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Getting the most out of the game

First ensure that your young player is properly outfitted with equipment that protects them, but allows them to be comfortable and move freely. Watch this (video) for equipment requirements and how to dress for the game. It’s also important to understand the basic rules of the game. The game can confusing for beginners, and can lead to some frustration if a player does not know why the referee has stopped play. Start with understanding the basic positions, where they line up, and where on the ice they are supposed to generally play. Then go over some of the basic rules such as offside and icing, and how players are allowed to safely use their sticks.

Getting started in hockey

Of course it’s perfectly acceptable for beginners to play the game and sign up for league play, even if they are just learning how to stand up on skates. But you may also want to develop their skating to a reasonable level before signing them up for league play. The best way to make this happen—and enjoy wonderful family time—is to attend the public skating at your local rink. There are also many learn-to-skate programs that concentrate solely on skating. You will also find many hockey schools for every age and level of development.

If you’re lucky enough to have natural ice, such as a frozen pond or river, this may be the best skating experience there is. Just ensure that the ice is at least six inches thick, and bundle up to avoid frostbite.

As for equipment, it’s not a bad idea to have your beginning skaters wear hockey gloves or thick gloves that will help protect them from falls—falling forward or backward is a natural part of learning to skate. Elbow pads are also a good idea, and hockey pants or snow pants will help protect their tailbone and posterior. As always, make sure that everyone is wearing a helmet.

Relax it’s just a game.

Don’t push too hard. Let the players enjoy the game at their own pace. Some young players just can’t get enough ice time. Others just want to attend the games and enjoy the team experience. To a degree, let them decide how much additional ice time they want. That said, if they’ve committed to a team but don’t want to attend the scheduled practices, gently explain to them that it’s important that they attend practices so that they can all increase their skills and learn to play together as a team.

In the end, it should be the child’s decision. Many parents will tell you stories of kids who’ve been pushed too hard, and simply have walked away from the game. On the other side, many will tell stories of kids whose interest builds gradually as they learn to appreciate and enjoy the game. Try to keep a positive attitude and celebrate every success and improvement.

At games, keep emotions under control. At many rinks, the parents seem to worry more about wins and losses than the kids. The kids can quickly brush off a loss, but parents can add to the stress and concentration of winning and losing. Let the kids enjoy the game. They’ll win some and they’ll lose some. Also, hockey is refereed in the early years by young inexperienced referees who are going to make mistakes. Kids watch and learn from the parents in the stands. So try and control emotions when the referee makes an error—it happens. Let it go, and let the kids enjoy the game in a stress-free environment.

Get fuelled for the game.

Make sure that your child has the nutritional energy needed to play the game. This requires the right amount of food energy (calories) and liquids. Keep in mind that players should not eat a large meal within an hour or two of game time. Pasta, rice and other carbohydrates consumed a few hours before the game offer the energy and calories that allow them to play a full game with lots of energy. Players can get dehydrated quite quickly, so have them drink 10-12 ounces of water and/or juice a half hour or so before the game. It is important to hydrate (drink) before the game, as well as having sufficient fluids during the game, so equip your young player with his or her own water bottle—sharing among team mates can spread colds and other ailments.

It's more than just goals and penalties.

To get the most out of the game, it’s important to remember that in addition to providing exercise and skills development, hockey equips kids for life in more important ways. Hockey, as a team sport, promotes cooperation and collaboration—the major elements of teamwork. Learning to work as a team, and as part of a team, is a skill that they will learn and apply to everything they do, from school to other organizations and eventually their working lives.

As well as celebrating the collective effort, a hockey team is also an environment that supports individuals to push their own limits and achieve their own goals. Every team wants a 50-goal scorer, but no team can win by solely relying on that player. Hockey’s continual encouragement to better the self, within a unified group, is one of the greatest gifts that the game has to offer kids and parents. Remind your child of the contribution that they are making, and the important role that they play on the team. Again, celebrate all of their personal contributions, big and small. And also recognize and celebrate the contributions of other teammates. Encourage your young player to compliment their teammates.

The physical benefits of playing hockey are many, but the social and psychological gains made by players are probably even greater. It’s one thing to develop a healthy, strong body, but it’s another thing to develop healthy core values, strong bonds of friendship and camaraderie. Luckily, hockey delivers all these qualities in generous amounts.