When it comes to hockey, you’d be hard-pressed to find a
sport more rewarding or more fun for young players. In spite of all the
positives associated with youth hockey, however, there are always going to be
naysayers who dwell on the negative. Most of those in the “negative camp” just
don’t approve of competition. Their most common complaints are that:
l Competition
destroys the fun of the game
l Too
much competitiveness can cause players to lose the joy of the sport
l Competition,
especially when losing is involved, is detrimental to self-esteem
Of course, there are also people on the opposite side. These
are the people who believe that competition, win or lose, actually instills
confidence, teaches youngsters how to set goals, drives home the value of hard
work, and is, in general, ultimately beneficial.
People on both sides are technically right, depending on the
circumstances. What makes the difference between positive and negative
competition is the adults involved. Adults who encourage kids to do their best
but who don’t place too much pressure on winning enable kids to enjoy all of
the benefits of competition, without any of the negatives.
To ensure that the children in your life get only the
benefits of competition, keep the following tips in mind:
l Find
a like-minded coach who believes in trying hard, but who also understands that
winning isn’t everything.
l Focus
on what the child gains from the sport, win or lose, and emphasize this with
the child through positive encouragement.
l Allow
mistakes and use them as an opportunity for growth and learning.
l Be
supportive and encouraging, no matter what.
l Put
the child’s happiness above everything else.
l Never
react negatively or with anger when a loss occurs. Focus instead on what can be
learned from the loss.
l Teach
children to treat all players, opponents, coaches, referees, and others
involved in the game with respect at all times.
Sometimes, especially when emotions are involved, following
these tips isn’t as easy as it may seem, but if you always put the child first
and strongly desire to make competition a positive experience for the child, it
is possible.
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