MN Hockey

Q. I want to get goalie leg pads that my son can grow into, but someone told me there is a rule about how big they can be. Plus, I want him to be able to move properly. What size should they be?

A. First, let’s see what the rule book says about the size. Rule 303: Goalkeeper’s Equipment starting on page 21 of USA Hockey’s 2011–13 Official Rules of Ice Hockey booklet covers this clearly:

Rule 303: Leg Pads

The leg guards worn by goalkeepers shall not exceed 11 inches in extreme width and 38 inches in length. The boot channel of the goalkeeper pad must be flat or concave in appearance with no additional attachments such as a puck foil. The boot is the bottom of the pad that sits over the top of the skate. Calf protectors must follow the contour of the calf and ankle and can have a thickness of no greater than 1 ½ inches The knee strap pad is not to exceed 1 ½ inches in thickness and must be fastened to the inner risers and follow the contour of the inner knee.

All thigh pads must follow the contour of the leg, or placed under the pant, and the maximum width of the thigh pad across the front of the leg is 10 inches.

Fitting Leg Pads

For information on how leg pads should fit for maximum protection and maneuverability, we turned to TotalHockey.net. Here’s what you need to know.

Leg pads should extend from the toe of the skate to 4 to 5 inches above the knee. To select a size:

1. Bend your leg slightly and measure the length of your shin from the center of your kneecap to your ankle.
2. Measure the length from the center of your kneecap to your mid-thigh.
3. Add these two measures together, along with your skate size, and you should have a good idea of what size leg pad to purchase.

For example, if your shin measures 17 inches, your mid-thigh measures 7 inches, and your skate size is 10, you should consider 34 inch +1 leg pads. The +1 sizing system is standard for leg pads, meaning that +1 is an extra inch added to the top of the leg pad. This addition helps goalies with their butterfly position as well as with their five-hole coverage. Some leg pads come with a +2 sizing system, which is more common with high-level, experienced goalies.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kelly Anton, Executive Editor of Grow the Game, for this story.

Most American hockey moms know what a hockey sweater is because back in the 1990s we say Doug give Kate his beloved Bobby Hull game sweater in The Cutting Edge. But why does he call his jersey a sweater?

Many Canadians call their jerseys sweaters because they were originally made from sweater material. Stalwarts continue the tradition because you sweat in it. The term jersey, however, is rapidly overtaking sweater in Canada. This change is not without controversy. In fact, back in 2011 when the Ottawa Senators introduced a “heritage jersey,” they unleashed a great controversy.

Part of the passion for the term sweater is due to a favorite Canadian short story called The Hockey Sweater—a story so popular that it’s quoted on the Canadian five-dollar bill.

In the United States, however, we’re hooked on jersey. Search “sweater” on TotalHockey.net and you get, well, not really hockey jerseys. But you can find the Mad Brothers 1980 Team USA Hockey Jersey shown here!

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kelly Anton, Executive Editor of Grow the Game, for this story.

At this time of year, parents and players are looking to make decisions about whether to try out for elite AAA travel teams. We asked a youth and high school coach with more than 20 years experience for his insight.

AAA Ideal for Some

AAA hockey is elite hockey, without a doubt, and in many states it is the highest level in youth hockey. The goal of AAA hockey is for players and coaches to get national scouting exposure and to move to the next level. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. AAA hockey and most AAA programs do a very good job at developing their players and moving them to the next level. But does that mean AAA is best for all players? If you make a AAA hockey program does that mean you will make it to a Division I college hockey program? Or, if you don’t make a AAA team, does that mean you will never play college hockey?

I never played AAA hockey and I had a very successful hockey career. I played junior hockey and college hockey, and I even had offers to play professionally. I could give you 101 success stories of players who never played AAA hockey but went on to very successful hockey careers.

Is It AAA or the Highway?

In my opinion many parents and players believe it is AAA or the highway. They play AAA hockey—or try to—just because it is AAA hockey. They believe it is the only way to develop their hockey skills and the only way they can make it. They get blinded by the prestige and forget to ask basic question like:

• “Is this best for me?”
• “Is this best my child?”
• “What do I want out of hockey?”

How to Evaluate a Program

Rather than signing up your player for AAA tryouts because a team is known as the best—or because all your friends’ kids are doing it—stop and do your homework. Step back, ask questions, listen and evaluate.

