Assessing Your Hockey Player's Season

| Laura Jones

With this year’s hockey season being cut short due to the coronavirus, now is a good time to evaluate your son or daughter’s hockey year. Unfortunately, some may not even get to play their championship games which is heartbreaking. Regardless, we need to assess a few things to think about in the coming season.


How was the season for your child? How was the season for you, your husband, and the rest of the family? This is a great time of the year to look over your goals with your child, as well as a family.


First, let’s take a look at your athlete. Sit down and discuss the season with your hockey player. 


Yes, your player’s performance can be measured in goals, assists, saves, penalty minutes and faceoffs won or lost. But a complete evaluation includes more than the stat sheet. Approach the end of the season as another opportunity for your player to learn and grow.


Second, did your son or daughter have fun? Sometimes we can get a little too tense about this whole hockey thing when what is most important is whether or not your child had fun.


Questions To Ask Your Hockey Player

On a more serious note, however, the following is a helpful list of questions to ask your child about their experience this hockey season:

  • Did you have fun?
  • What did you like about the season?
  • Was it the best ever or the worst ever, and why?
  • Did you like your coach?
  • What is the main thing you learned from him/her?
  • Would you like to have them as a coach again?
  • What do you think his/her strengths or weaknesses are?
  • What do you think you need to work on for next year?
  • What are your goals going into next season? Make a game plan for spring hockey, camps, special clinics, etc.
  • What do you think about your hockey IQ?
  • Are there things you need to learn to understand the game better or make faster decisions on the ice?
  • Mental toughness: Do you feel like you are mentally tough or are you taking too many penalties and becoming emotional on the ice when you are cross-checked, etc.
  • How was your schedule with school and keeping up with school work? Was it tough, exhausting, etc?
  • What are your goals for your future in hockey? Rec league, end in high school, college, juniors, pro? Make sure your child is making the decision for him or herself and not what they think you want to hear. This needs to be their decision.
  • What do you think you need to do to get there?

Next, you may need to ask yourself a few questions. Your happiness is important as well!


Questions To Ask Yourself As a Hockey Mom

  • How was my year?
  • Did I enjoy sharing this experience with my child?
  • What were the things I liked about the season or did not like?
  • What changes do you need to make as a parent so that you are happy with the hockey season?
  • Do I need to change who travels with each child?
  • Do I need my husband to pick up more weekday practices?
  • Do I need to get more organized with the schedule, housework, my job?
  • Do I need to take more time out for yourself?
  • What can I do to enjoy this with my family?

The years go by fast, and this is a special opportunity to be a part of this time with your child. The organization you are playing for and the coach makes all the difference.


Questions To Ask About Your Hockey Team

  • Do you like your current program, the coaching staff, and the training they offer?
  • Is the program hitting all your expectations for the growth of your hockey player?
  • Do they have the vision to improve each hockey player they work with?
  • Is the price equivalent to the amount of time you have on the ice and off ice training?

If any of the answers to these questions are no, then you may want to see what else is out there and find something that will more accurately meet your expectations.


I personally live in the south and have seen crazy amounts of travel and expense for hockey families to get good competition with games.  It requires a lot of time, travel and resources - not everyone can do it.


Eventually, the question becomes “What else is out there, and is there something else that my son or daughter can do to get the amount of ice time and quality competition at a reasonable price or less travel?”


Many kids are missing school, parents are missing work, and the whole process is draining the family finances.


So, have your hockey player ask themselves:

  • Where am I going?
  • What are my goals for hockey and my future?
  • Do I want to go to college, play in the NHL, or just finish up high school?

These questions make all the difference.


Are your goals for your child lining up with their goals? Remember, supporting your child is your number one priority. Keep the relationship strong and supported.


They will love you for it!


Laura Jones,

Founder of The Hockey Mommy

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