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Foundations Program

Canada School Hockey Team Training

The ages of 8 to 13 are scientifically proven to be critical for athletic and academic development

The U9-U13 Foundations Program at UNISUS is a transformative initiative for young scholar-athletes, designed to build a strong foundation in athletic excellence, academic achievement, habits for a healthy mind and body, and essential 21st-century skills. This critical developmental phase, from ages 8 to 13, is characterized by rapid physical, cognitive, and emotional growth, making it the perfect time to nurture future leaders both on and off the ice.

Cash-In On The Golden Age

"Science Shows That Early Skill Development Is The Key For Future Success in Hockey.  Yet there is a culture to chase the game" - see detailed article here in USA Hockey Magazine. 

From 8 to 13 years of age might be the most important period in a young athlete’s development. Dubbed “The Golden Age of Skill Acquisition,” a child’s body is far enough along in its growth, but brain development is still happening at a rapid pace. 

Based on years of physical studies and research, at no other point are children better suited to acquire early core hockey skills that will prepare them for what lies ahead. What this means is that physically, cognitively, emotionally and mentally, athletes at this age are most receptive to building the base of skills that will set the stage for long-term success in hockey.

From a motor skill perspective, what takes 300 repetitions at this young age to learn correctly, will take 3,000-5,000 repetitions in later years to un-learn if learnt incorrectly in the formative years.

REGISTER NOW - UNISUS FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM

Program Components

1. Hockey Skill Mastery

Our program prioritizes foundational hockey skills with an emphasis on:

  • Technical precision through 2.5 hours of weekly skills training and twice weekly strength and conditioning.
  • Building muscle strength and memory to ensure proper technique and injury prevention.
  • Enhancing game intelligence and team-play readiness.
     

2. Holistic Athlete Development

We go beyond physical training to develop well-rounded athletes by integrating:

  • A multi-sport approach to physical development, keeping sports development varied and fun.
  • Not only strength and conditioning, but a holistic motorskills program focused on speed, movement skill, strength, power, endurance, mobility, as well as injury prevention and recovery. 
  • Our Perform Better Program - sleep, eat, think, move, live better program including mental focus and distraction management training.

3. Academic Excellence

To ensure a strong foundation for academic success, we focus on:

  • A Numeracy and Literacy Accelerator program provides tailored learning support to advance students at their own pace, with no grade imposed limit on progression.
  • Learning program which caters to the learners' individual style of learning and unique areas of strength and growth potential.
  • Individualized assistance to address areas of learning difficulty, ensuring a powerful academic foundation for middle and senior years.

4. 21st-Century Skill Development

With 80% of future job success tied to soft skills, our program emphasizes:

  • Developing self-awareness and proficiency in 12 key soft skills, including communication, critical thinking, courage, resilience, ethics and leadership.
  • Emotional intelligence and self-awareness, teamwork and conflict resolution, and goal-setting and self-discipline practice development.
  • Digital literacy and on-line profile management, for a healthy mind, and building an online profile which opens - not closes - doors.

Get started!!

At UNISUS, we recognize that private education is not affordable to everyone.  We are interested in attracting the right students into the program, that have their eye on NCAA College Hockey, which requires a powerful foundation in both academics and as a player.  This is why we offer customized scholarships to attract the right students and families while balancing affordability, opening up the Scholar-Athlete pathway to more students in the community. 

$325,000 Scholarship Pool!  To apply, sign up for a full trial day including ID skate and academic assessment

When:

  • January 13th, 2025

  • Or future dates (please inquire)

Schedule:

  • DROP OFF: Parents drop off students at UNISUS by 8:30
  • Morning part 1: Welcome. The making of a great scholar-athlete!
  • BREAK
  • Morning part 2: Core numeracy and literacy assessment
  • Morning part 3: Students join a project in their respective grade
  • LUNCH
  • Afternoon part 1: ID skate
  • Afternoon part 2: Perform Better in Life - what does it take?
  • PICK UP: Parents pick up students at UNISUS at 3:30

Evaluation Process:

  1. Academic Assessment: (Core Literacy and Numeracy) to assess qualification for academic scholarship (on the trial day).
  2. I.D. Skate: to assess qualification for athletic scholarship (on the trial day).
  3. Affordability Index: Families complete a confidential financial evaluation through a trusted third party to determine affordability (post trial day). 
  4. Customized Offer:  Families receive a UNISUS offer letter, and are provided 21 days to accept the offer (upon completion of steps 1-3).

Join us in building the next generation of scholar-athletes who will lead with skill, determination, and purpose.

REGISTER NOW - UNISUS FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM