Q&A – How Young is Too Young for Serious Travel Hockey?
All parents want to give their child the very best. However, placing too much emphasis on travel hockey at a young age may do more harm than good for young players. In the following article, John Shorey, author of the Hockey Made Easy instruction manual and President of an Ontario junior ‘B’ hockey league, addresses a reader submitted question regarding this very subject.Theresa asks: For too many parents travel hockey seems not to be a game to teach life values, but a way to pay for college. What is your opinion on the trend towards parents putting too much emphasis on hockey at an early age and spending so much time and money on playing year round? It seems to me that often it is more about the parent’s hopes of creating a superstar. At what age should any parent start to really consider whether their child may have the talent to play at a serious level, and can a parent really make their child into a great player? My thought is that just because a kid is really great as a Squirt or Pee Wee that is not a predictor of future success. What is your take on this?
Answer: Many parents put too much emphasis on travel hockey at an early age and spend a lot of time and money to have their kids play hockey year round. I believe players between 5 and 12 years of age need a break from hockey just to rejuvenate. They should be playing soccer, Little League baseball, taking up golf, swimming or other activities during the summer months. Attending a summer hockey camp for one week is fine, but playing hockey nearly 12 months of the year is too much.
Many players between 5 and 12 years of age are very good players and some might even score 5 goals a game, but this is not a true predictor of future success. Some will become great Junior players but the majority will not. Parents must realize there is very little forechecking, backchecking or aggressive bodychecking in these younger age groups. Players are competing against players in their own age group, not older or more experienced players. The best skaters and puckhandlers usually dominate until the end of Pee Wee.
The real competition begins in Bantam and Midget hockey, when players are bigger, faster, stronger, meaner and smarter. If child can still dominate in the 13 to 15 year old age groups, parents might start considering their child may have the talent to play serious hockey at the Junior hockey level.
If a player has the size, speed, skill, courage, determination and smarts to play Junior hockey and can hold his own and even excel against bigger 18, 19, 20 and 21 year old players, he has taken a giant step toward playing Junior “A”, or even Major Junior “A” hockey. If the child plays very well in Junior “A” many will be offered a college scholarship.
Regarding whether a parent can really make their child into a great player, my answer might surprise you. Yes, I do believe parents can make their child a great player. They can help guide their children between 5 and 12 years of age. They spend more time with their children than coaches and can explain/teach the basic rules, skills, systems and strategies of hockey. However, the child must be self motivated and want to become the very best hockey player he is able.
Players must understand hockey before they can excel. They can learn from their parents at a young age how and why to forecheck and backcheck, where to be positioned for a clearing/breakout play, how to score and prevent goals and the strategy of the power play and penalty killing. They will be ahead of the competition and potentially on their way to becoming a very good to outstanding hockey player with this knowledge.
As players turn 13 they start to turn a deaf ear to their parents teaching. They need a new hockey voice to take them to the next level. An experienced coach and playing in a competitive “AA” or “AAA” travel league will be required for the future development of their hockey skills. The cream will rise to the top and several will become good junior player. The great ones will have college recruiters knocking on their door.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to John Shorey for this answer.
How Do You Deal with a Negative Coach?
Last week we asked you to share how you deal with a negative coach. The individual who provided the best answer would win a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. You came through with flying colors, offering such great advice, we couldn’t narrow the winner down to just one. As a result this week’s contest has two winners! Congratulations to Deb Gonzalez and Jeremy Colarelli for providing the following winning responses:Deb said: My answer to your question is to change the focus. Unless you happen to live in a town with only one team, hockey players can generally choose which teams they want to try for (or in the case of rec., sign-up with). If you already know a certain coach's demeanor is not a good fit for your child, don't try for his team. Let me also point out, we are not talking about abusive coaches here, just one with a negative personality. I propose that what may be a "negative" and non-motivating approach for one child may be exactly the style another child strives under.
We like to talk about hockey as being a fun game that teaches life skills to kids. Could there be a life lesson in learning to cope with a negative coach? I say, “Yes!” After all, as adults we have to deal with all kinds of personalities, including the “negative” ones, in our daily lives whether at work or in our neighborhoods. I suggest parents maintain open lines of communication with their kids to help them to learn to deal with the disagreeable personality.
