by Rick Beckfeld, Team Sweet Hockey.

I recently watched a high school hockey game. During the game I overheard a small group of parents complaining about everything from the specific players playing the power play to the way the coach set up the lines. Between the second and third period there was a short game being played between two mite teams of what looked to be five and six year olds. The crowd loved it.  Everybody laughed and cheered every time one of these beginners touched the puck, fell down or just got up after falling.  Even the group of parents that were wearing serious faces just minutes ago were now laughing and cheering for all the kids. This five minute game took me back to when my son’s game was at that level.  I remembered the enjoyment and excitement of myself and my wife as well as the rest of the parents and family members had watching these little people playing the greatest game on earth. 

What changes in us? The kids playing are the same. The game is the same. In many case even the place they are playing is the same. Do we get caught up in the lure of a college hockey scholarship? Is it the visualization we have of our child putting on the jersey of a NHL team or is it just that after we have invested so much time and money allowing our children to play this game that we think we have to get so serious? 

I don’t know what makes us go crazy but I do know that if we all just take a step back and simply enjoy the moment, all of us will have a greater appreciation of what our kids do, as well as the great privilege it is to watch this great game called Ice Hockey.

The next time you are at the rink and the temptation is there to dissect everything our kids do and every move the coaches make, think back to when your child was the one playing between periods of a high school or college game and smile.  Don’t waste one minute of the time you get to watch your child playing this great game and enjoy every second of it!