• See the practice-to-game ratio is right (around 3 practices to 1 game).
• Are coaches talking about “bubble players” or “last cuts” in relation to your player? If so, you may want to consider playing time. Do you want to be a fourth line AAA player who sees two or three shifts per game or a first line AA player who gets 10 shifts a period?
• Evaluate the practices. Are the kids always moving and active or sitting there watching the coach draw on a board for 15 minutes?
• Evaluate the training: Are the kids fooling around doing nothing or is there focus and direction to the training?

My point is, no matter the level of play, parents should always make sure to do the right thing for your family and the development of your son or daughter first! If you don’t do your homework, don’t blame the coaches or the team if you find your player short-shifted or your goalie playing once every five games.

Keep in mind that hockey is a game—and it’s supposed to be fun. As Dan Bylsma, head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, says: “Realize that for all the time and money spent on travel hockey in the U.S.—80% of the money is spent on 20% of the kids in travel hockey—we are producing less NHLers rather than more. Many people are beginning to conclude that the reason we don’t produce our fair share of NHLers is because some of the adults in the game are taking the fun out of the sport and substituting too much stress on young kids.”

Editor’s Note: The head varsity coach for a high school in the Denver metro area provided this story.

COLORADO’S BEST! Evolution Elite Hockey Academy invites hockey players (1999-2007 birth years) to attend our tryouts starting on 5/11/13 for the Fall-Winter 2013-2014 hockey season!

We will offer 8 age-specific divisions:

1. Bantam Major (1999) Team will play independent AA/AAA schedule
2. Bantam Minor (2000) Team will play independent AA/AAA schedule
3. PeeWee Major (2001) Team will play independent AA/AAA schedule
4. PeeWee Minor (2002) Team will play independent AA/AAA schedule
5. Squirt Major (2003) Team will advanced to National Championship 2014 in MN
6. Squirt Minor (2004) Team will advanced to National Championship 2014 in MN
7. Mite/U8 Major (2005) Team will advanced to National Championship 2014 in MN
8. Mite/U8 Minor (2006-07) Team will advanced to National Championship 2014 in MN

 To attend tryouts please register online: https://evolutionelitehockey.sportngin.com/register/form/707134594

For more information please visit us at: www.evolutionelitehockey.com  or email EEHA Hockey Director Sergei Bautin at: SBautin@yahoo.com

Evolution tryouts schedule:

• BT Major (1999) – May 25-26, 2013 @ 12:30PM
• BT Minor (2000) – May 25, 2013 @ 6:15PM;  May 26 @ 1:45PM
• PW Major (2001) – May 25-26, 2013 @ 12:45PM
• PW Minor (2002) – May 25, 2013 @ 6:30PM;  May 26 @ 2:00PM
• SQ Major (2003) – May 11-12, 2013 @ 2:00PM
• SQ Minor (2004) – May 11-12, 2013 @ 2:00PM
• Mite/U8 Major (2005) – May 11-12, 2013 @ 8:00AM
• Mite/U8 Minor (2006-07) – May 11-12, 2013 @ 8:00AM

For Complete Tryouts Schedule go to: http://www.evolutionelitehockey.com/page/show/787211-season-2013-14

Evolution is the best development hockey program you can ever be a part of!

Enhance your skills by learning from elite coaches and the most talented players!

The game of ice hockey is made up of small battles fought in every corner of the rink throughout the game. The player who is prepared for these battles has the superior edge in these battles. At Battle Camp, players are taught and trained to properly and effectively apply their skills in these battle/game situations.

A Game of Transition

Every battle has two sides: the offensive side and the defensive side. Therefore, the Battle Camp curriculum also focuses on teaching and training players to play on both sides of the puck—both the offensive and defensive aspect of every battle. Players who can quickly read and react to a situation are the players who will have the jump on every battle and then transition from the offense to the defense or vice versa.

A Team Sport

Ice hockey is a team sport and players are taught the importance of both offensive and defensive support. Individual effort is only as strong as its support from the rest of the team. The Battle Camp curriculum introduces and teaches players the importance of getting open, finding open lanes to support offensively and backing up their teammates to support them defensively.

The Nature of the Game

Ice hockey is a physical game at every level, from the pros right down to the youngest mites and tykes. Body contact (not body checking) is a legal aspect at every level of the game. Therefore, it’s of the utmost importance that all players learn—at the earliest of ages—how to protect themselves out on the ice. Through proper training, players can learn to safely play the game. Players are always taught in a safe and controlled environment.

