Brent Sutter thinks we need a ‘new normal’ for Canadian kids’ hockey; he’s right
Parents and youth coaches need to realize the importance of skill development
Active for Life: Hockey
Active for Life is a national initiative about physical literacy.
We provide information, advice, and resources for parents who want to raise active and successful kids. Being physically literate helps children to be better hockey players, and better athletes.
Here are our key articles about hockey and physical literacy:
The top 5 reasons kids play sports
Kids play sports for the fun of it
Why I decided I’d never yell when my kids play hockey
It’s important to understand how yelling in the stands might affect your child’s focus and his or her overall enjoyment of the game.
Proof that small ice hockey is better for kids
Let’s not overwhelm fledgling players
4 things that should be part of every kid’s hockey experience
When the game is fun for everyone, everybody wins
20 pucks, 960 smiles: How coaches can make practices more fun
For coaches, when it comes to helping young kids love sport and movement, the secret is making playing and practicing fun.
When your kids play hockey, it’s okay to have expectations about their experience
Enjoyment and skills development should be high on the list
Things you yell at your hockey player that only confuse them
5 common hockey phrases explained
Are youth sports too serious?
As parents and coaches, we must make youth sports fun for kids. Tim Hortons’ latest advertisement highlights this.
Hockey parents can get ready for the season with this conditioning camp
Set yourself up for a successful season as a hockey parent
Here’s what hockey’s “new normal” is made of
The direction Canadian hockey, at its highest levels, is heading
Specialization: What does it really mean?
Repetition of one activity to the exclusion of all others is rarely wise
Can you guess the one thing that most elite athletes have in common?
Here’s a hint: it’s not single sport specialization
USA Hockey takes a page from Canada’s playbook
The key is to develop players over the long term
Hockey Canada’s top 5 “off-ice” sports and activities to help goalies get better
Why it’s important for goalies to develop skills in other sports and activities
Hockey Canada’s top 6 off-ice sports and activities to help hockey players get better
To achieve full potential, young hockey players should develop skills in other sports
If you’re raising a child athlete, think long-term
Developing physical literacy optimizes both lifelong physical activity and athlete development
Hockey Canada and Active for Life partner with postcards for parents
The sport of hockey needs to establish a new normal in Canada
How playing multiple sports is good for your kids
Kids should participate in many different sports and physical activities
Size matters when it comes to playing fields for kids
Children need an age-appropriate space to feel comfortable and have fun
Why specializing early in one sport is a bad idea
Diversification is more important during a child’s first decade
My role as a minor hockey coach: developing athletic players
Adding physical literacy to the routine boosts inspiration and ability
More evidence that half-ice hockey is better for kids
Half-ice hockey helps with skills development
Specializing in sport could fast track your kids to the hospital, not the major leagues
Variety is crucial until the age of 14 or 15