There is a saying "practice makes perfect" and this statement especially applies to hockey skills.

Players must attend practices regularly if they and their Team are going to improve.

Players must listen attentively to their coaches and do the drills to the best of their ability.

Practices are where individual skills and team improvements are made, not during games.

Parents must ensure their child gets to every practice or he/she will fall behind the other players.

Coaches cannot set lines or work on offensive or defensive plays if players don't attend practice.

I realize players love to play games and hate to practice, but players don’t learn skills during games.

It's the practices that prepare you for the games. So whether it's an off- ice teaching session or an on ice practice, it’s in your best interest for your child to attend every single practice and to work hard on improving their individual and team skills.

A final tip, “players must listen to their coaches.” These are the men or women who were selected by your local Minor/Youth Hockey Association to be in charge of the hockey team. They have the skills, experience and the special hockey training having completed the compulsory coaching courses of Hockey Canada or USA Hockey to become a Head or Assistant coach.

They are giving a lot of their free time to help your child have fun and improve their game, so please have your child show them respect and pay attention to what they have to say.

John Shorey

Author- “Hockey Made Easy”

www.hockeymadeeasy.com