Change Hockey IQ for Life

Find out how to strategically win your battles and where to be on the ice in various hockey situations during Battle Camp chalk talks. These skills will be with your hockey player for life.

Sports Psychology

Strengthening your mental toughness in this game of mistakes can never be taught too early. You need to start training for this mental facet of the game at a young age and continually build on it, strengthening your hockey mind for the long haul. Learn to move past mistakes quickly—Crosby, Chara, Seguin, Quick, Kane make mistakes and so will you. Move on.

Hockey is a game of battles. Arm yourself with extra artillery at the Battle Camp.

Editor’s Note: Jeff Serowik is an NHL defensemen who retired from the Pittsburgh Penguins and went on to found Pro Ambitions Hockey Camps, which includes Battle Camp and Defense w/ Jeff. For the last 11 years, he has worked to simplify and share the hockey knowledge that took him 25 years to figure out. His specialty and passion are defense, and he tries to personally teach as many Defense Camps as possible.

While defensemen say that “We may not get all the glory, but we can grunt out the victories,” they do jump in and score some points—either assists or goals. When the game is on the line, you’re the captain of the ship. Demand and want the puck on your stick. It’s not a hot potato. Have confidence that you can make it happen. A good defenseman can take charge and lead by example. Examples of when to jump in include:

1. Down a goal. You have to take more chances to create offense or get your team a goal.
2. Pinching in the offensive end. I was always told to pinch if I was 90% sure I could keep the puck in. If you are on the point, the puck is in the opposite corner, and they wrap it all the way around to where you are, you always pinch. If the puck is on the boards near your winger, you can pinch—if you have a forward back to cover for you. Communicate (read: yell) at your forwards to cover for you.
3. When a forward shoots the puck on goal. Be ready to sneak in and pick up a garbage goal or knock a big rebound in. You can be in the high slot area and then jump in; if there is no play, get back to your position.

Roughly 65% of my prep school, college and pro practices were devoted to defense. Take pride in it!

Editor’s Note: Jeff Serowik is an NHL defensemen who retired from the Pittsburgh Penguins and went on to found Pro Ambitions Hockey Camps. For the last 11 years, he has worked to simplify and share the hockey knowledge that took him 25 years to figure out. His specialty and passion are defense, and he tries to personally teach as many Defense Camps as possible.

What parents, NHL players such as Martin Brodeur and NHL coaches like Joe Sacco say about Pro Ambitions: He came back a changed player: More confident, a harder shot, poised and in control…One of the most effective camps I have experienced…The high-paced tempo and top-notch instruction was fantastic…Learned a tremendous amount that no doubt will improve his defensive skills…My boy thinks the world of you…Your instructors are fine young men and great role models for the kids…My son had a blast…You really helped him mentally and as a player…The overall experience, your staff and the defense skills were fantastic…Your camp runs like a well-oiled machine…Best clinic that he has ever attended…You manage to capture the essence of what it is like to live, breathe and dream hockey.

Defensemen in the NHL calls themselves mules and their mantra is: “We may not get all the glory, but we can grunt out the victories,” Defensive players in the NHL are making millions of dollars, so there must be more to hockey than just scoring goals. Secrets to playing defense include:

1. Protect the house. My coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Kevin Constantine, built his coaching system on defense. He told us the No. 1 priority is to protect “the house,” which is the scoring area around net. You must keep the offensive team out of the house! Force them into the corners or outside of the faceoff circles—they are not going to score from the corners or the boards.
2. Keep your stick on the ice. This sounds basic but it is the golden rule: Always keep your stick on the ice! You will be surprised how many plays you can break up. Watch any NHL player in the defensive end. Train yourselves young! Learn to hold the stick with one hand while skating backwards or forwards, especially in the defensive end.
3. Every play is a battle. Loose pucks are a battle. Make winning a loose puck battle as exciting as scoring a goal. Do the little things right and you will be surprised at your success. I tell my kids, “It’s life or death to get the puck.”
4. Defense is a mindset. You must learn to become mentally strong, and it is never too early to start. Have the mindset that “Nobody is going to take this puck away from me!”
5. Make a poised play. Instead of panicking and giving the other team the puck that you worked so hard to get, make the smart-but-safe play. This involves having your head on a swivel and knowing where your teammates are. If you don’t have a safe play, don’t force something that just isn’t there. Flip it out, bang it off the boards or tie it up in the corner and get a whistle. Tired players often make bad plays, but all they need t do is take an extra look for that smart play.
6. Head on a swivel. This is hard for young players because they are so focused on the puck. Give yourself an extra second and keep looking around. This lets you make a play, and you’ll have an edge on others because very few kids do this. Ray Bourque was the master of this. He always knew where he was going with the puck before he picked it up—because he was always looking over his shoulders and knew where everyone was on the ice.
7. Communication is so important in the defensive end. Take charge. Talk to your teammates. Tell them they have time, where to go with the puck or to ice the puck. Make sure your goalie is talking as he or she has the best view of all.
8. Don’t lead the rush. A defenseman shouldn’t lead the rush because he or she is the fourth forward. You have to be a good skater, well conditioned and with lots of stamina to be able to beat the other guys back if necessary.