None of us wants our children to be stuck in uncomfortable situations, but with encouragement from you, it could be a real boost to the emotional development of your child. Help him to recognize that people have different temperaments and, as long as certain lines aren’t crossed, it is just all a part of what makes life interesting. Help them to look for the things that give him joy at the rink, such as the friendships, the skillful plays, the thrill of competition, the physical training and more. And, reassure them that if the coach remains a bad fit after the child has met his team commitment for the season, he may try out for a different coach the next time.
As for your own dealing with a negative coach, we do not always know what other people are going through. When possible encourage and thank your coach for their efforts, show concern for his troubles and try to find something to praise in him. Most importantly, keep a genuine smile on your own face and it might just become contagious!
Jeremy shared: Communication FIRST! If your player's coach doesn't understand the situation, they cannot fix it. It is also imperative that you remove your emotions from the situation before you communicate with the coach. Going into a discussion with a level head will give you the answers you need, anger and other strong emotions will only cloud your better judgment.
Once you have communicated with your coach, there is some self-evaluation that needs to occur within your family. Does the solution meet your satisfaction? What can we do as our player's support to better the situation? Is the coach's solution to your problem good for your player and good for your team?
Hockey is a very unique sport in that it is as much an individual sport as it is a team sport. Everything your player does contributes to or hurts the team. Prepare to ask yourself "Is this sport really for us?" If there is any confusion, I would suggest sitting with your child and asking what they really want to get from their hockey experience.
The important thing to remember is that every family has options. Unfortunately, some of those options are not pleasant. If there are multiple teams in your age division, moving teams is an option. If your child's age division has no other teams to move to, your options are to either tolerate the "bad coach" for a season, or leave hockey for a season, or for good. I am not one to start my child into a season only to pull them out because of conflict. I personally think doing so would send a horrible message.
Board members are always interested in hearing from their members. What Board members do not want to hear is petty complaining, but well thought out ideas and objections to the direction their organizations are headed. There definitely is a chain of command and each club is different. Be sure to ask questions first, complain after listening to the answers, and remember that we are all here for our children first and our teams a very close second.
Editor’s Note: Congratulations to Deb Gonzalez and Jeremy Colarelli for their winning answers. As a thank you for their input, HockeyShot.com is giving both Deb and Jeremy a $50 gift certificate. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
Create Your Own Hockey Training Room with Flooring Tiles
HockeyShot Floor Tiles are a new training aid that helps players create their own training room while simulating the feel of the ice surface. So are they worth it? Here’s our our review of the HockeyShot Flooring Tiles:Overview: The HockeyShot Flooring Tiles are a new training aid that help players (youth and adult) with their off-ice shooting and stickhandling practice. These hockey tiles snap together easily to create a simulated training surface.
Purpose: Players can use the Flooring Tiles to practice off-ice shooting or stickhandling skills. One key benefit of using the tiles is that they prevent your hockey stick blade from the damage that can comes from concrete or paved surfaces.
Price: $10.95 per tile
Hockey Shot Floor Tile Features: The tiles are made of a synthetic composite which replicates the feeling of the ice surface. The tiles can be used on driveways, cement floors or almost any other surface. The tiles work with any puck or ball. Here are more details about the HockeyShot Floor Tiles:
- Creates a slippery and smooth material for stickhandling, shooting and passing
- Each tile measures 18” x 18” (2.25 square feet) and are 1/2″ thick
- Comes with 2 beveled edge pieces for ease in puck loading
- Attach to each other easily to assemble entire hockey flooring area in minutes
- Perfect for the garage, basement or driveway
- Frosted white color simulates real ice
Final period: The Hockey Shot Flooring Tiles are a valuable training tool that allows you to customize your own shooting pad or create your own hockey training room. The tiles give players of all ages a training aid that allows the to them practice while preventing wear and tear on sticks. For more information on the The Hockey Shot Flooring Tiles , please visit HockeyShot.com.
Editor’s Note: For a limited-time, when you use the code “teamcares″ at HockeyShot.com, you will receive 10% off any purchase.
Is Your Athlete Suffering from Over Training?
