How Do We Make Hockey a Positive Experience for Our Kids? -Part One-

Minor hockey has power to build lifelong skills, but it can also tear down kids and parents when the culture of a team, organization or even family isn’t healthy.

As parents, coaches, and leaders, we all play a role in making sure the rink is a place of growth rather than harm. Here are some evidence-based ways to create the best possible hockey experience for kids:

🔹 Strong Governance Matters

Good governance practices and updated anti-bullying/maltreatment policies protect kids and guide boards to make fair, safe decisions (Canadian Heritage, 2022). See our post on logical fallacies and board checklists for tools that help associations stay accountable.

🔹 Youth Voice at the Table

Research shows that when youth have a say, they feel more ownership and psychological safety in their activities (Krauskopf, 2021). Associations should create formal roles for youth input in decision-making.

🔹 Growth Mindset & Resilience

Carol Dweck’s (2006) work on growth mindset shows that kids who believe they can improve through effort cope better with setbacks. Encouraging phrases like “You’ll get better with practice” instead of “You’re just not good at this” help build resilience. Check out our growth mindset worksheets tailored for hockey.

🔹 Parent Coping Strategies

Parents’ insecurities and anxieties (about playing time, competitiveness, or recognition) can spill over onto kids. Mindfulness, perspective-taking, and remembering that sport is about long-term development—not short-term wins—help parents stay grounded (Harwood & Knight, 2015).

🔹 Resilience Factors & Coping Tools

Even when kids face challenges—like being benched, not making a team, or interpersonal conflict—protective factors such as emotional regulation, peer support, and coping strategies reduce long-term stress (Masten, 2018).

At Puck Off to Bullying, we believe that hockey can be a place where kids not only learn skills on the ice but also gain tools to thrive in life. By combining governance, youth voice, leadership and continuity in educating parents, board members, coaches and players, we can truly change the game.

👉 Check out our resources on board governance, youth voice inclusion, and growth mindset tools for parents and players at www.puckofftobullying.com.

References

• Canadian Heritage. (2022). Policy on harassment, abuse, and discrimination in sport. Government of Canada.

• Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.

• Harwood, C., & Knight, C. (2015). Parenting in youth sport: A position paper on parenting expertise. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 16, 24–35.

• Krauskopf, K. (2021). Youth voice and agency in sports governance. Sport Management Review, 24(2), 281–294.

• Masten, A. S. (2018). Resilience theory and research on children and families: Past, present, and promise. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 10(1), 12–31.