Maybe you have heard the phrase, “You don’t really know something until you teach it.” The best test of whether you really understand a concept is trying to teach it to someone else. Teaching calls for complete understanding of the concept. You can’t just "kind of get it" or know it just well enough to get by; teaching calls for thorough knowledge. There are countless studies showing the value of peer mentoring, kids teaching kids. Both the student and the teacher benefit.
As the parent of a teenage hockey player, encourage them to get involved as an instructor at a summer hockey school or with a younger team during the season. Most teenaged players don’t put a lot of thought into the skills or the concepts of playing hockey. Teaching others forces them to communicate thoughts and concepts clearly and precisely. It also helps them gain a deeper understanding of our sport.
