ADM Kids

Q: My 12-year-old is a hockey nut. How much spring and summer hockey is appropriate at that age? We don’t want to fall behind.

A: That’s a great question. The first thing I will tell you is this: There should always be an OFFseason. If professional athletes need time off, then a 12-year-old also needs some time away from hockey.

There are many reasons to take some time off, but in my opinion, the two most important for a 12-year-old are these:

1. Kids need a mental break. If they are going full tilt 24/7/365, they will, at some point, reach a threshold. Burnout is a real thing. One of the most important things for young players to maintain from year to year is a PASSION for the game. The game is just that – a game. It should never feel like work to a young player. Besides, if they aren’t going to school for 12 months a year, then they shouldn’t be doing the same sport 12 months a year.
2. Kids need a physical break. Overuse injuries are a real thing. If a child plays only one sport, they will use the same muscles and movement patterns repeatedly. This will eventually cause excessive wear and tear on those muscles (ones that aren’t fully developed) and lead them to break down. Think of it in terms of driving your car. If you only make right turns, one side of your tires will have more wear and tear than the other. Eventually they will burst before they should. By playing multiple sports, kids are less susceptible to overuse injuries. They use different muscle groups and they use them in different ways, thus keeping a young body in balance. 

With all of that being said, some hockey in the spring and summer isn’t a bad thing. It’s OK to drop into the rink to skate, handle and shoot some pucks. A week of hockey camp can also be a good thing. Much like a good in-season hockey program, a good summer hockey camp should feature station-based practices and small-area games in which kids are working on skills and decision making.

What you want to avoid in the offseason is playing in showcase after showcase in order to “be seen.” Twelve-year-olds don’t need to “be seen,” they need to broaden their athletic base and focus on skill development. As part of that, this is also around the age where off-ice training can come into play, as long as it is done in an age-appropriate manner. The off-ice component is a great thing for 12-year-olds to invest their time in during the offseason. Remember, we should be building athletes first, hockey players second!