The Right Way to be a Hockey Parent

If your kids play hockey and you are super involved in their “sports life,” then you are what is known as a “hockey parent.” And, while there is certainly nothing wrong with that, there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to be a hockey parent. If you want to be on the right side of things, keep a few tips in mind.

First of all, remember that your job is to be a parent NOT a coach. You should never correct or question the coach, especially not in front of your child, unless he or she is doing something that is dangerous to your child’s well being. You also don’t really need to yell out advice from the sidelines during games or practices; let the coach do his job, and don’t try to be the one in control at all times or always think that you know best.   

One “job” that you can take on, however, is to be an encourager. Encourage your child every step of the way. When he plays poorly, tell him he’ll do better next time. When he plays well, congratulate him and let him know how proud you are. Don’t just support your child either; support the entire team and all the players. You can make hockey a much more positive experience for everyone involved if you follow this simple tip.

Finally, make sure that you don’t ever force your child into something he doesn’t want to do. If your child wants to take a break from hockey, allow it, even if it’s hard. If your child was truly cut out for the sport, he’ll come back to it in time, and if it’s not his passion, you’ll just have to learn to be okay with that.

If you can follow these simple tips and remember to be positive at all times, you can be the GOOD kind of hockey parent, not the kind that gives the sport a bad reputation.