Today’s child athlete is pushed and pulled in many directions. While being involved in extra curricular activities helps build a well rounded child and athlete, it can also lead to serious over training issues. The following article discusses the many stressors in a child’s life than can lead to over training concerns.General over training syndromes impact both the central nervous system as well as the endocrine system. Given that the regulation of many hormones within the endocrine system serve to oversee and manage stress levels, it is fair to imply that general over training could be considered a stress related issue.
Two types of general over training have been recognized:
Addisonic Over training - This version is related to Addison’s disease and involves a reduction in the activity of the adrenal glands. This class of over training impacts the parasympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system, but shows no striking signs at first. A general stagnation or dip in an athlete’s performance (day-to-day) may be an indication or symptom.
Basedowic Over training - This version is connected to thyroid hyperactivity and named after Basedow’s disease (also known as Graves’ disease). This class of over training impacts the sympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system and brings with it a host of identifiable symptoms (reduced reaction time, tire easily, poor motivation, appetite and sleep requirement changes).
When considering these definitions it is imperative to take a closer look at our athletes when they walk in the door and remember that the symptoms associated with over training can be very subtle. Additionally, other emotional stressors can add to over training issues. Simple things such as conflicts with friends, difficulty with school subjects and upcoming tests can all add to the impact of over training.
While they may seem like no big deal to an adult, it is important to think back to your school days and remember that some or all of these issues can be devastating to a kid and feel insurmountable.
In addition to psychological stressors, there are physical ones outside of practice that can cause additional fatigue. Perhaps in gym class, your athlete has to run two miles for the school’s standardized testing requirements and then had to perform push-ups, sit-ups and rope climbing and then they have hockey practice after school. This can add greatly to a player’s fatigue without a coach even knowing.
This is why it is crucial for a coach to generate close relationships with his athletes and ask them how they are - take 5 minutes to learn about what’s going on in their lives today. How do they feel? How was school? How are classes? Understanding athletes as people allows a coach to better guide their programming.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Brian Grasso for this important information.
Grow the Game Initiative Announces HockeyShot as Founding Sponsor
The Grow the Game Initiative has announced HockeyShot as a founding sponsor.HockeyShot, which is one of the largest online specialty retailers of hockey training equipment in North America, has announced their support of the Grow the Game Initiative. JP Brun, Co-Founder of HockeyShot stated, “We are so pleased to be a part of the Grow the Game Initiative and applaud their work in building excitement in youth hockey programs throughout the U.S. We are delighted to help in their efforts to develop an interest and passion in young players that will continue to grow throughout their lives.”
One key focus of the partnership will be HockeyShot’s support of each state’s Grow the Game programs. Hockey Shot will support the Initiative by offering regular reviews of hockey training equipment as well as providing prizes for various promotional contests within the program.
“We are thrilled to have HockeyShot on board with the Grow the Game Initiative. Their knowledge of the training tools that will help players develop skills provides a valuable source of information to our readers. They are a top-notch organization and we are excited to work with them as we Grow the Game of hockey across the United States,” TK Stohlman, President of the Youth Sports Coalition stated.
Future plans for the HockeyShot and Grow the Game partnership include working together to increase player participation and player recruitment. Other plans include local state contests to increase hockey participation as well as development of Grow the Game materials to help parents improve the youth hockey experience for kids.
About Hockey Shot
HockeyShot has become one of the largest online specialty retailers of hockey training equipment in North America, carrying an excellent selection at competitive prices and priding itself on customer service and satisfaction. They offer hockey training instructions, videos, tips and other hockey resources. HockeyShot manufactures some of its own products under the HockeyShot brand and is a distributor for many other products. For more information on HockeyShot, visit their website at www.HockeyShot.com.
About Grow the Game Initiative
The Grow the Game Initiative is a national program to grow the game of hockey across the U.S. Founded by the Youth Sports Coalition the Grow the Game Initiative’s goal is to grow the game of hockey so that all players learn life lessons through hockey participation.
Editor's Note: For more information on the Grow the Game Initiative, click here...
How to Prevent Your Child From Choking Under Pressure
There are times when competition gets the best of even the most seasoned athlete. If a pro, who is at the top of his game developmentally feels the heat, how much more intense is it for our children? In the following interview, Executive Editor, TK Stohlman and Clinical Child Psychologist and Certified Sports Psychologist, Dr. Darrell Burnett, discuss how to prevent your child from choking under pressure.Stohlman: What are some of the keys for parents to keep kids from freezing up in pressure situations?
