About CYDA

Playmakers Hockey USA HAs BEEN based in the Greater Columbus Ohio area, with CYDA, SINCE 2013.

CYDA is proud to be the Ohio Youth Hockey Association that is the home for the players in the Elite Development Program Hockey Academy that is the successor and continuation of the Belfry Hockey Playmakers Development Program.

In 2011, NHL Skills Coach Darryl Belfry started a youth hockey Development League, based in St. Catharines, Ontario.  That league was Mr. Belfry’s determination, based on his observations as hockey skills coach to youth players such as Patrick Kane and Nathan Horton and others, and into his career as an NHL Skills coach, as to what is needed in a players developmental years to maximize players’ opportunities to reach their potential and have long term success in the sport.

Those observations and LTAD research and recommendations into effective and efficient player development have led to the development and refinement of his program from its inception in Ontario to Central Ohio.  In 2013, Mr. Belfry brought his youth training to Ohio for a one month camp that enjoyed tremendous success.  It was followed by another 4 week camp in the spring of 2014, which was followed by a full blown expansion into Ohio for the 2014-15 season.

In 2015 CYDA was formed by the parents of players in the Belfry Hockey Columbus Program.  CYDA is a non-profit hockey association created to expand opportunities for the players and parents in what is now part of the Elite Development Program (“EDP”) Hockey Academy.  The  EDP offers a high level alternative development program and structure not otherwise available in Central Ohio.

The focus of the Belfry Hockey and EDP programs is on translate-able skill set principles consistent with the appropriate physical and biological stages of youth development.  Players in the EDP Program practice on average two to three times a week, and throughout the year play “theme games” where they are asked to implement a practice theme into a game situation.  Practice to game ratio is approximately 3 hours of practice for each game day, consistent with LTAD research and recommendations for the players in the Program.

Cameras are on hand at virtually all games and many practices to allow for visual feedback and teaching.   From the skills practiced, games are subject to a measurable training to game transfer analysis.  Essentially, the players in the program are involved in a fun, season long progressive development and performance plan.

Skills are taught in proper development order.  Players, in turn, are expected to immediately transfer what they are learning from practice directly in the games, without fear of failure.  Performance in games is not measured by goals or points, and success is not dictated by the scoreboard.  Instead the players are asked to recognize game conditions when the skill sets they are learning can be applied to a game situation.  Game video is analyzed to provide an objective measure of each players unique development path.

The frequency in which a player can either recognize a game situation in which he or she can use the skill set is vital because long term it allows that player to learn how to manipulate games to better arrange the conditions in which they can execute the skill set. The ultimate goal for any player who aspires to be the best they can, is the ability to dictate the outcome of the game.

By shifting the focus from points and the score board (a short term goal) to development (long term learning) without the external negative pressures of a win-now mindset, the EDP Hockey Academy skills training allows the players to be better focused on a sustainable and more effective development path.  As players’ skills and confidence grows, they learn to manipulate on ice conditions and recognize opportunities to utilize specific skill sets.  This, the professional instruction, and objective personal feedback the players receive are ‘next level’ opportunities exclusive to the players inside the Elite Development Program and CYDA.

Darryl Belfry

Mr. Belfry is an NHL skills coach retained by numerous NHL and AHL players to teach foundational skills.  In late 2014, Mr. Belfry was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs as part of their overhaul under Brendan Shanahan and has added Player Consultant to the Leafs to his impressive resume.  Darryl has personally trained the lead instructors in the program (including having them participate in his off season pro and junior camps and training sessions), flying to Columbus for personal training and having his instructors as guests at the Belfry Hockey Coaching workshops and training sessions across the country.  Darryl has overseen coaching education because he believes that having great, informed and driven local coaches  has immediate and long term benefits to the Central Ohio players and families we serve.  Darryl’s vision of player development has driven the program goals and he has personally developed the high level metrics used throughout the season for CYDA players.