible way—whether through angling, body contact, or net-front battles—to reduce injury risk and promote long-term player health.
At this stage, it’s essential to revisit and reinforce fundamental skills such as balance, edge control, spatial awareness, and effective communication on the ice. These not only improve performance but also help players avoid dangerous collisions and unbalanced situations.
A clearly defined Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is maintained and reviewed regularly with all coaching staff, the trainer, and parent volunteers. Ongoing communication with the team trainer ensures that injury prevention, identification, and response protocols are followed throughout the season, both at practices and in games.
At U15, clear and consistent communication is key to fostering a connected, motivated, and high-performing team. Open communication channels between coaches, players, and parents are vital for ensuring alignment on expectations, progress, and support throughout the season.
Within the coaching staff, daily communication ensures that practice goals, line combinations, tactical focuses, and player support needs are well understood. Coaches are encouraged to collaborate on practice planning, review game film, and offer insight into player development, creating a team-first approach behind the bench.
With players, we begin to shift toward more athlete-led communication. Players are taught to self-advocate, ask for feedback, and take ownership of their role and development. Regular feedback sessions, both informal and scheduled, are built into our season plan.
With parents, consistent and transparent updates help maintain trust, clarity, and engagement. Whether through a team app, regular emails, or meetings, families are kept informed about team objectives, schedules, expectations, and individual development milestones.
This collaborative and open culture supports the emotional, mental, and physical development of players while building a stronger sense of accountability and leadership within the group.
Ultimately, these efforts collectively contribute to the long-term athlete development of the players on the team.
Please feel free to reach out to me at any time with questions or concerns you may have. I am here to support you and ensure open lines of communication throughout the season.
Kindly,
Coach Sarah