How to Make One's Kid a Good Hockey Player

If your child has discovered a passion for hockey, he might be dreaming of making the school team or city league or even becoming a pro hockey player someday. To accomplish those dreams, however, your child needs to become a good hockey player, and that is only accomplished with a lot of practice and a certain amount of natural aptitude. A parent can't make his child be a good hockey player. That is up to the child. Sometimes a parent wants a child to play a certain sport because the parent is living vicariously through the child. If your child has a true passion for hockey, you can support him by creating a routine that leaves time for him to work toward his goal.

Instructions

    • 1

      Provide plenty of time for your child to practice. Regular practice is the only way your child will be able to sharpen his skills, and providing several practice sessions a week is one way to encourage him to make improvements.

    • 2

      Sign your child up to be on a junior hockey league team if he has his mind set on becoming a pro, recommends the National Hockey League. Players who make it to the pro level of the NHL almost always played on a junior league, as well as a high school or college level league. Be ready to drive your child to his practices and games. He should attend every one he can to hone his skills and feel good about his team contribution.

    • 3

      Register your child for hockey schools and hockey camps. Look into financial scholarships that some of these offer if your family budget can't afford it. In addition to more practice time, these will also pair your child up with a knowledgeable coach or mentor who will tell your child exactly what he needs to work on and provide him with drills and activities to help him improve.

    • 4

      Encourage your child to get plenty of cardiovascular exercise and to strength train, the USA Hockey Magazine recommends. These activities will help your child increase his endurance, stamina and strength, which will translate to becoming a better hockey player. Running sprints is another way to improve skills, the "USA Hockey Magazine" notes, because they will increase your child's speed.

    • 5

      Teach your child to eat healthy foods and get plenty of sleep. Proper nutrition and adequate rest will give your child the energy he needs to focus on his skills and meet practice and game requirements. Limit his video game time the day before a big practice or game, too, the USA Hockey Magazine recommends. Playing video games can interfere with quality sleep, which will translate to sluggishness and shortened response times on the ice.

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