USA Hockey Parental Guide
- In the Stands:
Parents can take the fun
out of hockey by conti nually yelling or screaming from the stands. Parents
should enjoy the game and applaud good plays. The stands are not a place from
which parents should try to personally coach their kids. Kids often mirror the
actions of their parents; if they see Mom or Dan losing their cool in the
stands, they'll probably do the same on the ice.
- Car and Home:
Some parents not only spoil the
fun for their kids at the ice rink, but also in the car, believing this is the
perfect place for instruction. Parents should try to keep things in
perspective. There's more to life than hockey, and the car and home are not
places to coach. Parents need to remember that they are not the coach, and the
most difficult kind of parent is the one who coaches against the real
coach. It's unfair to put children in a position of having to decide who to
listen to - their parents or the coach.
- At Practice:
Parents have to remember that if
a child wants to improve, they have to practice - not just play. Even if a
child is not the "star" player for a team, practice stresses the importance of
teamwork, establishing goals, discipline and learning to control your
emotions, all of which are important lessons children can use both in and away
from sports.
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