Williams Lake will play host to one of three regional 2013 Female U16 High Performance hockey camps in January.
The camp, scheduled for Jan. 5-6 at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex, has been established to introduce eligible athletes to high performance hockey focusing on both on- and off-ice aspects of the game.
In an effort to emulate national and international women’s hockey competitions, eligible players are invited to their zone’s U16 camp.
At the zone camps all player are given the opportunity to represent their zones at the U16 High Performance provincial competition.
There is a large learning component to the U16 Zone Camps. The players will be coached and evaluated by High Performance staff members and given lessons on proper warm up technique, nutrition, strength and conditioning and game play. The importance of fitness is stressed as well as the need to have a year long training plan in place.
The U16 level is the second stage of the Female High Performance Program. It builds on the concepts introduced at the U14 level and is intended as a lead in to the final phase of the program, the U18 level. From the athletes’ perspective the U16 level includes both on and off ice components. On-ice, the focus is on individual and team tactics necessary to be successful at the high performance level. Off-ice training and information includes proper warm up and cool down techniques, nutrition for high performance athletes, strength and conditioning, mental preparation and fitness testing. The need for a yearly plan that incorporates all of the on and off ice components is stressed as the athlete transitions from the Learning to Train phase to the Training to Train phase of the Long Term Athlete Development Model.
All eligible athletes are encouraged to attend the camp in their zone. Along with the on and off ice content noted above, there is an important evaluation component to the camps. High performance evaluators and team staff will select zone teams at the conclusion of the camps. Selected athletes will advance as a team to the provincial competition which alternates yearly between the BC Cup and the BC Winter Games.
Every other year BC Hockey partners with the BC Games society making it possible for successful players from the Female U16 Zone Development Camps to compete in the BC Winter Games. The Female U16 program alternates years between the U16 BC Cup and the Winter Games. In 2013, the program will compete in the U16 BC Cup.
