What does it mean to be a good hockey parent…

Youth hockey is a thrilling sport requiring dedication and hard work to excel for your youth hockey players and you as the hockey parent. The time commitment with travel, practices, and games is a lot for your player and for you as the parent. Whether your child is a star on the team or developing as a novice player, we have some helpful tips to guide you in being a “Good Hockey Parent.”

As a hockey parent, you play a crucial role in supporting and encouraging your child’s love for the game. Being a hockey parent is more than just attending games and practices. Be a positive role model, a cheerleader, and a mentor for your child on and off the ice. A good goal as a hockey parent is to help your child achieve their full potential on and off the ice while they develop their love of the game.

Support and Encourage Your Child

The first step in being a good hockey parent is to support and encourage your child’s love for the game. Attend their games and practices, cheer them on, and provide positive feedback. Encourage them to keep practicing and improving their skills, and let them know that you are proud of their efforts, regardless of the game’s outcome. Your hockey player is learning so many skills and honing these skills of skating, stick handling, playing position, and more… It’s a game and there should be a fun factor. If either of you are not having fun, what’s the point? The goal should be that they enjoy the sport enough to play into adulthood.

Be a Positive Role Model

Your child looks up to you and models their behavior after yours. As a hockey parent, setting a good example for your child is important. While you may be a passionate fan, remember the focus is on the kids, not the parents.

  • Ways to be a positive role model-
  •  Be respectful to the coaches, referees, and other parents
  • Avoid arguments and confrontations – with your child, coaches, opponents…
  • Show your child the importance of good sportsmanship and teamwork, and encourage them to do the same

Help Your Child Set Goals

Setting goals is an essential part of any sport, including hockey. As a hockey parent, you can help your child set realistic and achievable goals for themselves, both on and off the ice. Meet your child where they are. Encourage them to work hard, take ownership of their progress, and provide them with the support they need to achieve their goals.

Many coaches can help asses where your child is developmentally, and this may be helpful in setting attainable goals. Realistically, less than 1% of all kids playing hockey will make it to the NHL. Let your hockey player dream and let them have fun.

Provide Proper Equipment

Playing hockey requires a lot of specialized gear and growing kids. Be sure your child has the proper equipment, in the correct size to stay safe and perform their best. Make sure your child has the necessary gear, such as a helmet, shoulder pads, gloves, skates, neck guard, mouth guard… Ensure that it fits properly and is in good condition. If the gear is the incorrect size,  your child is not properly protected. Hockey equipment covers most of the body. 

  • Our best advice here is to talk with your local hockey pro shop to know the sizing and share the level of your player to assess the type and level of gear needed. You can also share your budget to assist with what equipment you can afford.
  • Some clubs have gear swaps to assist with getting the gear for the growing players at a discount. This helps with cost. Remember to check the sizing and wear of the items.

Teach Your Child Time Management

Hockey requires a significant time commitment, including practices, games, and travel time. As a hockey parent, you can help your child manage their time effectively by creating a schedule and setting priorities. Let your player know the family’s time commitment and work together to help them understand how to prioritize their schedule. Encourage them to prioritize their schoolwork and other responsibilities, and teach them the importance of balancing their time between hockey and other activities.

While hockey is an awesome sport, it is important to emphasize the importance of education. Encourage your child to prioritize their studies and set goals for their academic performance. Remind them that education is essential for their future success, both on and off the ice.

Have Fun!

Finally, it is essential to remember that hockey is a game, and the primary goal is to have fun. As a hockey parent, you can help your child enjoy the game and create lasting memories. Celebrate their successes and encourage them to learn from their mistakes. Remember that the most important thing is that your child enjoys playing hockey and feels supported by their family.

Being a good hockey parent requires dedication, support, and positive role modeling. Using these tips, you can help your child achieve their full potential on and off the ice while creating lasting memories and having fun along the way. The hockey community is a strong one, with many lifelong friendships that develop. Find other hockey parents who share your views of being a good hockey parent and you will have a great hockey season. Have fun and, we’ll see you at the rink.

___________________________________________________________________________

We hope you have an awesome hockey season! We know these tips will get you off on the right skate!

Want more tips on having a great youth hockey experience, follow us on Social Media. We share what our tournament attendees have to say and our tournament experiences and tips daily. With over 30 years of experience organizing youth hockey tournaments, we are a wealth of information in youth hockek and the go-to for a great tournament experience. We look forward to having your team participate in a Showdown Tournament!