Dr. Burnett: I think what we have to do is take a step back and view how you’re looking at youth sports in general. Consider a little league baseball game. A kid gets up to bat and his parents are sitting behind home plate within yelling distance. The parent instructs the child to get his shoulder up or watch his stance and it gets the player all psyched up and tense. The key to performing well is to relax. So if the atmosphere is tense then the child is going to pick that up.
I think the key is the word competition. If you want to try to take the pressure off, then get the your child to understand the meaning of the word competition. Sparky Anderson, a coach from a long time ago, once said time ”Competition is wonderful. The problem is what we as adults do with it when we deal with kids.” We make the competition the be-all end-all rather than competition for competition sake. The word competition comes from two Latin words meaning to seek a prize with someone. In essence, my opponent is seeking the same prize as I am. I am out there trying to do my best and the opponent is trying to do his best in search of the prize. And, if I win it is because my best was best on that day.
Sammy Lee was the first Asian-American diver to win an Olympic medal. I had a chance to talk to him about a couple of divers with whom I’ve been working. Sammy was saying when he works with divers he gets them to grasp the concept of competition that I just mentioned. He said if you come in second, all that means is that on that day you were able to bring out the best in one other person by your effort. His best on that day happened to be better than yours - just for that day. Who knows what will happen tomorrow. If you look at it that way, then you’re not putting so much pressure on yourself.
I have a picture in my office of three girls from the USA soccer team. They won the silver medal in the Olympics. The headline for the picture in the newspaper was “Settling for Silver.” The mentality is there is no place for second place. If that idea is conveyed to a kid, then the pressure is going to be on. What we want is a kid who’s excited about competition. It’s thrilling and he really enjoys it because it brings out the best in him, but he’s not going to fall apart. If he makes a mistake, then he makes a mistake.
Stohlman: When you talk about freezing up, parents look at it as it is the kid who’s freezing up or choking, versus it is the on the parent to create the atmosphere to let them know that failing is okay.
Dr. Burnett: Exactly. All the research shows that the performers who are in the zone and do well as peak performers are relaxed. Because when you relax, your skills come through. If the kid is going up there tight as a drum and everybody is on him, that is pressure and that is not good for kids.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Darrell Burnett for this excellent advice.
Tell Us About Your Most Successful Fundraiser
Last week we asked you to share your most successful fundraising effort. The individual who provided the best answer would win a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. We received many great money making ideas. Congratulations to Amy Kowalski for providing the following winning response:Amy said: One of our most successful activities last season was a gift basket raffle. We had businesses donate a variety of items (some big, some small) and we assembled them into 14 different baskets.
We had several sports-based baskets with tickets to upcoming games, shirts, hats and other items and we had some with other themes like coffee and chocolate, pets, car care, spa items, etc. The baskets ranged in value with some baskets worth over $500.
In order to raffle the baskets off, tickets were sold - 2 tickets for $5, 5 tickets for $10, or 20 tickets for $20. The event raised well over $1,000 for our team which gave us the ability to reduce the last payment for everyone on the team.
Editor's Note: To increase your earnings on this fundraiser, consider raising ticket prices, basket value or number of baskets included. Congratulations to Amy Kowalski for her winning answer. As a thank you for her answer, HockeyShot.com is giving Amy a $50 gift certificate to HockeyShot.com. Want to win this week's prize? Be sure to click here for the latest Grow the Game contest.
How to Use Recruiting Dates to Your Advantage
An important part of the recruiting process centers around key dates - ranging from the first time a college coach can officially write a prospect, or the first time they can call a potential recruit, all the way to the official signing day. These dates shape the timeline for the recruiting process that millions of student-athletes go through each year. Unfortunately, some families use their knowledge of these important dates incorrectly, or at least fail to maximize the value of their knowledge.The good news is that the majority of families properly use recruiting dates to gauge their progress. For example, if a junior prospect receives 50 handwritten letters on September 1st, they should view that as a good sign that the process has been a relative success up until that point. Conversely, a prospect who opens an empty mailbox on the same date should view that as a need to make a change in their recruiting approach. I think most families understand this application of recruiting date knowledge. However, while gauging progress after the occurrence of these dates is helpful, the families who succeed in the process utilize forward thinking prior to important dates to make sure they are in the right position.
