JMS Hockey

It occurred to me today, while reading an article from MN Hockey, that parents really do have a tendency to push their children too hard to become successful athletes. In trying to provide the best opportunities for our children we often contribute to their burnout, and ultimately ruin their chance to enjoy the game. MN Hockey has provided some helpful insights into how you can help your child to be HAPPY as well as successful in the sport of hockey, but I wanted to take a second to ask the hockey parents in our midst: What ways have you found to provide opportunities for your kids, without becoming overbearing? Where do we draw the line between support and authority-based coercion? As a future hockey dad (I hope) - My thanks, in advance. Dan Ginter MN Hockey Article: http://www.minnesotahockey.org/news_article/show/223927?referrer_id=80470

i have a 20 year old son currently playing in the USHL. This fall he will play at Denver on a full scholarship. Truth-be-told, I'm not completely sure what we did right. I think one thing that helped is that my husband plays and has been coaching for 35+ years (although he never coached a team that Matt played on). Matt regularly went with his dad to practices and games from the time he was a year old so to him hockey meant time with dad. My husband also ran clinics in the summer that Matt skated and he went to hockey camps as well starting at age 7. He skated at the outdoor rinks with his buddies after school until the rinks closed at night. I never forced him to do any of these things - when he said no, I respected his decision. I watched all of his practices and games because I loved to see him play. I never critiqued his play, in fact we rarely talked about his game on the way home. I taught him to always shake hands with the refs and coaches after he shook his opponents hands. I talked to him about what coaches looked for in a player such as attitude, work ethic, respect, team play, behavior both off and on the ice (including the locker room). I never criticized or contradicted his coaches (in front of him anyway). When my husband saw Matt make mistakes, he didn't criticize him he just showed him more effective things he could do in different situations. Matt was clearly an exceptional player from the time he started playing. I never had to push him. And then there's Petr. Petr is 9 and plays on a squirt "C" team. He does not have the same passion for the game that Matt has and I'm ok with that. Petr has taught me how different two kids raised by the same parents can be! If I tried to get him to do all the things Matt WANTED to do, I'd have a fight on my hands and Petr would probably end up detesting the game. He requires more encouragement at times to go to practice but he always enjoys it once he puts down his computer and goes. We've made games for both boys a family event. And now that I'm playing we can all go to the rink and have fun together. I guess my point is that taking an interest and spending time with them seems to have helped both of them love the game. My perspective now is that loving the game is more important than what team they make (so few get to the college level). The chances of them still playing for fun as an adult, however are very good so my goal is to support them learning the skills they can use to play for a lifetime.