Getting the "Edge" In Youth Hockey

Almost every Parent I have ever came across in the ice hockey world has the same lingering question on their mind.. How can I get my child to be one of the best hockey payers out on the ice? Parents seem to go to great lengths and show no boundaries trying to get their child the edge in the sport..

At what age should they start playing? How should they practice? how much should I pay? These are just a few questions I have heard over the years while coaching one of the greatest winter sports ever to be invented. And there is, without a doubt, no limit to the testosterone level a parent will release in an intense situation regarding their child out on the ice.. But I'll save that subject for another entry. When I get more footage of parents fighting in the stands, or with the referees at t local ice rink.

Here are just a few things to keep in mind if you are looking to give your child the "egde" in hockey.

1. Equipment -The thing you must look at when getting the equipment, is weight. The higher the cost, generally means less weight, better comfort, more durable material, better ventilation, etc. These are all luxurious factors to have, and while I'm at it, i"ll have my butler make sure all my equipment is neatly packed in my hockey bag.. If I had one. The only thing that matters on that list is weight. Ive never seen a child have the "edge" in a game cause his skates dry quicker than most. But take a few ounces off each piece of equipment and you can lose some unwanted pounds on the ice, giving them the edge they need.

2. Protection is a key factor - Definitely make sure the equipment fits your child and is not constricting them. Too bulky of equipment and/or overprotective equipment can constrict the movement of your child, hence interfering with their advancement.. Having gloves or skates too big just pauses the child's ability to improve to their fullest potential until they catch up with their equipment. So think of how much protection is really needed when choosing equipment. For example, if the gloves, elbow pads and shoulder pads are all over lapping, its a little to constrictive.

3. Practice Whenever, Wherever -Just signing your child up on a winter hockey league is not enough to secure a spot on the "best" list. Hockey Is a very competitive sport, and parents fork out thousands to keep there kids in elite groups. No matter what your budget is, there are many ways to keep your child active in the sport consistently. And the key word there is "consistently." If you think about it, a league usually has a game on the weekend and a practice during the week, so add that up, and it isn't much practice at all for improving talent. By finding camps, clinics and leagues(specializing in player skills) throughout the year for the child, or simply doing some dryland skill building with a stick and puck/ball in the driveway regularly will increase the child's talent amazingly from one year to the next.

4. Age is Everything -If you are trying to get your child into a competitive role in hockey, the earlier you start them the better. Even if it's just skating to start.. it's an advantage. Going into mites already knowing how to skate gives a huge edge on the competition. It seems as though the older they get joining the sport, the more catch-up they have to do. Its never too late, but the older, the more work cut out for them.