The COVID-19 pandemic saw much of the professional sports world and all of the youth sports world shut down completely. It was particularly difficult here in Canada, where nearly two seasons of youth hockey were lost. Hockey is seen as a rite of passage in our country, and for decades has been a fundamental part in so many lives of Canadian children. Earlier this year, youth hockey seasons were once again cancelled as the ongoing pandemic and lockdown restrictions made heading to the rink too dangerous for children and adults alike. Those are years of development and competition that aspiring hockey players will never get back.
Perhaps more disappointing than a cancelled season, is the number of children who will not ever return to organized sports. A large number of parents are playing it safe for now, especially as we await Health Canada to determine if vaccines are safe for children under the age of twelve. Youth hockey will return in full in September for many jurisdictions, although the Provincial Hockey Associations are each working on health and safety measures for the new season. So as parents, guardians, coaches, etc., how can we help our youth recapture their love for playing the game? Here are some helpful tips!
Review the rule changes ahead of time
There are undoubtedly going to be some new rules, even if they only last for a season or two. It could be something as small as not sharing your water bottles anymore, or as substantial as removing the need for faceoffs. Our kids are going to be reminded of these rules by the coaches and the refs, but things just stick a little better when they come from the parents. It’s going to be surreal the first time everyone is back on the ice, so let’s make sure that they are familiar with the new rules amidst the excitement of playing hockey again!
Get them back in shape!
This is a big one! Since most organized sports were cancelled, a lot of the players are going to find themselves out of shape. Take them for bike rides this summer, practice skating by rollerblading, and get the kids out for hikes to rebuild their leg strength and endurance. Training for hockey skills can be a difficult task away from the rink, so try and get them engaged in activities that help rebuild their fitness and cardio levels.
Put the stick in their hands
It’s been two years for some kids! Get them to get back to practicing their stick skills. You’ll be surprised at how much muscle memory will come back by just holding the stick. Not only can they practice some stickhandling and passing skills, but handling the stick helps to build the strength in their wrists and hands again as well. The more they get the feel for their stick again, the more natural it will be once they get back on the ice.
Make sure the gear still fits
At this age, kids grow fast. Over the past two years, there’s a good chance that some of the equipment has been outgrown. This definitely calls for a dress rehearsal of all their gear, especially the skates! If something doesn’t fit, at least you still have a couple of months to go out and get some new equipment. This is especially true for goaltenders who generally like to work in their pads to get them game ready. Don’t leave things to the last minute this season!
Limit the screen time
It’s hard, I know. In this age of smartphones and connected devices, kids are looking at screens all day long. Especially coming out of COVID-19, where the only socializing they had was through video calls or online gaming. Limiting the screen time ahead of September will help them to sleep better and mentally get back into hockey. More rest is so important for developing kids, and will help with the transition back to reopening society. Kids will also re-learn how to socialize and interact with people if they don’t have their faces buried into a screen. The past couple of years have been mentally and emotionally difficult for all of us, so let’s do what we can to help our kids transition back to normalcy.
Eat Healthy
This is something that should be happening all the time anyways. But with increased fitness and activities coming up, it’s time to get your kids to begin eating a healthy and balanced diet. High proteins for muscle development, less sugar to help stay trim and sleep better at night. Snacking became all too easy for most of us during the pandemic, so shifting back to nutritious meal plans will help your kids boost their immunity and maintain their health.
The best news we will receive is that youth hockey is back in September across Canada. At the same time, let’s still be prepared for alternate plans, especially as new variants of the virus seem to be popping up every week. We still don’t have any word as to when children under the age of twelve can be safely vaccinated, and even then, it’s a vaccine not a cure. The truth is, hockey will most likely be different from the way we left it two years ago. Some things will be different, and some of those things may never be the same again. Helping our kids with preparing for the new normal at the rink is going to be critical. Let’s help them out the best way we can by getting them prepared, improving their health, and equipping them with proper fitting gear. If we can provide this for our children, they have a much better chance of having a successful return to the ice!