Imagine a football prospect, in the middle of summer, entering junior year. After doing some research, the prospect understands that September 1st will be an important day in the recruiting process. Using this knowledge, the prospect and his family formulate a proactive game plan to reach out to more than 100 realistic college programs to alert them of his abilities and interests. As a result, on September 1st when the prospect goes to the mailbox, it is full of letters from various college coaches. Essentially, the prospect planned his recruiting process with knowledge of future dates rather than the reverse.
Too many college athlete hopefuls wait for the important dates to come along and then realize they are behind before they formulate a proactive game plan. This is not how recruiting dates should be used. Families must study the important recruiting dates for their individual sport, plan them out on a calendar and then make sincere efforts prior to those dates to ensure they are on track.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to NCSA for this article.
Total Hockey Announces Special for Hockey Families
Total Hockey has announced a special for all hockey families. For a limited time when you visit TotalHockey.net and use the code GTGSAVE10, you will receive 10% off any order. (Some Restrictions May Apply). To take advantage of this offer and visit TotalHockey.net, please click here.
Q&A: How Do I Deal With Out of Control Hockey Parents?
One of the important elements of team sports are the relationships that form between the parents. Often times the camaraderie of parents in the bleachers is just as strong as that of the players. However, sometimes a few unruly parents can make it difficult for the rest. In this article, Former NHL player and founder of SweetHockey and OnlineStickhandling.com, Lance Pitlick, offers advice on how to control the out of control parent.
Sean asks: It amazes me how parents will sit there and bad mouth a kid’s performance on the ice not knowing the parent of that child is sitting near them. I constantly wonder what happened to playing a sport for fun, for learning what it is to be a teammate and to learn how to win and lose with dignity and respect. My son plays hockey because it is fun for him. We have no grand plans for him to play hockey in college or the NHL. I am sure he will want to continue play at the high school level. I just need to isolate myself from some of the obnoxious parents who ruin the whole game experience for me. Is there some other way to deal with this type of parent, and how do we keep this from affecting the general attitude and tenor of the team dynamic?
Answer: I’m always puzzled by how some parents act at a hockey rink. I wonder why they can’t see how ridiculous they look. I’ve often wondered if there is a medical term that explains this disorder? Something like “I’mafreakshowhockeyparentsyndrome” With noticeable symptoms that include: uncontrollable inappropriate verbal outbursts directed towards hockey players, coaches or referees. The behavior is only exhibited at a hockey rink and mysteriously disappears upon exiting the building.
All kidding aside, this is a serious problem and needs to be addressed immediately. From what I’ve learned as a coach thus far, communication is the most important factor, both with the players and their parents. The more transparent I am regarding my coaching philosophy, goals for the year and expectations of players and parents, the more informed everyone is. This eliminates any uncertainty and having to answer questions throughout the season.
I start every season with a player/parent meeting. This is where I lay out everything that will happen throughout the year. Players know exactly what is expected of them both on and off the ice, but more importantly, they understand the consequences if these expectations are not met. Parents have a similar set of rules or code of conduct. I leave some time at the end of the meeting to answer any questions. When we walk out of that meeting, there is a clear plan regarding the goals for the team, rules that need to be followed and the consequences for behavioral misconduct. This takes some preparation, but a little sweat equity early in the year will pay big dividends as the season progresses. Players and parents need structure and this is an easy way to set the tone for the season.
My last suggestion would be the use of video. Roughly 60% of the population is visual when learning. What this means is that visual learners don’t absorb information when told verbally. They need to see it for them to fully understand. I’ve used video footage of practice or games as a teaching tool when coaching players. I can explain to a player what they should do differently and nothing changes, however, once they see it on the big screen, the effectiveness is very powerful. I’d suggest this as a teaching tool for one of those goof-ball parents. A video showing the parent in action may be enough to eliminate the unwanted behavior.
Hockey is the player’s game, not the parent’s. Let’s focus on all the life lessons it teaches and the personal growth potential it provides.
Editor’s Note: Thank you to Lance Pitlick for his valuable advice. For more information about Lance please visit www.sweethockey.com or www.onlinestickhandling.com.
