Hockey Parents

How important are hockey parents for successful hockey player development and hockey career?

Parents affect hockey player progress very significantly. But attention! We are getting on very thin ice! Why? Most of us already know the answer.

This is one of the pictures contributing a campaign of Canadian hockey for hockey parents education "Relax, it's a just a game!"

Certainly the campaign's goal is to point some unacceptable behavior some of parents. On the other hand, there are always some emotions if you do something you care about and you love. That's why in my opinion the slogan wasn't chosen right.

If you are one of the people for them is a hockey "just a game", then you are on wrong place right now. For rest of us, players, hockey parents, coaches, hockey voluateries, simply everybody who loves a hockey, slogan is slightly different: "That's a GAME!"

However, where is a tiny border between "right" and already "wrong"? What is a best parental approach?

There is not clear answer, however we can overview all the aspects of hockey parents influence on players. Let's take a look at some samples to better understand.

Hockey is a sport requires big time and financial commitment. Parental support of youth players is a one of the more important factors in player's development. There are some exceptions we'll mention later, but in most of the cases youth player strongly depends without huge support of his hockey parents.

Hockey parents....

In many cases hockey parents wear pink glasses regarding their kids, but many times is exactly in opposite and they stress their son by to hard and less constructive criticism.

We know many great NHl stars players stories when they have been thankful to their parents for all their help and support even in many cases very late. Some players did realize all that when they turned older or they have their own kids.

How we have already said, this is very thin ice.... to distuiguishe between moment when they are motivating and helping or already are beyond that sensitive border and are already hurting.

However generally it apply, that most of the youngsters are happy to hear evaluation of their performance during the last game and even practice and particular skill. They need to listen it often.

Just ask current pros. They all remember games in Pee Wee and Bantams when their hockey parents were very often the only fans. And best memories they have for games when their parent were cheering loudly, certainly sometimes including some "bad" words for refs or opposite team. But most important was that special feeling, that the game is important and they do something what matter and has a sense. This was always great motivation element.

Dear hockey parents, you are very important part of your son hockey development. The goal of hockey-site.com is to help you to bring all information you need.

Stay in touch with latest news from hockey site.com by RSS feeds. Many sections of hockey-site.com are explored from hockey parents standpoint. So, always when you'll see "parents" link, you can get relevant information.

Other Resources:

There are many different information out there, so it's quite difficult to choose relevant source. However we suggest to you to read stories of the best current professional players.