Editor’s Note: Jeff Serowik is an NHL defensemen who retired from the Pittsburgh Penguins and went on to found Pro Ambitions Hockey Camps. For the last 11 years, he has worked to simplify and share the hockey knowledge that took him 25 years to figure out. His specialty and passion are defense, and he tries to personally teach as many Defense Camps as possible.

What parents, NHL players such as Martin Brodeur and NHL coaches like Joe Sacco say about Pro Ambitions: He came back a changed player: More confident, a harder shot, poised and in control…One of the most effective camps I have experienced…The high-paced tempo and top-notch instruction was fantastic…Learned a tremendous amount that no doubt will improve his defensive skills…My boy thinks the world of you…Your instructors are fine young men and great role models for the kids…My son had a blast…You really helped him mentally and as a player…The overall experience, your staff and the defense skills were fantastic…Your camp runs like a well-oiled machine…Best clinic that he has ever attended…You manage to capture the essence of what it is like to live, breathe and dream hockey.

Q. My son’s coach benches players for being late to practice, but he’s 12 and can’t drive. So if I get stuck in traffic on the way home from work, he pays for it. Does this seem right?

A. When we talked about
benching players for behavioral issues, this topic definitely came to light: benching players for arriving late to practice or games. Being late to a practice for any sport is disruptive, but it’s particularly problematic in hockey because ice time is so expensive. In addition, it takes much longer to dress for ice hockey than most other sports. The need for being on time led Angelo Ricci of the Colorado Thunderbirds and Ricci Hockey Consulting to develop the following philosophy: “If you’re five minutes early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. And if you’re late, you’re gone.”

Ricci does admit, however, that he allows a little leeway, with one late arrival forgiven and a policy of contacting the coach in case of traffic problems. Many coaches are flexible, particularly with players who can’t drive.

Teen Drivers: Be On Time

The consensus among coaches seems to be that players who can drive ought to be able to arrive on time—barring true emergencies with traffic, weather and the like. In that case, if a player is late, you might bench the player for maybe five minutes during the next game. Players should follow any rules the coach establishes, such as calling or texting if they know they will be late. (If you’re stuck on the road, pull over—it’s not worth texting and driving.) As with handling behavioral issues, the key is consistency. Handle the lateness as announced at the beginning of the season—and handle it the same way for every player and every game. Whether a player is late to the first practice or the last one before a playoff game, the coach needs to handle the situation the same way.

Parent Drivers: Have a Backup Plan

Players who can’t drive are, essentially, at the mercy of their parents. And we’ve all been there: Stuck at a meeting at work, sitting in traffic, fixing a flat tire or stuffing wet UnderArmour into the dryer. As much as coaches may want hockey to be the No. 1 priority of every parent and player on the team, the reality is that most parents need to work and juggle the activities of multiple kids. That said, most teams announce hockey schedules well in advance, arriving to hockey late is disruptive and most coaches announce the consequences of being late early in the season.

So, should coaches have a policy of benching players whose parents get them to practice late? According to Ricci, the policy depends on the age of the players: A Bantam can be expected to remind parents it’s time to leave for practice; a Squirt, maybe not. Policies for younger players tend toward notification—you’re benched if you’re late and didn’t notify the coach in advance. That way, the player is still in control of the situation.

Generally, consistency is key in enforcing policies, but coaches may need to make more exceptions for tardy parents than tardy teen drivers. After all, jobs ranging from oral surgery to car repair to plumbing can run longer than a parent expects, and nobody expect them to dangerously ditch a patient or a repair to get a kid to practice on time. What coaches don’t need to make exceptions for is star players or players late to practice before big games.

