„Do you want to be fast, strong, stable and hard to catch on the ice? Then you need excellent edge control. On the ice you are moving on less than 2 cm2 of steel, often gliding on a single edge in a position that requires perfect balance and coordination. When we talk about skating, if you cannot use and control your edges, you have nothing—they are the foundation of every movement on the ice, and skating efficiency magnifies every skating parameter. You may know how to skate, but only true edge work gives you acceleration, speed, power and stability…“
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.
„This program follows directly after basic technique and significantly strengthens it through its content. Edge work should be trained continuously throughout the season, but you need to know how. That is exactly what players learn in this program.“
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.
