6U/8U Development Program

CCJHA groups and develops players using the USA Hockey Red, White, and Blue (RWB) Development Model for our 6U and 8U program.

This model is a core part of USA Hockey's American Development Model (ADM) and is designed specifically for 8U players. In this program, the colors represent a player's current skill level, which is how we group the kids for practices and games:

• Red Group: Advanced players who demonstrate higher skill, speed, and hockey sense.
• White Group: Intermediate players who have mastered the basics and are developing more advanced skating and puck control.
• Blue Group: Beginner players focusing heavily on fundamental skating, balance, and introductory puck skills.

Grouping players with peers of similar ability ensures that every child gets the right level of challenge. It keeps advanced players pushed to their limits, while giving beginners the time, space, and confidence they need to fall in love with the game.

Our primary goal this season is maximum fun, maximum puck touches, and continuous development for every single child, regardless of their starting color.

At the end of the day, the most important measure of our success isn’t the color group your child starts in or where they finish—it is that they leave the ice with a smile on their face, an improved set of skills, and a deeper love for the game. We want every player to have so much fun this season that they cannot wait to lace up their skates and come back next year.