Here are some more tips to help parents survive their child’s tryout camp.

The tryout camp is a very stressful time for most hockey parents because they’re not sure if their son or daughter will be picked or not.

They have no control over the outcome of making the team or being released.

And if their child is released, it’s very upsetting for many parents and players.

At the start of the tryout camp some parents bring the coach a coffee, others volunteer their services to help with the tryout camp.

Some will ask for feedback about their child’s performance, while others keep their distance and respect the coaches decision.

It’s a personal choice as to what interaction parents have with the Head coach at this time.

The one universal quality parents must supply is encouragement and support for their child no matter what happens.

Making or not making the Rep/Travel Team is very important to your child, otherwise they wouldn’t have tried out in the first place.

If your son or daughter is released at tryout camp it is a very traumatic experience especially if they believe they were good enough to make the team and were better than 1 or 2 certain players chosen.

There are other options for parents if their child is released.

You can ask your local Minor/Youth Hockey Association President for permission to try out with another Association’s Rep/Travel Team.

Or you can try out with the next lower Rep. team in your own local Minor Hockey Association and possibly become an “Affiliate Player” being called up to the higher team in case of sickness or injury.

Or you can return to the local House League, have lots of fun, score a tonne of goals and enjoy playing with your friends.

Good luck to all Players and Parents at this year’s tryout camp and have an exciting and enjoyable hockey season.

John Shorey

Author – “Hockey Made Easy”