8U DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
LEARN THE GAME. LOVE THE GAME.
The Nashville Jr. Predators are ecstatic to provide an opportunity for the youngest players of the Nashville Hockey Market. We emphasize skating, skills, compete, confidence, and most importantly fun. Our practices will push the players out of their comfort zone. The first window for speed development is from 5-8 years old. Our Coaching staff will encourage players to skate hard in every drill. We believe it is extremely important at this young age to learn good habits and focus on the ice during practice. This culture will make practices FUN as well as improve the players love for the game of Hockey! The Nashville Jr. Predators Mite Development Program is proud USA Hockey Sanctioned program.
8u Evaluations
August 27th | Ford Ice Center - Antioch
Structure
Most games will be played at half-ice, although some games may be played cross-ice or ¾ ice depending on the event. The goal is to improve creativity and for players to learn to compete in small area puck battles as the game has evolved into a faster and more skilled game. The concept of cross ice hockey was to eliminate position specific training. Half Ice hockey should allow players to be creative and it should force them to always be moving in tight spaces.
Any game played will be USA Hockey sanctioned. We believe the USA Hockey ADM model provides the best opportunity for Mite players to receive the touches, repetition, and confidence they need to develop skills and have fun playing the game.

Practices
Two to Three (60 min) Practices Weekly (Monday – Thursday). Most practices will consist of heavy skill specific and skating specific training with small area games and a lot of fun. We will train in both small area and full ice practices.
All practices will be held at FIC Bellevue, Antioch, and the Hockey Lab in Franklin, TN.

Games
We will compete in typically 1-2 jamboree or tournament style weekend games a month (October through March). All jamborees will ensure no hotel stays required for any family and minimal travel. Tournaments will consist of home events in Nashville, 1 tournament in Knoxville, TN and 1 tournament in Huntsville, AL. All teams will end our season with our year-end NJP Mite Jam at Bridgestone Arena, home of the Nashville Predators.

Includes
2-3 Weekly Practices
Off-Ice Training
Professional Coaching
Tournament & Jamboree Fees
Jr Predators Jerseys & Socks
End of Year Bridgestone Mite Jam