Anybody's kids in hockey?

[RadioFanatic]

My son is 2 and a 1/2. Around here, you can start lessons at 3. I grew up in the south with no interest in sports so this is all new to me. My dh, on the other hand, grew up in the land of hockey and is literally counting down the days until DS can start hockey. I am dreading it (i love his little teeth!) I would love to hear from folks "in the know" as to what to expect, etc. I do know it's an expensive sport for a kid to play which is one of the many reasons I'm not excited about it. I have made two rules for dh on this (1) I will do NOTHING for this sport other than attend games where I will cheer crazily for my boy -he has to set everything up for DS and take him to all practices, no matter the time; and (2) if DS doesn't like it, he can't force him to play. In turn, I will make no indication to DS that I am less than happy about the sport. He will never know my feelings on the issue; and will just know how proud I am of him for trying his best.

Anything I should know?

 

[Disneycrazymom]

My DS played until he was a sophomore in high school. He has many happy memories of hockey. It was fun for him and he learned so much about life. How to win with humility, how to lose with honor how to support others on the team. Sports are just part of our kids lives and we always have met really nice people through their teams. They are really cute to watch when they are little. Of all the games I have watched over the years (and it has been a lot) I have thankfully never seen a kid get seriously hurt. Good clubs will not allow behavior on the ice that can lead to someone getting hurt. Maybe that will make you feel a little better.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd start with skating lessons first - it's hard to learn to skate with equipment on. Ds12 started skating lessons at 3 (his older sister was taking them), and was on a hockey team at 4. He had to quit around 8, when we gave him the choice - hockey, or everything else (he's typically on 3 - 4 teams each season, flag football, rec soccer, travel soccer, travel baseball, little league, basketball...). He chose everything else. Good luck! Some of his friends continued with hockey, and they travel a lot for tournaments.

 

[1stluvispooh]

Before you read this you must know that no neither of my kids play hockey but I for years figure skated. I skated synchronized in my 20's and 30's. All of the hockey players that I meet where upstanding young men. We had several opportunities to skate between periods at our local minor league team, they also practiced at our rink. The hockey players always held doors for a lady. There was one incident when my kids took off in 2 different directions and 1 of the hockey players dropped his gear and ran after my DS so he would go into the parking lot unattended. In other words if your son wants to play let him it will teach him many life lessons and help him be a man you will be proud of.

 

[pjm-guy]

My younger son plays in-house, squirt level (9 & 10 year olds). I played until I was 35 and am now a USA Hockey referee. If they like it, let them play! When they don't like it anymore, don't push them to continue! But skating in general is great exercise and whe nthey turn 11 they can also register as a referee and get paid to be close to the game still......

 

[golfgal]

We live in MN, we discouraged our kids from hockey . Hockey is more than a sport, it is a way of life. Plan on having hockey every weekend between October and April (at least around here it is that way). Ice time is at a premium. It isn't unusual for the little kids to have ice time at 10:00 at night or 5:00 in the morning depending on your league. If you are lucky your league will have equipment exchanges, if not, plan to buy new equipment every year. Good skates run in the $200 range.

 

[Geoff_M]

We have two boys in hockey... One plays PeeWee travel hockey and the other one plays at the high school level. Don't worry about the teeth. Kids in the US play with full cages through the college level. I also think that you will like being part of your sons' team "hockey family" (if your league is like ours here). You'll also know you've "arrived" when you can watch these commercials and identify with everything in them:

http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/honda_hockey_parents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yetM3govYqA

 

[amid chaos]

My 15 year old daughter plays. Loves it. We have been really lucky with great coaches and teammates but like many other youth sports it can get political.

We've had the 5am or 9pm practices, 7am games an hour and a half away, weekend long tournaments which require a hotel stay .....but she loves it.

Let him play and if he lives it, let him continue.

 

[RadioFanatic]

My younger son plays in-house, squirt level (9 & 10 year olds). I played until I was 35 and am now a USA Hockey referee. If they like it, let them play! When they don't like it anymore, don't push them to continue! But skating in general is great exercise and whe nthey turn 11 they can also register as a referee and get paid to be close to the game still......

My husband would be so jealous of you! I will let him play if he wants, definitely. It will be up to my DS.

 

[Delaney21]

We started my 3 year old in hockey last year and it was a disaster. The practice was in full pads for an hour twice a week. He would be out there for about 20 minutes and then he was done. We ended up quitting half way through the session because he wanted to play with his friends instead of going to hockey. This year, we decided to put him in a learn to skate class first. He'll have class (without pads) for 30 minutes once a week. Once he gets the skating down, he can move on to hockey.

 

[Geoff_M]

Three seems a wee bit young to me to start... Our 'intro' classes here don't start until age 5.

 

[TN Hockey Mom]

My 12 year old son plays hockey. He took ice skating lessons when he was 2 and started playing hockey as soon as he turned 4. He has a horrible hockey birthday (September) and more times than not he's been one of the youngest players on the team. Being from Knoxville, TN, hockey isn't huge around here. We have a minor league team and that's how DH & I found our love for the game.

It is an expensive sport but a wonderful experience. We've made so many friends thru hockey. I consider a lot of them family. You get to really know people when you're going to the rink at 5:30 in the morning with no make up on and still wearing pajama pants. The siblings of the players also become real close.

