Country-wide Development - Presented by representatives of the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB)

This webinar presented two practical examples of how the German Ice Hockey Federation (DEB) supports sustainable, country-wide youth development through its clubs and creates additional development opportunities for young female players across Germany.

The first part of the webinar focused on the DEB 5-Star Youth Development Program, a central element of the German player development system. The program provides clubs with clear structural and sporting guidelines for high-quality youth development. Clubs are assessed through on-site evaluations based on a detailed set of criteria, while club developers and DEB staff support the continuous improvement of individual clubs and their development environments.

The second part explored the development pathway for young female players at the U18 regional level. Germany has launched a new program, supported by the IIHF Growing the Game Fund, to provide girls with additional opportunities to train, compete, and be identified within the national development pathway. Regional teams come together regularly, creating more consistent development opportunities and stronger connections among young female players.

In addition, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences presented its Bachelor’s and new Master’s degree programmes in English for coaches looking to continue their professional development. The presentation provided an overview of how the programmes combine coaching education, practical learning, leadership, and player development within an ice hockey environment. Participants also learned about the programme structure, study format, and opportunities available for coaches.

The webinar recording is now available to watch on our website.