If parents have trouble getting to practice on time, coaches might suggest the following:

• If there’s a possibility you’ll be stuck at work late, try arranging a ride for your player. You might even tentatively line up a ride with a neighbor, grandparent, teammate or coach.
• Never leave the hockey bag in the car. If you do, you risk the hockey bag being with the wrong parent or with the car that’s in the shop.
• If a disorganized kid is the problem, encourage parents to let the kid be late once or twice. Five minutes on the bench during a Squirt game may solve the problem early and ensure that parents aren’t hounding Midgets to get out of the house on time.

No matter what the tardy policy and how it’s enforced, communication is important. Nothing is worse for parents than sitting in the stands and wondering why their player is sitting on the bench. And a player sitting on the bench with no clear idea why isn’t doing anyone any good.

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Angelo Ricci for sharing his 15 years of expertise as a hockey director in this article. Ricci is founder, head instructor and consultant for Ricci Hockey Consulting. With 20+ years experience as a skills and stickhandling coach, he conducts/oversees more than 40 programs year-round that develop over 1,000 players each year.

Q. A player on my daughter’s all-girls team engages in “mean girl” behavior, including telling other girls they are fat, giving them cheap shots during practice and tossing their hats/gloves in puddles in the parking lot. She is also the leading scorer and we’re heading into the playoffs. Should the coach bench her?

A. “As coaches, the biggest carrot we have is playtime,” says experienced hockey director and coach Angelo Ricci. “They’re kids so we can’t fine them and suspension is a last resort.” The key to using playtime to help control behavior is to establish all the rules up-front in a preseason meeting. Then, it’s up to the coach to hold everyone accountable and enforce the rules in a fair and consistent manner, says Ricci. “If you favor kids or change the rules midseason, you lose respect in the locker room.”

In particular, Ricci emphasizes that the behavior of repeat offenders needs to be addressed with playtime. While he admits that some coaches turn a blind eye to behavior when they shouldn’t, the philosophy remains the same: It doesn’t matter what game it is. If a coach determines that a player needs to be benched for a portion of a game, it doesn’t matter if it’s the first game of the season or the last. After all, Ricci says, “Would you let your kid steal a $1 candy bar but not $50 headphones? It’s the same crime.”

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Angelo Ricci for sharing his 15 years of expertise as a hockey director in this article. Ricci is founder, head instructor and consultant for Ricci Hockey Consulting. With 20+ years experience as a skills and stickhandling coach, he conducts/oversees more than 40 programs year-round that develop over 1,000 players each year.

Every year, every team seems to go through the same ritual: How to thank the team manager. (And maybe the team treasurer, the social coordinator, the water bottle hauler.) So you take up a little collection and then you start asking around. Does this person like coffee? Movies? Golf? You buy a gift card, sign a card and you’re done. There you go: A perfectly forgettable gift that is gone in no time. This year, think about more personal gifts that don’t get lost in the shuffle of daily life:

1. Insulated travel mug
2. Hot/cold clear acrylic cup
3. Stadium/tailgate foam cup holder for your favorite team
4. Smartphone gloves
5. Stadium blanket
6. Spiritwear for your association
7. Car wash, detailing, car scents
8. Dinner out with reservations and babysitting money
9. Tickets for a favorite experience: movies, comedy club, hockey game
10. Top-of-the-line anything: golf balls, nail polish, car wax

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Kelly Anton for this story.

Check out the Colorado Thunderbirds AAA program – one of the top-ranked AAA programs in the United States! The organization provides AAA-caliber players with the ice time, coaching and training needed to establish and maintain an elite development track. The Thunderbirds program is based on the core values of accountability, attitude and effort. Follow the links below to download information packets and register:

Spring: Denver Teams & NEW Mountain Teams

• 1999-2005 birth years
• Tryouts March 17-23 in Denver, March 23-24 in Vail
• Season runs from early April to end of May
• Travel players attend Challenge Cup in Vancouver, May 17-20

Spring & Summer: Developmental Skates

• 1995-1999 birth years: May 14-July 23, 25 hours on-ice development
• 2000-2002 birth years: June 11-July 25, 18 hours of on-ice development

Fall 2013-2014 Tryouts

Tentative dates (pending CAHA approval):

• U14, U13, U12 and U11: May 24-May 26
• U18: July 25-26
• U16, U15: July 26-28

Every parent knows that communicating with their child after a loss isn’t easy. In fact, it’s times like these when you truly must act like a caring and knowledgeable adult. What are some guidelines for parent behavior after a loss?

