„When you watch a game, you recognize this skill immediately. Players with hockey sense are different in a special way: they anticipate the game, read it, react and can successfully solve complex situations. That gives them an enormous advantage, not only for themselves but for their team as well. Many things can be learned, but you need to be in an environment that encourages you to think the game, feel the game and make decisions. That is exactly the environment we try to create at this camp. More and more players and parents understand the importance of this skill, which is why this camp is becoming increasingly popular.“
The training program, prepared directly by Jaromír Pytlík, is designed for young hockey players who want to improve their skills under the guidance of top skill coaches, recruited mainly from professional players or the HTA Coaching Academy. An automatic system assigns players to courses precisely by age and then to small groups within each course. Thanks to the training organization and group rotation, six coaches—specialists—work with the players during a single training session. Two head coaches lead the session and supervise the entire training process. This ensures excellent feedback and correction of mistakes for every player. In addition, players complete specific OFF-ICE training as part of the camp, with content tailored to the focus of the program. Regeneration is also crucial in such a demanding schedule, and it starts with quality nutrition. That is why HTA sports nutrition and hydration are available during the training programs under the supervision of a leading nutrition specialist. This makes the HTA training process highly effective.
„Even this complex skill can be taught, and we can deliberately provoke it through game situations. It takes time, which is why we have created a dedicated camp for it. If you want to play with your head up, use peripheral vision, anticipate, read the game and react to situations, there is no better choice.“
HTA training focuses on individual skills. It is not a week-long camp; due to the high intensity and demands, it runs for three days. The program is comprehensive and includes skill instruction, games on small and full-size ice, and specific OFF-ICE preparation.
Preliminary and indicative group division:
In the interview, Jaromír Pytlík shares his approach to developing young players, focusing on detail and finding his own paths in training. He explains why it is important to build the right habits from an early age, test new methods over the long term, and base player development on quality, patience, and a genuine understanding of hockey skills.
At the same time, he shows the principle HTA has followed for years – not doing things simply because they have always been done that way, but looking for methods that genuinely move players forward.
