U7 Division for the 2025-26 Hockey Season (Age groups 2020, 2019)
Hockey Canada & Ontario Hockey Federation have established national guidelines to ensure optimal development of hockey players at this crucial introductory stage.
Program Goals
• To have fun while playing hockey and engaging in physical activity.
• To learn the fundamental skills required to play the game of hockey.
• To develop and refine basic motor patterns.
• To be introduced to the concepts of cooperation and fair play.
Implementation for the 2025-26 Season
Playing Surface (REQUIREMENT)
- All U7 will be played at cross-ice or a maximum size of 100 feet by 60 feet (100x60) for the entire season.
Player Evaluations, Selections (REQUIREMENT)
- No tiering or evaluations during the off-season phase (previous season, including March through August).
- Must offer a minimum of four (4) practice/skill sessions prior to formal tiering or evaluations beginning.
- Must have a minimum of three (3) formal evaluation sessions.
Cross-Ice Game Play Rules
- 4-on-4 format.
- 60-minute game length. Two periods with a run-time clock.
- Timed buzzer or whistle for line changes, shift length not to exceed two minutes.
- Minimum of one official.
- No score, standings or stats are kept.
- Blue or black puck used.
- Net size – 3x4 or 4x6.
Fair and Equal Ice Time
- All players and goaltenders should receive fair and as close to equal as possible ice time.
- Positional Rotation:
- All players play all positions (RECOMMENDATION)
- Goaltender Rotation:
- No full-time goaltenders. (RECOMMENDATION)
- All players have the option to play goal at least once. (RECOMMENDATION)
Playoffs (REQUIREMENT)
- There are no playoffs in U7.
Seasonal Structure (REQUIREMENT)
- Preparation Phase
- See Player Evaluations/Tryouts above.
- Development Phase (up to 12 weeks)
- Teams must have a period of development time following tryouts prior to the start of the regular season.
- Development and Regular Season Phase (Up to 14 weeks)
- Recommended maximum of 25 games per year (includes exhibition, league, tournaments and jamborees) (RECOMMENDED)
- Seasonal Breaks – season should allow for two seasonal breaks of a minimum of five days without a scheduled game or mandatory practice. (RECOMMENDED)
- Tournament are Jamboree Format
- Jamboree engages players in a fun environment. Games may or may not be competitive and the emphasis is on fun and fair play, no standings are kept.
- Offseason Phase (end of season to August)
The full Player Pathways details and documents for U7 can be found here. https://www.ohf.on.ca/players/player-pathways/u7-player-pathway