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This Page About Hockey is Good for You |
Hockey is Good for YouHockey is fun, fast and it's great exercise. Played the right way, it's exciting and it's safe. As a doctor and a parent, I believe all children should play sports. Why? Well, it isn't just because of the coordination and physical well-being that sports help to develop. Equally important is the fact that team sports like hockey are a great way for your child to develop his or her social skills and to build self-esteem. Children with good self-esteem and who feel confident about themselves are more likely to become successful adults. As parents we all want to see our children succeed in life. Our job is to get them into adulthood with as solid a base as we can provide them. This includes the support and care they need at home as well as experiences like team sports outside of the home. The great thing about ice hockey today is that it's a sport for both girls and boys. Young girls and boys often play on the same team nowadays. And if you happen to live in a community where there are enough kids, there may even be an all-girls league. In Chapter 1, along with a brief history of the game, I discuss how children's hockey is organized. I also give a complete review of the rules of the game in Chapter 2 so you'll know what is happening on the ice and what those signals mean that the referee keeps making. In fact, although this book assumes you don't know anything about the game, even experienced hockey parents will find a lot of useful information here. Do you know how to make sure skates fit? How to tape a stick? How to properly size a goalie stick? Why some penalties are "good" and others aren't? If not, then read on - you'll find that information and much, much more. ![]() If you have some reservations about your child playing ice hockey, don't feel alone. It's our job as parents to worry. But by reading this book you'll have taken great strides to becoming a very confident hockey parent. I have been involved in hockey for 30 years. I know that played the right way hockey is safe and I have yet to meet a child who doesn't enjoy the game. Not only that, hockey is a great and exciting sport for the parents to watch. It's full of end-to-end action. If you're concerned about safety, I will teach you all about the equipment and how to outfit your child correctly - from the right helmet to properly fitted skates. If you're a parent who has already played the game, I know you will find some useful tips here, particularly in the Equipment section. Believe me, the game and the equipment are very different from when we played as kids. Is your child a goalie, or thinking about playing goal? I've devoted a whole chapter to the equipment and the special role this player has on the team. But this book is not only about equipment and safety. Basic hockey skills and how to teach them form a substantial part of my approach to hockey. I'm a big believer in basic skills over complex strategy - particularly when the kids are just starting out. Even if you've never worn a pair of skates, I'll show you ways to help your child improve. I've included lots of exercises and basic skills that can be practiced on and off the ice. If you're thinking about sending your child to a hockey school but aren't sure how to go about it, I talk this in Chapter 9. 1 even give you my secret formula for how to build a backyard rink. In the appendixes, I've included lists of resources on children's hockey organizations as well as lots of other great stuff - from educational websites to videos on puck handling. Let's talk more specifically about the genuine concerns and fears that parents might have about their child playing hockey. I offer my thoughts on this as a medical doctor, a coach, and a parent of three young players. Many new hockey parents are concerned about safety and body checking. Let me assure you that body checking doesn't start until the age of 12 at the earliest, and in most regular or house-leagues it is not allowed at all. However, hockey does involve body contact and I provide some tips you can pass onto your child on how to play smart in Chapter 3 in the section on Body Contact and Checking. The bottom line is hockey in the early years is very safe. The worst injury you're likely to see, if the child is properly equipped, is a bruise. If you are worried that hockey is too violent a game for your child, I can also assure you that what you see on TV is nothing like a children's ice hockey game. When they are starting out most kids are worried about keeping themselves on two feet, not about retaliating for a hard body check. Nonetheless, kids' hockey is strictly regulated. Fighting and other forms of aggressive activity are absolutely forbidden. In fact, many children's leagues have a zero- tolerance rule for violence. At minimum, overly aggressive players are removed from the game. I discuss this further in Chapter 2 on Rules and in Appendix 2. Is ice hockey expensive? Well, there is no doubt you can spend a lot of money on equipment. However, this book will show you how to make smart choices when it comes to your child's equipment. With some exceptions, used equipment is often perfectly satisfactory and I provide you with some tips on making sure it will do the job for your child. The idea here is to make the game affordable to you as a parent. Sure, it costs money to sign up your child but remember that this money pays for ice time, uniforms and referees. Time. There is no question that hockey requires a certain amount of time and commitment on your part. But that is true of any youth sport. Yes, you'll have to get up early some mornings. If there's a tournament, you might spend part of the day in a rink. But believe me, it's cheaper than a trip to the mall. Supporting your child at the rink shows that you're involved in his or her interests and activities. It's a simple way to help build self-esteem. And not only do the kids develop new relationships with other players and the coaches, but time and again, I've seen hockey parents form great friendships in the stands as they attend the games and practices over the season. Many of you reading this book are single parents. Single parents are often extremely busy and under a great deal of pressure at home. It can be hard to make it to all the games and practices. Does this mean you should keep your child out of hockey? No. Almost any child will understand that you can't make it to all the games and practices. As for transportation, informal car-pooling is a big part of kids' hockey. I talk about these issues in Chapter 8, Good Hockey Parenting. In the last few years there have been some very high-profile incidents of sexual abuse in hockey. This is a legitimate concern, but from my experience as a coach with very young players it isn't likely to happen, mainly because for the first two or three years of hockey the dressing rooms are so full of parents and players nothing could happen. However, I do give attention to this important issue in Chapter 8. These are all important questions and reservations. It would be foolish to pretend they weren't genuine concerns. This book was written to give hockey parents everything they need to make their kids' early years in ice hockey a great experience, full of fun, learning, growth and excitement. I hope you and your kids will benefit from it. Continue to learn more about Ice hockey, please visit Fire Fly Books.
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