Minor hockey tryouts are an intense, stressful time for all hockey players. They only get one shot to demonstrate their skills, impress the coaches, and accomplish a huge goal for the season – to make the team they’ve had their eye on. All the kids are striving to perform their very best while facing the pressures of competition and expectation, both for themselves and from their friends and family members.
On top of all the stress the hockey tryouts cause the players, it also stresses out the parents! Being able to see their children succeed and accomplish their goals is incredibly fulfilling, and every parent just wants their kid to be happy in whatever they choose to do in life. A happiness which would certainly find it’s way to any minor hockey player who has a successful tryout process. So, even though the kids have a lot emotionally invested in their tryouts, their parents do as well. Below are some tips for hockey parents on how to keep themselves and their children sane during the tryout process.
Remain Positive and Be Supportive
One of the best things you can do for your child during hockey tryouts is to remain positive. Filling them with false hope about their prospects isn’t a good idea, but it is certainly possible to avoid doing so while keeping a positive outlook about the whole thing. You can give them encouragement about their performance and remind them that the main purpose of the whole process is to enjoy themselves; it will make a world of difference.
Your children look up to you, and will most likely copy the attitude you have about their hockey tryouts. If you’re stressed and feeling pessimistic about it, so will they, but if you’re hopeful and encouraging, they will be too. Having a positive attitude won’t completely get rid of the stress they’re feeling, but it will make a huge difference.
Give the Coach Some Space
It’s common practice for some parents to try and “sell” their child to the coach while the tryouts are going on. While the coach will often listen to the things these parents have to say, they hardly ever make a difference in the coach’s final decision for their team. Your child’s performance will speak volumes, and should be the only factor that influences a coach’s decision about whether to put your child on their team. So, try to leave the coach alone for the most part during the tryouts and to keep in mind that the things you have to say probably won’t make a difference anyway.
If your child isn’t selected for the team they try out for, it’s completely fine to email or talk to the coach afterward to ask for feedback. A lot of the time it can be very helpful for your child’s personal development. Just try not to bother the coach too much while the tryouts are taking place. They have a heck of a lot on their plate as it is.
Keep a Healthy Perspective
It’s easy for both the players and their parents to get caught up in the tryout process. True, they are important, and in some cases, can give your child opportunities down the road if they decide to pursue hockey. But hockey tryouts should never cause a crazy amount of panic or stress, to you or your kid. Try to always keep a healthy perspective and remember that the tryouts really aren’t all that important compared to a lot of things your child will do in their life. This point can certainly help preserve your sanity through the process.
Make Sure Your Child Stays Healthy
Of course, children need guidance all throughout their lives. They need help with important decisions, what to eat, knowing what is safe; the list goes on and on. But this is especially true during hockey tryouts, when your child’s health may determine their performance, and ultimately their success.
While hockey tryouts are going on, your child will be worried and focused a lot on hockey. They will probably need extra help ensuring they are eating properly and getting enough sleep, and that’s where you come in. If you take the extra step to make sure your child stays healthy the entire time they will be more at ease about the whole process, and that will be reflected in their performance during the tryouts.
Yes, hockey tryouts are difficult and stressful, but a lot of good can come from them. They are an opportunity for your child to learn their weaknesses and improve on them, to network with teammates and coaches, and have fun playing the sport they love. So, if you follow the above tips and help your child as much as possible through the entire process, tryouts can go from a period of fear and stress to a period of positivity and immense personal growth.