Post-Game Follow-up

• Compliment the coaches and sport officials for doing a good job, and be sure to thank them for their contributions.
• STOP focusing on whether your child won or lost.
• LOOK for signs that indicate how your child is feeling (facial expressions, tears, body language).
• LISTEN to what your child has to say before you provide input. Begin with a supportive greeting, and then ask open-ended questions:

“What part of the game did you enjoy the most/least?”

“What was the best/worst thing about your performance?”

“Were you satisfied with your effort?”

If not, “What do you intend to do about effort in the future?”

“What was the most important thing you learned from the game?”

Tips for Moms and Dads

• Don’t blame or get angry with your child. He or she feels bad enough already.
• Avoid the temptation to deny or distort the disappointment your child is feeling. For example, it is not helpful to say, “It doesn’t matter.”
• Point out something positive that was achieved during the game. Here are some things to say:

“Great effort and improvement. Keep working hard, and winning will take care of itself.”

“That was a tough one to lose, but your defense showed improvement. Stay with it, and it’ll pay off.”

“Really good effort. That’s all anyone can ask. I’m proud of you.”

“It never feels good to lose, but you showed terrific sportsmanship. Way to go!”

• If your child hasn’t given maximum effort, communicate your unhappiness without putting down the youngster as a person. Focus on the future and emphasize athletes owe it to themselves and their team to give maximum effort.
• Ask your child, “Did you learn anything from this that you can apply in school and in other parts of your life?

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Frank L. Smoll, Ph.D., and Ronald E. Smith, Ph.D., for this article. Drs. Smoll and Smith are sport psychologists at the University of Washington and co-directors of Youth Enrichment in Sports. To see previews of their Mastery Approach to Parenting in Sports and Mastery Approach to Coaching DVDs, visit www.y-e-sports.com.

Every parent knows that communicating with their child after a loss isn’t easy. In fact, it’s times like these when you truly must act like a caring and knowledgeable adult. What are some guidelines for parent behavior after a loss?

Post-Game Follow-up

• Compliment the coaches and sport officials for doing a good job, and be sure to thank them for their contributions.
• STOP focusing on whether your child won or lost.
• LOOK for signs that indicate how your child is feeling (facial expressions, tears, body language).
• LISTEN to what your child has to say before you provide input. Begin with a supportive greeting, and then ask open-ended questions:

“What part of the game did you enjoy the most/least?”

“What was the best/worst thing about your performance?”

“Were you satisfied with your effort?”

If not, “What do you intend to do about effort in the future?”

“What was the most important thing you learned from the game?”

Tips for Moms and Dads

• Don’t blame or get angry with your child. He or she feels bad enough already.
• Avoid the temptation to deny or distort the disappointment your child is feeling. For example, it is not helpful to say, “It doesn’t matter.”
• Point out something positive that was achieved during the game. Here are some things to say:

“Great effort and improvement. Keep working hard, and winning will take care of itself.”

“That was a tough one to lose, but your defense showed improvement. Stay with it, and it’ll pay off.”

“Really good effort. That’s all anyone can ask. I’m proud of you.”

“It never feels good to lose, but you showed terrific sportsmanship. Way to go!”

• If your child hasn’t given maximum effort, communicate your unhappiness without putting down the youngster as a person. Focus on the future and emphasize athletes owe it to themselves and their team to give maximum effort.
• Ask your child, “Did you learn anything from this that you can apply in school and in other parts of your life?

Editor’s Note: Thank you to Frank L. Smoll, Ph.D., and Ronald E. Smith, Ph.D., for this article. Drs. Smoll and Smith are sport psychologists at the University of Washington and co-directors of Youth Enrichment in Sports. To see previews of their Mastery Approach to Parenting in Sports and Mastery Approach to Coaching DVDs, visit www.y-e-sports.com.

Your team looks to you for approval. When discussing a mistake they made during play, be sure to phrase your words carefully. Be sure to discuss the effort and not the result. If you focus on the result, players will equate approval based on results and not effort. In youth sports, this leads to kids “freezing up” and “choking.” Kids will become less hesitant to take risks for fear of failure. Encourage kids to take risks and to fail. Doing this will improve their performance over the long-term and will keep them playing the sport.