Question: Some coaches recommend wax laces for kids who can’t get their laces tight enough. Others say not to use them. What do you think? Answer: If your player is having trouble getting his or her skates tight enough, wax laces are definitely worth a try. And the good news is you can try them Read More…
Question: What is the difference between the new hockey socks and the old knit ones? Is there any reason to choose one over the other? Answer: The newer, sleeker hockey socks became popular during the last Olympics and are now worn in by NHL teams. These hockey socks, which are lightweight and breathable, are attached Read More…
Q: As a parent, it’s frustrating to see so much inconsistency in my player’s game. I know what he can do—but sometimes he just doesn’t do it. The puck flies right by him, his stick misses the pucks, skaters go right around him. What is the best way for players to be consistent? A: The Read More…
Yes, you can buy a “pants shell” to cover breezers, whether you need to match team colors for hand-me-downs or used hockey pants, hide wear and tear, or (heaven forbid) cover blood stains. Zippers and/or Velcro keep the shell in place. So the next time hand-me-downs come your way or you find an awesome pair Read More…
To be a great hockey player and score lots of goals hockey players need to have a good shot, and be able to handle the puck. Hockey players can practice their shots with a few pucks and something to shoot against, but practicing stickhandling can be hard. The problem with practicing your stickhandling off-ice is Read More…
In today’s version of youth sports we have a very unhealthy ratio of practice to games. In many youth hockey associations the practice-to-game ratio is 1-to-1 or 2-to-1. To me practice is the healthy meal and the games are the dessert. What would serve our young athletes much better would be a healthier ratio of Read More…
Flypucks are designed to be used off ice, but slide and feel like a hockey puck does on the ice. Flypucks are the same size as an ice hockey puck but they come in three different weights—4 oz, 6 oz and 8 oz. The 4 oz puck is meant for repetition and speed, the 6 Read More…
Success in sports, as in any other achievement arena, depends on both skill and motivation. Skill and motivation are intimately related to one another. Athletes who are not motivated to develop their skills will probably not achieve their potential, and inadequate skills will not allow athletes to achieve their goals. Motivation includes striving for particular Read More…
Wrangling kids into their equipment in crowded, noisy locker rooms can be stressful even for pro hockey players. If you’ve never played hockey, the equipment can be a mystery—and it offers plenty of opportunities for do-overs: Put the shin guards on before the breezers, for example, and you’re sunk. Try it under time pressure, and Read More…
For the last couple weeks we asked for helping creating a (politically correct) mnemonic device for remembering hockey’s progression through Mite, Squirt, Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget—given that it is impossible to guess that a Midget is larger than a Pee Wee. Thanks to our winner, Kristen, who wrote the active and gender-neutral “My Sweet Read More…
