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The average youth hockey player will play well over 50+ games during their fall and winter hockey season giving them enough game experience. What all players need to focus more on skill development. With that said, why do parents want players to play hockey year round? What purpose will that accomplish? What players need to do in the “official” off-season is to focus on their skill deficiencies and strength training. Why would any one want to play an entire summer repeating the same bad habits over and over again instead of taking the time off to focus on improving their skill level and their physical strength? Hockey players need to develop their skills by learning the right techniques during practice not practicing during a summer hockey tournament. Playing in summer hockey tournaments is certainly beneficial, but you have to make sure you combine the fun with what is important and necessary to improve. You can’t teach and correct bad habits on the fly, it has to be taught in a forum conducive to learning. The Northern Cyclone Directors recently attended a USA Hockey Seminar where Jack Parker, head coach of the Boston University Terriers, stated that hockey players had a much better skill level in the 80s and 90s because practice times far out numbered game times and hockey players were two sport athletes. At the same seminar, Mike Boyle, the strength and conditioning coach for Boston University suggested that parents throw away their child’s cell phone, computer, TV, and video games, then get them off the couch to the outside in the fresh air having fun and getting exercise. Players today spend far too much time on technology and not enough time just playing. The benefits associated with spending time outside far out weigh the number of hours players spend on their computers etc. They should be playing street hockey and wiffle ball to name a few. The number ONE deficiency in our youth players today is SKATING. Skating is the main ingredient that separates players into two categories those with potential and those with no potential. The only way to improve skating is to get on the ice with experienced teachers and work on deficiencies. We believe the summer tournaments have a purpose but our kids have already played a ridiculous number of games and its time to back off GAME TIME. Our advice to our youth players this summer is the following:
• Get off the couch and get outside
• Play Another Sport
• Commit to an on-Ice Program that will work on CORE Individual skills especially Skating.
• Older Players 13+ commit to an Off-Ice program to develop strength and agility.
• HAVE FUN
Final Thought: Ask your player why he play’s hockey? Because he has to? Because he likes to play? Or because he wants to play? Their answers might surprise you!!
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