My son did play travel for a couple of years but his asthma finally got the best of him. His doctor finally told him he could continue to play but wanted it limited to house league. He has to take a breathing treatment in the rink prior to playing each game. This was made more difficult because some travel games would start as early as 5:30 a.m. and we would have to arrive 1 hour prior to in order for him to take his breathing treatment. He would also struggle if there wasn't enough time in between 2 games to take another treatment. He was always so tired, his immune system never had time to recover. He was devastated, however, we keep reminding him that he'll start high school hockey in 2 years and since it's not as much travel we'll give it a try.

Hockey teaches them as much off the ice as it does on the ice. They are taught and expected to be respectful of everyone and everything.

My husband has always been one of his coaches on both house league and travel league. That can get pretty rough sometimes. I have to sometimes remind my husband that our son is still my little boy. I think DS and I are closer than he is to DH and I think him being a coach is the reason. I'm still sensitive to his feelings. However, they enjoy coaching the little mites together.

Good luck to you! My youngest son never wanted to play-he's a baseball player. Sometimes I'm very thankful. I don't know if we could afford having two of them playing.

 

[Delaney21]

Three seems a wee bit young to me to start... Our 'intro' classes here don't start until age 5.

I don't know where you are in Michigan, but in SE Michigan where we are they start at 3, but I agree it is too young. Most of the kids in my son's class this year cried wanting to get off the ice.

Take them to open skate or skating lessons. Once that is mastered, start hockey.

 

[damo]

Wow. I can't imagine my son's life if he hadn't had hockey. It was a wonderful sport for him and the whole family. What's the comment about you love his little teeth? Kids are equipped to the gills. He'll be fine. My suggestion is to embrace it if he does. What a great way to be part of his life.

 

[RadioFanatic]

Wow. I can't imagine my son's life if he hadn't had hockey. It was a wonderful sport for him and the whole family. What's the comment about you love his little teeth? Kids are equipped to the gills. He'll be fine. My suggestion is to embrace it if he does. What a great way to be part of his life.

I was really just kidding about his teeth. I will embrace the games; however, dh is the one who really wants him to do it, so it will be his responsibility. DS won't want me there anyway as I get too nervous about him getting hurt.

 

[TN Hockey Mom]

I was really just kidding about his teeth. I will embrace the games; however, dh is the one who really wants him to do it, so it will be his responsibility. DS won't want me there anyway as I get too nervous about him getting hurt.

Trust me, you'll eventually get past the constant worry of him getting hurt. I used to get worried-even though they have on a ton of padding. Then, I went from being worried he'd get hurt to just thinking when he got hit and/or knocked down "please don't cry, please don't cry." Now, I'm in the stands yelling at him to get up if he gets hit and yelling for him to put a body on someone to knock them off the puck. It gets easier to watch as they get older.

 

[akhenaten]

Oh Yes... My DS 16 is a Goalie and has been since he was 5.
He has played travel for years and is now playing on an 18U team and was on Varsity both years of HS so far....

It does consume your life to an extent... and at times that was frustrating... but now I am sad that he only has 2 more years in youth hockey!

He has had great successes and also some disappointments ...
try outs (especially at the younger ages ) can be nerve wracking and when they put up the team lists it was hard to see so many young boys go from the excitement of waiting to the devastation of not seeing their name on the list...
I hated those days!!!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

DS16 & DS13 both play on travel teams. DS16 also plays varsity for his HS.

IMO, 3 y.o is too young for full gear. Skating is fine. In fact I would encourage a Learn to Skate program. Take your cues from him. If he likes it & wants to continue then I would look into a Learn to Play program followed by an In-House League. The youngest I would consider putting a child in full gear is 5 but that's me.

Even USA Hockey has changed their development plan for the little ones & will only allow for cross-ice "games" up until age 6 I think??? (Mine are obviously older now so I'm not 100% sure) They launched a new American Development Model this year to address the way kids are coached.

http://www.admkids.com/pdf/ADM_Guide_2010.pdf

It is a lifestyle.

We are in NJ (PHL suburbs). Typical travel team practices 2x week & has games Sat & Sun. On average, away games are anywhere from 45 min - 2 hr drive away. Obviously your area will determine your district. They try to schedule dry land conditioning for the same night as practice but that doesn't always work out.

It is expected that we participate in at least 2 tournaments per season if not more. That involves driving, hotels, meals, etc. We are actually in our 2nd tournament of the season this weekend & have 2 more on the books so far.

Last season DS16 played on his club team, JV & Varsity plus DS13 was on a club team as well. Betwen the two of them I was in a rink 7 days a week.

Then there is Spring hockey, Middle School hockey, HS Hockey & Summer camps... It's a year round sport.

My boys don't want to do anything else. I keep asking. They love the game. They have learned a strong work ethic, how to balance school & sports, discipline & teamwork. Their self-esteem is also much higher because of hockey.

The USA Hockey website will link you to your local district. Each one operates a little differently from the other so it's hard to say what the specifics might end up being for your area.
http://www.usahockey.com/

I will also say I understand the initial reaction of making hubby responsible but be careful it doesn't become interpreted by your son as if you are not being truly supportive. Just going to the games is not enough, IMO. You need to be as committed as he is.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

He has had great successes and also some disappointments ...
try outs (especially at the younger ages ) can be nerve wracking and when they put up the team lists it was hard to see so many young boys go from the excitement of waiting to the devastation of not seeing their name on the list...
I hated those days!!!

Been there, done that! I know exactly what you mean!

 

[akhenaten]

Been there, done that! I know exactly what you mean!

I am in North Jersey with a 16 year old .... we have probably been together at the same rink at some point and time!!!
and we probably have had a game ref'ed by PJM-guy!!