ADM Kids

Q: My child is moving into that phase where there are a lot of hockey options. What’s the best path?
 
A: This is a great question, and if hockey is a sport your child wants to continue and pursue at a competitive level, it’s good to begin educating yourself (and your child) now.
 
Unlike some other sports, hockey fortunately offers many different paths for your child, and everyone’s path will be different. Making these decisions can be stressful at times, so it’s important to find people whose counsel you trust; people who have the best interests of your child in mind.
 
The first thing to remember is that kids at this age develop at a different rate physically and cognitively, so it’s critical that you don’t put your child in an environment that he or she is not ready for. Playing in a league or on a team that is perceived to be the “best” can, in fact, harm your child’s development. It’s far better for them to play at the correct level instead. And remember, the correct level is a highly individual thing, defined by the coaching and opportunities your child will receive, not the team name on the equipment bag or how many As are attached.
 
Some parents and players start believing that time is running out because they see kids committing to colleges at these young ages. I can tell you right now, do not worry about that. There’s no need to worry about it. It’s irrelevant to your child’s hockey future.

Some of the options you may consider in the coming years for your child are high school hockey, prep school hockey, junior hockey, 18-and-under club programs, and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Within these options, there are different levels of play, but any of these options can you lead to NCAA hockey. Paramount, however, is finding the right environment for your child to grow and develop at their own pace.
 
I think it’s great that hockey has different pathways for young players to develop. It can lead to some difficult decisions, and there can be pros and cons with each, but the availability of multiple options allows for a more personalized fit. Whatever path you and your child decide to follow, remember there are no guarantees, and it’s a two-way street between the program and the athlete. Your young athlete has a responsibility to make a commitment both on and off the ice to the program, as does the program to your child.
 
To leave you with a little advice:
 

1. Do your homework and research. Find out about every possible option and ask people you trust and past players that have gone through the process and have experienced success or failure.
2. Be patient and don’t stress-out. You will see kids at young ages verbally committing to colleges. Remember what it was like when you were 14, 15 or 16 years old? You were still a kid. There’s no need for that type of college pressure at that age. Kids need to be in a positive, patient environment with support for them to succeed. It’s not a race, and every kids path will be different. Don’t rush development.
3. Have fun! If your child is not having fun and enjoying the process, then you probably won’t have a great outcome. In my mind, if a child ends up eventually playing NCAA Division 1, Division 3 or ACHA hockey, earning a four-year degree and creating lifelong friends and having fun, that’s a huge win. And even if they don’t play college hockey, but they enjoy a great hockey experience through their mid-to-late teens, that’s a great outcome as well, because the true goal should be creating a life well-lived.