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23 SEPTEMBER 2019 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM s u p p o r t l o n g - t e r m potential rather than specialize in one sport. T – Touches (Practices and Games) A t e a c h a g e l e v e l , t h e r e are prescribed numbers of ice touches to pro- vide opportuni- t i e s f o r h o c k e y development. U – Under- Training We have created a system w h e r e S q u i r t s a r e p l a y i n g more games than an NHL player. The amount of time spent on skill devel- opment and athleticism has given way to competition. V – Voluntary Program While USA Hockey strongly encourages all youth hockey associations to follow the principles of the ADM, it is still a voluntary program. W – Walpole Express It's one of 24 ADM Model Clubs that m e e t o r e x c e e d U S A H o c k e y 's p r e - scribed standards of age-appropriate, age-specific skill development at the 8 & Under, 10 & Under and 12 & Under age classifications. X – X-Ice It's a more efficient use of ice time and space, allowing more kids to be on the ice at the same time, which keeps costs down and aids in skill development through more puck handling, more shots, more saves, more goals and more fun. Y – Youth Hockey The ADM is designed for every player in youth hockey, whether that player has set his or her sights on competing at an elite level or simply wants to play for fun. Z – Zero Time To Waste In order to continue our progress as a hockey-playing nation by growing our r a n k s o f p l ay e r s a n d i n c r e a s i n g t h e number of high-level players, every youth hockey association around the country needs to adopt the principles of the ADM. IMPROVEMENT MARKED IN MANY WAYS SINCE THE ADM HIT THE ICE At its Winter Meeting in January 2009, the USA Hockey board of directors unanimously approved the launch of the American Development Model. With the backing of the National Hockey League, the ADM has become the world-leading standard for hockey development. Here are some of the many strides USA Hockey has made over the past 10 years in terms of both the quantity and quality of its homegrown players: ON THE HOMEFRONT ON THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA ON THE NHL STAGE AMERICAN MADE 13 PERCENT INCREASE in number of youth players (ages 18 and younger) 33 PERCENT INCREASE in number of 8 & Under players 37 PERCENT INCREASE in number of female players (ages 18 and younger) INCREASED RETENTION at the 10U, 12U and 14U levels younger) 25.7 PERCENT of NHL players are U.S. born 286 AMERICANS played in an NHL game during the 2018-19 season 59 AMERICANS chosen in the 2019 NHL Draft ADM X 4 CONSECUTIVE MEDALS at IIHF World Junior Championships (including gold in 2017 and silver in 2019) U.S. UNDER-18 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM has won more gold medals than any other country U.S. HAS WON more medals at the IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship than any other country